Ski for Light Event Planning Manual

June 2011

12A. Guide Training Coordinators

The Guide Training Coordinators are responsible for the coordination and training of the Guide Trainers and through them the instructor/guides. This is a vital part of the SFL program. The Guide Training Coordinators choose Guide Trainer teams, develop the Guide Trainer training schedule, train the Guide Trainers, arrange and run meetings for Guide Trainers instructor/guides and participants, and help out with overall program concerns.

It is important that the Guide Training Coordinators be able to lead and facilitate discussions and communicate clearly and concisely to large groups. It is also important that they possess tact and diplomacy to help with any guide/skier interpersonal problems that may develop throughout the week. Most of these issues will be handled through the Guide Trainer teams but the Coordinators should be able to offer possible solutions and give guidance when necessary.

The Guide Training Coordinator role is filled by a team of two people: one experienced sighted Guide Trainer and one experienced visually-impaired Guide Trainer. The Guide Training Coordinator role is a consultative effort between both members of the guide training coordination team.

Pre-Event

• Review guide training manual.
• Arrange to have the guide training manual printed.
• With Awards Coordinator, ensure that there are enough SFL Guide Certification patches and be sure they are ordered, if needed.

Planning Meeting

• Depending on travel distance, time and budget constraints, you may be asked to attend the planning meeting. If you do not attend, please ensure your responsibilities are carried out by someone who does.
• Visit and review ski trails with Ski Site Coordinator, ski site people (remember flat area for beginners).
• Check on availability of trail maps.
• Review guide training schedule with Event Chair.
• Discuss needs for meeting spaces and A/V equipment with Hotel Function Coordinator.
• Discuss meal needs with Meals Coordinator.
• Discuss need for transportation during guide training, if necessary.
• Help determine space for ski storage and fitting.

November 1

• Obtain the list of applicants from the Applications Coordinators (early to mid October). This can give you an idea who has already applied but should not be used as a definitive list.
• Make a tentative list of potential Guide Trainers (consult Event Chair who can obtain recommendations from last year).
• It is important to choose Guide Trainers from seasoned instructor/guides and visually-impaired skiers who have adequate skiing skills and interpersonal communication abilities.
• It is important to choose Guide Trainers who have submitted an application showing a commitment to the program.
• Select 8-10 sighted and visually impaired Guide Trainer teams. Distribute hardcopy guide training manuals. Determine if guide manuals are needed in special format and, if so, braille, audio, large print or electronic.
• Have Guide Trainer choices approved by Event Chair and SFL President.
• Ensure that all selected Guide Trainers have submitted an application to their respective Coordinator.
• Notify Applications Coordinators of Guide Trainer selections in time for them to be included in first wave of acceptances (early November).
• Arrange with Special-format Communications Coordinator to have guide training manual put into the requested special formats.
• Send confirmation letters to Guide Trainers with event information, airport arrival time, and job description. Also, send a copy of the guide training manual if needed.
• Notify the Transportation and Registration and Housing Coordinators who the Guide Trainers will be.

January 1

• Establish training schedule for Guide Trainers.
• Establish training schedule for instructor/guides.
• Match teams of Guide Trainers and assign tasks.
• Send out packet to Guide Trainers listing information about first- and second-year guides and Guide Trainer assignments of training tasks and teams.
• Guide trainers should have some type of identifying distinction. A scarf has been used for the past several years. Acquire an adequate number of such items for this purpose.

Two Weeks Before Event

• Assign instructor/guides to Guide Trainer groups.
• From Guide Applications Coordinator, obtain a list of first-year guides. Give contact information to guide trainers so they can call the first-year guides in their groups.
• Make sure you have certification patches.
• Arrange for the SFL President, Event Chair, MIP Coordinator, and First Aid Coordinator to speak at first- and second-year instructor/guide meeting on Saturday night.
• Arrange for Guide Trainer scarves to distinguish who are Guide Trainers.

International Week

Thursday Evening

• Arrive at site.

Friday

• Check arrangements for Guide Trainer training, schedule, room, a/v equipment, last-minute changes, etc.
• Ski and evaluate the trails to be used.
• Check need for trail passes, availability of trail maps, food and transportation for training weekend.
• Get updated list of guides from Instructor/Guide Applications Coordinator.
• Make list and make copies for Guide Trainer teams.

• Guide trainer training:
  · Discuss role of Guide Trainers
  · Go over schedule for the week
  · Give Guide Trainers lists of the instructor/guides who will be assigned to their groups.
  · Distribute Guide Trainer scarves.
  

Saturday

• Guide trainer training on snow including skiing the trails.
• Duplicate the Guide Trainer group lists for distribution to instructor/guides.
• Begin training of first- and second-year instructor/guides in the evening.
  · Cover role of the guide
  · Go over schedule for the week
  · Show relevant, up-to-date video about disability issues.
  · Allow time for welcomes and overview from SFL President, Event Chair, MIP Coordinator, and First Aid Coordinator.
  
• Have Guide Trainer teams work with first- and second-year guides in small groups.
• Participate in skier-guide matching.
• The input of the Guide Training Coordinators during the guide/skier matching can be very helpful and at times critical. The Guide Training Coordinators generally have insights about both guides and skiers and, therefore, can help determine positive guide/skier matches.
• To assess the appropriateness of an instructor/guide applicant with complete confidence is nearly impossible from an application. As a result, we sometimes accept guides who have deficiencies that are not discovered until the instructor/guide training. At that time, the Guide Trainer and the Guide Training Coordinators should develop strategies that support the instructor/guide so that skiing instruction and guiding of the participant are achieved with safety and satisfactory results.

Sunday

• Continue with instructor/guide training.
• Observe first- and second-year guides and with consultation make any necessary changes in skier/guide pairings.

Throughout the Week

• Attend all morning "sunrise" meetings.
• Be available in a central location each morning and mid-day to assist with matching guides and skiers who are unmatched because of guide shortages, illness, or other unforeseen circumstances.
• Facilitate instructor/guide and participant meetings.
• Ensure that on-snow technique sessions have been organized, this function may be delegated by the Event Chair or SFL President to another individual.
• Help instructor/guides improve their communication skills and instructional techniques.
• Monitor ski trails with safety concerns in mind.
• Trail etiquette must be stressed throughout training and during the week. This is especially important during the race/rally. Both guides and skiers can get caught up in the race/rally competitive atmosphere; this increases the chance of accidents.
• Help with needed program changes and/or alternate plans.
• Help with instructor/guide and skier problems as necessary.

Monday

• Facilitate the alumni guide orientation meeting.
  · Welcome them back.
  · Discuss terminology and communication.
  · Review how to start with a beginning skier.
  · Discuss safety.
  · Discuss trail etiquette.
  · Go over schedule for week.
  
• Conduct afternoon instructor/guide meeting.
  · Discuss Jan Haug Award.
  

Tuesday

• Conduct morning participant meeting, small group format.

Wednesday

• Facilitate morning instructor/guide meeting.

Thursday

• Facilitate morning participant meeting, large group format.

Friday

• Hand out guide certification patches at last morning instructor/guide meeting.
• Compile recommendations from instructor/guides for program improvements.
• Discuss recommendations for Jan Haug Award.

Saturday

• Submit names for the Jan Haug Award, the first-time guide, and first-time visually-impaired participant to SFL President.
• Guide trainers hand out race awards at the banquet.

Post-Event

• Make list of people interested in being Guide Trainers for the next year.
• Recommend to Event Chair potential Guide Trainers for the next year.
• Compile Guide Trainer program suggestions and communicate to Event Chair and/or SFL President.
• Recommend any needed changes in manual or training.
• Inventory instructor/guide training manuals and Guide Certification patches for next year.
• Make recommendations for improvements at wrap-up meeting or to Event Chair and SFL President.

12B. Guide Trainers

The Guide Trainers are a vital part of the Ski for Light program. Guide training teams are made up of one experienced sighted Guide and one experienced visually-impaired participant. Throughout the week, each team is responsible for a group of about 10 guide/skier pairs. These team leaders instruct the new guides, assist with technique sessions, identify guide/skier match problems, monitor activity and give valuable program input. The Guide Trainer is a highly visible role and serves as a role model and information provider.

In recent years, 8-10 guide training groups have been used for the pre-event training of first- and second-year guides. During the training of first- and second-year guides, each group has a small number of new guides for individualized instruction and feedback. Alumni guides are added to these groups for the remainder of the week.

It is important that Guide Trainers have adequate skiing and teaching abilities to instruct in all skiing progressions. Guide trainers must have excellent interpersonal and communications skills. It is important that Guide Trainers have submitted an application and shown commitment to the program.

Pre-Event

• Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the instructor/guide training manual.
• Arrive on Friday before the event by dinnertime.

International Week

• Participate in Guide Trainer training.
• Provide training of instructor/guides in your respective groups emphasizing:
  · Instructional techniques
  · Safety issues
  · Trail etiquette
  · Possible interpersonal problems with guide/skier pairs
  · Health/safety issues
  · Need for communication
  · Familiarity with instructor/guide training manual
  
• Attend all Guide Trainer meetings.
• Attend and help facilitate group meetings with guides and skiers.
• Assist with technique sessions.
• Offer assistance on-snow to pairs that need it.
• Give off-snow assistance with any interpersonal problems or concerns that may develop.
• Evaluate abilities, strengths and weaknesses of guides in your group and provide this information to Guide Training Coordinators.

Post-Event

• Give program suggestions to Guide Training Coordinators.

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