RkyMtnHigh 0 #1 October 24, 2006 What are your thoughts about minimums and ratings? Just because a jumper reaches 100 jumps, are they really ready and skilled enough to get a Coach rating and really Coach newbies? Just because a jumper reaches 500 jumps and a D license, are they really ready for an AFFI, Tandem, or Pro (Demo) Rating? There are jumpers who go for a rating as soon as they hit the minimum jump requirement versus evaluating their own skillset and making sure that they are really ready. What is the real motivation? Is it to offset their own expense in the sport? to make a profit? or ego? What is it? I'm sure some are just natural talent and are fine with getting the ratings at the minimums and are a valuable asset to the sport...and others, well....they are "getting the cart before the horse". _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,111 #2 October 24, 2006 >Just because a jumper reaches 100 jumps, are they really ready and >skilled enough to get a Coach rating and really Coach newbies? Nope. That's why you have to get 100 jumps AND get a certain license AND pass a BIC before you can coach newbies. >Just because a jumper reaches 500 jumps and a D license, are they really >ready for an AFFI, Tandem, or Pro (Demo) Rating? Nope. Again, you have to make the jumps AND get the license AND do the work to get the rating. Pro rating holders do a lot more than just make 500 jumps to get a PRO rating. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #3 October 24, 2006 Quote There are jumpers who go for a rating as soon as they hit the minimum jump requirement versus evaluating their own skillset and making sure that they are really ready. What is the real motivation? Is it to offset their own expense in the sport? to make a profit? or ego? What is it? Many people who jump whole hog into a new sport like sharing their joy with others. I used to assist a lot of diving courses done by my original instructor. If those people can pass a quality evaluation course, great. But yeah, there are also those who make the sport their entire life, and an ego drive makes them want to be instructors when they shouldn't be anywhere near students. (again speaking from experience in the water realm) I like the time requirement for TIs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #4 October 24, 2006 BIC? Bill you are showing your age in the sport The BIC was phased out in 2000 or 2001 in favor of the "Coach Course" which is little more then the BIC with some basic air skills thrown in too. Skills are basic to pass because lets face it, the upper level A card stuff doesn't exactly take a member of Fastrax or Airspeed to fairly evaluate. The jumper has already proven they can survive on their own in freefall and just needs someone there to say," be more agressive on the docking" or "you need to present more arms to keep from flipping over on the diving exit".Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yardhippie 0 #5 October 24, 2006 Ive got about 800 skydives, and Im known at our DZ to help along new freefliers. not very well, but I offer advice and teaching I was given early on in my career. I'll jump with em and shoot video. Ive never taken cash, and never had my slot paid. Does that mean I might miss out on some more advanced stuff where I could learn something? Yup. BUT, when I was at that point in my career, I really looked up to the one that would help me. No matter how little. Now, I try to give some of that back. i have no ratings for a reason. I dont believe Im ready for that full on responsiblity. I am upfront and frank with those I try to help about my postion (not being a coach). then at the end of a dive and were debrifing or just chatting that person has a big ole smile on their face and had a good time. Sweet. Thats why I do it.Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #6 October 24, 2006 And that's a great example of "Paying It Forward". "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
apollard24 0 #7 October 24, 2006 Yeah, wish I met more people like you. Breathe out so I can breathe you in... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #8 October 24, 2006 QuoteYeah, wish I met more people like you. That makes me sad. I've met lots of people like Hippie (of course there's no one EXACTLY like Hippie ) but with the same philosophy about giving back. As for minimums, I've always looked at them as a guideline. I have well over the minimum jumps to be a Coach, and am even over the minimum to become a S/L Instructor. I know that I am in no way ready to do either. I could probably handle the ground stuff and the teaching aspects of it, but I don't feel like I have the in-air skills to be truly successful at it. I would hope that if I took a rating course, the person leading the course would tell me that I'm not ready."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GPSJane 0 #9 October 24, 2006 Thank goodness PASA doesn't let you coach at 100 jumps. If I tried to coach I'd mess up the jump for the student. On the other hand, another jumper at the same level as me is much more current and would do well. I guess it's a good thing you have to pass the coach's rating.Only skydivers know why the birds sing; they don't have to pack a parachute! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yossarian 0 #10 October 24, 2006 i love giving something back, i want to be a coach as soon as im ready (that being the key phrase, as opposed to when i have the required jump numbers). even at this early stage ill jump with less experienced jumpers moving through warp on their practice jumps, as i know i can fall down the tube, and i pass on what i see to their coach to help them along, i cant imagine charging a slot unless im wouldnt otherwise jump due to lack of funds (which unfortunately is alot at the moment, what with being the tax-dodging drain on society that i am) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #11 October 24, 2006 Hey, watch it! You're talking to Mr. Minimum A license at 25 jumps B license at 50 jumps, followed immediately by two night jumps C license at 102 jumps Coach rating at 105 jumps D license at 200 jumps AFFI at 6 hours, 2 minutes of freefall (380 jumps) The minimum has to be somewhere, ya know About the ratings. A rating is a license to learn. That's all! Someone says "you are now licensed to learn to teach." It doesn't mean you're a good teacher. I've never met a new AFFI rating holder that thought they were a badd-ass instructor - in fact, most of us are a little scared It's a tough thing knowing you are responsible for saving another life.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #12 October 24, 2006 Dóh!...sorry Coach I appreciate your patience and encouragement back then as I know I was a challenging student. _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
michalm21 2 #13 October 24, 2006 It is all relative. Depends on the skill set. I'm new, just started recently (49 jumps), but I know I want to coach and become an AFFI one day. Not for $, but for the teaching part. The sooner this can happen the better. However, having said that, I know I will not do it until I am positive I have all the knowledge (ok, maybe not all since nobody knows it all), skills, right attitude, and 100% confidence, that will make me a great instructor. Will I get my coach rating at 100, 200 or 300? Will I become an AFFI at 500, or 1000+ jumps? I don't know. I only know that I will take my time to make sure I am outstanding at what I do. /wait, is that relevant to the original post? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #14 October 24, 2006 QuoteI appreciate your patience and encouragement back then as I know I was a challenging student. No way! You were a joy to have in the class. I don't care as much about the little details as I care about people that are enthusiastic, pay attention and focus on the important things. You did all of those Landings. Well, your landings needed some work, but then again, so did mine Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #15 October 24, 2006 Not much has changed...I think my current Coach would agree _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #16 October 24, 2006 QuoteHey, watch it! You're talking to Mr. Minimum A license at 25 jumps B license at 50 jumps, followed immediately by two night jumps C license at 102 jumps Coach rating at 105 jumps D license at 200 jumps For some of you newbs, the jump#'s for licenses were for the most part doubled from B-D a couple of years ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
