Shape the Next Generation of Skydivers

USPA Coach Rating Course

Ratings Courses

USPA Coach Rating Course

The Coach rating is the first instructional rating most skydivers earn, and it's also the foundation every other USPA rating builds on. This course covers the lesson design, briefing, and debriefing skills that make the difference between knowing the material and being able to teach it.

3 daysIn-person intensive
$300Course fee
100 jumpsMinimum to start
2–3Evaluation jumps

Why train with Skydive Fundamentals

The Coach rating is built as a mentorship rating: you're learning to work alongside instructors, brief and debrief students, and help newer jumpers build the skills their license progression requires. That's a different job than being a skilled jumper yourself, and it takes direct practice to build.

We spend real time on debriefing specifically. It's the skill most candidates underestimate walking into the course, and the one you'll lean on for the rest of your teaching career. If you can debrief well, everything else in this rating gets easier to teach.

How the course is structured

We use a blended approach so the in-person days go straight into practical work instead of covering ground you could learn ahead of time. Before Day 1, you'll complete a set of instructional videos on your own:

  • USPA structure and administration
  • Coach rating privileges and maintenance
  • Rules and liability
  • General lesson plan design

Theory Review & Mastering Briefings

MorningWe review the pre-course video material together and make sure everyone's working from the same foundation on structure, privileges, rules, and lesson planning before moving into application.
AfternoonYou'll start practicing how to brief first jump course topics: equipment checks, aircraft procedures, exit fundamentals.
Late afternoon / eveningWe move into briefing group freefall topics: floating and diving exits, adjusting fall rate, taking a dock, and tracking.

Coach Responsibilities, Gear & Your First Evaluation

MorningWe cover what a Coach is expected to do on a jump, gear checks from an instructional perspective, and spend significant time on debriefing.
AfternoonYour first in-air evaluation jump, following a full ground briefing and rehearsal.

Remaining Evaluations

Your second evaluation jump, and a third if needed. You'll keep demonstrating briefing, coaching, and debriefing under realistic conditions until you've met the standard.

Prerequisites

  • Current USPA B-License
  • Minimum 100 jumps
  • Current USPA membership
  • USPA Coach Online Exam completed (open-book, based on the SIM and IRM)
  • Your own current copy of the USPA SIM and Coach IRM

We also recommend assisting on at least one First Jump Course before the rating course, if you haven't already. It's not a formal requirement, but seeing student questions and instructional delivery firsthand gives you real context once you're in the room.

Investment

The course fee is $300. Jump tickets for your evaluation jumps are separate and paid directly to the dropzone at the time of the course. You're responsible for both your slot and your evaluator's slot for each evaluation jump; plan for roughly 2–3 evaluation jumps total.

Who you'll train with

Christina Arango

USPA Coach Examiner · AFF Instructor · Active since 2001

Christina earned her USPA Coach rating in 2003 and her AFF Instructor rating in 2011, becoming a Coach Examiner in 2014. She leads most Coach rating courses at Skydive Fundamentals.

Juan Arango

USPA/UPT Tandem Examiner · AFF Instructor · FAA Senior Rigger · 11,000+ jumps

Juan brings his rigging and tandem instruction background to the gear check and equipment portions of the course.

Questions candidates ask

Who should pursue this rating?

Any licensed skydiver with at least 100 jumps who wants to build teaching skills and mentor newer jumpers. It's also the required first step toward higher USPA instructor ratings like AFF-I or Tandem I.

What does this rating allow me to do?

A USPA Coach can teach and sign off on certain portions of the USPA A-License proficiency card, including basic group freefall skills, canopy skills, and debriefing, working under the supervision of a USPA Instructor.

How can I prepare?

Study the USPA SIM and IRM thoroughly and complete the pre-course video material before Day 1. Beyond that, observe experienced instructors and offer to help newer skydivers under supervision when you can. The more familiar you are with the material and the basics of instruction going in, the more you'll get out of the three days.

How do I pass the course?

Passing requires demonstrating proficiency across four areas: ground evaluations, in-air evaluations, gear checks, and debriefings. What we're actually watching for during evaluations is judgment under real conditions, not scripted delivery: did you notice when a briefing point wasn't landing and adjust before the jump, and did your debrief address what the student actually needed to hear rather than just what happened. We give feedback throughout the course, so these standards are clear well before your evaluation jumps, not a surprise on Day 3.

How do I keep my rating current?

Maintain current USPA membership, attend an annual Instructor Rating Renewal Seminar (IRRS), assist with a First Jump Course annually, and make at least 15 coach jumps per year.

Flexible training options

Can't make our scheduled dates, or want to train a group at your own dropzone? We're open to traveling to conduct a Coach Course on location, provided there are enough candidates to make the course viable. This works well for dropzones or groups looking to certify multiple coaches without everyone traveling separately.

Start your Coach rating

If you meet the prerequisites and you're ready to build these skills with us, reach out and we'll walk you through registration and next steps.

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