- Joined
- Dec 9, 2017
From what I understand, all the schools get support from the federation. And then each skater, if they're on the team, also gets funding. I don't think RusFed is ignoring any of the schools specifically, and for example at Plushenko's school, I don't think finances were an issue. What else can they to do build up other coaching teams? The coaches actually have to produce their results. I think things like ice time/resources are limited for all schools including Sambo; they were supposed to get a second rink after the Olympics but that never happened.For RusFed to work on building up other coaching teams instead of putting all of their eggs in the Eteri basket. That‘s a very “in the moment“ kind of strategy but if you ask me, it‘s not a good long-term plan if one wants the sport to continue develop nationally.
As for Eteri‘s team. None of which you suggested I might want them to do lol. Start by adding a new, regular in-house choreographer instead of expecting Daniil to handle it all. Then someone else who can do harness work - it‘s actually quite ridiculous that only Dudakov‘s there when they have at least 6 girls actively studying ultra-c elements. Perhaps a coach (Tsurskaya? But she‘s rather young...) to mostly handle the juniors during the Olympic season so Daniil/Dudakov/Eteri can focus on the seniors (6 going for the OG + Alina and Zhenya). All I‘m saying is that if you have one choreographer doing 12 possible Olympic programs instead of 5 like it was last time (even less since Polina and Alina were repeating some of theirs) the quality inevitably will go down. Less time = less individual attention to detail. I think that‘s quite a logical deduction, no?
As for the rest... look, I‘d rather not give my arguments for the umpteenth time. In my eyes, there has been a worrying trend in Russian ladies skating that skaters never tend to survive outside of TeamTutberidze/Sambo70 which, IMO, doesn’t all have to do with the athletes’ and coaches’ individual capabilities but rather a number of other factors. Everyone‘s able to make their own conclusions, though.
As for having more coaches in Eteri's team specifically, they did have Rozanov who worked with the younger kids on jumps (and he would be coaching/choreographing for the juniors next season if he stayed), but he dipped and I think Tsurskaya is his replacement? That was Daniil's role before, only choreographing/coaching novices but when they moved up, so did he. I don't think they're against having new coaches as they have been adding them, but it's probably difficult to find someone who works well with them and wants to stay long term to work with the younger skaters from novice to seniors.
It is logical that less time = less individual attention. But the athletes also know this, and they get to decide if it works for them or not. There's a lot more that goes into hiring long term additions than just picking up a new coach, I think.
As for skaters not surviving outside of that team, how is that the team's fault? They're not coaching them. Skaters like Tsurskaya, Panenkova, Tarakanova, and Alena had clear decline in their skating after they left, and they were left off the major competitions. Sasha did not, and she wasn't left off the team. But for the other skaters, do you really think they deserve a Euro's/Worlds spot over those who got it? Which ones?
