Learn to Skate USA (USFSA Basic Skills Rebranding)

[skategeek]

I'm a card-carrying LTS USA Instructor!

The book contains the lesson plans for each level and skill along with a glossary, teaching tips, and diagrams. These are available on the instructors portal as separate documents.

Back cover is sturdy cardboard (which our mail carrier bent a bit) and the front cover is card stock.  Much better than the lightweight lesson planner from a few years ago. 

My Instructor's packet contained an ID card, Lesson Plan book, a double-sided flyer and a pair of gloves with the logo on them. 

Yay!

[Isk8NYC]

Are the gloves touch screen compatible?

I didn't try them but they don't have the tell-tale colored tips.

[jlspink22]

So along with the new program all the rinks are raising group lesson pricing. Was $125/130 for 1/week for 6 weeks plus some places give a public skate session card, now $150 for 6 weeks. We used these sessions as practice and ways to get other coaches input but that's a big jump- almost $200 over a year... And my daughters coach isn't even getting paid more. These programs only shoot out 1-2 serious skaters a year so I'm thinking its a way to make more $ off hockey skaters.... Kind of disappointed.

[cittiecat]

So along with the new program all the rinks are raising group lesson pricing. Was $125/130 for 1/week for 6 weeks plus some places give a public skate session card, now $150 for 6 weeks. We used these sessions as practice and ways to get other coaches input but that's a big jump- almost $200 over a year... And my daughters coach isn't even getting paid more. These programs only shoot out 1-2 serious skaters a year so I'm thinking its a way to make more $ off hockey skaters.... Kind of disappointed.

I don't think all the rinks are changing their prices. There hasn't been any talk of changing the price at my rink. Plus my rink does 8 weeks with an 8 punch card for publics for $130 ($150 for jump and spin- which is FS 3 and up). I'll keep an eye out for when the next session starts at the end of August but we are still on the above pricing now.


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[Query]

If they don't change the skills themselves, but only the levels they are taught at, it might seem like it only impacts instructors. And that's mostly true. I bet even instructors probably don't need to retrain - they just need to look at the new list of skills for each level.

But not quite. If a student has passed through a level, he/she might assume he/she is ready for the next level. But now that might not be true, because an assumed skill may not have been taught to them yet. If you take the next class in the very next session, you can trust most experienced instructors to try to compensate for the missed skills. But after a while, they won't. If you miss a session or two, you may have to repeat a level, maybe more than one level. People will be annoyed.

It's a little like when Arthur Murray [I think ?] ballroom dance classes changed names and content (many years ago), and all the students who had taken their lessons found they were no longer qualified for a specific next step - that there WAS no clear next step. I never took their lessons - they were very expensive and more or less aimed at the pro and semi-pro level. But I knew students who felt cheated. There were a LOT of complaints.

[FigureSpins]

The LTS USA membership director resigned recently.  Our rink requires the LTS USA registration for skaters, but I don't think they're checking on its status.

[skategeek]

One year into this program... any thoughts?  (Also, anyone know how renewals are handled?  I logged in yesterday and didn't see a mechanism on the web site, just the "new member" signup link.)

Also, just FYI, it turns out that if your skate bag gets soaked in the rain and your booklet gets damp, and after it dries all wrinkled you then store it in your bag in a gallon ziploc bag to prevent recurrences, the outer glossy coating of the booklet starts flaking off.  Don't ask how I know.   

[FigureSpins]

Go to a teachers store and have it re-laminated.

Theoretically, renewing should be the same process. They're raising the rate to $16.  I asked if the packets could be optional for renewing skaters, to get a lower rate, and they said no.  I know my families don't need gloves or chapstick, so if they already have the record book, why get another? 

A bystander snarkily commented that they're just in it for the money and there will be no packets, just increased rates.  I don't know if that's true and to be honest, it seemed a little unfair coming from someone who had no information.  I think they were just venting.

[skategeek]

Honestly if we get the full packet again this year I'll be fine with that; my record book's a mess.   

[ChristyRN]

My granddaughter didn't get a book or anything else. Do Snow Plow Sam skaters get one?

[lutefisk]

Is this something that all USFSA members receive, or just those in Learn to Skate?

[FigureSpins]

The record book is sent to all NEW Learn to Skate USA registrants.  Most LTS programs now require the skaters to register themselves online with LTS USA.  It used to be that the rinks collected the fee and did the data entry, but now skaters have to register themselves. 

Our skating club offers a LTS USA membership and handles the data entry on LTS USA.  We charge an extra $4 because we include the skaters in our club exhibition and social events.

https://learntoskateusa.com/signuphomepage

[dlbritton]

The record book is sent to all NEW Learn to Skate USA registrants.  Most LTS programs now require the skaters to register themselves online with LTS USA.  It used to be that the rinks collected the fee and did the data entry, but now skaters have to register themselves. 

Our skating club offers a LTS USA membership and handles the data entry on LTS USA.  We charge an extra $4 because we include the skaters in our club exhibition and social events.

https://learntoskateusa.com/signuphomepage

My rink apparently registers everyone that signs up for an LTS session (7-9 weeks long depending on time of year) with no additional charge. They must just eat the fee. Perhaps they don't want to alienate/chase away first time students by either tacking on an extra fee or making them register themselves.

I did see in Wake Forest at Adult Nationals they require students to register themselves. I was a little surprised at that, but it sounds like it is the norm.

Last summer, while I was recovering, I renewed myself since I was still submitting bills under the Sports Accident coverage and I wanted to make sure there was no dispute about being covered or not. The accident itself might have been open to debate, but they did pay off.

[skategeek]

I logged in to the web site this afternoon and got a big red banner saying "Your membership has expired."  Tried to renew and the process got stuck at the point when I was clicking on the Checkout button. Still a few kinks to work out, I guess.

[CaraSkates]

I logged in to the web site this afternoon and got a big red banner saying "Your membership has expired."  Tried to renew and the process got stuck at the point when I was clicking on the Checkout button. Still a few kinks to work out, I guess.

I renewed today and had no issues (I'm a LTS Instructor) but when I went to take the instructor course, it wasn't there. Hoping that shows up in the next couple days so I can check it off the list!

[skategeek]

I renewed today and had no issues (I'm a LTS Instructor) but when I went to take the instructor course, it wasn't there. Hoping that shows up in the next couple days so I can check it off the list!

Fingers crossed!  Now I'm getting an error message just at the main login page.  Maybe they're taken it down while they fix stuff.  I'll try again tomorrow.

[ChristyRN]

The record book is sent to all NEW Learn to Skate USA registrants.  Most LTS programs now require the skaters to register themselves online with LTS USA.  It used to be that the rinks collected the fee and did the data entry, but now skaters have to register themselves. 

The rink collected the fee, they just never gave us the booklet. Did not tell us to sign up online.

[FigureSpins]

The rink collected the fee, they just never gave us the booklet. Did not tell us to sign up online.

Double-check with the LTS director.  That management group of rinks is usually ahead of the curve with changes.  While the Cary LTS website says that they're collecting the fee, it also shows a 2015 expiration date, so I think the page is out of date.  Their brochure/flyer for this session says that they're NOT collecting the annual membership fee.  Color us both confused and ask the LTS Director.  If you do need to register, do it for next season (July 2017-June 2018) as a new member.

I suspect someone "in the know" is monitoring this thread because I just received an email saying that programs/clubs can request extra progress booklets by emailing LTS USA HQ.  They're still raising the rate to $16/year for new and renewing members, but renewals don't receive a progress book.  A hockey friend from back home says none of the USA Hockey programs she knows about are having players register.  It's only group lesson skaters and figure skaters who want to compete below Pre-Preliminary.

[AgnesNitt]

There's a rink in my area that's still teaching the old-style Basic Skills (8 levels) but advertises its program with LTS USA badging. There's something wrong with that.

[skategeek]

OK, I was able to renew by using Chrome instead of Safari, so I think the problem was on my end.  There was only a $0.25 fee, so I'm guessing that's the cost of mailing me a new card rather than the cost of mailing me the full packet.

[FigureSpins]

There's a rink in my area that's still teaching the old-style Basic Skills (8 levels) but advertises its program with LTS USA badging. There's something wrong with that.

Several parents have said that Pre-Freeskate should be scheduled as two levels.  The name is fine, but they feel there are too many difficult skills for their kids to pass in one LTS session.  (8 weeks)  They'd rather see an "A" and a "B" level so the skater can see progress rather than being in the same level for 2-3 sessions and feeling like they failed a class.  In fairness, these are LTS kids who may or may not be practicing regularly.  (I don't take attendance and I don't live at the rink.)

LTS USA just sent out a notice saying that all programs must include (on their website) the new logo and a statement that this is the only LTS program recognized by US Figure Skating, USA Hockey and USA Speedskating. 

[Isk8NYC]

I've gotten a few emails from TPTB saying that their online system requires the Chrome browser because it doesn't work with Safari. 


On the computer, I had trouble with renewing my instructor membership using Firefox.  The first gaffe was mine (put in the wrong exp dt,) which required my logging out and back in before the red renew bar appeared again.  After that, I was able to type the correct credit card information (always a challenge) and it seemed to work, but didn't update my membership expiration date -and- there were no courses to select on the online training portal.  I gave it a day and TPTB corrected the error and added the exam to my account, so I'm squared away for this season.


TIP: For instructors who coach beyond LTS USA levels -- complete the USFSA coaches registration and background check BEFORE you do anything on LTS USA.  If you request the background check on LTS USA first, the USFSA coaches registration portal won't pick up the background check.  I don't understand why they felt the need to build a standalone system without requiring a real-time interface to the legacy system of record. 

[Isk8NYC]

LTS USA just announced that the landed Axel is no longer required in order to pass Freeskate 6.  They said it's effective for the 2017-18 season (which starts in 14 days.) I think we can assume that competitions who have already published their announcements won't need to revise the elements.

In September 2017, hey're introducing an Axel Class with its own badge. Cute idea.