As snowboarding has grown over the past 20 years, there has also been amazing growth in snowboard competitions.  Today, there are over 6000 registered competitive snowboarders in the US.  Between the USASA and USSA, there are hundreds of events through the country in any given winter.  Many of the riders in these events participate in formal training programs.  Whether it’s an independent team, a local club or a program supported by a local ski area; all of these programs employ coaches such as yourself to provide a safe and fun environment that allows riders of all ages to learn and progress in snowboarding.  Structured programs have been growing and expanding over the past decade and so has the demand for trained, knowledgeable, professional snowboard coaches.  That’s where this program comes in.  The Coach Education Program covers a variety of topics ranging from coaching philosophy to technical concepts to event tactics to movement analysis.  We are hoping to inspire thoughts and ideas that you can take back to your fellow coaches and riders.  In no way, do we want to tell you exactly how to coach a particular trick or technique, we merely wish to provide a foundation of principles that you can expand on and add your own ideas to.  Just like the sport itself, there is no right or wrong way to perform a specific trick. So, in coaching there is no right or wrong way.  As long as you are minimizing risk, having fun and sticking with the underlying concepts of snowboarding, you’re doing it right.