March 2010
Early March 2010
Issues and Concerns
Most of the coaches at Ice Castle have not been able to recruit new private students this season. However, a couple of them have. One coach, who I shall call Margot*, is a former senior skater. She has a full schedule. Another younger coach who charges less for her lessons has also managed to recruit students. Since I will never be a former high-test skater, lowering my fee is a consideration that I have discussed with other coaches. We have come to the conclusion that lowering fees will not necessarily make students come out of the woodwork. We are also reluctant to earn less money from the students we do teach. Raising fees in the future would create additional problems. I do not charge an exorbitant amount of money for my time and believe my rate is reasonable for the area.
Ice Castle mainly supports a recreational clientele. It is widely known that the most impressive competitive and test accomplishments do not always translate into the best teaching skills. It is also not necessary to teach beginners and low freestyle skaters. But if such a coach is available, many parents are understandably impressed and will gravitate to that coach over others. I understand this and realize I will never hold these credentials. Even if I competed as an adult, adult competition is not the same as eligible competition on the Olympic track. I do not want to minimize the value and rigors of adult competition, but it is simply not the same pool.
In the opinion of the coaches with whom I have shared my concerns, if Ice Castle is going to retain higher-level coaches on its staff, it also needs to establish a more aggressive skating program. The rink currently offers only one hour of freestyle ice per week. This presented a problem for me when my student, Naomi*, decided to prepare for a basic skills competition. Neither one of us could schedule that session. This caused me to have to refer Naomi to another coach, namely Margot. Therefore, Margot inherited my student not because I cannot teach but because limited ice time precluded my ability to accommodate her. I am currently looking into guest coaching at another rink to avoid this conflict in the future. If Ice Castle were to expand its freestyle program, advanced coaches may be able to focus on higher level skaters who need training specifically for competition while less accomplished coaches could maintain basic skills students. Under the present conditions, skaters are moving toward Margot to meet their scheduling requirements.
To grow as a coach, one needs to work with students through as many levels of testing and competition as is appropriate for that coach’s background. At some point, most coaches have to hand off students to someone more qualified to meet the student’s advancing skills. I had not reached that point with Naomi. Naomi’s mother was reluctant to seek another coach because she was happy with my teaching and relationship with her daughter. Now I do not have another student to take Naomi’s place. I am considering asking Margot to refer overflow students to me for lower level teaching if she is booked.
As skaters move up, we do not want them to leave Ice Castle for rinks with more freestyle flexibility. We have the coaches to meet their needs and just require more ice time to work with them. If Margot has to take students elsewhere for program training, those students may be lost to Ice Castle and everyone else.
* Names have been changed.
Mid March 2010
Terrified
I have been working with two teenage sisters for the past few weeks. The girls signed up for a large group class that I was to team teach with another coach. These girls could not move and could not step away from the wall, so I assisted them. Weeks passed and still neither girl felt comfortable moving away from the wall. Obviously they had never been on the ice before and were terrified. I taught them to fall and get up, which was a challenge in itself. These young ladies are almost full-grown and are the size of adult women. Holding them up is difficult. However, I would rather support someone closer to my own size than have to bend over to support a small child.
A year ago I taught an adult who was similarly afraid but eventually got her moving with swizzles and glides. She was particularly dedicated and came to the rink with her daughter to practice during the week. Eventually, Mom learned to skate in a recreational capacity and her daughter continues with group lessons. In fact, her daughter is currently in one of my classes.
Back to the sisters. In my experience, these girls are the most frightened skaters I have personally worked with. Yet, they show up every week with both of their parents who watch from the sidelines. Mom and Dad are especially pleased with my patience. I have assisted them with tying ill-fitting rental skates as well as can be expected and have referred them to a pro shop to purchase proper boots. One girl has a problem with her right foot that causes her ankle to knock outward. The girl confessed to having this difficulty in street shoes, which was news to her parents. I recommended the skate guy who solves all of my issues. I gave them my card and suggested private instruction. The manager has told me these girls will have difficulty in the next set of group lessons because an extra coach will not be available for their exclusive instruction.
With one week of this group class remaining, the girls are finally away from the boards but standing almost perfectly still. They can march in place but are very stiff and uncomfortable. The older sibling is especially nervous. Her shoulders creep up her neck with tension. I guide her through deep relaxing breaths. The poor kid stares at me scared to death. The younger one can manage a few steps followed by a slow two-foot glide. I am proud of her. She is overcoming her fear and enjoying the sensations of skating.
I have to wonder if these two students will continue with lessons. Most of the beginners I have taught can get moving within a lesson or two. If a student is so frightened, how can she be enjoying skating? This comment particularly applies to the older girl who still clings to the boards. She does not look happy. This is probably harder than she ever imagined. However, if she is determined and sticks with it, she will make progress. It may take her longer than most to become a recreational skater, but it is possible. Decent equipment and continued personalized instruction will certainly help.
Week of March 14, 2010
Embarrassed
I have complained regularly about the distribution of higher level classes at Ice Castles this season. They seem to be going to a couple of newer high-test coaches. I have argued that high competitive and test achievements are not necessary to teach basic skills classes. For example, a coach does not have to be a junior competitive skater to teach kids how to do a three-turn. Teaching basic skills 4 and above provide excellent exposure to potential private students. The current group instructor has a definite advantage when recruiting students. I used to teach more of these classes before these coaches joined the staff, as did other pros.
I came in to sub for one of these coaches this week. The manager was telling me whose classes I was to cover and a parent overheard the exchange. She made a comment to me that I would have a chance to teach the big girls. I was completely embarrassed and joked the remark away. I do not think it was meant to be offensive, but rather to point out that I rarely am assigned the higher level classes. I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself. Parents are noticing my relegation to beginner groups. They must wonder why this is happening. Is the rink unintentionally staging me and other pros as coaches who are only capable of working with beginners? This would definitely limit our potential to recruit private students.
Perception is very important in an ice rink. Very often a client only knows what she sees. If a parent only sees a particular coach working with tots or basic 1 and 2 students, the parent may think that is the coach’s area of expertise and may not teach students at a higher level. This parent inadvertently pointed out that the rink is doing me a disservice by assigning me only low-level classes during weekend group sessions when most people attend. I have asked the manager to try to throw me a higher class on the weekend. I have moved some skaters up to basic 3 and would like to continue to teach them. In my opinion, classes should be rotated.
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