2nd coaching session - what should I have?

[sceptique]

Normally I skate 2 days a week: Sat & Sun, and I used to have a 1-2-1 lesson on Sat and Skate UK group lesson on Sun. Now I've officially graduated from Skate UK (yee-hah!) which means I won't have any Sun lessons. I've been thinking about asking for an extra 1-2-1 with my coach, but I'm not sure - it would be pretty much the repeat of the previous day since I won't yet quite master what we learned the day before. Alternatively I thought I could take some dance moves from another coach: dance isn't my first choice, as I desided after some soul-searching, but I still find it quite exciting - and good for improving edge control. Or shall I leave it as it is (1 lesson/week) and have Sundays just for self-practice?

I wonder what the more experienced adult skaters would recommend in this situation.

[Mrs Redboots]

Why not ask your coach - I mean that seriously. For a start, they might well not have any slots left on Sunday morning, so the issue doesn't arise. To carry on with, they might say that at your present level, you don't need two lessons a week but could do with the extra practice. It does depend if you're going to do Level 1 soon - if you've just finished your Passport, you probably could do it tomorrow! (Congratulations, by the way!).

I would recommend doing dance, even if it never becomes your primary discipline. Quite apart from anything else, it will only improve your free skating - as, indeed, your free skating will help with your dance. Plus your rink has a good ice-dance club and social dance is totally fun - nobody minds if you aren't very good, and you can take it as seriously or as far from seriously as you like! It's a good way to make more skating friends.

[skaternum]

Well, since you asked, I'd keep Sunday as a day to practice. With only 2 days a week of skating, you won't run the risk of ingraining lots of bad habits on your own. ;) And solitary practice time is very beneficial. I think at your level, you'd be better off with the practice time.

[NickiT]

I think you'd do better to keep to one private lesson per week and use the Sunday to practise what you learned on Saturday. Having two lessons on two consecutive days isn't really going to help you at your level.

[batikat]

When I finished group lessons I just had one lesson a week and used any other days I could skate as practice time for about 9 months or so until I was persuaded to enter a competition. At that time my coach happened to have a convenient slot going free so I took a second lesson a week from him which I have kept ever since. I started with just dance, then did a bit of Free then back to dance and then had one Free and one dance lesson but now I am concentrating just on Free skating and have noticed a difference in progress rates when having 2 Free lessons a week instead of one of each.

Having 2 lessons on consecutive days is not ideal and maybe more than you need at this stage depending on how serious you want to get. It's expensive and you may be better off to keep Sunday as a practice day for a while but maybe let your coach know you may be interested in a second lesson a week at some stage and see what they think.

If you do want to get serious you might also want to consider where else in the week you could fit in some skating and tell your coach you'd be interested if something became available at that time and that way you'd hopefully get first dibs on a slot you want, if one became free.

[stardust skies]

It is a general rule that you should skate in practice (by yourself) for at least twice the amount of time you have lessons. Which means if you have one 30 minute lesson a week, you should skate an extra hour by yourself.

I have one or two lessons a day everyday, but I skate 3 hours a day, which means I've got two hours of practice after my lessons to work on what I was taught before going back the next day. I do not think it would be wise to have two lessons a week if you only skate two days a week. It's a waste of money better spent on a third day skating. You're going to learn slowly by skating two days a week, and adding an extra lesson will seriously slow it down even more, because you will never have enough time to practice. I'd say stick to one lesson a week, and add a third day of skating. Also, as far as dance is concerned- if you want to do freestyle, and get good at it, with only two days a week, I wouldn't "waste" my time on dance until you at least have your single jumps and your basic spins, along with some footwork. Dance is very beneficial, but you need to be able to be a proficient skater for it to really make a difference. And you need to have enough TIME to practice dance for it to affect your skating- so if you are trying to devote time to freestyle, there's no way you'll have enough time to devote enough to dance for it to benefit you right now- so again, money wasted IMO. This is all assuming the "passport" in the UK is similar to basic skills here. For all I know you have your single jumps already, and your spins, in which case I'd still say you don't have enough time to do dance cause you'll start learning doubles soon.

PS: why do you only want advice from adult skaters? I am not one, but I still wanted to give you my opinion. :(

[sceptique]

stardust skies, thanks a lot, your advice is very helpful!

ok, just to make it clearer: I skate for about 4 hours every session (7 to 11, sometimes longer if the public session (which starts) at 11 is empty). So It's normally: 30 min warm-up, 30 min self-practice to remember what I did last time, 30 min lesson and then 2.5 hours practicing the "homework". And then the same next day minus the lesson.

I wish I could skate mid-week, but at least till mid-December I'm working Mon-Fri in a city without any rinks in a reasonable distance. Next year might be different. At the moment I do off-ice during the week - weights, plyometrics, ballet. I think it helps me a lot as a beginner: after all, a muscle is a muscle, whether you build it skating or weightlifting.

There is a possibility to add another Sunday session in the evening (2 hrs), but that's a dance club at a different rink. I used to come there to practice my edges. But it's only self-practice time, no coaches. Still, I did a few dances with them - Rythm'n'Blues, Golden Skater's Waltz, Riverside Rumba.

I talked to my coach today - she's got all Sunday booked anyway, but she said some other coaches might be interested. I'll see what she gets back to me with. Moneywise, an extra session won't break my back: it's not that expensive here, about the cost of 3-4 large Starbucks lattes/week, which I can probably sacrifice. My real concern was about doing the same stuff again without much progress in between; but then again we only have time to go through 3-4 elements max during the lesson, so I though I could do different things on different days. Say, day 1 - focus on edges and spins; day 2 - focus on jumps.

The reason I would really like to get the second session is that everytime I have a coach skating with me I get a few valuable tips that I could otherwise have spent hours figuring out myself. E.g. if she sees that something isn't quite working she says - ok, let's do it differently - and it works. It's a combination of drills and theory that works for me the best, not just drills alone. And sure it's very intersting to hear other people experiences with adding/removing extra sessions, so thanks to everyone who replied!!

[batikat]

Wow! I'm impressed with how much you skate sceptique. In that case you probably could make use of a second lesson so it's a shame your coach is booked up.

My two lessons go like this:

Tuesday: lesson on patch which is one hour 9.30 - 10.30am
arrive late and rush to put on boots instead of arriving early in time for off-ice warm-up.
9.30 - 10 am lesson with coach (Free skating these days)
10am - 10.30 practice and/or chat with whoever else has turned up that morning.

10.30 get off ice and go

very occasionally I'll stay for the public session which follows (1 hour 30 mins). This is usually about 40 mins practice and the rest of the time chatting.


Thursday: lesson on public session which is 10.30 to 12 noon

Arrive 10.15 if possible - brief off-ice warm-up (this more often than not consists of chatting to various friends)
Get on ice by 10.45.

Desultory stroking exercises and any field moves type things I can remember, warmup jumps and spins. Chat. run through programme without music a couple of times. Practice anything that doesn't feel good (most of it!!!). Lesson at 11.30 to 12 noon.

Get off and have coffee and chat with coach and friends.

Very occasionally I go back on for 1 hour lunchtime patch.

In addition I do a group dance class for a half hour on a Wednesday public session and a group jumps class on a Friday public session (mornings so they are usually quiet) and maybe half an hour or so practice during each of these sessions.

Maybe I'm just not dedicated enough! :lol: (but I do have a dance medal from the British Adult championships 2003 and a Free skating cup from this years Bracknell Adult Open! 8-) :D

As for dance, there is an advantage to learning dance if you want to compete in the UK as there seem to be more opportunities for dance competitions than free skating ones (though that seems to be improving now). It's also a lot less scary going out to do a dance competition than a free skating comp where you have jumps to worry about.

I certainly wouldn't consider the dance lessons I have taken wasted even at beginner level, as I think it really helps you to develop smoothness and flow and good lines and lots of inbetween footwork which tends to be a bit overlooked if you do only free. However my free skating is progressing faster now I have stopped doing any dance at all ( I got up to level 2 compulsories and to level 3 Free dance, level 1 variation - I loved doing Free dances but compulsories to me are a chore (or a bit like medicine - not enjoyable but good for you! :lol: ) but lots of people seem to love compulsory dance ;)
I started with dance as I was terrified of leaving the ice with both feet at the same time but I've overcome some of that fear now and jumps aren't as scary as they were.

I am now level 1 in Free skating and likely to stay there unless I can ever figure out how to do the evil Lutz jump.

[icedancer2]

10am - 10.30 practice and/or chat with whoever else has turned up that morning.

very occasionally I'll stay for the public session which follows (1 hour 30 mins). This is usually about 40 mins practice and the rest of the time chatting.

Arrive 10.15 if possible - brief off-ice warm-up (this more often than not consists of chatting to various friends)


... Chat.

Get off and have coffee and chat with coach and friends.

Thank you for telling it like it really is!!! 8-)

Maybe I'm just not dedicated enough! :lol: (but I do have a dance medal from the British Adult championships 2003 and a Free skating cup from this years Bracknell Adult Open! 8-) :D

Oh, no, you are VERY dedicated!!! :lol:

[Skate@Delaware]

and I thought that I skated a lot! I am put to shame :oops: .....guess I will have to work harder this year and chat less!

My schedule will be:
Sunday: 1 hour at adult skate; more of a recreational type, but will be "teaching" husband his "freebie" additional lesson and re-inforcing stuff learned on Friday
Tuesday: 2 hours during the day-almost have the rink to myself! Then add 1.5 hours drop-in in the afternoon
Wednesday: 30 min lesson with private coach and 30 mins practice; can't stay late because it's a school night and I'll have the boy with me (hubby works this night)
Friday: 2 hours public skate with hubby; followed by 30 minute warmup and 30 minute group lessons
If I add an occasional power-skate class, add one hour on Monday nights.
Add this all up for a grand total of: 8.5-9.5 hours per week; which isn't as much as I skated last year (around 10-12 hours) and I don't plan on being in any shows except Nutcracker, but that may change.....if they need more skaters. And if I get my single jumps, consistently, I can be a feature skater!!!
And the good news-I won't be eating dinner at the rink 5 nights a week!!! Only have to eat there 2 nights! That is bearable!
All this depends on how I feel-I have complicated medical stuff that gets in the way of skating at times... :frus:

[stardust skies]

stardust skies, thanks a lot, your advice is very helpful!

ok, just to make it clearer: I skate for about 4 hours every session (7 to 11, sometimes longer if the public session (which starts) at 11 is empty). So It's normally: 30 min warm-up, 30 min self-practice to remember what I did last time, 30 min lesson and then 2.5 hours practicing the "homework". And then the same next day minus the lesson.


You're welcome! I take it back though...if you have 2.5 hours of practice after your lesson, you should be good and ready for another the next day. IMO. And yes, you can work on different things!!! The only things my coaches and I work on two (or more) days in a row are the things I'm either still learning, or having REAL problems with and can't fix on my own. Then we work on different things. So You could spend one day on jumps and one day on spins, and if say...spins are good, and you were struggling with a jump the day before, work on that jump after the spins are done. You don't have to do the exact same stuff every lesson!

ps: The Starbucks "sacrifice" is funny- I've had to do the math on how many lattes I would have to give up for extra practice before. Whenever we hit a rough money patch, it's the first thing that goes! And then I'm like a zombie all day. Heh. 8O

[mikawendy]

and I thought that I skated a lot! I am put to shame :oops: .....guess I will have to work harder this year and chat less!


At one of the rinks I skate at, there is an option to buy unlimited freestyle ice for a certain amount per month. It comes out to about 16 50-minute sessions per week, which is a lot of skating!!!! I know a few adults who do it, but I can't! I'd burn out or get injured, or both. Not to mention I'd probably practice my bad habits way too much between lessons (and I couldn't afford to pay for a 2:1 practice to lesson ratio at that many hours of skating per week--it would be too many lessons!)

Edited to add--sorry to hijack the original thread topic--I agree with the others who suggest that the second day should be independent practice. Not only will it give you a chance to practice what you're working on in lessons, but you'll also have time to "play" with items that you're not actively working on in lessons. You'll also have a chance to see what you're having questions or trouble with from the elements from your lesson, which means you can show up at your next lesson with questions for your coach. (Sometimes when I'm doing something in a lesson, I understand it, but the next day, I'm lost without having the immediate guidance or a visual model to follow. Then I realize I need to ask more questions about that element.)

[TaBalie]

Personally, I like have at least a day inbetween my lessons for everything to sink in mentally and physically.

I was on a Tuesday/Thursday lesson schedule... But I can't go skating three days in a row (I have an autoimmune disorder that rewards me with a "flare up" if I am not too careful). I swiched to lessons on Monday and Friday, and ideally I will also practice on Wednesday.

For now I would try just the one lesson Saturday and practice on Sunday... See how that works for a few weeks. If you feel you are really ready to absorb new material/new input on Sunday from another coach, then maybe try it for a few weeks.

I think it takes experimentation and trial & error to find the right skating schedule that meets one's needs.

[dooobedooo]

If you can afford the lesson, and have the two hours practice time you mentioned, then GO FOR IT!!

Some lower level free-skaters only ever stand in the corner practising their elements, so they never work their edges, leg strength and aerobic fitness. Dance or moves would MAKE you do that! And you will be a much stronger, fitter, faster and more skillfull skater. The chances are high that your posture, kneebend and extensions will be better, too.

I've also watched kids at other rinks spending all day practising triple jumps, when the rest of their skating is so yukky - they can barely SKATE at all - they don't even have sufficient reactive skill to adapt to other rink users or the ice surface - and that is truly SAD.

[Mrs Redboots]

Some lower level free-skaters only ever stand in the corner practising their elements, so they never work their edges, leg strength and aerobic fitness. Dance or moves would MAKE you do that! And you will be a much stronger, fitter, faster and more skillfull skater. The chances are high that your posture, kneebend and extensions will be better, too.

I've also watched kids at other rinks spending all day practising triple jumps, when the rest of their skating is so yukky - they can barely SKATE at all - they don't even have sufficient reactive skill to adapt to other rink users or the ice surface - and that is truly SAD.Hmmm - are you talking about the rink I skate at???? It almost sounds like it. But then, maybe it's universal.....

I agree, dance or moves is a good idea. I'd suggest dance, simply because dance will help your edges, posture, extension and generally help you look like a skater - free skating, conversely, will help your turns, and your speed over the ice! Doing both disciplines, especially in the early stages, is a great idea. You can either go on doing both, or else drop one in favour of the other as time goes by.

[Skate@Delaware]

Hmmm - are you talking about the rink I skate at???? It almost sounds like it. But then, maybe it's universal.....

I agree, dance or moves is a good idea. I'd suggest dance, simply because dance will help your edges, posture, extension and generally help you look like a skater - free skating, conversely, will help your turns, and your speed over the ice! Doing both disciplines, especially in the early stages, is a great idea. You can either go on doing both, or else drop one in favour of the other as time goes by.
It's universal-I see it at my rink too. Some people would rather work on only jumps or spins and think its boring to work on edges or 3-turns, stroking, etc. But have you seen some people skate who can only do good jumps or spins and don't really have good moves or the stamina to run through stuff or even do laps at full speed? Blech!