Development Coach Education – Kick-off for a new, collaborative pathway

On 27–28 January, FIS welcomed an international group of experts and colleagues to its headquarters in Oberhofen to officially launch the re‑organization of the Development Coach Education pathway. Building on the long-standing tradition of development camps and aligned with the FIS Education Strategy, the meeting marked an important first step toward creating a more structured, shared, and sustainable approach to supporting coaches from Developing National Ski Associations (NSAs).

The workshop set the foundation for reshaping how FIS supports coach development — moving from occasional, camp-based learning opportunities toward a coherent, blended education pathway that empowers coaches to grow within their home environments and beyond.

True to the strategic principle of co-production, the workshop emphasized open dialogue, shared learning, and collaborative exploration. International experts and FIS representatives worked together to consider how a future Development Coach Education Program can better address the needs of coaches in under-resourced nations. Discussions focused on the purpose, structure, and feasibility of a more standardized framework, including foundational e-learning, an interdisciplinary in-person course, discipline-specific modules, and mentored practice phases, as outlined in the preliminary program documents. These early conversations helped clarify not only what the program might include, but also how it can evolve over time through ongoing community feedback.

“This session marked a natural next step in strengthening the FIS vision of advancing the coaching education ecosystem and elevating the knowledge base of coaches within developing NSAs. It reflects FIS’s strong commitment and responsibility to expand educational opportunities and to ensure that high-quality knowledge is accessible at the same level across all FIS Olympic and Paralympic disciplines,” said Dimitrije Lazarovski, FIS Director for Development Programs.

The workshop brought together an experienced international Expert Group, including Thomas Braun (GER), Pierre Ruel (CAN), and Mark Wolf (SUI). Their contributions were complemented by early input from Øyvind Sandbakk and Trond Nystad of Myra – Center for Athlete Development, who shared valuable insights ahead of the meeting. FIS representatives from Development and Education — Dimitrije Lazarovski, Jelena Dojcinovic, Cornelia Blank, and Pia Reindl — prepared and facilitated the exchange.

The atmosphere of openness and shared purpose led to a productive exchange of ideas and laid the first foundations of a long-term development process. Rather than finalizing a program, the group focused on establishing a solid, community-informed baseline from which the next phases can grow.

FIS will now continue to refine the framework based on the workshop outcomes. In the coming months, work will advance on eligibility criteria, competence-assessment tools, and the structure of a pilot foundational course. The program will remain iterative — tested in practice, strengthened by feedback, and shaped by the people it is designed to benefit.

By grounding this initiative in collaboration from the very beginning, FIS reaffirms its commitment to supporting coaches in developing nations — not only by providing education, but by fostering a community that grows, learns, and evolves together.