UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 2, Page 3
September 12, 1991
Skaters applaud summer program

     For four intense days in late August, the University's Ice
Skating Science Development Center (ISSDC) gave figure skating
coaches from around the country the chance to learn the finer
points of coaching from some of the world's top instructors.
     According to Sylvia Brocka, senior program manager in the
Division of Continuing Education, on Aug. 24, the University's
fourth annual Professional Education Program (PEP) welcomed 32
coaches from 12 states, including Wisconsin, Massachusetts,
Washington and Kentucky, as well as the District of Columbia. The
coaches were accompanied by 22 skaters, who, for the first time,
were invited to attend PEP with their coaches.
     In addition to on-ice lessons from PEP coaches, participants
received lectures on injury prevention, nutrition and athletic
training from University faculty, Brocka said. In total,
participating coaches received 30 hours of training.
     Ron Ludington, director of the ISSDC and one of the coaches
for PEP, said he founded the training program for coaches four
years ago to supplement a coaches' certification program that
occurs at the Professional Skaters Guild of America's (PSGA) annual
national convention.
     Peter Dunfield, who is head coach at the Gloucester Skating
Club in Ottawa, was one of six coaches at PEP this year. Dunfield,
who has been a coach at five Olympic games with three Olympic
Medalists and a coach at 14 World Championships, said the
University PEP program is very good.
                                        - Stephen M. Steenkamer