tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4660936919264583322024-03-12T18:40:22.272-05:00XanboniAlexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comBlogger450125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-58598975124982161032015-09-14T08:00:00.000-05:002015-09-14T08:00:00.069-05:00I can't afford lessons!When you get to the jumps and the competitions, you can't do it on your own any more.<br />
<br />
You literally cannot compete without a coach-- it's against the rules. Jumps and advanced spins are complex and sometimes counter-intuitive. Trying to figure them out on your own is ineffective and not safe. Having another skater who is not a coach help you is, um, ineffective and not safe. Having another skater who <i>is</i> a coach help you is exploitive. Here are some options:<br />
<br />
<i>Take every class you can find</i><br />
This is easier, obviously, in a large market. In any market, if you're an adult skater you're likely to have to take Freestyle 2 with a bunch of 8 year olds. Unless the rink specifically prohibits it, (some do), just go for it.<br />
<br />
<i>Share lessons</i><br />
Every rink I know allows coaches to do lessons with two kids at a time; many allow 3, and some even allow four or more.<br />
<br />
<i>Space the lessons out</i><br />
And ask the coach for week-by-week goals and to designate some milestones in between. You might be able to get away with a lesson every 2 to 3 weeks. Be prepared to be extremely flexible, however, as the coach is going to give priority to her regular students.<br />
<br />
<i>By the minute</i><br />
See if a coach will give you ten- or fifteen-minute single-skill lessons. It will be slower, but this is actually remarkably effective.<br />
<br />
<i>Barter</i><br />
Do you have a desirable skill? Set up the coach's website, or do his books, or I don't know, mow his lawn. <br />
<br />
<i>Get another job</i><br />
People do this, but it doesn't have to be drive a bus on the overnight shift. It can be make skating costumes, or work in the concession stand a few hours a week.<br />
<br />
<i>Make the kid get a job.</i><br />
Many teenaged skaters do this.<br />
<br />
<i>Save up </i><br />
And then blow it all at once-- spend six months saving for three months of lessons. In the interim, do some or all of the things above.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>It's an expensive sport</i><br />
Finally, there is actually the option of not taking lessons. This is an especially difficult decision to reach if you have to tell a talented child who loves to skate that you can't afford it. But it's another reason that I love skating-- it's an amazing place for life lessons.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>What have you done to help with the cost of lessons?</b></i></div>
Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-4243210273261643502015-08-30T08:56:00.000-05:002015-08-30T09:26:59.652-05:00Helmets<i>Reposted by reader request. </i><br />
<br />
Figure skating is <a href="http://news.consumerreports.org/home/2010/02/ice-skating-safety-helmet-study.html" target="_blank">way behind other youth and recreational sports</a> in not only developing, but even in tolerating safety gear. I have had coaches contradict me in front of parents when I have suggested safety gear as rudimentary as gloves and hats. Adults who wear knee and wrist guards are ridiculed and often, as happened recently, feel compelled to apologize for using this basic protection. Padded boards are not even considered because of the expense, and yet padded boards would have prevented two career-ending injuries at the Ice Rink of the Damned. So I guess two crippled children is considered a reasonable trade off. All national and international events now have padded boards. (Write your local and state elected officials demanding padded boards at ice rinks.) <br />
<br />
Anyway, all polemics aside, here's a guide to helmets.<br />
<br />
<i>Hockey helmets</i><br />
Many rinks require helmets for skaters in hockey skates. If you're going to be playing hockey, then go ahead and invest in this. If you're just in hockey skates for spit and giggles, any helmet is fine, but you really should be in a helmet if you're not experienced in hockey skates.<br />
<br />
<i>Bike helmet</i><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5G4ePL0YmXhcz0cJTNxxsiMmBpj2JIvo8V9cq6kuy-BVgpwUUbPg1AD_CT20-5rygCO559W1ZBb1A9axqGVczjCDjqCwCEkaC_ytrMEqFCt8WFTEszC9OJ4iAu91cM9G3w1pur21VhhM/s1600/IRONMAN_PRO_BIKE_HELMET_RED_WHITE_BLUE_Q05_Q06_lg_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5G4ePL0YmXhcz0cJTNxxsiMmBpj2JIvo8V9cq6kuy-BVgpwUUbPg1AD_CT20-5rygCO559W1ZBb1A9axqGVczjCDjqCwCEkaC_ytrMEqFCt8WFTEszC9OJ4iAu91cM9G3w1pur21VhhM/s200/IRONMAN_PRO_BIKE_HELMET_RED_WHITE_BLUE_Q05_Q06_lg_001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never wear this type of helmet for skating.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pointy back bike helmets like the one pictured should never be worn on the ice. If you fall on the back of your head the pointed extension can force your neck forward, adding whiplash or worse to your woes. <br />
<br />
You also need to wear it properly. Wearing a helmet too far forward or too far back is pretty much equivalent to not wearing a helmet. Wearing a helmet that is too small or too big is also pointless. Never wear a hat under your helmet, even outdoors. I always wonder, when I see a helmet precariously perched on top of a hat, if parents are expecting heavy objects to drop directly onto the top of the skater's head, because that is the only scenario in which this makes any sense.<br />
<br />
<i> Skateboarder's helmet</i><br />
This is the best type of helmet for skating, largely because it was designed for, well, skating. <a href="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS253&q=how+not+to+wear+a+bike+helmet&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1558l7790l0l7886l35l30l2l12l13l2l335l3448l0.9.4.3l16l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=sCkYT8HXN4jZgQfSs9n6Cw&biw=1422&bih=761&sei=tSkYT4n8B8fdgQeo3uTVCw#um=1&hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS253&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=skateboard+helmet&pbx=1&oq=skateboard+helmet&aq=f&aqi=g4g-m4g-S2&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=135693l138458l0l138622l19l14l1l1l1l2l762l3921l2-5.3.1.1.1l11l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=10e66eed231a4ed6&biw=1422&bih=761" target="_blank">Google image searc</a>h gives you the idea.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbPIAOX8QDZ_npIzcPzsL3cvIK_EbYGVLloGufluo7J8pCk7QMZLwFdLTy5yKR2SLzOsB6w2xsIBdHeKSL2QtdM5xE1dAdP3CFsT1NxoLv0fGaSMGWqi_VTaVxWMyyUyEf2YDgSo_f0A/s1600/1691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbPIAOX8QDZ_npIzcPzsL3cvIK_EbYGVLloGufluo7J8pCk7QMZLwFdLTy5yKR2SLzOsB6w2xsIBdHeKSL2QtdM5xE1dAdP3CFsT1NxoLv0fGaSMGWqi_VTaVxWMyyUyEf2YDgSo_f0A/s200/1691.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i>Soccer helmet</i><br />
I've seen some kids wearing these lately; I suppose they like them because 1. they're discreet and 2. they've already got one. They're for head shots (see? other youth sports have figured out that head injuries are a bad idea and should be mitigated.) But unless you get the <a href="http://www.globaltextiles.com/html/images/upload/tradeleads/513/512491.jpg" target="_blank">full-head ones</a>, they don't really do the job, because they have no padding on the back. These are getting the idea, though. Skating falls do not tend to be the 20-foot projectile falls you're getting with bikes and skate boards. They're head knocks--you've already fallen and need something for that last 4 inches of air between your head and the ice. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLl3iHgmAh16_AEA1-dznk7yDFsPeOIUg9IbSsFE1kp7URx_Iw7LvnshZyhU8n67XIEjOOsOMApjraAIhQT6gLoc_-FKZ6Py2HKzFOrKWl29m4ciMfYH3LGUo-RaUBc4q4L18VaALWxOU/s1600/383092_257871127602641_143592879030467_753750_418393609_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLl3iHgmAh16_AEA1-dznk7yDFsPeOIUg9IbSsFE1kp7URx_Iw7LvnshZyhU8n67XIEjOOsOMApjraAIhQT6gLoc_-FKZ6Py2HKzFOrKWl29m4ciMfYH3LGUo-RaUBc4q4L18VaALWxOU/s200/383092_257871127602641_143592879030467_753750_418393609_n.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.icehalo.ca/" target="_blank"><i>Ice Halo</i></a><br />
This is currently the only commercial helmet created especially for the ice. I've been wearing one for several months and can attest that they are comfortable, reasonably cool, and attractive. I think they're great. I don't get any remuneration from Ice Halo, but <i>you </i>can get 5% off if you mention Xanboni when you buy one.<br />
<br />
"Oh, but Johnny won't wear a helmet," says helpless mom. Fine, then Johnny doesn't get to skate, just as he doesn't get to play hockey without gear, or baseball without a cup, or soccer without shin guards. Really, folks, grow a pair. You're bigger than them.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Originally posted January 2012. </i></span>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-24488245866664095862015-08-20T09:37:00.001-05:002015-08-20T09:37:40.503-05:00The Trophy Controversy: how figure skating gets it rightMy friend Josette Crosby Plank set off a firestorm by <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/living/index.ssf/2015/08/james_harrison_gives_away_his.html" target="_blank">defending "participation trophies."</a> I wish you could see her Facebook page, because it's been dominated by this since it went up. I've pretty much taken a vacation all week to keep up with it.<br />
<br />
All I can say is, don't read the comments.<br />
<br />
The issue at hand: youth sports that hand out trophies, ribbons, and medals like candy, regardless of skill or outcome. Pro? Make sure all the players feel like part of the team, and keep kids in youth sports. Con-- Special Snowflake Syndrome, wherein children are led to believe they are the center of the universe and deserve, if I may use internet parlance, All The Things.<br />
<br />
When I was in sixth grade, I was the only child on my hockey team who did not get a letter or trophy, because I had not "earned" it. I did not then and do not now know what it was I was supposed to have done-- scored a goal? (I did, I played wing and I was good.) Make every practice and/or game? (I didn't, but I'm pretty sure other kids also didn't.) Blow the coach? Seriously, I have no idea.<br />
<br />
What I do know is that I never attempted to play another intramural sport and started cutting P.E. Clearly they didn't want me, so why even try.<br />
<br />
Figure skating has long had two tracks-- USFS, with a performance metric (i.e. the goal is to win*), and ISI, with an experience metric (i.e. the goal is to be there).<br />
<br />
In local USFS competitions (called "non-qualifying"), each "flight" or group of competing skaters is competing for Gold-Silver-Bronze. Flights can be as small as 5 and as large as 15; some competitions put multiple flights at stake for a single podium. In the big competitions–Regionals, Sectionals, Nationals–the end game is those three medals at Nationals. Essentially, 50,000 kids competing for about 400 medals in the 4 skating disciplines at 6 skill levels.<br />
<br />
In ISI, anyone who signs up "qualifies," even at the Worlds and national competitions. Everyone who skates walks away with a ribbon or trophy. Flights are limited to 8, but 5-6 skaters is more common, so you cannot possibly do worse than 6th, and Auntie Sue is going think that's pretty damn cool. <br />
<br />
I think it's pretty damn cool, too, and apparently so does USFS because a few years ago they introduced something called "test track" for kids who aren't going to be competing for those 400 medals. Compete as a test track skater and you get that "participation" trophy.<br />
<br />
But the really interesting thing is that, unlike other youth sports,
kids can keep competing in ISI through a very high level-- the hardest
test in figure skating isn't USFS Senior. It's ISI level 10. Kids with
quads compete at ISI. <br />
<br />
The kids absolutely understand the difference. Under 10, they like to win, but they like the hardware when they don't win. When they start getting good and/or ambitious, they universally switch to USFS, where the trophies have a different meaning.<br />
<br />
And there's the rub: ISI trophies say "good for you" in a meaningful way. They reward hard work and focus. They both reward and encourage motivation. USFS figure skating trophies say <i>damn</i> you're good!<br />
<br />
It doesn't have to be either or: you can reward both winning and work. If figure skating can figure it out, the rest of youth sports can too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*I actually don't believe that at the lower levels of USFS the goal is winning, however, top performance is the driving motivation. At the qualifying level, personal goals may vary, but the general idea is you want to win.</span>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-82802518132588645752015-08-16T12:40:00.000-05:002015-08-16T17:55:31.541-05:00Will my coach blackball me?This really happened<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A lower-level skater just switched from ISI
(where she was very successful) to USFS. She’s pretty young, and a bit of a social butterfly, unfocused in practice, and prone to blow-ups. At her first USFS competition, she had a bad experience,
complete with tantrum. The coach dumped them a week later via text, telling the
mom she was a terrible parent in the process, and to forget about USFS, the kid
should stick with recreational forever. The kid came through like a
champ—acknowledged the inappropriateness of her reaction, and pledged to
practice more effectively in the future. She wants to keep skating, but the mom
is afraid the coach will “blackball” them and no one will want to take her on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
What happened. What to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This is what
the kid is like.</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Deal with it. Literally.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">You don’t get to coach the type of kid you want. You
get to coach the kid in front of you. If a coach has a child who can’t focus,
who won’t listen, who wants to chat either with the coach or with her friends,
it is the coach’s job to give that kid a meaningful lesson that diminishes and
does not reward these behaviors. If she keeps doing it, it’s not because she’s
unteachable. It’s because the coach isn’t teaching her. And if the coach can’t
teach her, he needs to tell the parents honestly that it might be a bad match,
and help the parent find a different coach. (Hahahaha, I'm the only coach I know who has ever done this.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But she’s kind
of like this outside the rink, too.</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kids have a personal style and some kids are not
naturally focused. That said, if it's interfering with school and
extracurricular stuff, you need to address it. I like using mindfulness
exercises-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ask the child to tell
me what he’s planning to do. Ask him to describe what he did after he’s done it
(both positive and negative actions). Ask his permission to talk to him. You’ll be amazed at the response when you say “I have a suggestion,
may I share it?”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Parents with supposedly difficult kids should also
try watching other kids to reassure themselves that theirs is not that
different.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Switching from
ISI to USFS</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It’s a very different culture, no question about it.
But in neither is the emphasis on winning. The emphasis in USFS is performance,
the emphasis in ISI is experience. Coaches need to prepare kids for the
difference.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Why did she
come in last?</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Who knows. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Who cares.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The better question is, did she meet her personal
goal for the skate, why or why not, and what can she do to correct this. If she
didn’t have a goal (other than “win” which is not a good goal), then why not?
(I’ll tell you why not–bad coaching).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Other good questions: did he skate as well as he
usually does; did he have as much content as other kids in the flight; did he
have any missed or illegal moves? And really, the coach should have talked to the
skater about all the possibilities. The parent and the coach should encourage the
skater to talk about expectations and goals-- the goal can NEVER be to win, the
goal is "land every jump," "have a personal best,"
"watch 25 programs" etc. You reach for the things in your control at
this level. Jason Brown can have a goal of “win the world championships.” Your
kid just needs to land the double salchow in competition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Parental nightmare:
the public meltdown, or, kill me now.</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Don't engage, don't criticize. Just tell her
"you're really upset" (i.e. acknowledge the validity of her feelings
without approving of them) and then remove her from the location. I used to
tell my kids "you're not allowed to have a tantrum here, it's against the
rules, let's find some place without that rule." I would wait until later
to talk about the correlation between practice and accomplishment. Kids aren't
rational when they're melting down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Fired via text,
with an extra helping of I’m a terrible parent</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">So much wrong with this. First, for a coach drop a
kid via text, or worse, by simply not coming to lessons (this happens) is
beyond unprofessional. For a coach to blame your parenting (or even bring it up)
also beyond the pale. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Complain to
the skating director.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Should she
stick with USFS.</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She should stick with the goal she has set. If it’s
compete in USFS then yes. But a bad experience with a coach can really damage a
child, especially if she’s been told or it’s been implied that it’s her fault. But
if you don’t have a coach you can’t do competitions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a bad experience, I’d leave it be while looking for a
new coach. You might have someone in mind, or you might try doing only classes, no privates,
for one session of classes at your rink-- still have her practice, but switch
her lessons to class-only. And take whatever classes are offered in your area,
as many as 3-4 a week with different coaches. What you're looking for is a
coach that your child really connects with. That's your new private coach.
Don't worry about the coach's "credentials" for now. Young kids need
a coach with a heart, not one with a resume.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Can I be the
coach?</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">No.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">But you can help her learn how to work effectively
on her own and in class.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Practice on her own should be set up with goals that
she decides on herself. Every practice has a goal, even small silly ones
"only talk to friends once while I'm on the ice" (make sure she has a
funny thing to say to her friends so that they don't get mad at her, or make
them a part of the pact); "only get off the ice twice," “Do every
skill I know at least once”, “make up a sequence that uses every jump I know”; “try
something new”. You get the idea. With my kids who have trouble focusing, I
tell them one thing-- you have to stay on the ice and keep moving for 20
minutes. I don't care what they do with that time. They can skate in circles
for all I care, the problem is not the skills, it's the attitude, so the thing
to fix is the attitude.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">One of the mindfulness exercises that I like is to
announce your intentions or ask for help, i.e. at the beginning of class, have
the skater tell the instructor "I'm hoping to pay really close attention
today, can you help me with that" or make a skill-based request, “I want
to land my loop today”. You get the idea. Again, she needs to lead this--if you
set the goal or announce it for her, it's not going to be as effective.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And by the way don't talk about the practice or the competition on the way home in the car, unless the kid brings it up. Ask any former skater: this will be #1 on their list of things they hated the most. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The coach is
going to blackball us.</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">If he tries, again, it’s very unprofessional. And
anyway, coaches need income, they're not going to care what this guy says.
Blackballing is a myth at the lower levels. Further, coaches also have
reputations. It's extremely likely that he's done it to others, too, and
believe me every coach in the district knows it. Finally, gossiping, much less
vilifying, students is in direct violation of PSA ethics so if something like
this gets back to you, complain to your skating director and/or the PSA. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">At any rate, I'm
not saying coaches don't talk about their students, but it's very rare to hear coaches
really dumping on a kid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It’s not about
the Olympics</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">At least, not yet. Right now it’s about using
skating to give kids good experiences. Any coach who uses a bad experience, or
a bad reaction to it, as an excuse to place blame is not a coach you want. Good
riddance.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><i><b>Do you have a horror story about a coach dumping you? What did you do? </b></i></span></div>
</div>
Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-52892008560763401062015-04-09T09:00:00.000-05:002015-04-09T09:24:09.698-05:00Bunny hops are not just for funWhy Learn To Skate?<br />
<br />
By which I don't mean why learn to skate-- that's obvious. Because it's fun.<br />
<br />
Learn To Skate (also known as <a href="http://www.skateisi.com/site/Sub.Cfm?Content=programs_weSKATE_recreational_ice_skating" target="_blank">weSkate</a>, and similar to <a href="http://www.skatecanada.ca/2014/09/inspiring-canadians-to-skate-with-the-new-canskate-program/" target="_blank">CanSkate</a>, and <a href="http://www.usfsa.org/Programs.asp?id=47" target="_blank">Basic Skills</a>) is where you get the fundamentals, including the part where skating is both fun and mental. If you don't get it here, you're not going to get it in Freestyle.<br />
<br />
There's a skill in every level of every beginner curriculum that coaches blow off. "I'm not going to hold a kid back just because she can't do [XX].<br />
<br />
Here's the skills, and here's what happens if you let it go.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>PreAlpha or Basic 1 </u><br />
<i>Skill that teachers let slide (so to speak):</i> One foot glide on the weak foot.<br />
<i>Consequence</i>: Really really hard and frustrating to learn crossovers<br />
<i>Outcome</i>: they switch to hockey, or quit skating because it isn't fun and everyone is better than them <br />
<br />
<u>Alpha/Basic 2-3</u><br />
<i>Skill</i>: Proper underpush (i.e. no toe push)<br />
<i>Consequence</i>: since weSkate and Basic Skills are set up to teach a skill and then basically drop it until the kid decides to do USFS testing, toe pushes become embedded in a skater's muscle memory, and they will never unlearn it. Watch for a post about the curriculum model that drops a skill once you move to the next level.<br />
<i>Outcome</i>: competitive decision made for you. I'm not saying every kid wants to or should be a competitive skater. But why make that decision for them by teaching poor skills at the outset.<br />
<br />
<u>Beta/Basic 5</u><br />
<i>Skill</i>: t-stops, especially on the "hard" foot.<br />
<i>Consequence</i>: snow plow stopping in the higher levels, which just looks stupid. The close-foot T position is also the basic position for a mohawk turn. Think about it. <br />
<i>Outcome</i>: the embarrassment of the utter disbelief on the FS5 teacher's face when she finds out you can't do a T-stop.<br />
<br />
<u>Gamma/ Basic 6-7</u><br />
<i>Skill</i>: hockey stop <br />
<i>Consequence</i>: the hockey stop teaches opposition much more effectively even than drilling turns. You can make a turn without really understanding opposition. But you can't do a hockey top without getting it right.<br />
<i>Outcome</i>: Poorly executed turns. Also faceplanting on 60-second drills (also never completing it in under 60 seconds)<br />
<br />
<u>Delta/Basic 7-8</u><br />
<i>Skill</i>: bunny hop<br />
<i>Consequence</i>: the bunny hop teaches the basic lift and landing for every jump. Shoulders square, rock to the toe, lift the free knee through. Land on your toe pick. It also requires an absolutely solid understanding of right and left (this is harder than you think, for kids as old as 10).<br />
<i>Outcome</i>: let this skill go, and that kid will struggle with every single jump. <br />
<br />
I could go on: waltz jumps that are taught with the free leg already behind on the landing (this is a consequence of the stupid commonly used term "landing position" to mean "check out position"). Pivots that quickly just turn into spins. Never teaching mazurkas (I'm looking at you, ISI.) Back spins on the wrong edge. Toe loops that take off forwards.<br />
<br />
Skaters: take the time and learn the techniques properly. Coaches: keep kids in each level until they've mastered every skill. Skating directors support your staff by letting them keep kids in levels, and your skaters by having other classes that they can do while they're mastering the boring stuff.<br />
<br />
In the end, it will catch up with you. If you get to testing, the judges are not going to let this stuff slide, and if a skater has been getting away with it, they're not going to understand what those judges are talking about. <br />
<br />
<i><b>What skill do you wish you or your skater had really mastered before moving on? </b></i>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-74713582303363259572015-03-26T07:30:00.000-05:002015-03-26T07:30:00.522-05:00Basic skills aren't all that basicI've had parents in higher level classes yell at me for teaching cross overs.<br />
<br />
Because as everyone knows, once you learn a basic component of your discipline, you never have to learn it at a higher level, ever. So once you've learned addition, it's just foolish to teach multiplication (which is really just fancy addition when you think about it.) Did you learn how to read in first grade? Hooray! You never have to read again.<br />
<br />
Or maybe not.<br />
<br />
Every basic skill: glides, crossovers, turns, have both basic and advanced applications. What's a spiral if not just a really really advanced one-foot glide?<br />
<br />
You can simply do skills better as well-- you don't really need to teach power for Alpha and Beta skaters learning forwards and backwards crossovers (you can, but you don't need to). But higher level skaters need to understand how to use basic crossovers to achieve more power. And this has to be taught. If you're in an ISI curriculum, you have to learn "cut backs," i.e. back crossovers with no lift. And yet, strangely, it's not in the curriculum and parents get all bent out of shape when they see you teaching them. So much better to let the kids figure them out on their own and do it wrong (which they all do because it's not very intuitive).<br />
<br />
You can use basic positions learned early to remind skaters what you're looking for-- how do you push for outside back edges? Think about the first push of a backward crossover. Where should your free foot end up for a basic one-foot spin? It's the same as a nice Pre-Alpha one foot glide.<br />
<br />
CanSkate, the Canadian Figure Skating beginner program, has incorporated this into their curriculum. <blockquote>
" Instead of just introducing a skill at one level and then leaving
it, the skater will work on the same skill at many different stages. The
coaches have a chance to introduce the skill, develop it and then
perfect it over a longer period of time.
One of the early skills is a push-glide sequence. In the old system,
it was introduced only in stage two, and then skaters moved on to other
skills in different stages. But now the push-glide sequence is part of
every stage."</blockquote>
(CanSkate also gets it right by not differentiating hockey skills and figure skating skills in the early stages-- it's all just skating skills).<br />
<br />
Basic skills are called that for a reason-- they are the basis for everything that comes after. You can't learn a proper jump if you don't understand how to check out of a turn. You can't get power if you never understand how to use your blade properly.<br />
<br />
<i><b>What are some examples of advanced applications of basic skills that have helped you or your skater? </b></i>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-47491800632767881922015-01-22T09:04:00.000-06:002015-01-22T09:04:03.195-06:00The no-ice training regimen<br />
How much ice is not enough ice?<br />
<br />
If you're a long time reader, you know the formula- a minimum of one half-hour of ice for every half rotation you're working on, plus an hour plus a lesson or class per week.<br />
<br />
So- FS1 (waltz jump and half flip)- 2 hours plus lesson; Novice (test track) axel and 4 doubles means 9½ rotations or 3½ hours plus lesson. This keeps you current (but doesn't allow that much room for new or upgraded skills). If you're a competitive skater, just do what your coach says, mkay?<br />
<br />
I know of skaters, though, who want to skate more, but can't. Maybe they don't have the time, or the money, or the transportation. Or the parental cooperation. They might be in a market with very limited ice (we don't have that problem in Chicago). <br />
<br />
There are some logistical fixes: consolidate your lesson or class with your practice sessions. This of course needs the cooperation of the rink, to schedule these things back to back. Car pool. Arrange "skate and homework" buddies so your folks know you're not sacrificing school for skating (haha who am I kidding, of <i>course</i> you're sacrificing school for skating-- don't tell mom).<br />
<br />
But you don't actually need ice to train for ice training. Or rather, there are things you can do at home that will make you a better skater. All the best skaters do it. Seriously. All the best skaters do it, because in fact, your skating will be better if you take it off the ice sometimes.<br />
<br />
Plus, it's free.<br />
<br />
Everyone's heard of off-ice training. This means workouts that help you with the strength, flexibility, and stamina that any athlete needs, but also skill-specific training for balance, jumping and artistry.<br />
<br />
The best way to make sure you're getting the off-ice training you need is to have your coach give you some skill-specific workouts like jump drills, specific stretches (back and shoulder, arabesque, etc.) There are balance aids that help with landings, spirals and even turns. I learned patch-quality turns using <a href="http://www.promedxpress.com/products/foam-therapy-rolls/852-0009/?sourcecode=PGOOPF&gclid=CMO28JLtp8MCFQsAaQodpUAA6w&kwid=productads-plaid^95123470866-sku^852+0009@ADL4PROMED-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^60853342746" target="_blank">these</a>.<br />
<br />
Jump drills are one of the best things you can work on off ice, and in fact, you should be working on them off-ice. Teaching your body what a jump–even a single–feels like in sneakers takes away some of the fear of your first try on the ice. For single-axis jumps like the flip, which requires a lot of strength, this can mean the difference between a fall and a gliding check out. Especially when you're starting the axel, learn it off-ice first.<br />
<br />
Jump drills are not only actually doing a specific jump. <a href="http://www.usfsa.org/content/Off%20Ice%20Conditioning%20Jump%20&%20Plyometric%20Nov%20Jun%20Snr.pdf" target="_blank">Plyometric exercises</a> teach you spring and balance while also working on strengthening the muscles that skaters need.<br />
<br />
For cardio, running or an aerobics video (youtube is your friend) is worth one of those half hours on the ice. Not only will it improve endurance, it will help you with focus. One of the things that kids especially struggle with is the sheer boredom of practice. Regularly running for 30 minutes will make skating practice feel like Disneyland, because there's pretty much nothing more boring than running.<br />
<br />
If your main problem is lack of or distance from ice, as opposed to finances, you can also take classes that support the same skills. Jazz dance or hip hop (I like these better than ballet for figure skaters unless you can find an actual ballet-<i>for</i>-figure skaters class, but ballet is great as well), yoga, and karate are all great companion disciplines for figure skaters.<br />
<br />
In other words, you don't have to skate to train.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>What non-skating do you do to help your skating?</b></i></div>
Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-1345741265354824972014-12-20T14:31:00.000-06:002014-12-20T14:32:08.987-06:00Goodbye to the gag ruleIn 2011, I <a href="http://xan-boni.blogspot.com/2011/04/gag-rule.html" target="_blank">stated</a> that the Professional Skaters Association rules governing so-called "solicitation" were restraint of trade. This did not make me popular at PSA seminars, where people in this insular industry could not be made to understand the singularity and bizarreness of the anti-soliciting rules.<br />
<br />
Turns out the <a href="http://www.wtplaw.com/documents/2014/09/federal-trade-commission-cracking-down-on-professional-associations-that-inhibit" target="_blank">FTC agrees with me</a>.<br />
<br />
To review, the PSA had an anti-solicitation rule stating roughly that no PSA member coach can knowingly directly solicit another coach's student, or tamper with a coaching relationship either directly or indirectly. What this meant was that you could not approach a student who was already working with someone else. You had to be careful about talking to the parents and friends of someone else's student. If a student came to you privately about switching coaches, you were supposed to report this to the other coach if the student had not already done so.<br />
<br />
Until a few years ago, when USFS and PSA colluded to impose membership on all coaches doing testing or competing, it wasn't even particularly enforceable, because if you weren't a member of PSA it didn't even apply to you. You could be as big a jerk as you wanted, and if you weren't a member, there was no one to report you to.<br />
<br />
If you were a PSA member, it still didn't matter, because the unethical coaches ignored it, and the ethical coaches didn't need it.<br />
<br />
There are all sorts of nuanced minefields to this. Kid's parent bragging in the stands? Better be prepared that you have told the parents that you do not encourage this. Got a talented kid in class? Don't praise them too much, either to the kid or the parent if someone else is their coach. Parents in arrears with fees? An "ethical" coach is supposed to refuse to take you until you pay up the prior coach. (Even if the other coach has actively encouraged parents to stay in arrears to keep them from leaving.) Kid in your class been taught incorrect technique on a skill? Careful how you tell the kid their technique is wrong-- that's tampering. <br />
<br />
Coming from a business and music background, this sounded absolutely insane to me. Imagine if you had a contractor for your house that wasn't doing the job-- by the standards of this rule, if you went to someone else, they would be ethically required to report you to the guy who was messing up.<br />
<br />
Further, it didn't stop unethical coaches, it was used to intimidate students and parents (I knew people who <i>quit skating</i> rather than have to tell a coach they wanted to switch) as well as less experienced coaches and made the whole coach switching thing a nightmarish balancing act.<br />
<br />
At the urging of the FTC in another industry, the rules have been changed. It is now only considered statutorily (by PSA statute) unethical to solicit a student actively engaged in competition or a test session. I would call this the "don't be an asshole" rule. The new language is <a href="http://www.skatepsa.com/Ethical_Solicitation_Marketing_and_Promotion.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Now, what this means is not that there are no more ethics in coaching. It means that the foolishness of expecting parents to know the esoteric ethical constraints of coaching is over.<br />
<br />
In other words, now, if you actively solicit another coach's kid in secret, or start telling parents that you would do better, or bragging to them about how great your kids did at regionals, or telling the kids they would get farther faster with you, you're not strictly unethical according to the rewritten PSA definitions.<br />
<br />
You're just an asshole.<br />
<br />
The good news: coaches no longer have to report a parent (seriously wtf) to the old coach if they come to you about switching (not that anyone ever did this). The whole team-- parent, skater, coach-- no longer has to tiptoe around hoping that the other coach doesn't file an ethics complaint while you navigate the switch.<br />
<br />
It means that skaters and coaches no longer have to fear PSA or USFS sanctioned retaliation if a coach decides to be a jerk about it.<br />
<br />
Switching coaches will still be an emotional minefield and you still have to do it with a lot of thought and care, keeping the best interest of the skater at the forefront. There are still ethical issues regarding actively approaching someone else's student (seriously-- don't do this).<br />
<br />
Try to work out the issues with the original coach. Talk to the new coach off the premises. Make sure you're paid up. Don't flaunt the change-- no bragging, trashing, or airing of dirty laundry. If you're a coach, always ask someone who comes to you about lessons if they already have a coach, and if so why they want to switch. Give it a week between the final lesson with the old coach and the first lesson with the new one. Keep it friendly with the old coach.<br />
<br />
And goodbye to the gag rule. Now we all get to be civilized because it's the right thing to do.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-1305644692475157702014-12-10T05:30:00.000-06:002015-08-16T12:54:31.120-05:00How can you be a coach if you aren't coaching?Last April I had to quit teaching classes because life threw me several curveballs and I'm a skater not a sportsballer. I don't know how to catch, or hit, a curveball.<br />
<br />
Something had to give, and it needed to be as much a financial decision as anything else. I was teaching at a remote rink and it was costing me as much in gas as I was earning. The commute was an agonizing 2+ hours, reducing my "hourly" to less than minimum wage. The combined professional fees were further eroding the financials. (Skater professional fees are upwards of $600 per year, a burdensome level for people like me who don't do it full time.)<br />
<br />
It was a very difficult decision-- I'd been struggling with it for months, but just couldn't give it up. I derive huge emotional satisfaction from teaching, especially from my kids with special needs. I'm very good at it. I miss those kids in particular.<br />
<br />
There is fall out-- because I have only one regular and a couple of occasional students, I don't have the income to justify the professional fees. I stuck with the cheaper option–ISI–so that I could still get coaching insurance. But I dropped USFS (!) and PSA, which means I also put my hard-earned rating in abeyance.<br />
<br />
So you will now see my rating listed as "I have earned a Senior rating in group instruction" rather than "I have a Senior rating in group instruction." Unlike other professional credentials, PSA says the rating doesn't count if you're not a member. I believe I'm not even supposed to couch it as I have. (This is bullsh*t. Imagine if you were told you don't get to say you have a law degree if you're not practicing law, or that your senior freestyle test doesn't count any more if you're no longer a member of USFS. But that's for another rant on another day.)<br />
<br />
It is challenging to reinstate a rating-- it takes up to three years, because you have to re-earn continuing education credit, and they won't count credit earned while you're not a member (I asked). Technically, you're supposed to be teaching an average of 5 hours per week even to qualify as a professional member, and you need a skating director to attest this.<br />
<br />
Fortunately for me, coaching is not a very heavily regulated profession. I have my insurance, and the good will of local rinks. I may get back to it on a more regular basis-- I had always figured that coaching would be my retirement job, and it may yet be.<br />
<br />
So how can I be a coach if I'm not coaching? Well, I'll be here, coaching parents on navigating the insanity that is skating culture and the reward and beauty that is the sport of figure skating.Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-66669089176374104562014-12-02T16:30:00.000-06:002014-12-02T16:30:01.867-06:00Sink or swim warm ups: 5 ideas to keep your head above waterIt's been seven months since I dropped all my group classes due to health and business pressures. (Oops, did I forget to mention that? Last April I had to drop all my staff positions due to health and business concerns. I guess I'll do a post about that!)<br />
<br />
The result is that I haven't seen a freestyle warm up in seven months. And I haven't seen a warm up at a rink that doesn't train its beginning freestyle students in the challenging warm up skills in even longer than that.<br />
<br />
A couple of weeks ago I went to watch my student H, who passed into Freestyle One this session. His mother was a little concerned, because both I and his class teacher had told her he'd be fine with the skills, it was the warm up that she should be worried about.<br />
<br />
He, and the other baby freestylers actually do fine. They stumble through the skills, sometimes badly and fast, sometimes well, but slow, but pretty much clueless throughout.<br />
<br />
The Ice Rink of the Damned actually got this one right-- they inserted a level between Delta and FS1 called "Pre Freestyle" with the express mandate of teaching the kids the warm up patterns. At my last rink, you didn't get out of Delta (or out of Beta for that matter) without the flow, speed and skating knowledge to handle the warm up. (Yes, all those kids skated better than me. It was a little intimidating. Fortunately I'm extremely arrogant.)<br />
<br />
H's rink-- man, they just throw them in the deep end, or would have, if it wasn't frozen. Because those kids were drowning.<br />
<br />
I don't think the kids knew this, and the coaches were handling it reasonably well, but I don't really understand the point of having kids try to figure out a complex skill like power 3-turns. They're just getting it wrong and are going to have to unlearn it, or they'll feel incompetent and will check out. (haha skating joke).<br />
<br />
Here are some solutions:<br />
<br />
<i>Pre-Freestyle</i><br />
As I noted, you can simply add a level. The Basic Skills and ISI curricula are not governed by force of law. You can mess around with them. The problem moving from Learn to Skate into Freestyle is that LTS teaches the skills in isolation; Freestyle requires flow, and the ability to move from one skill to another. (This is actually one of the areas where Basic Skills gets it better than ISI, because it does teach more flow than ISI.)<br />
<br />
The skills that kids should learn are alternating 3-turns, waltz 3-turns, power 3-turns, alternating mohawks, stopping drills, cross rolls and cross steps, perimeter stroking (PrePre pattern), perimeter cross overs (forwards and backwards), 3-turn tap toes. That'll do it. Once they have these in their muscle memory, other warm up patterns will become more intuitive.<br />
<br />
<i>Divide the ice</i><br />
If your rink doesn't have enough available ice to add a level, and you've got mixed high/mid and low in a single class, put the new freestylers on one side of the blue line (about a quarter of the rink), with the rest of the class sharing the remainder. Yes, the high skaters will be somewhat restricted, but on the other hand they won't be tripping over the low skaters anymore. You don't even need to do it for the whole session-- maybe the first month, until the newbies learn the moves.<br />
<br />
<i>Add it to Delta</i><br />
Delta Is So Boring. Start teaching the kids to put the skills together. They'll be more engaged and they'll be more ready for freestyle.<br />
<br />
<i>Rearrange the classes</i><br />
Instead of putting Gamma and Delta on the same ice, put Gamma with the Betas, and create a Delta-FS1-FS2 level. this is another place where Basic Skills gets it right, by putting beginning spins and jumps in their learn to skate curriculum. FS1 and FS2 (and maybe FS3) shouldn't even be considered "Freestyle" but should still be counted in Learn to Skate, because they are still introducing basic concepts. But nobody asks me.<br />
<br />
<i>Divide the ice, part duo</i><br />
To get around the full-ice problem created by dividing the ice along the short axis, put the high freestyle kids on the perimeter, and run the beginners up the center so they can both learn the skills and go at their own speed. You won't be able to run any "five circle" warm ups using this traffic pattern, but on the other hand you won't have the highs tripping over the lows. You'll also teach the high freestyle kids to use the whole ice. It makes me insane when skaters avoid the end zone like there's a force field blocking it.<br />
<br />
<i><b>How does your rink integrate or prepare low freestyle into the freestyle curriculum?</b></i><br />
<br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-7796897894461375232014-11-24T11:30:00.000-06:002014-11-24T11:30:00.140-06:00Skating school exhibitions that don't make you want to poke your eyes outAnyone ever been to a 3-hour skating school exhibition?<br />
<br />
How about an 8-hour one, where your skater is at 10:30, her best friend is at 11:15, her synchro team is at 1:30, her tot class is at 3 and her best-friends-group is at 6:30. So you have to sit there all day, because heaven-forbid you should miss a single <a href="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxNTMy/z/E4sAAOSwpzRTxUbt/$_35.JPG" target="_blank">precious moment</a>.<br />
<br />
How about the ones that front-load the tots and beginners, and lump all the high level skaters who can actually skate in a single flight starting at 9 p.m., so that the only people left in the stands are the other skaters (even the parents have gone home, let alone the little kids).<br />
<br />
It's time for a revolution.<br />
<br />
First, if your exhibition goes 2 hours or under, suck it up and sit through the whole thing-- the kids deserve an audience, even the tot who just sits on the ice and cries (there's always one). Personally, I think that "free" exhibitions should have a refundable ticket fee-- but it only gets refunded if you stay through the whole thing. If you come late or leave early, you've just made a donation to the rink.<br />
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If your exhibition lasts more than 2 hours, it's time for some creative thinking, because even with a refundable fee, no one is going to sit through three hours of alpha level skaters performing to "Let It Go". <br />
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An exhibition can be made interesting, like anything else, by mixing it up. Make sure each flight (defined however you want-- by number of skaters, or by time), has a nice range of skating, and no repeated music. For instance, <span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">segments of 15 (two warm ups), with at least 2 high level skaters and one or two group
numbers in each flight to guarantee audience and give people something
to watch. Then people can choose which hour to attend. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Put in some tots, both solo and group, in each flight for the awwww factor.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Make sure there are boys. If you don't have any boys, invite a hockey team to demonstrate drills, or speed skaters to stage a race. (Do this even if you do have boys.) </span></span></span><br />
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">If you've got Special Skaters, give them a spot as well.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049710674=224838cac592d521707.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Finish each couple of flights with a local star</span></span></span><span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049655479=21300493e3b4cff6607.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049655479=21300493e3b4cff6607.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049655479=21300493e3b4cff6607.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">, to entice people to come, and to stay. And by star, I mean someone that non-affiliated people would want to see-- the kid who made it to Senior Nationals; the coach who is a former international medalist (if s/he's still skating), the award-winning synchro team. The definition of "star" should be decided by the skating staff, or else every coach is going to want their own "star" to be the "star" even if they're not a "star" and no one cares to see them any more than they want to watch the tots cry.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049655479=21300493e3b4cff6607.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049655479=21300493e3b4cff6607.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049655479=21300493e3b4cff6607.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="_5yl5" data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049655479=21300493e3b4cff6607.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049655479=21300493e3b4cff6607.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".30w.$mid=11415049655479=21300493e3b4cff6607.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">If you've got a small unusual program-- theater on ice, special disciplines like pairs or ice dance, make sure you highlight them, as well. These kids don't get a lot of credit, and you might help build the program (which is the reason you do exhibitions in the first place).</span></span></span><br />
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Sell tickets. Seriously folks, stop with the free exhibitions. Make it $5 for a single flight (at least 45 minutes), and a discount for multiple flights. If you need to make it palatable, use the money to fund skating scholarships.<br />
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People will stay and your program will grow.<br />
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And no one will want to poke their eyes out.<br />
<br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-70409225432778964752014-11-22T09:09:00.001-06:002014-11-22T09:09:49.788-06:00Follow Xanboni!Don't forget I'm on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Xanboni/143592879030467" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Xanboni" target="_blank">Twitter</a>!<br />
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<br />
You'll get a lot more content, more regularly. On Facebook I like memes, skating news, and skating friends, as well as posting great content from some of my favorite blogs (see the resources page). I'm perfectly happy with "blog whoring" on there too-- if you know, or write, a great skating blog or site, post it! (I won't lie, it's the only place where I sometimes go a little fangirl.)<br />
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On Twitter I'm more intermittent, but I "live tweet" most championship-level competitions like the Grand Prix series, Nationals, etc that are on <a href="http://web.icenetwork.com/home" target="_blank">Ice Network</a>, plus other competitions that I'm able to find streams that haven't been blocked by the money-men.<br />
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So come on, hundreds of Twitter followers, and thousands read this blog each month-- join me there too! <br />
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See you online! <br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Xanboni/143592879030467?ref=br_tf" target="_blank">Xanboni on Facebook</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/Xanboni" target="_blank">@Xanboni on Twitter</a>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-82420516514770811752014-11-11T11:30:00.000-06:002014-11-11T22:01:37.343-06:00When should your child start coaching-- a guide for parentsThat's right. This is not a "how to teach" post. It's how to support your child's budding career, and it's a great one. Coaching has gotten many a former skating princess through medical school, because there are <i>always</i> jobs, and it pays more than minimum wage (as much as double minimum wage, in fact), even more if you pick up private students.<br />
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Kids can start teaching (as opposed to coaching) as young as 12, and depending on your state's laws, can be hired as regular staff at 14 or 15, and anywhere at 16 (labor laws). I hunted around on the PSA and ISI sites last night and could not find any guidelines for starting young coaches. The closest I found was <a href="http://www.skatepsa.com/Categories-and-Fees-P.htm" target="_blank">PSA's Intern membership level</a>. PSA also has the apprenticeship program which is a great option for learning how to teach. (See my posts about learning to teach <a href="http://xan-boni.blogspot.com/2013/03/getting-into-coaching-part-1.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://xan-boni.blogspot.com/2013/03/getting-into-coaching-part-2-learning.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) Here's the <a href="http://www.usfsa.org/content.asp?menu=coaches" target="_blank">USFS guide for coaching</a>.<br />
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But this post is about you.<br />
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I would (and did) encourage, even push, my skater to try coaching. As I said, for the age group it's lucrative. Your skater may decide she or he hates coaching (mine did), but that's okay. It's important to keep this option open while they need it.<br />
<br />
<i>So how young?</i><br />
The one rink I've ever encountered that does it right, <a href="http://www.nbparks.org/Sports-Center-Skating/figure-skating.htm" target="_blank">Northbrook Ice Arena</a> in Illinois, allows kids to junior coach as young as 12, and has "buddy" options in the ice show younger than that, based on skating level and audition. Most of the girls (it's all girls at Northbrook) start at 14.<br />
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<i>So you just throw them on a class and hope for the best?</i><br />
Sadly, at many rinks, yes. And they always seem, inexplicably, to put them with the tots, the absolute hardest level to teach. If your newly minted coach is teaching a class by her/himself, complain. This is not appropriate for so many reasons-- skill, trust (i.e. why should parents trust your 14 year old with 8 tots), and not least, liability.<br />
<br />
<i>Wait, liability?</i><br />
Young coaches who are on staff, or junior coaches in a formal program, are covered by the rink's insurance. In a rink where junior coaches are just sort of "at discretion," it's less clear. Your skater cannot get their own liability insurance until they are 16, and they must be members of the PSA to get it.<br />
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<i>What's the first step</i><br />
If your skater is already 16 and skating at least FS4 (arbitrary level choice, but I wouldn't go any lower with a young skater), and has not expressed an interest in coaching, or been asked by the rink, bring it up. If you know that there are opportunities at the rink, push it. I really believe kids should do this. Then have the skater (not you) talk to their coach, a coach on a class they'd like to teach, or to the skating director about how to become a junior coach.<br />
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<i>Pay</i><br />
If your skater is actually hired, they must receive the same pay as any other coach hired in their category (it will vary from rink to rink and municipality to municipality, but is a statutory limitation based on H.R. categories. This is a legal thing.) They MUST receive at least minimum wage; it is against the law to hire someone for a regular position and pay them less than minimum wage.<br />
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If it's part of a junior coaching program it might be for pay (again, if they are on payroll this must be at least minimum wage), it might be <i>quid pro quo</i>, it might be "point building" towards a regular hire. This will vary hugely; no two rinks are the same. This is a place where you as a parent can ask. If the answer is vague, or worse, "oh I don't know we'll think of something" or if you find out that your arrangement is different from the next junior coach over, complain. This is one area where I would say you don't have to let your skater take the lead.<br />
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<i>Learning to teach</i><br />
Teaching is not skating. Knowing how to skate does not mean you know how to teach. My daughter pointed out that she had no idea how to teach a swizzle, because she'd been 4 when she learned it. Encourage a high degree of humility. Let your skater know that a coach instructing them in teaching tips is no different than a coach instructing them in how to do a sit spin-- it's just another skill. Nothing sets my teeth on edge more than a 16 year old acting like she knows teaching better than I do.<br />
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<i>Your child's coach</i><br />
Lots of coaches will use their older or more advanced students to help with younger skaters working with the same coach, sometimes for pay, sometimes for quid pro quo (i.e. free lessons)<br />
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<i>Instruction in instruction</i><br />
Check your ISI District and the Basic Skills website for free seminars-- coaches can go to either, it doesn't matter what curriculum the rink uses. Don't go with your skater; you wouldn't want her at your professional continuing ed either. This is the arrogance thing again-- even experienced coaches learn <i>some</i>thing at these; a young coach shouldn't assume that because she can skate, she can teach. Plus, there's a lot of bad technique being passed around out there-- it might be your skater who is getting it. Seminars are great places to learn about good technique. And they often have superstar cred-- I learned how to teach flips from <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=tom+zakrajsek&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb" target="_blank">Tom Zakrajsek</a>, and have seen Jason Brown, Gracie Gold, and Evan Lysacek among others as demonstrators.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Petukhov" title="Denis Petukhov"></a><br />
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But the most important thing you can do for your young coach is the same for all aspects of their lives-- be vigilant, but stay out of the way. (After pushing them into this, that is.) Don't stand in the rink door. Don't harass the pro on the class about giving your child more opportunities to teach; don't nag the skating director for "better" classes or more coaching time. Don't offer advice unless you are asked. (This is especially hard if you are also a skating coach.)<br />
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Don't be a "coaching parent" anymore than you should be a Skating Mom™. You know that Olympic dream your skater has? Coaching is another way to get there.<br />
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<br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-22861891570930488992014-11-08T08:42:00.001-06:002014-11-08T13:46:06.185-06:00Where did Xanboni go?Many of you know that I also have another profession-- I operate a consulting firm advising small and start-up nonprofits, which, miraculously and wonderfully, has gradually crept up to full time. A little over a year ago, combined with difficult life and health issues, something had to give, and as those of you who write blogs know, blogging is time consuming and <i>hard</i>.<br />
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Xanboni wasn't the only blog I write that suffered. <a href="http://notdabblinginnormal.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/bread/" target="_blank">Not Dabbling in Normal</a> was also a casualty.<br />
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But the fans keep finding me.<br />
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On Facebook, on Twitter, by email, and yes, in the lobby of the ice rink.<br />
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So I'm planning some intermittent posts, aiming for about one per month. Because I'm only teaching about an hour a week now, my finger is not quite as much on the pulse as it was, but I'm just as opinionated as ever, so I welcome suggestions for posts.<br />
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In the meantime, watch for When Should Your Child Start Coaching- a Guide for Parents next week, and A New Approach to Exhibitions around Thanksgiving.<br />
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<br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-47948507035234103292014-02-15T08:30:00.000-06:002014-02-15T08:30:00.521-06:00The kids who won't go to the OlympicsI've been working with atypical skaters for several years-- kids who have special needs, first as a designated aide, and now as a Program Leader with the <a href="http://www.nssra.org/" target="_blank">Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association</a> (NSSRA), part of a national movement of "SRAs," essentially park districts for individuals with special needs.<br />
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On Saturday mornings, I teach in a fast growing program called SPICE (SPecial skaters ICE Experience) with 20 kids and 20+ "buddies"-- high level skaters who work one-on-one with class participants. SPICE was NSSRA's very first program, a couple of decades ago. Here's a typical class:<br />
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Staff and buddies are gathered in the lobby waiting for the skaters to start arriving. N, 14 and a huge flirt, has the buddies fighting over him. His regular buddy is absent; we finally settle on him helping one of the older girls to teach a new student.<br />
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S walks in with his beautiful service dog, repeating Hi Xan! in his booming voice several times. S is also a popular skater, both because he's a really good skater, and because he tells amazing stories while skating around.<br />
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C won't look at me, but I happen to know he's into lions and have brought a hand puppet.<br />
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J also knows better than to look at me, because I am really mean and have been making him stand up on the ice (I know, right?). P is usually quite quiet, and needs two helpers to stand on the ice, although he physically strong. Even with typical skaters, it's often one of the biggest challenges to help them understand that "slippery" is not the same as "impossible to stand on this." In fact, T, who was doing great last week, has decided that Dad is a <i>way</i> better option than the skating teachers. Like the hero that these kids often are, however, a few minutes into the class, and with the help of two buddies, his gliding like a pro.<br />
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C is complaining, but the lion is proving to motivate him.<br />
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M missed the first four classes-- we wondered where she was; turned out her registration had gotten lost. She showed up today, with pink hair! (I <i>knew</i> I liked that kid!) Last session she absolutely insisted that she had to have a pusher, but today she just zipped right past them without a thought.<br />
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G missed two sessions as well, for his bar mitzvah. His buddy also missed those sessions, because the kids have bonded so beautifully-- His buddy JG went to the service and party. These are the kinds of really beautiful things that happen at SPICE. G does not stand on his own and has a special adaptive frame so he can skate, with JG pushing. There is nothing quite so joyous as his laughter as he moves faster than anyone else on the ice.<br />
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Each class we sort out all the pairings, have a 10-minute class (typically swizzles, backward wiggles, two-foot and one-foot glides and other basic skills) and about 15 minutes of free skating (so that I have time to fight with J about standing up instead of scooting around on his butt).<br />
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These are just a few of the 20 skaters that I work with every week. They and their families are literally what keep me skating-- I've thought often about quitting. But knowing the difference I make in these lives, the volunteer buddies that I am inspiring, and the joy that all of us feel from these special classes keep me coming back for more.Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-29705195051099762502014-02-12T08:00:00.000-06:002014-02-12T08:00:00.741-06:00The Olympic EffectThe winter session (generally starting somewhere late December to early February) always has the highest enrollment at most skating schools.<br />
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In an Olympic year, it's even more heavily enrolled, and this year in the Chicago area it's on steroids because of all the press about Jason Brown and Gracie Gold.<br />
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If you're feeling the Olympic Effect (that is, if you've caught the bug and signed yourself or your child up for skating), here's some basic information for skaters and parents:<br />
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<b>What to wear to lessons</b><br />
Dress for “sweater weather”: gloves, t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt and sweater (but no bulky parka-like jackets), tights and pants or leggings. Dress to respect the sport—you wouldn’t send your child to music lessons in muddy and torn blue jeans; don’t send them skating like this either. I don’t recommend skating dresses for children under Freestyle Two, as they don’t move very fast and may get cold. Don’t wear large bulky coats, as it gets too hot, and the coach can’t see what the skater’s body positions are. Highly recommended for beginners to wear a helmet; flat-backed skateboard helmets are the best, followed by the “Ice Halo.”<br />
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<b>Skates and blades</b><br />
Fitting skates is not like fitting shoes. A correctly fitted skate will feel snug, which children may characterize as “too tight.” You need to know if it is merely uncomfortable when compared, for instance, to sneakers. Skates may feel uncomfortable; if they actually hurt, try a different pair. To put the skates on, unlace the boot as low as it will go, and pull up on the tongue to create the widest possible opening (Do the same when removing the skates). When the skate is open like this, the foot should slide in with just a little pressure. If it slides in extremely easily or must be forced, it may be the wrong size. You will almost never need a skate larger than your street shoe (although a knowledgeable dealer can help you buy a skate with some grow room).<br />
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<i><u>Rental skates</u></i> are usually perfectly fine for skaters through the Alpha or even Beta level. Rentals are always the best choice for children in the Tot classes, due to cost and foot growth. Ask a pro (not the office personnel) to check the boot and blade condition. At Robert Crown Center, if you find a rental skate that you particularly like, note the shelf number (as opposed to the size) and always ask for that pair of skates by number.<br />
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<i><u>Used skates</u></i> can be purchased at many pro shops and used goods stores. Get a good fit—never buy a skate that is too big; some growth room is fine, but seldom more than a half size. The ankle should not be too creased and the interior padding not too compressed. Don’t buy more skate than you need. Beginning skaters need to learn to bend their ankles, which they cannot do in a skate that is too heavily constructed. Buy a leather boot—molded plastic boots are not flexible enough and may lead to injury. Watch out for rusty or heavily nicked blades. It is a good idea to get fitted at a reputable figure skate dealer; fitting does not obligate you to buy from him.<br />
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<i><u>New skates</u></i> are often the last choice for beginning skaters. Children’s feet grow so fast that they often don’t get to the broken-in stage before they need a new size. Some brands are so stiff that it interferes with learning. The new “comfort skates” (Sof-Tec or other brands) that look like sneakers are a wonderful first skate for a beginner. Always go to a knowledgeable dealer to get fitted for new skates, even if you end up buying them at Sportmart. The dealer can help you learn what to look for and will be happy to do so, as he’ll figure you’ll be back for accessories and future pairs of skates! Be honest about your child’s skating level—don’t say you have a freestyle skater if you have a Gamma skater—it will make a huge difference in what the dealer recommends you buy.<br />
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<i><b>Are you new to skating (and to Xanboni?) Tell us why you decided to start. All my fans-- tell your friends who've jumped in the deep end about the community here and on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Xanboni/143592879030467" target="_blank">Facebook</a>! </b></i></div>
Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-70871429281905205582014-02-10T07:53:00.000-06:002014-02-10T07:54:05.107-06:00I'm supposed to watch the edge. Um, what's an edge?Forget the edges. Forget the toe picks. Forget flutzing.<br />
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If you're watching the Olympics and can't tell what jump they're doing, here's some advice:<br />
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Don't worry about it.<br />
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Seriously, unless you're planning to become a fan, and watch all the time, and look at the protocols (never mind), it literally doesn't matter what jump they're going to do. They all look alike in the air. This is because they all ARE alike in the air. Once the skater has achieved orbit, the position and rotation and landing are identical for every jump.<br />
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Okay, incipient geeks, yes I hear you-- some skaters rotate to the left, some skaters rotate to the right. This changes the dominant side, but not the basic position. 'K? Can I get back to my post now?<br />
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Ditto the footwork-- 3-turns, choctaws, counters, rockers, brackets, walleys, twizzles, I could start making up words at this point and you'd have no clue.<br />
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But it doesn't matter. Just enjoy.<br />
<br />
Now, that said, if you really want to know what's going on, forget about edges and toe picks. You have to watch a <i>lot</i> of skating to be able to pick up on this in the fraction of a second in which it occurs. You want to watch the <i>entrance.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Axel</i><br />
We'll start with the easy one. Everyone recognizes the axel because it takes off forwards. (Skating geeks shut up-- I know that all jumps take off more or less forwards. You're just confusing the issue.) The axel has no backwards set up. In fact, doing a challenging backwards pattern before entering the forward take-off edge will earn you points. (Listen for comments about "difficult entry to that axel.")<br />
<br />
And this is the secret of recognizing jumps. You'll often notice that the commentators know what the athlete is going to do before they do it. This is partly because they have a cheat sheet, but also because they know the set ups-- they are primed to watch for a certain jump because the set up is part of the skill. Skaters who don't "telegraph" their jumps (Yuna Kim, Jason Brown, Patrick Chan, and Michelle Kwan come to mind) are a lot of fun to watch because of this; it is also one of the things that makes their programs flow so beautifully.<i> </i><br />
<br />
<i>Lutz</i><br />
Technically a toe-assisted counter jump off a back outside edge. Forget it. Watch for a long shallow edge, usually the longest entry edge of all the jumps, and skaters tend not to precede it with footwork. This is because it is a "counter" jump-- the rotation is in the opposite curve of the entry edge (for people who jump to the left, it will be a clockwise entry edge and a ccw rotation). This is changing, because any difficult entry gets you points. Again, listen for the comment about difficult entry.<br />
<br />
Skaters often put the lutz in a corner, to give them the maximum entry distance. One of the things that used to make Yuna Kim's lutzes difficult to spot were short entry edges, and she would place them in the middle of the ice, where no one <i>ever</i> does lutzes.<br />
<br />
The lutz is the jump where skaters put one or both arms over their heads, the "Tano" or "Rippon" positions. I've also seen this done with the axel.<br />
<br />
This is the jump with the most "edge calls"-- taking off from the wrong edge-- because the counter rotation can force the foot onto the wrong edge at the last minute if you don't time it just right. <br />
<br />
<i>Flip</i><br />
The flip is a toe assisted jump from a back <i>inside</i> edge, but watch for a long forward edge and/or a short (two-three moves) footwork sequence before the skater does a quick turn for the back take off. Ironically, after judges starting really hammering skaters for "flutzing" their lutzes (flipping to an inside edge at the last moment, which makes it a flip), skaters fixed that and started "flupping" their flips-- turning to an outside edge, making it a lutz. The only reason you care, is because a take off from the wrong edge is one of the things that mysteriously lowers the scores.<br />
<br />
<i>Loop</i><br />
Outside edge jump with no toe assist. However, you want to watch for another longish entry, on a much tighter curve than either the Lutz or the Flip. Skaters will often cross their feet and appear to be lifting off a crossed two-foot glide. This is also a common second or third jump in a combination.<br />
<br />
<i>Toe loop</i><br />
Same entry as the loop, but with a toe assist. This is one of the hardest jumps to spot, as most skaters find it easy, so they throw it in willy nilly, especially if they've missed an earlier jump and need to add points. It's a common first quad jump, and also common in the "bonus"-- the second half of the program where you get extra points for every jump. Another common jump in combination. <br />
<br />
<i>Salchow</i><br />
A common "warm up" jump (the other is the double axel), that is, a jump in the first few seconds of the program to get the feel of the ice. This is another "edge" jump, with no toe assist, often telegraphed by a very curvy entry edge and an upper body wind up. This and the toe loop are generally the only quads you'll see (this has to do with the actual number of rotations in the air, which is fewer than four, trust me.) Matthew Savoie used to do a triple (quad?) salchow out of a back hydroblade position. Amazing.<br />
<br />
<i>Footwork sequence: jumps </i><br />
Walleys, bunny hops, albrights (also called scissor and mazurka), splits, falling leafs (falling leaves?), Russian splits (Jason Brown anyone?), and this year one of the women has a one-foot axel in her footwork. (Can't remember who it was, but I almost dropped my coffee.) These generally don't count as jumps; they're calculated in the necessary turns and changes of direction for the footwork.<br />
<br />
<i>Footwork sequence: turns</i><br />
WHO CARES. This is the part of the program where the skaters generally have the chance to create some art, to connect with the audience, to sell the program, to tell a story. If they aren't doing this, if they're just "technical" skaters with the requisite number of turns, edges, changes, etc. then they are doing it wrong.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Any questions?</i></b></div>
Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-55194788569121886322014-02-10T06:30:00.000-06:002014-02-10T06:30:00.493-06:00Why I do thisOverheard at the class next to mine:<br />
<br />
<i>Skater to coach</i>: How do you have such good ideas!?<br />
<br />
<i>Coach</i>: Oh, I guess just because I've been a teacher for a long time.<br />
<br />
<i>Skater</i>: But they're <i>so good!</i><br />
<br />
<i>Coach</i>: Well, why do you think they're good ideas?<br />
<br />
<i>Skater</i>: Because it's really helping me!<i> </i> Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-64479155639454789502014-02-08T07:02:00.000-06:002014-11-08T09:52:16.581-06:00Choosing a skating camp: What to look forChoosing camp isn't a terribly linear endeavor; it's more of a matrix of cost, goals, and needs. I firmly believe that the place to start is with the cost. Don't research the ideal camp, get all excited about it, and then discover you need to take out a second mortgage to afford it.<br />
<br />
Remember to consider all the factors likely to draw dollahs from your wallet-- basic tuition, room and board, travel, spending money, extra coaching, uniforms, books or equipment, etc. Some camps have a basic package, and then charge extra for specialty classes, private lessons, celebrity guest coaches, etc.<br />
<br />
<i>Know what type of skater you have (and be honest with yourself)</i><br />
National trajectory? (Novice test and triple jumps at age 12 or so); strong recreational skater (planning to test through Senior by end of high school, does some competitions); competitive (planning to test through Senior, goes to qualifying competitions); recreational skater (favorite activity is the ice show, but still committed to testing and improving); social skater ("what's testing?").<br />
<br />
That said, a good summer program has the ability to move your skater onto a different track-- from strong recreational, for instance, to competitive, or competitive to national ambitions. <br />
<br />
<i>How much skating will my kid put up with</i><br />
A recreational, half-day program is going to have an hour and a half of ice in two 45-minute sessions. Skating this much every day is going to result in improvement, but it's not going to get you to nationals. On the other hand, a more high-powered program with 4 to 6 hours of ice and off-ice training every day is not going to be a fit for someone who's in it for the social scene.<br />
<br />
<i>Who is coaching</i><br />
Don't be dazzled by a name, nor dismiss the unknown coach. Check out who their students are. A coach with multiple competitors and zero recreational skaters is not going to be a good fit for your recreational skaters. (Many highly competitive coaches also teach tot classes; I'm not saying competitive coaches are terrible recreational coaches, but that coaches who don't like to teach recreational skaters are not going to be good with a recreational skater just because it's <i>your</i> kid.)<br />
<br />
Find the coach who teaches kids like yours, or like the skater your kid wants to be.<br />
<br />
Conversely, a coach who has never had competitive success is unlikely to start with your kid. Doesn't have to be Frank Carroll, but some competitive record is a good indicator. (For the most part. All coaches have to start somewhere.) And camps are a great place to network-- both for your skater and your regular coach to start making those very important connections.<br />
<br />
Camps will publish bios of their faculty, generally on the website, but read between the lines. A coach who has really had international competitors will generally specific at least the competition, if not the name of the skater or skaters. Professional Skaters Association rankings are another good indicator of how honest a bio is. If the coach is claiming multiple high powered competitors but not noting their PSA ranking (not the same as rating), take the bio with a grain of salt. <br />
<br />
<i>Who goes (or has gone) to this camp?</i><br />
Check your goals-- national competition? Senior test? Pizza night?-- and see which program has students that share them. Programs that have famous "graduates" will promote this. I would rely less on endorsements, as those can be, literally, bought.Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-3516063618433857372014-02-05T06:41:00.001-06:002014-02-05T06:43:19.232-06:00Choosing a skating camp: types of campsI was reminded by a fan message on Xanboni Facebook that it's February-- time to sign up for summer camp.<br />
<br />
The skating magazines are full of shiny ads and the Lobby Moms are <i>judging you</i> (you know they are-- they question is, do you care?) and your kid wants to go to sleep away skating camp (and soccer camp and eco camp and theater camp, too. What do you mean I can't do all of them?)<br />
<br />
How do you choose. I think I need a flow chart for this (where is St. Lidwina when I need her), but here's a list instead.<br />
<br />
<i>Day camp or sleep away?</i><br />
All about cost, really. The boarding camps are expensive on their own, and astronomical if you add in private lessons, which are not always included-- check the literature. If privates are available with a celebrity coach add a couple of zeros to the cost.<br />
<br />
<i>Home rink camp</i><br />
Most rinks will have a regular programs run and promoted by the rink and staffed by skating school staf. These might be half day or full day; they might incorporate other sports, crafts, community services, etc.<br />
<br />
<i>Celebrity Day Camp</i><br />
If you're in a large metro area, chances are there's a prestige coach running a summer program near you, saving you the boarding cost. This is basically super-home-rink camp (hey, it's <i>someone's</i> home rink), with a premium for the prestige coach. (Who may or may not have all that much face time with your kid. More on that in the next post) <br />
<br />
<i>Coach camp</i><br />
Depending on the rink, "Coach camp" can be run on regular ice run and promoted by individual
coaches, and sometimes restricted to their private lesson students only; or on purchased ice, where those participating have
the sessions to themselves. (This happens mostly with high powered
coaches, and/or at rinks that don't allow coaches to run their own camps
on regular ice.) I ran Xanboni Camp for several years, with 75 minutes of ice, 40 minutes off-ice and an hour of craft or story time. It was a blast.<br />
<br />
The cheapest option of course will be the rink camp. Don't
let coaches tell you coach camp is cheapest; some will try to disguise
the cost by billing you only for the group coaching time upfront--
you'll have to pay for ice and privates separately.<br />
<br />
However, it's not only about the cost. So what do you look for in a camp? First, you need to know your goal (as all good readers of Xanboni understand). Here's some reasons to go to skating camp:<br />
<br />
<i>Gotta park the kid somewhere</i><br />
Rink Camp. 'nuff said.<br />
<br />
<i>All her friends are doing it</i><br />
I say this somewhat facetiously, but it's actually a factor. Skating is hugely social endeavor, more, I think, than team sports, because kids are on their own during practice so much. If all her friends are doing a particular camp, and it's one you can afford, then sure, choose that camp. Just be aware that skating may not be the central motivation!<br />
<br />
<i>Improvement</i><br />
Summer is a great time to work on a test, a new skill, or a new program. This means you need to choose a camp either with a coach that knows your skater, or one that specifically promotes skill development or testing. <br />
<br />
<i>Prestige</i><br />
I don't judge. If working around skaters training at a high level, attending the "name" rink, or working with a celebrity coach are important to you, <i>and you can afford it</i>, then go for it. I have never heard anything negative about Little Suzy from Spokane at places like Ice Castles. These programs get good reputations for a reason-- they're good. <br />
<br />
<i>Networking</i><br />
If you can honestly say you have a skater on a national trajectory, talk to your coach (TALK TO YOU COACH) about programs where s/he and the coach can meet people-- judges, officials, other skaters, specialty coaches. The coach will know which programs these are, will have preferences for various programs because of the connections s/he already has, etc. Families do sometimes pay some or all of a coach's expenses to basically go to camp with the kid. Check with the program to find out what the arrangements are for guest coaches.<br />
<br />
<i>But I'm an adult!</i><br />
Oh good heavens, save your pennies and go to adult skating camp. There are lots of them, with great adult-sensitive coaching for all level skaters and I universally hear wonderful things about them from friends who have gone.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Next: what to look for in a camp.</b></i><br />
<br />
<br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-76093783966019697202013-11-19T09:07:00.000-06:002013-11-19T09:17:53.833-06:00I hate my music!<div>
My daughter's father is a musician. You can't imagine how this simplified music choices-- her coaches pretty much trusted us to come up with great unusual music and she mostly skated to things she liked.<br />
<br />
Ice show programs were often dogs, unfortunately-- she skated to music that I wouldn't blast at terrorists to get them to give up the hostages.<br />
<br />
In which case you just go out and skate your heart out for the applause, because the music is setting everyone's teeth on edge.<br />
<br />
There is no
standard about who chooses music; sometimes the coach is dictatorial
about it , sometimes it's the student, sometimes
collaborative. It is not worth fighting over. Coaches will often recycle music-- their own or their students. At the very least, this saves an editing fee-- when I still did competitions with my students, I would charge them $50 to prepare their own music, or let them use something from my library for free. Students were not allowed to edit their own music, because they almost universally did a terrible job. Not everyone's dad is a musician, but unfortunately everyone's dad, or 13-year-old brother (not kidding), has access to Garage Band.</div>
<br />
Even if you're using "someone else's music" remember that IJS rules change more often than the weather; your choreography will be your own. Even if you hate your music, remember that program length changes at each level, so you'll have a chance to change it within a year, two at the most.<br />
<br />
Coaches will know things about music that you won't-- cuts that allow for proper emphasis on elements within the choreography-- a jump at a dramatic cadence, step sequence that matches the mood, etc. Points are awarded, and deducted, for this. The coach might know that judges reward certain types or even certain cuts of specific music. They will sometimes use music to cue the judges "this is a Brian Boitano-like skater." "I want you to think of Jason Brown when you see this skater." "This skater is new and unique."<br />
<br />
To you, it's "I don't like this music." To the coach, it's all part of the drive to assemble the point total.<br />
<br />
Coaches do not choose music to be mean, or to make your skater look bad, or to pick fights. They choose the music that they feel will show off your skater's skill in the best light.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Have you had music that you hated? How did you resolve the situation?</b></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-42161687449107859632013-11-05T06:47:00.000-06:002013-11-05T06:47:00.197-06:00Coming back from an injury- emotionalOne of the hardest parts of coming back from an injury is the
emotional trauma. An injury costs not just physical prowess, but a level
of trust-- in yourself, in other skaters, in the individuals advising
you. Adults especially become very skittish after an injury.<br />
<br />
The most important aspect of emotional readiness is to be confident in your physical readiness. Don't get back on the ice if you are not 100% sure that your injury is healed (okay, 90% because you're more ready than you think you are). As stated in the <a href="http://xan-boni.blogspot.com/2013/08/coming-back-from-injury-physical.html" target="_blank">post on physical injury</a>, this is your call in consultation with your doctor. Not the coach, not the parent, not the calendar. <br />
<br />
Here are some things you can do to regain your confidence:<br />
<br />
<i>Safety equipment</i><br />
Head injury? Wear a helmet, or better yet an <a href="http://www.icehalo.ca/" target="_blank">Ice Halo</a>*. Children (and I include teens in that) are often reluctant to look different than their peers, and yes, a standard skating helmet stands out on the ice if you're older than 6. Further, it is inappropriate for freestyle. But the Ice Halo is designed for skaters. (By the way, don't use a soccer helmet-- the padding is in the wrong part of the head-- it doesn't protect the back.)<br />
<br />
Adults should <i>never</i> feel constrained about wearing a helmet if it makes you feel more secure. The dirty not-much-of-a-secret of adult skating is that the people who feel contempt for you (and they are legion, sadly), aren't going to hate you any more if you wear a helmet. Wear it and be proud (and safe). Get a skateboard helmet that is flat in the back.<br />
<br />
Other safety equipment are padding-- knee, elbow, wrist, hip. Wrist and elbow pads or splints can be purchased at your local Walgreen's and are fine. For hip and knee pads, get ones that are designed for sports. Especially knee pads need to be appropriate for skating-- the wide, stiff ones can make it more hazardous rather than more safe.<br />
<br />
<i>Take it slow</i><br />
This is exactly the same advice as for physical recovery. Try it out. Go to an empty session and just slowly skate around. "Get your legs under you" so to speak. You're ready to get back into training when you don't get an adrenalin reaction from just stepping onto the ice.<br />
<br />
<i>Skate at your comfort level</i><br />
Don't worry about getting your axel back. After my third foot injury I just decided that I was perfectly happy with my Adult Bronze plateau. I still "train" but I just do it for the joy of the wind in my hair and the elevated heart rate; I'm not trying to learn anything new anymore. I stopped jumping completely (I barely even do bunny hops anymore.)<i> </i>Think about whether your injury has changed your goals, and then go for it. It's not "settling"-- done right it's a positive, empowering step that puts you in charge. <br />
<br />
<i>Skate with someone</i><br />
After my second (third? who can remember anymore) foot injury, I was extremely skittish about skating. My friend and coach Adam offered to essentially hold me up for about a month. I just skated slowly around with him until I got my confidence back.<br />
<br />
<i>Wall crawl</i><br />
This is in the helmets-are-stupid category. Don't worry about what others are thinking. No one is watching you. (Really. No one is watching you.) If you don't have a solid skating friend like mine, use the wall. I predict you'll get 20 feet down the wall and will feel fine and start skating.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>How long has it taken you to regain your confidence after an injury? What helped you? What was harder to overcome-- the physical or the emotional recovery?</i></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*<a href="http://www.icehalo.ca/" target="_blank">Ice Halo</a> gives a 10% discount if you put Xanboni in the Notes field on their Paypal order form. I do not receive compensation for this- I just really believe in the product.</span>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-90649323747908995742013-10-27T10:24:00.001-05:002013-10-27T11:20:46.932-05:00Boys and teasingTwo boys suiting up for hockey. One jumps up and asks the other-- hey!!! do you like singing? Isn't singing fun? Second boy says singing is stupid. First boy agrees. Singing is stupid. The parents, who are all there, do not say anything. The parents of the singer (and they must know this child thinks singing is fun) simply allow their child to confirm that singing is stupid. <br />
<br />
And that is how it starts. That is why it is so difficult for boys to be artists in our society.<br />
<br />
Or figure skaters.<br />
<br />
I've seen hockey coaches making fun of the boys in figure skating (who by the way could kick most of their skaters' asses). I have seen many many skating directors push boys into hockey, whether or not the child has expressed an interest. Even at the tot level the non-hockey classes at many rinks are overwhelmingly female. That's not an accident.<br />
<br />
It's common to see figure skating teachers recommend hockey for kids who seem like they'd enjoy that. I have <i>never</i> heard of a hockey coach suggesting that a kid switch to figure skating, although it defies imagination that no hockey coach has ever encountered a child who might be a better figure skater than hockey skater. When I proposed this to a hockey coach once he told me that they encourage the kids who don't like hockey to switch to football or soccer. For real.<br />
<br />
My son was a musician from infancy; fortunately so is his father; he also went to a school that very much honored artists whatever their gender so he never experienced the type of input that I observed at the rink between those two boys.<br />
<br />
At the rink figure skating boys do not get anything but support within the figure skating community. But at home and in school they need positive reinforcement; the idiots who equate art with homosexuality (because that is frankly at the heart of it) need to be educated. Here are some suggestions, if you have a boy in figure skating:<br />
<br />
<i>Throw a skating birthday party for the boys</i><br />
In addition to making skating seem like a normal thing to do, it also takes the mystery out of it. Let the hockey boys see how well your boy skates. Let the non-skaters see how hard this is. With older boys, a skating party has the additional benefit of demonstrating how popular your figure skating boy is with the girls, because God has not created an individual more popular with the girls than a high school boy who skates well.<i> </i><br />
<br />
<i>Bring the cub scouts</i><br />
or other youth group. Figure skating is accepted for the sports pin. Many rinks partner with local girl scouts groups for their badge (girl scouts has an actual figure skating badge); see if you can get your rink to do a program like this for boy scouts, or set up the necessary documentation for regular classes. More about boy scouts and skating <a href="http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/sports/ice-skating.asp" target="_blank">here</a>. (Thanks Blue Eyed Cat for the link.)<br />
<br />
<i>Create classes for boys</i><br />
Segregated classes, especially for middle and high school boys, has been a strategy for dance companies for decades. Older boys don't want to look stupid to girls, and very few middle schoolers want to take a Pre-alpha class with 5 year olds. Boys also have very different pacing and learning styles than a lot of girls-- they need classes that move faster, that have less standing around, and that involve an unavoidable level of crashing into walls (just kidding, haha no I'm not). Further, by middle school, the girls are really good and the boys feel dumb stumbling around in front of them. The thing is that athletic kids who start skating at 9 or 10 or even older very quickly catch up. You don't have to start skating at 4 to be doing doubles by high school. Get them into boys-only classes and by the time they're in high school they'll be all caught up.<br />
<br />
<i>Honor the boys</i><br />
There are lots of pictures of hockey boys at every rink I've ever worked at. Yet even at rinks where there have been extremely successful skaters there are no pictures of boys in figure skates (we're talking Ben Agosto-Jason Brown level of success. But no pictures). This is partially a structural problem-- the hockey shrines are generally funded by booster clubs, which tend not to exist in figure skating. This is another one where parents of boys need to talk to rink management about making sure that there is an affirmative action plan, so to speak, that gets the boys recognized.<br />
<br />
Our society needs to get over its conflating of artistic talent and homosexuality, which is what is at the heart of this. (And not to get cliche'd , but 'not that there's anything wrong with that'). Parents of figure skating boys are the front line in the battle.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>What have you done to help promote boys' involvement in figure skating (and this goes for the parents of girls, too)? </i></b></div>
<br />
<br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-73334221992174873882013-10-06T09:14:00.002-05:002013-10-27T11:20:32.502-05:00Happy Anniversary!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrntLRr9EBaH5tazKvdcfpcOLWiHF_vO8ZcbfJsl-ZuwDuVSwD8E5frqDEKj_M3FdHZcZto8PR6WbBesaPnmqA6Q2sgjyFxLudmKHStgr6pGGFT5Hv_X9c6IVjotub3LPIaZWGe4g7v0M/s1600/Happy-Birthday-Cake2-e1358140922721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrntLRr9EBaH5tazKvdcfpcOLWiHF_vO8ZcbfJsl-ZuwDuVSwD8E5frqDEKj_M3FdHZcZto8PR6WbBesaPnmqA6Q2sgjyFxLudmKHStgr6pGGFT5Hv_X9c6IVjotub3LPIaZWGe4g7v0M/s400/Happy-Birthday-Cake2-e1358140922721.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Just wanted to pop in quickly and say Happy Birthday to Xanboni. I put up my first post on this day in 2009, and I have lots more to say (albeit more infrequently than in the past).<br />
<br />
The best part of the blog is the great friends I've made online, so shout out to Blue Eyed Cat, Jeff Chapman (LA Skate Dad), Josette Plank, Maria Mom of 2, a couple of Anons whose voices I now recognize, Jenny from Ice Charades, the late lamented Ice Mom (blog, as far as I know, Ice Mom herself is fine), "St. Lidwina," and many many others.<br />
<br />
Let me know your favorite posts from the past 4 years in the comments!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
Xan<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(P.S. Thanks, http://www.claryandersonarena.com/ for the image!) </span><br />
<br />Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-27081338632012947182013-09-27T05:52:00.002-05:002013-10-27T11:20:18.907-05:00ProtocolProtocol, or protocols, is <span class="st">a system of rules for correct conduct and procedures to be followed in designated situations. Every system and situation has protocols, some quite formal and codified, and some more "common law."</span><br />
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<span class="st">We tend to think of protocol as a diplomatic thing-- should Americans curtsey to the Queen, for instance, but these sorts of generally accepted rules also guide everyday situations. Do you call your doctor by her first name? How about your child's second grade teacher? Who gets the last seat in a crowded room, or on the train? We all know these things because of accepted protocols, and we're all offended when they are violated.</span><br />
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<span class="st">Figure skating sessions do have protocols as well, and in fact very specific ones for very specific situations, having less to do with diplomacy and more with safety. So here's a few.</span><br />
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<i><span class="st">Right of way</span></i><br />
<span class="st">Right of way on free skate sessions is very specific, and universal. Lower level skaters have the right of way. Therefore, no stink eye allowed by the Novice level skater toward the pokey, tentative Freestyle 2 skater. Someone running a program with music and the pinney or belt on has the right of way. Someone in a lesson has the right of way. On Pairs and Dance sessions, a team executing a lift has the right of way. </span><br />
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<i><span class="st">Other rink behaviors</span></i><br />
<span class="st">Don't stand in the lutz corner. Teach from the boards (i.e., coaches should not stand in the middle of the ice while teaching-- this is as bad as anyone standing in the middle of the ice. If you must be out on the ice while teaching, you should be moving.) Pay before you get on the ice, don't make the monitor chase you down. Wear a belt or pinny if you are running your music. <i>Don't</i> wear the belt or pinny <i>until</i> you are running your music. Nothing more confusing than three people wearing markers because "I was next!"</span><br />
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<span class="st">There are lots of do's and don'ts that I'm not sure reach the level of protocol but are more rules or accepted practices that may vary from rink to rink. Many rinks don't allow colored drinks, like coffee or soda, on the ice. While sitting on the boards is universally frowned on, some rinks </span><span class="st"><span class="st">tolerate it</span> and some don't. There will be rink-specific protocols: which ice door to use to enter/exit, length (or indeed existence) of a warm-up period on each session, acceptable clothing. Not everyone will do these things the same way.</span><br />
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<i><span class="st">Lobby</span></i><br />
<span class="st">Don't spread your crap all over the place, and throw away your trash. This does not apply only to skating.</span><br />
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<i><span class="st">Public skating</span></i><br />
<span class="st">Since public sessions are full of people who can't be expected to know skating protocols, the guards enforce what amount less to protocol and more to actual rules. They will be posted and generally include no holding hands with more than 1 person, no carrying children on the ice, the center coned area is for lessons and figure skating practice, no hotdogging (too fast for conditions), everyone skate in the same direction, no sitting on the boards, etc.</span><br />
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<i><span class="st">Music</span></i><br />
<span class="st">There are no universal protocols for program play. Every rink will have set up its own system. The main accepted protocol for music is that if your music is playing you have the right of way. But there are some generally accepted polite practices, for instance, even on a session where no one else is playing their music, for pity's sake don't play it 10 times in a row. </span><br />
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<i><span class="st">Parents</span></i><br />
<span class="st">Hokay, here we go. Do not walk around to the coaches' area by the boards. I really can't think of anything that coaches hate more than mothers who do this. </span><span class="st">No standing in the ice door. Now, I'm going to stop here, because other typical annoying parental behavior does not actually violate what I would call "protocols" which have developed in skating around safety and flow issues. So things like "don't scream at the coach, the skating director, or your child in the lobby" is not so much a protocol as just evidence of bad behavior.</span><br />
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<span class="st">Protocols and rules are there to make skating safe, productive and fun. They can be summed up succinctly: don't be a jerk.</span><br />
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<span class="st"><i><b>What are some protocols or rules that I've missed, or that are specific to your rink? </b></i></span></div>
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<span class="st"><br /></span>Alexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.com33