I know every coach has their own method of teaching a two-foot spin and none of them are "wrong," they're just different.

Why do some instructors teach very beginning skaters to hug themselves right away on the two-foot spin?
I always teach it with the "hold the beach ball" method of open arms.

I've noticed that one-foot spins are much more difficult for the "hug myself" skaters because they get out of control and up on their toepicks. I end up reteaching the two-foot spin my way. It really bites them in the butt on scratch spins - they can't hold the positions because they're rushing to pull in while their free foot sticking out in front (or worse, to the side)

What purpose does the immediate pull-in on a two-foot spin serve?

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Very interesting Q/. I notice skaters do this by themselves and I have to correct it even on 1-foot spins.

At the very beginning levels, I have kids do a march spin (in both directions) then put heir feet on the ice and pull in like they are holding a ball. Nx step: wrap up into a spin. Then curve glide into a spin. Finally pivot into a spin. In all of these exercises. I ask them to wait before pulling in. And keep their feet together so they don't barrel spin.

Kay

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Both directions - that's a good idea. I'm going to try that next time.

I don't use a pivot to start spins because it makes it harder to later teach the actual pivot.
They can't understand why holding the foot to the side is suddenly bad.

I teach the skaters to bring the arms all the way across and then let their feet "catch up" with the shoulders. I like it on the two-foot and one-foot spins because later I use that same "catch up" on the backspins, so it's not a brand-new concept to them.


What is a "barrel spin?"

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Sorry about being unclear on the pivot. I teach them a pivot first then the pivot into the spin. I explain the pivot as a 1 foot swizzle around the toe pick.

A "barrel spin" is a phrase I picked up from the Mareth Ann Frei vid to describe a spin w the legs and feet apart. She uses the term to describe a training exercises leading to the butterfly.

Kay

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