Monday, December 04, 2006
Latest Figure Skating at About.com Headlines
Thursday, April 13, 2006
How to Choose a Figure Skating Coach
Choosing a Figure Skating Coach
By Jo Ann Schneider Farris
Unlike ballet, dance, or gymnastics, where learning occurs in a group lesson format most of the time, figure skating is mastered through private lessons.
So….if your child is really interested in mastering figure skating, your first step as a skating parent is to select a private lesson coach. Who you take private lessons from should not be decided in haste; your private lesson instructor will be more than just a teacher: he or she will be your child’s mentor, guide, and role model.
There are so many individuals giving skating lessons these days, so choosing the best coach for your child can be confusing, so take your time before making a commitment to one particular coach.
What Kind of Skater Does Your Child Want to Be?
First decide what kind of skater you wish your child to become: does your little one want to be a serious competitive skater, a semi-serious recreational skater, or just skate for fun? A coach that fits in with what goals you chose can be found, but may take time – yes, it is possible to make “a perfect match!”
Serious Competitive Skaters
Competitive skaters have made the decision to put many, many hours into practice on and off the ice, commit to several private lessons each week, and do give up “a normal life” to achieve the skating goals they desire. Champions are not produced by talent alone. Do you have the time and money to make your child a competitor?
If that is the route you choose, plan on being at the rink for two to three hours a day at a minimum. This will include at least two 45—60 minute intense practice sessions which are called “freestyles.” Freestyle sessions are more expensive than the public sessions that beginning skaters usually practice and have fun on. It is not necessary to have a private lesson on every freestyle session your child skates on, but normally, competitors have at least three to four lessons a week on these sessions. It is not unusual for competitive skaters to have at least one private lesson a day.
Are you willing to take the time to make sure your child is on the ice five to six days a week for at least two to three hours a day? Are you willing to commit to at least three to four private lessons per week? Are you willing to trust a competitive skating coach to make decisions regarding your child’s skating? Do you have the money to make such a commitment?
Serious Recreational Skaters
If not, it may be easier to commit to the lifestyle of a “serious recreational skater.” Your child will still master many wonderful skating skills, have opportunities to take part in recreational figure skating competitions, perform in shows, and take skating tests. A serious recreational skater can skate 2 to 4 days a week, take one or two private lessons a week, and practice on either public skating sessions or freestyle sessions.
If you decide to keep skating fun and recreational, your child will probably not progress as fast as a competitive skater, but he or she will make steady progress and have a lot of fun. Also, this route is also much easier on the budget!
The “Serious Just For Fun” Skater
What if your child may just wants to skate for fun, but also master certain skills? There is nothing wrong with continuing in group lessons or supplementing group lessons with private lessons on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
How to find the coach that fits the needs of a recreational, but somewhat serious skater
Once you make this important decision between serious recreational or serious competitive skating, then begin your search for the coach that fits your needs.
If you decide on recreational “just for fun” skating, your decision can be quite easy. Perhaps the instructor that has given your child group lessons already seems to inspire your child and make skating fun? Feel free to approach that instructor directly and ask if he or she has time to take your child on.
Once a schedule has been set for lessons, plan on supplementing the time between lessons with some practice time. Piano teachers usually require daily practice and tell parents that no improvement will occur without practice; the same goes for skating. Plan on at least one practice session between each lesson, but if you can squeeze in two practice sessions, that would be better – do what you think you can handle at first.
As your child begins to enjoy his or her lessons and begins to skate more often, it is very likely that your coach will suggest he or she consider taking part in Basic Skills competitions and skating school exhibitions or shows. You may find yourself “naturally” becoming a serious recreational skater and want to increase your child’s practice and lesson time.
Understand that your coach’s time is valuable. Stick to the schedule you’ve set. Don’t cancel lessons often and don’t skip practice time. Listen to your coach’s suggestions and allow your child’s skating to develop into something that makes both of you proud.
Finding a coach for a serious competitive skater
It is rare for a skater to just jump immediately into competitive skating. Usually a child has found group lessons, Basic Skills events, and recreational skating quite enjoyable, and then has a desire to be the best and do more. Watching skating on television can really excite a child and may light a “spark” that gives your child a reason to wish to excel at skating. Don’t let this spark go out if possible, but be realistic and be sure you and your child understand that success won’t happen instantly.
Now, once you desire to join the world of competitive figure skating, first ask your existing coach if he or she can “take your child all the way.” It is not uncommon for skaters to make “a switch” in coaches when the time comes to enter the competitive skating world, but it is possible that even someone who has just begun to coach can train champions. 1988 Olympic Champion, Brian Boitano, was trained by the same coach throughout his skating career.
It is not necessary to make a “drastic switch” or change rinks or change everything immediately. Taking your time is perfectly okay. You may find that staying with the coach your child first began lessons with for recreational skating is the best route to take, especially when you first enter the competitive skating world.
How to Switch Coaches
Parents need to be aware that there are some guidelines all skating coaches follow. The most important guideline is that coaches DO NOT teach a private student that is already working with another coach without permission. It may seem sensible to you as a parent to try out another coach before making a complete break from your existing coach, but that is just not acceptable in the skating world and will cause problems for all parties involved.
There are many “don’ts” when the time comes to make a switch. Don’t start working with someone else before telling your existing private lesson coach that you are going to make a switch. Don’t tell your existing coach you are going to take a break from lessons and then start working with someone else. Don’t leave a message on an answering machine or send an email saying you are changing coaches; you must make the effort to notify the coach you are leaving either by phone or in person. Once you do make personal contact, don’t make your coach feel bad by trying to explain or justify the reasons for making a change; that is not necessary.
Be aware that your coach may be very hurt and may not take losing your child as a student lightly, so thank your coach for all they’ve done for your child’s skating so far. Make sure all bills are paid before beginning lessons with someone else.
A true story about a family that made a switch to a competitive skating coach
Once upon a time there were three children skating happily at a recreational rink. They skated every day after school for an hour or two and took one or two private lessons a week and group lessons with other skaters at the rink on Friday night. They passed some skating tests and entered some beginning competitions and took part in the rink’s ice shows. They earned awards. The children loved to skate and they loved skating at that little recreational ice rink.
As time went on, they visited other rinks where very advanced competitive skaters trained. Their parents observed the coaches of these skaters in action. The entire family decided that they wanted to be serious competitive skaters too.
So, after some serious thinking and observations, the children’s father decided to approach a coach who had been highly recommended by the parents of some of the advanced competitive skaters he met.
That coach did have the time to teach all three children. He explained that before beginning instruction, that the children’s parents would have to go to the recreational rink in person and tell the children’s existing instructor that the children were now making a switch to a new coach and a new rink.
The children’s life changed quickly after that. Soon, they were skating before and after school and on Saturday mornings for several hours. Soon, each child was taking three private lessons per week. The children no longer played on the ice while they were at the rink; there was no time.
What was great was the children did improve at their skating and did turn into really good skaters. Two of the children went on to compete at the United States National Championships and all three children won many competitions and earned many trophies and medals.
Jo Ann Schneider Farris, the author of HOW TO JUMP AND SPIN ON IN-LINE SKATES, is a professional figure skating coach in Colorado Springs who has skated for over 30 years. She put on her first pair of ice skates in 1964 and her first pair of in-line skates in 1985. Jo Ann is a United States Figure Skating Association Gold Medalist, a United States National Medalist, a Certified Advanced Level 4 Coach with the International In-Line Figure Skating Association, and has coached figure skating since 1983.
By Jo Ann Schneider Farris
Unlike ballet, dance, or gymnastics, where learning occurs in a group lesson format most of the time, figure skating is mastered through private lessons.
So….if your child is really interested in mastering figure skating, your first step as a skating parent is to select a private lesson coach. Who you take private lessons from should not be decided in haste; your private lesson instructor will be more than just a teacher: he or she will be your child’s mentor, guide, and role model.
There are so many individuals giving skating lessons these days, so choosing the best coach for your child can be confusing, so take your time before making a commitment to one particular coach.
What Kind of Skater Does Your Child Want to Be?
First decide what kind of skater you wish your child to become: does your little one want to be a serious competitive skater, a semi-serious recreational skater, or just skate for fun? A coach that fits in with what goals you chose can be found, but may take time – yes, it is possible to make “a perfect match!”
Serious Competitive Skaters
Competitive skaters have made the decision to put many, many hours into practice on and off the ice, commit to several private lessons each week, and do give up “a normal life” to achieve the skating goals they desire. Champions are not produced by talent alone. Do you have the time and money to make your child a competitor?
If that is the route you choose, plan on being at the rink for two to three hours a day at a minimum. This will include at least two 45—60 minute intense practice sessions which are called “freestyles.” Freestyle sessions are more expensive than the public sessions that beginning skaters usually practice and have fun on. It is not necessary to have a private lesson on every freestyle session your child skates on, but normally, competitors have at least three to four lessons a week on these sessions. It is not unusual for competitive skaters to have at least one private lesson a day.
Are you willing to take the time to make sure your child is on the ice five to six days a week for at least two to three hours a day? Are you willing to commit to at least three to four private lessons per week? Are you willing to trust a competitive skating coach to make decisions regarding your child’s skating? Do you have the money to make such a commitment?
Serious Recreational Skaters
If not, it may be easier to commit to the lifestyle of a “serious recreational skater.” Your child will still master many wonderful skating skills, have opportunities to take part in recreational figure skating competitions, perform in shows, and take skating tests. A serious recreational skater can skate 2 to 4 days a week, take one or two private lessons a week, and practice on either public skating sessions or freestyle sessions.
If you decide to keep skating fun and recreational, your child will probably not progress as fast as a competitive skater, but he or she will make steady progress and have a lot of fun. Also, this route is also much easier on the budget!
The “Serious Just For Fun” Skater
What if your child may just wants to skate for fun, but also master certain skills? There is nothing wrong with continuing in group lessons or supplementing group lessons with private lessons on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
How to find the coach that fits the needs of a recreational, but somewhat serious skater
Once you make this important decision between serious recreational or serious competitive skating, then begin your search for the coach that fits your needs.
If you decide on recreational “just for fun” skating, your decision can be quite easy. Perhaps the instructor that has given your child group lessons already seems to inspire your child and make skating fun? Feel free to approach that instructor directly and ask if he or she has time to take your child on.
Once a schedule has been set for lessons, plan on supplementing the time between lessons with some practice time. Piano teachers usually require daily practice and tell parents that no improvement will occur without practice; the same goes for skating. Plan on at least one practice session between each lesson, but if you can squeeze in two practice sessions, that would be better – do what you think you can handle at first.
As your child begins to enjoy his or her lessons and begins to skate more often, it is very likely that your coach will suggest he or she consider taking part in Basic Skills competitions and skating school exhibitions or shows. You may find yourself “naturally” becoming a serious recreational skater and want to increase your child’s practice and lesson time.
Understand that your coach’s time is valuable. Stick to the schedule you’ve set. Don’t cancel lessons often and don’t skip practice time. Listen to your coach’s suggestions and allow your child’s skating to develop into something that makes both of you proud.
Finding a coach for a serious competitive skater
It is rare for a skater to just jump immediately into competitive skating. Usually a child has found group lessons, Basic Skills events, and recreational skating quite enjoyable, and then has a desire to be the best and do more. Watching skating on television can really excite a child and may light a “spark” that gives your child a reason to wish to excel at skating. Don’t let this spark go out if possible, but be realistic and be sure you and your child understand that success won’t happen instantly.
Now, once you desire to join the world of competitive figure skating, first ask your existing coach if he or she can “take your child all the way.” It is not uncommon for skaters to make “a switch” in coaches when the time comes to enter the competitive skating world, but it is possible that even someone who has just begun to coach can train champions. 1988 Olympic Champion, Brian Boitano, was trained by the same coach throughout his skating career.
It is not necessary to make a “drastic switch” or change rinks or change everything immediately. Taking your time is perfectly okay. You may find that staying with the coach your child first began lessons with for recreational skating is the best route to take, especially when you first enter the competitive skating world.
How to Switch Coaches
Parents need to be aware that there are some guidelines all skating coaches follow. The most important guideline is that coaches DO NOT teach a private student that is already working with another coach without permission. It may seem sensible to you as a parent to try out another coach before making a complete break from your existing coach, but that is just not acceptable in the skating world and will cause problems for all parties involved.
There are many “don’ts” when the time comes to make a switch. Don’t start working with someone else before telling your existing private lesson coach that you are going to make a switch. Don’t tell your existing coach you are going to take a break from lessons and then start working with someone else. Don’t leave a message on an answering machine or send an email saying you are changing coaches; you must make the effort to notify the coach you are leaving either by phone or in person. Once you do make personal contact, don’t make your coach feel bad by trying to explain or justify the reasons for making a change; that is not necessary.
Be aware that your coach may be very hurt and may not take losing your child as a student lightly, so thank your coach for all they’ve done for your child’s skating so far. Make sure all bills are paid before beginning lessons with someone else.
A true story about a family that made a switch to a competitive skating coach
Once upon a time there were three children skating happily at a recreational rink. They skated every day after school for an hour or two and took one or two private lessons a week and group lessons with other skaters at the rink on Friday night. They passed some skating tests and entered some beginning competitions and took part in the rink’s ice shows. They earned awards. The children loved to skate and they loved skating at that little recreational ice rink.
As time went on, they visited other rinks where very advanced competitive skaters trained. Their parents observed the coaches of these skaters in action. The entire family decided that they wanted to be serious competitive skaters too.
So, after some serious thinking and observations, the children’s father decided to approach a coach who had been highly recommended by the parents of some of the advanced competitive skaters he met.
That coach did have the time to teach all three children. He explained that before beginning instruction, that the children’s parents would have to go to the recreational rink in person and tell the children’s existing instructor that the children were now making a switch to a new coach and a new rink.
The children’s life changed quickly after that. Soon, they were skating before and after school and on Saturday mornings for several hours. Soon, each child was taking three private lessons per week. The children no longer played on the ice while they were at the rink; there was no time.
What was great was the children did improve at their skating and did turn into really good skaters. Two of the children went on to compete at the United States National Championships and all three children won many competitions and earned many trophies and medals.
Jo Ann Schneider Farris, the author of HOW TO JUMP AND SPIN ON IN-LINE SKATES, is a professional figure skating coach in Colorado Springs who has skated for over 30 years. She put on her first pair of ice skates in 1964 and her first pair of in-line skates in 1985. Jo Ann is a United States Figure Skating Association Gold Medalist, a United States National Medalist, a Certified Advanced Level 4 Coach with the International In-Line Figure Skating Association, and has coached figure skating since 1983.
# posted @ 8:10 PM 9 comments 
Friday, September 02, 2005
Dealing with teenage skating students
Today a teenage student asked me to switch her lesson to a different day.
Her reason was that the day I gave her a lesson was not good because the session was short on her lesson day.
She then told me her family had to cut back on expenses in order to get by and she needed to do her part by giving up one day of practice time. She wanted me to put her lesson on a long public session so she would not have to return to the rink just for a lesson on the following day.
I told her she would not progress if she cut down her skating practice, but she explained that in order for her family to buy food, she had to do her part.
I called her parents later that day to discuss this and found out she had told me things she shouldn't have told me and she really had not been permission to reschedule her lesson at all.
She had also told me that her family could not afford to pay for a test we'd been working for and the test had to be put off for another month. I found this not to be true either.
How should I deal with this student who seems to wish so very much to be in control of her skating?
Concerned Skating Teacher in Chicago
Her reason was that the day I gave her a lesson was not good because the session was short on her lesson day.
She then told me her family had to cut back on expenses in order to get by and she needed to do her part by giving up one day of practice time. She wanted me to put her lesson on a long public session so she would not have to return to the rink just for a lesson on the following day.
I told her she would not progress if she cut down her skating practice, but she explained that in order for her family to buy food, she had to do her part.
I called her parents later that day to discuss this and found out she had told me things she shouldn't have told me and she really had not been permission to reschedule her lesson at all.
She had also told me that her family could not afford to pay for a test we'd been working for and the test had to be put off for another month. I found this not to be true either.
How should I deal with this student who seems to wish so very much to be in control of her skating?
Concerned Skating Teacher in Chicago
# posted @ 8:15 PM 2 comments
Monday, May 30, 2005
Ice Dancing Tips
Ice Dancing tips link can be found at:
http://www.skatepro.f9.co.uk/tips.htm
http://www.skatepro.f9.co.uk/tips.htm
# posted @ 9:34 AM 0 comments
Sunday, May 29, 2005
PSA Conference! Please share!
Please share what you learned at the 2005 PSA Coaches Conference!
# posted @ 4:41 PM 2 comments
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
History of Closed Rinks in Southern California
I just stumbled on a wonderful link called "Bygone Rinks!"
Does this bring back some good memories!
http://users.mo-net.com/nixit/scalrin1.html
Does this bring back some good memories!
http://users.mo-net.com/nixit/scalrin1.html
# posted @ 8:30 AM 0 comments
Thursday, May 12, 2005
What jumps are Pre-Juvenile skaters doing?
What jumps are Pre-Juvenile skaters doing these days? Do they have all their doubles?
# posted @ 8:31 AM 0 comments
