Skating Coaches Blog

Sometimes I do wonder if it really makes a difference if one is rated or not. I know rink management likes rated coaches but does it truly help the coach get more students?
When I got my Master Rating in Figures and Freestyle back in the early '80s I think it gave the parents of the kids I was teaching a bit more confidence in me but I already had these students! Now that I teach in a more recreational rink I don't think it makes any difference. Currently our rink doesn't advertise our credentials and doing so may make a difference.
It is also my opinion that the whole rating "thing" has gone a bit too far. Choreography ratings? If I'm coaching a student that needs an extra sophisticated program I certainly don't care if the person I choose has a rating or not. My criteria is whether or not this person makes up great programs! I believe it's the same for coaches. If I'm a parent and Coach "A" is rated but isn't doing much with their skaters, and Coach "B" is not rated and has students that are really coming along nicely it is obvious which one I'm giving my money to.
Of course having a fairly high rating separates the coaches who have spent many years in the sport from the pond skaters but in the end I don't know if having all those ratings turns into money.
 

I coach ice dance & personally I have big issues with the current requirements for the first 2 levels of dance ratings. For Registered, all you need is to have passed your pre-bronze dances & for Certified you need your pre-silvers. Sorry, but someone who's only passed pre-bronze has no business teaching ice dance theory. And pre-silver is barely beginning to scratch the surface. I think this encourages coaches who (IMO) are NOT qualified to teach dance to take the ratings exam & then teach a subject they don't understand enough yet. This is a big reason why I haven't bothered to take any ratings exams myself; in my opinion, it means nothing re. how well you can actually teach.