From Physical Education to Alpine Ski Teaching and Coaching: A Figurational Study of The Spectrum

The Spectrum has had a long association with Alpine ski coaching within the British context. Indeed, it has endured as the central coaching approach of the British Association of Snow-sports Instructors (BASI) for more than 30 years. This chapter examines the use of The Spectrum as a long-term process within BASI. BASI adopted The Spectrum during the early 1990’s. In 1990 the first BASI Chief Executive had the foresight and management skills to enable both a technical and a teaching syllabus to be developed. In 1992 the first Trainers’ conference was held near Aviemore, Scotland where Trainers were presented with an outline of both syllabi. In BASI courses during the early to mid-2000’s and possibly prior, the styles were demonstrated by the Trainers and students were often expected to deliver a lesson using one or more teaching styles other than Command or set a challenge in assessment of using a particular teaching style.