Every rink has its stars-- the girls twirling center ice, that all the little girls want to be like. The ones with the moms who seem to know what's going on. The ones with the "big" solos, and the "Good Luck at Regionals!" signs in the office window.
But a rink is a small world, with its own heirarchy. The girl who seems so amazing in your little corner of skating might or might not shine in a more competitive arena.
So how do you know--when does the 'switch' happen from local skater to bigger and better things? When do you go from one coach to an arsenal of coaches? Does your coach say something? Does your test or competition level have anything to do with it?
The easiest test is an honest assessment of your ability-- are you, in fact, the best skater at the rink? Are you winning or placing in competition? Do you have higher level and more consistent skills than the kids you are training with? If you are, if you're really the "best" skater at your rink, then you don't have anyone to live up to, or anyone nipping at your heels. This is not the best situation for a competitive skater.
We saw a huge jump in ability with our national dance team when they stopped training at home and started traveling to a rink where there were people better than them. Suddenly they couldn't rest on their laurels; they had to be as good as the people around them. If you're already better than the people around you, you need to find a more competitive environment, to give yourself something to push against.
There is no hard and fast rule about where this happens--as young as Pre-pre, as late as Senior. We recently had a mass exodus of Synchro skaters because they realized that our small program couldn't push them hard enough--they were already at the top of the heap. Some of them may be back; but some of them will find themselves skating better than they ever have.
If you are content, or even like, being the best in your rink, then good for you. You don't have to go anywhere.
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ITA that a competitive skater improves better if there is competition at home. But how can a relatively low level skater tell if s/he needs a different environment? A talented young juvenile skater may not be shine compared to an older novice skater, but is it a fair comparison? Factor in the whole "get the jump before puberty" mindset, I feel for parents with talented kids!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! We're not at the point yet where my skater is best at rink at her level, but she is the one nipping at the heels. However, there are a few older/higher level skaters who have made it to Nationals, so she knows what it takes to get there and sees the Big Kids doing the Big Tricks successfully in practice and in competition.
ReplyDeleteA question come to mind: If a kid is skating top of her level at her rink and competing enough outside local smaller competitions - i.e. getting a clear look at what the top competitors look like - could that be enough to keep her game up? Or are you thinking it might need more of a total atmosphere change including coaching to take a child to higher heights?
jjane45- you're not looking for comparison in that scenario. You're looking for aspiration- the person who will push your skater into better things. Further, there isn't any such thing as a Juvenile level skater who will do better in an "away" coaching environment, but they definitely do better in an environment where they are pushed by the people around them.
ReplyDeleteJosette--I really think the kids need to be on the ice with their peers. It's not just about how you skate at competition, but the entire work ethic and day-to-day environment that makes a winner.
I notice my daughter really skates "up" when there are other kids her general age and level (or just above) skating with her. She's pretty much at the top at the rinks she regularly skates at, so I try to take her to other bigger, more competitive rinks in our area when I can. It doesn't substitute for an everyday training situation though. Her coach is absolutely wonderful and changing is not an option. However, maybe I can work a more regular weekly session into our already crazy schedule.
ReplyDeleteHi Xan,
ReplyDeleteThere were many other reasons the rink had the 'mass exodus of synchro skaters'. The fact that many of the girls are skating on more challenging teams at other rinks is a collateral benefit of the exodus but not the reason behind it.
Robert Crown Anonymous, this is called a face-saving myth, which you have now conveniently burst, for a national audience, not to mention many local coaches, directors, and skaters who follow this blog. If you have specific complaints about a program, rather than making dark anonymous hints on blogs, you might think about using your real name, like I do, and either propose real solutions, or make any *legitimate* complaints open and public.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Robert Crown Anonymous and your rink would benefit from the exit interview that you suggested in the comments section of the "Lessons" post. I am Anon 10:24 from that post and your suggestion was in response to my comments. I think an exit interview is an excellent idea--wish we had had that opportunity at our former rink. It might make encounters with other Robert Crown skaters, parents and coaches easier in the future. It might even open the door for them to come back in the future if they feel like they were being heard.
ReplyDeleteExit interviews, as well as regular surveys and just informal meetings with everyone are such an important part of a strong program (and in fact are an important tool for any well-run business). Too many directors dismiss people with complaints or problems, or talk only to their chums and supporters, and not to people whom they either don't know well, or don't want to.
ReplyDeleteI ashamed to confess that I keep checking back to see if there is more info on what happened to the Synchro team...
ReplyDeleteI maintain that the girls felt they were not getting the level of skating or support they needed at the small program we are able to support, and moved on to more established, higher level teams that could challenge them.
ReplyDeleteAlso--lol.
I definitely see what you're saying, Xan. But isn't internal motivation more important than environment? I feel like skaters should be able to push themselves regardless of who's around, although a more competitive atmosphere might give some the desire to improve more than training in a less competitive place would.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I would say yes and no. Any individual who isn't able to motivate themselves regardless of external circumstances is going to be at a deficit. But if external circumstances enhance this, go for it. I have seen it happen many times, not just in skating, but in music, among artists, in other sports, and in workplace situations--the higher the level the people around you are working at, the higher level YOU will work at. It's human nature.
ReplyDelete