- Joined
- Jul 22, 2014
As my username suggests, I am a mom to a new skater. I need some general advice. I have posted this same thing on another forum and received some wonderful information. I just figured the more the better.
My daughter is 8. She will be 9 in September. A few months ago my in-laws were watching her and suggested they go ice skating. She had never been but said she'd love to go. She immediately took to the ice... just went out and started skating like she'd been doing it all her life. She loved it.
My ILs saw where they were doing sign ups for a basic skills class and asked her if she wanted to take it. She did, so they signed her up. She easily passed the class. There was a week or two off, and then she started the basic skills 2 class. Again she easily passed the class. The rink doesn't do classes over the summer.
I've very informally chatted with the director of skating at the rink, and she has told me my daughter is a very strong skater.
My daughter has danced for six years. She is ok at it, but it is like a different world with skating. That being the case my husband and I decided it might be time to start talking to her about a different direction (skating). She had already told us that she like skating more than dance. She has decided she'd like to take private skating lessons.
Now onto my questions/needing advice. Upon talking to another skating mom whose daughter is in our local figure skating club, I'm afraid we may be rushing things. I'm also a bit confused. First I should say I do not think she was trying to discourage me in any way. I've known her for several years, but ice skating isn't something we've discussed other than I knew her daughter skated.
So my first question is do you think it is too soon for my daughter to start private lessons? My second question is if she does take private lessons should she continue with the group basic skill classes once they start back in the fall? If not, how does she test for the different basic skill levels?
We do have a local FSC. Should my daughter join now? The mom I talked to said they'd love to have us (she and her husband are both officers of the club) but told me there was no need to rush joining. My understanding is if my daughter isn't a member she can't test. If that is the case, how would she test for her basic skills if she wasn't taking group lessons? My thought is the club isn't real expensive to join, so why not join for a year. If she decides skating isn't for her, we don't have to renew the membership. I just don't know how I'm going to learn about figure skating unless I get into a group and meet more people who know about it.
If we go with private lessons now, how should I select a coach? There are basically three adult coaches. The mom I talked to said two of the three would be fine. One of the two she said would be fine does not do dance (does that make sense - is it a style of skating?). She coaches freestyle. I'm not sure what "dance" is exactly, but I could see my daughter liking that style. The other one of the two teaches dance and freestyle (are there other styles) I've been told it is frowned upon to switch coaches, so I feel like I need to make the right choice upfront.
The mom also mentioned there was at least one girl that was not a class A coach (is that what it is called?) I guess she can't take anyone to competition or something like that. Would it be better to start with someone like that to see where my daughter wants to go with this?
Oh my... I feel like I have a hundred + questions and don't know where to go with this. I've looking for any advice anyone can give about this new journey. If I'm not asking the right questions, then tell me what I should be asking and give me you thoughts and opinions please. I feel completely lost.
My daughter is 8. She will be 9 in September. A few months ago my in-laws were watching her and suggested they go ice skating. She had never been but said she'd love to go. She immediately took to the ice... just went out and started skating like she'd been doing it all her life. She loved it.
My ILs saw where they were doing sign ups for a basic skills class and asked her if she wanted to take it. She did, so they signed her up. She easily passed the class. There was a week or two off, and then she started the basic skills 2 class. Again she easily passed the class. The rink doesn't do classes over the summer.
I've very informally chatted with the director of skating at the rink, and she has told me my daughter is a very strong skater.
My daughter has danced for six years. She is ok at it, but it is like a different world with skating. That being the case my husband and I decided it might be time to start talking to her about a different direction (skating). She had already told us that she like skating more than dance. She has decided she'd like to take private skating lessons.
Now onto my questions/needing advice. Upon talking to another skating mom whose daughter is in our local figure skating club, I'm afraid we may be rushing things. I'm also a bit confused. First I should say I do not think she was trying to discourage me in any way. I've known her for several years, but ice skating isn't something we've discussed other than I knew her daughter skated.
So my first question is do you think it is too soon for my daughter to start private lessons? My second question is if she does take private lessons should she continue with the group basic skill classes once they start back in the fall? If not, how does she test for the different basic skill levels?
We do have a local FSC. Should my daughter join now? The mom I talked to said they'd love to have us (she and her husband are both officers of the club) but told me there was no need to rush joining. My understanding is if my daughter isn't a member she can't test. If that is the case, how would she test for her basic skills if she wasn't taking group lessons? My thought is the club isn't real expensive to join, so why not join for a year. If she decides skating isn't for her, we don't have to renew the membership. I just don't know how I'm going to learn about figure skating unless I get into a group and meet more people who know about it.
If we go with private lessons now, how should I select a coach? There are basically three adult coaches. The mom I talked to said two of the three would be fine. One of the two she said would be fine does not do dance (does that make sense - is it a style of skating?). She coaches freestyle. I'm not sure what "dance" is exactly, but I could see my daughter liking that style. The other one of the two teaches dance and freestyle (are there other styles) I've been told it is frowned upon to switch coaches, so I feel like I need to make the right choice upfront.
The mom also mentioned there was at least one girl that was not a class A coach (is that what it is called?) I guess she can't take anyone to competition or something like that. Would it be better to start with someone like that to see where my daughter wants to go with this?
Oh my... I feel like I have a hundred + questions and don't know where to go with this. I've looking for any advice anyone can give about this new journey. If I'm not asking the right questions, then tell me what I should be asking and give me you thoughts and opinions please. I feel completely lost.