Coaching Working Committee (CWC)

Introduction

The Coaching Working Committee (CWC) is an all volunteer committee made up of a core group of CSPA Learning Facilitators. It was established in 1980, with an aim to oversee the Coach and Instructor programs for CSPA.

In 1980, there was no real consistent instructional method except for the first jump student. Progression was achieved by learning freefall skills from a person who sounded like they knew what they were talking about. So, the actual techniques varied widely between coaches, dropzones, and geographical areas. Skydivers were performing skills in a manner that was mysterious rather than based on sound principles and logical progression.

Today, the Canadian system of coaching and instructing has been adopted by many around the world. Skydive University in the United States, for example, has its origins here in Canada. The CWC has developed technical knowledge and standards that make the topics of yesteryear well understood and easily taught.

And it continues to develop coaching/instructing methods that ensure skydivers wanting to learn any aspect of skydiving can be taught at their dropzone. In 2005, the Canadian system coaching/instructing will be evolving into one that is competency-based. Our coaches will be incorporating more theoretical knowledge of coaching to make them more effective at their dropzones.

The CWC will use this site to disseminate information that is useful to all in skydiving. From the skydiver wanting to progress to the coach/instructor who needs to make it happen. New factual information that becomes available between manual publications will be presented here. In this way, our coaches/instructors don't have to be mysterious presenting new developments in our sport.

Mandate

The Committee's mandate includes the following:

  • Further develop safe skydiving through the promotion of sound instructional practices.
  • Maintain and extend the present coaching and instructing programs by:
    • Co-ordinating the training of Coaches and Instructors.
    • Co-ordinating the training of Learning Facilitators.
    • Overseeing the issue and maintenance of Coach and Instructor ratings.
    • Investigating complaints against Learning Facilitators, Coaches, and Instructors, as directed by the BoD, and making subsequent recommendations on appropriate action.
  • Develop resource material for skydivers, Coaches, Instructors, and Learning Facilitators in the form of
    • Coaching, Instructing, and PIM manuals
    • Articles in Canpara
    • CWC website
  • Review and disseminate appropriate material produced by the CAC.
  • Recognise outstanding service and performance by Coaches and Instructors.
  • Provide national seminars to keep Coaches, Instructors, and Learning Facilitators up to date on the recent developments in the sport.
  • Promote the public image of parachuting as a safe and enjoyable sport.
  • Develop risk management strategies and practices that will be of use to Coaches, Instructors, and parachutists.
  • Further develop the professional image of Coaches and Instructors.
  • Involve Coaches and Instructors in the further development and implementation of the present programs.
  • Inform the CSPA membership of any changes made to the system through bulletins published in Canpara and on CSPA’s e-mail information list.
  • Collect feedback from Coaches and Instructors concerning the program.
  • Actively identify and encourage suitable candidates to attend Learning Facilitator training.
  • In conjunction with the Technical and Safety Committee, produce the Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) exams.

 

Members

The CWC is composed of approximately six experienced Course Facilitators, Instructors, or Coaches who volunteer their time and expertise to promote the development of parachuting and parachutists in Canada. The committee is guided by a Chair who is appointed by CSPA's BoD. The Chair then selects the members of the committee bearing in mind regional representation, specialised knowledge, and the ability to complete assigned tasks. Other members of the committee have special responsibilities. These include the Rating Processor, the Director of Course Facilitators, and the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) Liaison Officer. In addition, one member of the BoD serves on the CWC acting as a liaison between the two groups. Any member who wishes to contribute to projects can do so at the discretion of the CWC Chair.

Any member of CSPA who wishes to be considered for membership on the committee or who would like to assist on any particular project should contact the Chair of the CWC and outline their experience and expertise. In the event of a vacancy in the committee, the Chair may advertise for suitably qualified applicants in Canpara.

 

Meetings

The CWC meets regularly via telephone conference calls and at least 2 meeting/conferences a year typically alternating locations across the country. The Chair can be reached at cwc@cspa.ca

 

Meet the Members:

 

Derek Orr – Chairman, CWC

Derek has been the Chair of the CWC since 2007 and on the committee since 2002. He has been skydiving since 1995, and has 2700 jumps and about 30 hours wind tunnel training and coaching. Derek is dedicated to ensuring that the CWC continues the proud tradition it has of developing new and innovative programs for Canadian Skydivers. He is a Course Facilitator for SSI, JM, Coach 1, Coach 2 and PFF. He also has been assisting the Canadian Military for the past 5 years with their freefall training and is the former Technical Director for the Alberta Sport Parachuting Association. Derek trains competitively in 4 way FS when he isn’t coaching and has competed and medaled at Provincials and Nationals in 4, 8 and 10way FS. He also has experience as a Meet Director for various skydiving Provincials and Nationals competitions. When he isn’t skydiving he works as a Production Manager for an audio visual company in Calgary producing and directing the technical elements for large events. Derek also manages to squeeze in time to travel and can be found traveling around various remote and exciting parts of the planet.

 

Mario Prevost – Course Facilitator Manager/Master Course Facilitator

Mario is our Master Course Facilitator and in this role, he is responsible for training new Course Facilitators and keeping existing ones current and facilitating their upgrading to teach new courses. He is a Course Facilitator in SSI, JM, C1, C2, and PFF, as well as a Tandem Examiner for Vector and Strong and a Tunnel Instructor. With over 9000 jumps under his belt (and many, many hours in the tunnel), he is able to contribute to the CWC with his vast experience and knowledge. As a member of the CWC, Mario has piloted and developed the Tunnel PFF program and is currently heading up the project to re-write the PFF manual. Mario is a world record holder for big way formations, recently adding 2006’s 400 way formation to his list. At the Canadian Nationals in 1990, Mario and his team won a Gold medal in 4 way FS. Mario is one of the DZOs of both Parachutisme Nouvel Air and Parachute Montréal near Montréal, Quebec. Since 2009, he also have a participation in SkyVenture Montréal.

 

Jeff Dean – Ratings Processor

Jeff Dean has been contributing to the CWC since 2007 and joined the committee in 2009 as ratings processor and working on manuals. Jeff is a PFF instructor, UPT tandem Instructor Examiner, Senior Rigger and a C1 course facilitator. Jeff has been jumping for 10+ years and has accumulated over 2300 skydives. Jeff has a love and passion for skydiving, and his goal is to share that love and passion with anybody he can.

Andy Morris