Joint Statement

U.S. Figure Skating (USFS), the Professional Skaters Association (PSA) and the Ice Skating Institute (ISI) have approved a unified statement of recognition furthering the cooperative relationship of the three organizations for the overall betterment of ice skating and the ice skating industry.

U.S. Figure Skating (USFS), the Professional Skaters Association (PSA) and the Ice Skating Institute (ISI) recognize and support each other's role in the development of figure and recreational skating in the United States.

U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States and is so recognized by the International Skating Union (ISU) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

The Professional Skaters Association is the organization of teaching and performing skating professionals, which provides and promotes the education and certification of figure skating coaches.  U.S. Figure Skating recognizes the PSA as the official coaches' education, certification and training program.

The Ice Skating Institute is the organization of ice rink owners, operators, instructors, participants, builders and suppliers which supports the development and operation of ice rinks and provides and promotes recreational ice skating programs in the United States.

Each organization agrees to cooperate fully with the others to further the growth and success of the ice skating industry, nurture the figure and recreational skating communities and promote and encourage the fulfillment of the responsibilities of each organization.

U.S. Figure Skating further agrees that the participation of U.S. Figure Skating members in ISI-endorsed recreational skating activities, such as recitals, shows and exhibitions, tests and competitions, endorsed by the ISI is hereby permitted without violating the rules of U.S. Figure Skating, provided that such activities (1) are conducted by ISI Member rinks, clubs or skating schools in their normal course of business; (2) are not conducted by or for the benefit of a third party that exceeds the spirit of this Statement of Cooperation; (3) do not include the participation of U.S. Figure Skating member skaters who are or have been active U.S. Championship competitors at or above the Novice level within the past two years unless participation has been permitted as described below; and (4) are not intended for television broadcast or re-broadcast.  This paragraph represents a grant of special permission from U.S. Figure Skating, in the spirit of cooperation with the ISI, to allow its members to participate in ISI-endorsed recreational activities without the need for a separate U.S. Figure Skating sanction.  However, ISI-endorsed activities exceeding the scope of this paragraph are not covered in this grant of special permission; therefore, U.S. Figure Skating members participating in such activities shall be in violation of the rules and policies of U.S. Figure Skating unless U.S. Figure Skating approval by way of sanction, ESCA or special permission is obtained.

The ISI further agrees that the participation of skaters registered with the ISI in activities sponsored by the U.S. Figure Skating shall not be deemed to be a violation of the rules of the ISI.

U.S. Figure Skating, PSA and the ISI acknowledge the developing relationship between the three associations working together for the growth and betterment of ice skating now and in the future.

As printed in the September/October 2004 Edition of The Professional Skater Magazine.