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p U.S. Figure Skating announced the addi- tion of a coaching membership category to launch July 1, 2024. The initiative passed with a 983-9 majority vote on Friday, May 5, 2023, at U.S. Figure Skating Governing Council in Las Vegas, Nevada. The integration of a coaching membership into U.S. Figure Skating will be a key compo - nent in growing the sport by becoming active and engaged partners of the governing body. The membership category addition will include establishing an elected coaches council for gov- ernance as well as building a headquarters team to lead the charge in developing coaching education, certification and development. "The integration of coaches under the U.S. Figure Skating umbrella is a great step towards streamlining and growing our sport," U.S. Figure Skating President Sam Auxier said. The transition from the Professional Skaters Association (PSA) to a U.S. Figure Skating membership will take place during the 2023-24 skating sea - son, with U.S. Figure Skating deliver- ing continuing education requirements (CERs) starting January 1, 2024, and taking over fully by July 1, 2024. "Under U.S. Figure Skating, the membership will allow coaches to be integrated into the sport in a way they haven't before by providing stream - lined education, certification, professional development oppor- tunities and compliance," U.S. Figure Skating Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Kelly Vogtner said. For more information and updates on the coaching member- ship, visit usfigureskating.org. p USA Hockey concluded its four-day Annual Meeting (June 7-10) in Denver with nearly 600 attendees celebrating the accomplish- ments of the 2022-23 season and charting the course for the future. "The energy and overall positive environment throughout the course of our Annual Meeting was incredibly inspiring," said Mike Trimboli, president of USA Hockey. Attendees learned that participation numbers for the 2022-23 campaign were strong and included a record number of coaches and female players; the second highest number of officials ever; and player numbers in most age groups that surpassed pre-pandemic levels. "It's a tribute to the work of many, from our volunteers in com - munities throughout the country, to our friends at the NHL and their member clubs, the NHLPA, and really everywhere in between," said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. ANNUAL AWARDS During Friday's (June 9) President's Awards Dinner, USA Hockey honored several individuals as part of its annual awards program. In addition, USA Hockey Service Award recipients were recognized for their contributions. The evening also highlighted the success of U.S. teams on the international stage, with medals in five of the six major international tournaments, including gold medals in the IIHF Women's World Championship, IPC World Para Ice Hockey Championship and IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship. ELECTIONS At Saturday's Congress meeting, Donna Guariglia (Morristown, N.J.) was re-elected as treasurer of USA Hockey and John Tobin (Charlestown, Mass.) was re-elected as vice president and chair of the USA Hockey Legal Council. Both are three-year terms. PRESIDENT'S AWARDS President's Awards were presented by Trimboli to USA Hockey volunteers Taylor Lipsett (McKinney, Texas) and Kathleen Smith (Salt Lake City, Utah), along with staff members Lisa Vollmers (Dexter, Mich.) and Scott Aldrich (Hancock, Mich.). J NGB News U.S. Figure Skating & USA Hockey PHOTOS: COURTESY OF US FIGURE SKATING, USA HOCKEY U.S. Figure Skating Integrates Coaches Into Membership Starting July 2024 24 / JULY.AUGUST.2023 USICERINKS.COM Awards and Growth Highlight USA Hockey's Annual Meeting