Student Self Leadership
Develop Skills to Lead On and Off the Ice
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Click here to register now or keep reading for program details.
U.S. Figure Skating members ages 14–18 are invited to join a free four-week Student Self Leadership experience created especially for skaters. You’ll learn practical skills to help you take greater ownership of your goals, work through challenges, communicate what you need, and build confidence. These are skills you can use in training, school, relationships, and wherever life takes you.
You’ll complete online activities on your own schedule and meet each week with other U.S. Figure Skating athletes and a Blanchard leadership coach.
Key Dates:
- Registration Deadline: Sun, Oct 4
- Welcome Session: Tues, Oct 13 at 7 PM Eastern Time (4 PM Pacific Time)
- Online Course Site Opens: Thurs, Oct 15
- U.S. Figure Skating Live Sessions: Tuesdays, Oct 20, Oct 27, Nov 3, and Nov 10
- Course Concludes: Wed, Nov 11
Your Four-Week Journey
Each week focuses on practical Self Leadership skills you can use on and off the ice:
- Week 1: Get Past Limiting Beliefs
- Week 2: Find Your Power
- Week 3: Set Goals and Measure Progress
- Week 4: Communicate with Coaches and Leaders
Time Commitment
Student Self Leadership takes about 10 hours to complete, spread out over 4 weeks. Each week plan for:
- 1.5 hours of self-paced learning on the online course site (6 hours total)
- 1 hour in a live virtual session with a Blanchard leadership coach or watching the session recording (4 hours total)
You can complete the self-paced activities when they work best with your school, training, and competition schedule. All you need is a computer, tablet, or phone with internet access.
U.S. Figure Skating Live Sessions
Your cohort has private weekly live sessions just for U.S. Figure Skating athletes.
Tuesdays at 7 PM Eastern (4 PM Pacific)
October 20, October 27, November 3, and November 10
These INSPIRE sessions are a chance to learn alongside other skaters, reflect on what you're learning, ask questions, and work with a Blanchard leadership coach to apply the skills to your own goals and experiences.
We encourage you to attend live whenever you can, but we know athletes have busy schedules. Each session will be recorded, so you can stay on track if training, competition, school, or another commitment keeps you from attending live.
Start with the Orientation Session
Before the course begins, join us on Tuesday October 13 at 7 PM Eastern (4 PM Pacific) for a live Orientation session.
We'll introduce you to the Student Self Leadership experience, show you how to navigate the online course site, and make sure you know what to expect before Week 1 begins.
Earn a Digital Leadership Credential
Complete the Student Self Leadership course, and you'll earn a digital leadership credential that you can share on resumes and work or scholarship applications.
Students who plan to attend higher education in the United States are also eligible to apply for a $2,500 scholarship.
Ready to Join Us?
Participation is free. Register by Sunday, October 4, 2026.
When you register, enter referral code: USFS2026. (Using the code will place you in the private U.S. Figure Skating cohort.)
Do you have a sibling or friend ages 14-18 who would like to participate? They're welcome to join, too. They should register without entering the U.S. Figure Skating referral code so that we can put them in our general Student Self Leadership group.
Are You a U.S. Figure Skating Coach, Parent, or Guardian?
We have a separate experience created for the adults who support U.S. Figure Skating athletes. Click here.
Questions?
Email us at SSLprogram@blanchardinstitute.org or call us at 760-839-8025. We look forward to learning with you this fall!
If these dates don’t work for your schedule, sign up for our newsletter below where we will announce future session dates.