Coaches Corner

For advanced skaters: 

Because our goal is to have every skater succeed to the best of her ability, we have come up with the following guidelines and expectations for this year’s skating season.

Amount of Practice
To  advance in skating, practice is very important (obviously!).  That doesn’t mean just being at the rink!  It also doesn’t mean coming once a week!  The following guidelines include doing MIF, FS, and Dance for 1/2 hour each the number of times recommended:

• A pre-preliminary or preliminary skater should attend a MINIMUM of two practices a week. 
• A pre-juvenile skater should attend a MINIMUM of three practices a week. 
• A juvenile or intermediate skater should attend a MINIMUM of four practices a week. 

What To Do During Practice

• Be on time!!!
• Don’t leave early!!!
• Stay on the ice!!!
• Warm up by stroking (go BOTH directions–counterclockwise and clockwise!  Go forwards and backwards!).  You should spend AT LEAST 5 minutes stroking (really, it should be more!)
• Work on elements that are part of your test (if you don’t know what those are, get a rulebook or ask someone!).
• Work on elements that your coach has instructed you on.

Practice Etiquette

• Ask for permission to leave the ice if necessary.
• Only one person should leave the ice at a time (you don’t need your friend to go to the bathroom with you!).
• There should not be more than one skater in the music box at a time.
• Do NOT chew gum on the ice!!
• Bring water with you.
• Bring kleenex with you.
• KEEP MOVING!!!  You will not be in other skaters’ way as much if you are moving around the whole ice sheet.
• For the most part, practice spins in the middle of the ice.
• Remember that the corners are used for lutz jumps!  If using the corner, keep an eye out for skaters who are working on lutzes.

There is a “pecking order” as to who to watch out for!  But, all skaters need to always be watching for each other.

• Skaters having lessons are first.
• Skaters doing their programs are second (get to know each other’s music so you are aware of who is doing her program).
• Advanced skaters who are doing faster and more complex moves are third (because they are moving faster, it is harder for them to watch for others than it is for others to watch for them) This does not mean, however, that they do not need to also watch for the less experienced skaters!

Yell “Excuse Me!” if you are needing someone to move (don’t get mad if someone doesn’t move if you haven’t even given them warning that you are coming!)

DMFS time is for Dance, Moves, and Free Skate.  It is not for goofing around, visiting, or doing synchronized skating moves.  A typical session is broken up into 1/2 hour of Moves (spend 5-10 minutes of that time stroking), 1/2 hour of Free Skate, and 1/2 hour of Dance.  Please follow that schedule (unless you are having a lesson, but even then, keep in mind that others are following the session’s schedule and you should watch for them.)

Lessons

• Be on time!
• Call if you can’t make it (or, even better, simply switch with another skater).  If you call, try to call before 9 PM.
• You will be charged for the lesson if you are a no-show.
• Continuous no-shows or those who do not practice in between lessons may be dropped from your coach’s schedule.  Remember, we have a limited number of coaches and many skaters who want lessons.  Coaches do not have time to spend on a skater who doesn’t show up for lessons or practices.
• Get your coach’s cell phone # so you can reach her easier.
• If you have 1st lesson, be on the ice early to do your stroking.
• Buy yourself a small notebook or journal to keep notes during the year.
• Write down  questions that you have for your coach.
• Write down things that your coach has told you during your lesson (especially footwork or program order).
• PRACTICE!!!!  It is not worth your parents’ money, your coach’s time, or your time to take lessons and not practice in between!