It is an online course designed to provide the ski or snowboard coach with essential tools they can apply with their sport knowledge to guide their athletes toward more success and enjoyment in skiing or snowboarding. The course also helps coaches understand the U.S. Ski & Snowboard athlete development model and age-appropriate training and familiarizes coaches with the concept of safe sport.

It is mandatory for any new U.S. Ski & Snowboard member coach and all renewing coaches who have not already completed the course or that are not already certified.

As a coach, you have a profound impact on each skier or rider you work with. Every level in the development of an athlete is important. Whether you will be volunteer coaching a few times in a season or coaching full-time, you will want to be prepared to make the most positive impact on your athletes as possible, and this course has been designed for that purpose.

Coaching Fundamentals will cost $10 for coaches who are required to complete it with their coaching membership.  The $10 charge will automatically be assessed when the coach registers or renews. 

This course is designed to provide coaches with a basic knowledge of the fundamental coaching skills for skiing and snowboarding that will make them more effective coaches. It is full of resources and tools so that coaches will know where to find information when they need it. 

No, coaches must complete the Level 100 requirements for their sport in order to become certified. A coach who has not started on the certification track (by completing a Level 100 course in their sport) will need to complete Coaching Fundamentals online course every two years. This update course will include current safe sport guidelines and sport coaching updates.

No. However, it may be used to satisfy the continuing education requirements for a Level 100 or 200 coach to re-gain their certification status. This course may only be used for continuing education once. Level 300 coaches and higher may not use the Fast Start course for continuing education.

The course is completed online and will take around 4 hours to complete. The course includes 5 online modules and a 25 question final exam:

• Coaching Roles & Responsibilities 
• Coaching Ethics & Philosophies
• Long - Term Athletic Development
• Teaching & Learning
• Training Environment

The coach will be asked multiple-choice questions to confirm their knowledge of the topics. The course directs the coach to many useful websites and supporting documents that they can retain for future reference, so some coaches may spend much more time in the course as they find materials that are of particular interest. The coach will be able to leave the course at any time and progress will be saved.

The course should be completed when registering or renewing U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership, or within 14 days from registering for membership. The coach's membership status will show as pending until the course is completed. Remember, a pending coach will not be permitted to act in a coaching capacity at U.S. Ski & Snowboard events and will not receive coach lift tickets or access to the venue.

If the course was added during your membership registration, go to my.ussa.org/ussec and use your login to access the course (sign in at the upper right of the screen). After this initial log-in, the course should be available from your dashboard using the USSEC Courses link in your tools. To purchase the course for continuing education, click here. You'll receive an email from U.S. Ski & Snowboard Sport Education when you have been registered and you'll be able to access the course as described above. Note: you must have an account.

No.

You will still need to take the Coaching Fundamentals course. The content is complementary to the Level 100 courses for each sport and will give you a background that will be helpful for the Level 100. 

You will need to complete all of your Level 100 requirements and complete your certification prior to renewing, or else you will automatically be enrolled in the Coaching Fundamentals course when registering. No refunds will be given.