Thank you!

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Gary - you're so accomodating. (I would have just used the hockey lines.)

Thank you!

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This particular rink does not have any hockey markings on the ice. I really miss the circles and lines!

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I helped out with the "beginner hockey" group yesterday. It's just a bunch of boys who can barely glide that wear equipment. The hockey helmets, pads and pants make them think they're hockey players. They're all under 6 years old and adorable.

I saw the oddest fall during this class. They were all standing with their backs to the wall. Some were lazier than others and actually leaned on the wall. The instructor wanted to have them skate across the ice, so he called to them to come away and "walk like ducks." One little boy let his feet go forward, but kept leaning on the wall with his back. Needless to say, he flopped backwards onto the ice and his back and helmet took the brunt of the fall. Knocked the wind out of him. He kept saying the top of his head hurt - the helmet must have shifted upon impact. Very surreal to watch since it happened so slowly. He was okay after getting a drink of water.

My groups are going okay. Apparently, the majority of my skaters signed up for the Show. In two weeks, we start Show Group rehearsals. Hope we have the music early, so I can choreograph beforehand. I'm always torn between working on new skills and working on the skating program. Hopefully, I can keep both going this season.

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I am totally beaten up by the BO, BI mohawks...
Can't get the kids to "open up their hips" and step while keeping the edge.
Any tips for teaching BO, BI, and FI mohawks?


Meanwhile, my kids went crazy after my Mr. Sketch markers. All they wanted to do is just to *stiff* them!

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Reach out for the sunshine ~*

Our Learn To Skate season is over, and we have started ice show rehearsals also. Our show is "There's no place like home" (I bet you can never guess what the theme is!) and I have been assigned the flying monkeys. A group of 8 boys between the ages of about 6-10. Oh. my. gosh. They are all over the ice, just doing their own thing! We only have five half hour practices to get ready for the show. I COULD NOT keep the focused, no matter what. It was insane. I consider myself to be a very patient person, and I was almost in tears! Wish me luck, it's going to be a long month!

Other than that, I have a few girls doing spring competitions, but that is going well.

I'm kind of looking forward to the season winding down.

I had a group a few years ago that I referred to as the Wild Childs - they were terrible at each and every practice. When they showed up - at least one was out every week. Somehow they pulled it together for the show. They always do, don't they?

My trademark is a pinwheel of some sort, depending on their skill levels. I've got a Basic 2-3 group and a Basic 5-6 group, so it'll be fun this year. I love it when one falls off - it reminds me of the old Ice Capades shows with the little one racing to catch on. LOL!

Still, you have my sympathy. Flying monkeys - how appropriate.

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Just had the most wonderful lesson with a 15-year old today. She's returning to skating after a 3-4 year absence. I'd say she's a Basic 3 or 4 skater, but the child has control and really tries everything I asked her to do.

I asked her "Is there something in particular you want to work on?" and she requested spins. By the end of our lesson, she was doing some pique spins! I was so excited!

It's kids like this that make your day, right?

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You've got that right!!

We're on the 2nd to last week of our learn-to-skate session and that meant evaluations for next session.

The Sam 2 class isn't exceptional. We moved all but one (she's only 3) up to Sam 3, but they just barely made it.

However, I put the Sam 1 group through their paces just to see how well they could do (I go into drill instructor mode on evaluation night). WOW!!! Fall down, get up, hop, skate forward, glide, dip, touch your toes, stop, and even rudamentary swizzles. We were stunned by how good they all did.

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Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. - Henry David Thoreau

I'm new here, but after reading some of your posts, I thought I'd tell you a bit about myself...

I coach 3 or 4 days a week, depending on how much they need me and who wants lessons when. I coach a synchronized skating team, a group of private students, and for some extra cash on the weekends, learn to skate/basic skills.
I love coaching synchro. It's my passion and is what my life is all about. I skated on a high level team for years, but decided to take this year off to save some money and persue coaching a bit more. My private students are pretty cute. I'm known thorughout my rink as the powerful-synchro-skater... So that's basically what I work on with them. They're all a bit lacking in power and presentation, which is a major factor in synchronized skating. I do a lot of footwork with them too, which is my favorite, and other jumps and spins too. And LTS/BS, well, I do all the usual. We have about 100 kids in our LTS program, so I'm always on my toes! Sometimes my little sister comes to help out too... She's 14, competes at Juvenile Free, and has Junior MIF but is so small for her age, it doesn't always work out that well.

Well, I look forward to meeting you all!

Also, if you're interested in seeing some synchro, you should check out my website here: SynchroVideos

Congrats, Isk8NYC! Teens can be lots of fun to work with, particularly if they have some skating experience. I love working with teen skaters!

I had a little four-year old last week take a private lesson with me on the public session. It was noisy and crowded, and I really couldn't use any of my usual toys. She was ready to get off after 20 minutes, tired and bored.

I taught her this week on the group lesson session and used the toys - what a difference. She laughed out loud and smiled. When the session ended, she begged to stay for the public session and skate around with me some more.

Had some great privates this week with newbies. I hope they stick around for a while - I really enjoyed teaching them.

My teenage student had another lesson this weekend, which went incredibly well. I'm going to start working on edges and such with her.

The only concern is that she's falling to the inside on her right foot. (Riedell 220's) The blades are riveted in the front, but screwed on in the heel. How can that be adjusted or offset?

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My "flying monkeys" that I spoke about a few posts ago are coming along. They aren't any better behaved, but they are actually learning their routine, and doing pretty well...when they actually focus and do what they are supposed to be. They'll be okay. The other group I'm working with are girls, the "Cyclones" (our ice show theme is Wizard of Oz). They are doing really well, and are much easier to work with than the boys. I'm also choreographing our Synchro groups number for the ice show. It's been fun!

We are doing the same show, but we don't have that many boys (maybe 3-4). Wow! Isn't it fun!!!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

I have a blue canvas bag full of small stuffed animals that I use in teaching the tots. At the outdoor rink, the lesson area is at the back, and there is a pipe on the other side of the boards that I hang the bag on while I am working. I keep the bag in the skating school office at that rink. Well, one day last week, when I came in the morning to teach adults, the blue bag was missing from the office. I was sure I had brought it in the previous afternoon, but it was gone nevertheless. I ran to the lost and found...not there. Into the rink manager's office - where an employee knew right away what I was looking for, as he had spotted it on the pipe from his Zamboni seat the previous afternoon, and brought it in! Getting ready to go out and teach, and in comes one of the college aged coaches. I told her "can you believe I left the animals out yesterday?", and she immediately began profusely apologizing! She had borrowed the animals, and forgotten to bring them in. She did have my permission to borrow, but I figured right away that I had left them out in a senior moment. I so relieved that I wasn't the one who forgot them! I told her they were crying when I picked them up in the office, and we both had a laugh.

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Glad you didn't lose the whole bag! That's a real temptation for any age to keep.

I use toys when teaching the tots and I also keep them in a canvas bag. I felt really uncomfortable leaving the student to get the bag or the toys. I can't leave the bag on the ice because someone will trip over it sooner or later.

I've found that if you take one of the tall, ratty cones, the ripped-up top is perfect to hang the bag. Then, I trundle the cone around with me. The toys are right at hand and the cone keeps the skaters safe.

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Just out of curiousity, what level is expected before you can start teaching in skating school for basic skills at your rink?

I'd like to teach someday, but not now. Right now I'm working on my Novice moves, and hopefully through senior someday.

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Keep Evolving. "From this moment forward, every voice that told you - You Can't - , has been silenced." - Freedom Writers

haha, not very high. When i was in Basic skills, my coach had never even gone above freestyle 1 herself...no i'm not joking. Even now that i see her like 3 years later, I'm working on doubles and she can't even do a waltz jump...well, barely.

I wanna coach someday, trust me they need all the coaches they can egt for basic LTS and they'll tae anybody who can do all the basic skills themselves. There is more competition for privates, b/c ppl see the flyer and if you don't have a top of small print under your name about all your achievements, they look down to the next coach. Prents want to make sure their 3yr olds are taught by olympic champions lol

You could land triples and still might not be as good a teacher as your former coach. Teaching and skating are two completely different skills.

Of course, one needs reasonable basic skills and must have a technical understanding also, in order to teach. But aside from that, it's the teaching skills that really count. It can be hard to get your foot in the door if you don't have advanced skating skills. I did it by volunteering. In one case, I had volunteered to do desk work in exchange for ice time and the skating director saw that the kids liked me and started me off teaching. In another case, there was an opening in the tots class I had volunteered with, and I was asked if I wanted it. Since, I've been asked to teach other classes, including an adults.

That isn't always true. There are rinks and schools where such things are much more informal and there are actually a lot of sane parents out there who know that the best teacher is one who can keep their child interested and progressing. I've seen champion skaters turn kids off very quickly by expecting way too much too soon. IMO the important thing is to know what you are good at and focus on that. Word gets around. I have a reputation for being good with the little kids, and with beginner adults. There are enough of them wanting private lessons to keep me busy, and I enjoy it all.

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At the outdoor rink, the lessons, both class and private, all take place in the coned off rear end of the rink. There are two openings in the barrier there with boards placed across. The supports for the boards project upwards and make a convenient place to hang the animals' sleeping bag. It's not very visible to skaters, but easy for me to grab. The only problem is that since it's out of sight, it can be forgotten. I wouldn't be able to use a cone at this rink, since it is just too crowded on all the public sessions except for early morning, but I'll remember the tip for other places.

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It depends what country you're in; here in the UK you can start training at a fairly low level, but the lower-level a skater you are, the longer training you must have before you can even become a "Programme Assistant" and teach learn-to-skate classes under supervision. I believe the minimum requirement is 50 hours on-ice training, plus the various off-ice modules required, and if you are not at a certain level of skating, it rises to 100 hours or more. That's just to become an assistant coach - we have five levels of coach training (at the moment - like all our things, I believe this is due to change again!), and you may not take private pupils or coach unsupervised until you have your Level 2 qualification. Which, I think, usually requires another year or more training after you get your Level 1 (Assistant Coach). And so it goes... but things are different in different countries.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Right on- dbny. I think of my own situation and coaches and I know exactly how true that is. Thanks for the feedback

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Keep Evolving. "From this moment forward, every voice that told you - You Can't - , has been silenced." - Freedom Writers

Good point! Thanks for the reminder.

Well, I just had a coach's worst nightmare happen this morning. With a class of only three kids, one of them twisted her ankle and fell. She had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher. I accompanied her, of course. I didn't even see it happen. She had been in class with me earlier and had gone from paralyzed with fear to doing F swizzles, falling on purpose and getting up, and having a lot of fun. Her father had seen it all and was very happy. Thank goodness he met me after the earlier class! Her second class was a make up for a snow day. I think she got a little giddy and a little careless. She may even have caught her blade on something, as there was wind blown debris on the ice, but she said she didn't. She's only nine years old, and had to go to the hospital in an ambulance with her ankle iced and wrapped. There was considerable swelling, so I'm sure there is some damage, but won't know what till later. I exchanged numbers with her father. He seemed very calm and very nice, but you never know. Boy do I ever not want to get sued; that would be the nightmare in the nightmare. Guess this is what coaching insurance is for.

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I just got a phone call from the sweetest little girl. This doll called me to tell me that she is in a splint, they gave her cartoons (I think she means the splint has cartoons on it), and that they don't know yet if anything is broken. She has crutches, which she says are hard to walk with. I got to speak with her mother, who was just lovely. The mom told me that the dad had said how well their daughter was doing before the accident. I think I can stop worrying about being sued. I got her address so I can send a card, and the mom says the daughter wants to skate again next year, so I will enclose instructions on where and how to buy skates. I've invited them to the skating show next Sunday, and I really do hope they come.

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I hope she does, too. I also hope - dare I say it - that it is a fracture, as that will heal quicker than ligament damage. Poor little girl - I do hope it doesn't put her off! Am I right in thinking that in the USA, the "Long John Silver" type of crutches are the default, rather than the elbow crutches we have here? They must be really hard to learn to walk on!

At least sensible parents still know that accidents happen! But coaches here have to carry the most enormous amounts of insurance (one reason they are all qualified - the rinks also carry enormous amount of liability insurance, and won't employ non-professional coaches as it would make matters even worse!), just in case!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!