US Ski and Snowboard Level 100 Mandate—A Closer Look

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U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) has mandated that to be eligible to attend USSS events, all member coaches must be Level 100 Certified. According to USSS, the goal of the Level 100 Cross Country Ski Coach Education is to provide new and developing coaches with the foundational knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to effectively coach athletes at all levels, particularly youth and junior skiers, in a way that is developmentally appropriate, safe, and aligned with long-term athlete development principles.

That’s a noble goal. But from where I sit, the actual certification pathway is unclear, especially for new or volunteer coaches. When you log into the USSS membership portal, it’s not at all obvious how a first-time coach, particularly someone volunteering at a grassroots program, can realistically become L100 certified before the start of the competition season. That’s a concern.

I have spoken to a couple of members of USSS Cross Country Sport Committee, and they have shared with me that they felt that this mandated education—and the cost of that education—was not the best educational path, but that the staff was driving the process and the committee had no option to oppose it.  If this is in fact the case, I would suggest this is more than a misguided approach and begins to look like a money grab.

While I understand that some view mandatory education as a positive step, I worry about the impact this will have on small programs that rely on parent volunteers or seasonal coaches. For those of us worried about the ever-increasing cost of the sport,  having volunteer or part time coaches may be part of the solution. We risk excluding people simply because they can’t afford—or don’t have time±to meet these requirements. These are often people who are critical to running youth programs, not paid staff with the budget and support of a large club.

We should also take a hard look at how this education is being delivered. Reading a manual, taking a test, and skating around a parking lot for a few hours isn’t my idea of effective coach development. Education is about exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and evolving our understanding, not memorizing content and ticking boxes.

Personally, I’m in regular contact with coaches, athletes, and scientists in endurance sports. I read current sports science literature, engage in ongoing dialogue, and actively share what I’ve learned over decades in this sport. I’ve always found that the most meaningful education happens through open discussion and debate, not a pre-scripted manual and exam.

I do believe there’s value in developing a shared language around technique and training. One of the biggest challenges in coaching is making sure we’re talking about the same things when we use terms like “threshold” or “training zones” or whatever! But having common terminology doesn’t necessarily mean information is being exchanged. Does Level 100 certification truly promote that kind of exchange?

I’ve said this before,  I know more about the training philosophies and athlete development systems of other countries than I do about what’s happening in U.S. Ski & Snowboard programs and the clubs that are producing the top athletes. Other nations openly share, publish, and discuss what they’re doing. That kind of transparency is deeply educational. So why aren’t we doing the same here? Wouldn’t that kind of openness be a more effective educational tool than a mandatory certification?

Which brings up another point: If you go to the USSS website right now, there’s almost no detailed information available about the 2025–26 ski season requirements, everything I see is for the 24-25 season. Nor can I find a clear curriculum of what you’re expected to pay for and complete. We’re being asked to invest time and money into something that isn’t clearly defined. If education adds real value to coaches, people will gladly pay for it: you don’t need to mandate it.

I’ve been a member of USSA—now USSS—for more than 50 years. I’ve paid the dues, year after year. And frankly, the return on that investment hasn’t been much. Until now, there’s been no formal education required of coaches. Many coaches were effectively grandfathered in based on their history with divisional or national programs, which made sense. To now require coaches who may have been coaching for 10-20-30 years to all of a sudden have to take Level 100 Certification seems odd to me.

To be honest I am not a USSS Certified Coach and the cost of it will likely preclude me from pursuing it, as whatever income I derive from ski coaching goes out the door in expenses. I think I have learned a few things over the years and I am unsure how a Level 100 Certification will benefit me and I am sure others feel that same way. But without the certification there seems to be no way to participate in the races.

But now that education is being mandated, we need to ask: Who is designing this curriculum? Are our top coaches involved in developing educational material? Is it based on the best science, real-world experience, and sound pedagogy? Will USSS be able to revise and update the curriculum as coaching knowledge continues to evolve?

Let’s not forget the cost. When you add up the membership, the Sport Education Academy subscription, First Aid/CPR, the technique clinic, and travel, it’s more than $500. For a coach working at a well-funded club, that might not be a problem. The employer pays for it, and the coach has time and support to complete it. But for volunteer coaches, especially those working at the grassroots level, that’s a big ask. Are we really saying that if you’re not a full-time, paid coach, you’re not welcome at USSS junior events?

And finally, how will any of this be enforced? Sure, coach bibs are handed out to people who have completed SafeSport and passed background checks. But at least here in the Rocky Mountain region, enforcement has been inconsistent at best. So, if USSS is going to mandate this certification, will they enforce it?

In the end, I support education. I always have. But I believe education should be meaningful, accessible, and collaborative, not compulsory, expensive, and prescriptive. We need to be careful not to confuse credentialing with learning.