Clubs and coaches have the most direct impact on how athletes often first get introduced to snowsports and whether a desire is sparked to stay within the sport.  Unfortunately, flat growth is not helped by our sport being mostly “pale and male” on numerous levels, not only on our athlete teams but also within our organizations.  To broaden interest and access to our sport for a wider range of communities and backgrounds in a welcoming way, this session lays the foundation for what Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) means when specifically applied to our sport and the ski industry.  Whether you are already familiar with DEI or are a newcomer to its concepts, this informative session explains core terms while busting ski industry myths and using snowsports-specific examples.  This session is presented by Annie Kao, Founder of Ascent Inclusion Consulting and former Assistant General Counsel of Vail Resorts.
Photo Credit: Marc Amann/U.S. Ski & Snowboard
In this talk, I present an overview of my recent popular science book titled “The Best: How Elite Athletes are Made’. The book explores the psychological and sociological factors that underpin the effective development of elite athletes. In the opening section, I explore the roles of environment and serendipity in reaching the path to performance excellence. The role of family, siblings, and place of birth are discussed and how these factors influence your chances of becoming an elite athlete. Other factors discussed include the importance of ‘street sport’ or informal play, the need to specialize or diversify, and whether there are any early indicators of talent. In the middle section, I outline some of the key psychological adaptations that arise through prolonged engagement in sport. For example, these include the development of psychological characteristics such as grit, resilience, mental toughness as well as crucial perceptual-cognitive and perceptual-motor skills. In the final section, I outline some of the important factors that underpin effective practice and discuss concepts such as deliberate practice, challenge points, desirable difficulties and variable/random practice, as well as how best to deliver instruction and feedback to learners.
MDT
OCT 13
Emilie Lazenby  - USOPC Contractor, Winter Sport Performance &  Nadine Dubina  - Character Coach Developer, USMA – West Point
SESSION 2
Each of these 4 sessions will provide content for coaches, administrators, parents, and volunteers to further their understanding of best principles and practices that are the foundation of a culture of continued improvement. Prior to each session, there will be an opportunity to consider your current level of knowledge; following each session you will ask and discuss questions, and reflect on what you have learned. We look forward to your engagement!
5PM
Building Strong Relationships
Annie Kao  - Founder Ascent Inclusion Consulting
REGISTER
Attend all 4 Sessions and receive 4 Continuing Education Credits!
SESSION 4
OCT 20
Mark Williams, Ph.D.  - Chair, Healthy, Kinesiology, and Recreation; Professor, Kinesiology
$40
 CLUB EXCELLENCE
The Best: How Elite Athletes are Made
SESSION 3
U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Foundations for Snowsports
SPORT EDUCATION
SUMMIT
Parents, Can’t Live With ‘Em, Can’t Pay the Bills Without ‘Em: Implementing the Cornerstones of Quality Parenting in the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Ecosystem
OCT 27
Travis Dorsch  - Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Families in Sport Lab in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University
SESSION 1
OCT 6
In this session, Dr. Dorsch will recap four cornerstones of evidence-based parenting that can be utilized to better engage USSA families. Conceptual and applied strategies will be offered to coaches, club leaders, and parents as a means to leverage parent involvement across the developmental spectrum with an end-goal of maximizing competitive potential, enjoyment of sport, and the achievement of positive and translatable developmental assets.
 FALL
2021
Knowing how to coach the tactical and technical knowledge of our sports is key; so is knowing how to coach people. In this session we'll identify two communication strategies that can strengthen connection in your teams while also generating performance gains - Active Constructive Responding and Recognizing the Good. You'll learn how regularly responding to someone's good news and leveraging what's right within your teams can create immediate and long-lasting impacts on the strength of your relationships.
Photo Credit: Marc Amann/U.S. Ski & Snowboard
In this session, Dr. Dorsch will recap four cornerstones of evidence-based parenting that can be utilized to better engage USSA families. Conceptual and applied strategies will be offered to coaches, club leaders, and parents as a means to leverage parent involvement across the developmental spectrum with an end-goal of maximizing competitive potential, enjoyment of sport, and the achievement of positive and translatable developmental assets.
Knowing how to coach the tactical and technical knowledge of our sports is key; so is knowing how to coach people. In this session we'll identify two communication strategies that can strengthen connection in your teams while also generating performance gains - Active Constructive Responding and Recognizing the Good. You'll learn how regularly responding to someone's good news and leveraging what's right within your teams can create immediate and long-lasting impacts on the strength of your relationships.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Foundations for Snowsports
Annie Kao  - Founder Ascent Inclusion Consulting
In this session, Dr. Dorsch will recap four cornerstones of evidence-based parenting that can be utilized to better engage USSA families. Conceptual and applied strategies will be offered to coaches, club leaders, and parents as a means to leverage parent involvement across the developmental spectrum with an end-goal of maximizing competitive potential, enjoyment of sport, and the achievement of positive and translatable developmental assets.