Back in July, I created a thread titled Barefoot Running Instructors Wanted, so we could start to build a map of people who teach barefoot running methodolgy/technique. It's inevitable. It's going to happen. People are going to be teaching other people "how" to run barefoot. Some people are going to charge. Some people aren't. That's not up to me to decided if they should or should not. I figured the best way to handle this quandary was to "compromise," as my good buddy Jason later would term it. That compromise included building a map of barefoot running instructors, where each person who wanted to be added to the map could do so, at no charge to them, and list all their contact info, credentials, certifications, calendar of events, fees (if any), etc., etc.
Through our discussion there, a week later, I posed some questions about Barefoot Running Instructor Certifications. Specifically, I asked What qualifications should someone have in order to become a barefoot running instructor? I was interested in possibly developing a curriculum, something I have thought about for a very long, long time, and I wanted to hear from all of you to get your feedback and opinons. After much talk on the subject and after weighing the pros and the cons, the fors and the againsts, I decided, at this time, the best stance the Barefoot Runners Society should take on this subject is none. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Is it the right thing or the wrong thing? The jury is still out as far as I am concerned. There's still too many new developments taking place all the time, new blood, new ideas, new growth, new studies, etc., to specifically state what qualifications someone should have in order to teach others how to safely run barefoot. It's too soon to make a fair judgement.
After that conversation, it was clear that there would not be a "judging panel" of senior, experienced, expert barefoot runners developing a curriculum and overseeing who should and who should not instruct barefoot running at this time, without a lot of intense effort and a whole lot more thought and commitment from many, so I thought it would be a good idea to allow the participants of these courses/lessons to be the ones to ultimately determine if the instructor themselves were worthy of the job. This would be done by a sort of peer-rating/review system set up here at the BRS, where after attending a workshop, participants can come back to the BRS and use the soon-to-be devised rating system to critique their instructor/instruction. Then others can decide for themselves if they want to seek assistance from that instructor.
So, I ask you all, what categories should a barefoot running instructor be rated on? (I have my own list, but I want to hear yours.)
Through our discussion there, a week later, I posed some questions about Barefoot Running Instructor Certifications. Specifically, I asked What qualifications should someone have in order to become a barefoot running instructor? I was interested in possibly developing a curriculum, something I have thought about for a very long, long time, and I wanted to hear from all of you to get your feedback and opinons. After much talk on the subject and after weighing the pros and the cons, the fors and the againsts, I decided, at this time, the best stance the Barefoot Runners Society should take on this subject is none. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Is it the right thing or the wrong thing? The jury is still out as far as I am concerned. There's still too many new developments taking place all the time, new blood, new ideas, new growth, new studies, etc., to specifically state what qualifications someone should have in order to teach others how to safely run barefoot. It's too soon to make a fair judgement.
After that conversation, it was clear that there would not be a "judging panel" of senior, experienced, expert barefoot runners developing a curriculum and overseeing who should and who should not instruct barefoot running at this time, without a lot of intense effort and a whole lot more thought and commitment from many, so I thought it would be a good idea to allow the participants of these courses/lessons to be the ones to ultimately determine if the instructor themselves were worthy of the job. This would be done by a sort of peer-rating/review system set up here at the BRS, where after attending a workshop, participants can come back to the BRS and use the soon-to-be devised rating system to critique their instructor/instruction. Then others can decide for themselves if they want to seek assistance from that instructor.
So, I ask you all, what categories should a barefoot running instructor be rated on? (I have my own list, but I want to hear yours.)