ADULT
FIGURE SKATING LESSONS - GROUP OR PRIVATE?
By Lisa Maliga
© 2001 - 2005 by Lisa Maliga
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helpful figure skating tips aimed at adult figure skaters, especially those
returning to the ice or just discovering the joy of skating! Find out how to
get smoother, softer skating feet! This is the literary home of Lisa Maliga,
owner of EverythingShea.com.
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Lisa’s Library of Writing ~ At Lisa's Library of Writing you'll get helpful figure skating tips aimed at adult figure skaters, especially those returning to the ice or just discovering the joy of skating! Find out how to get smoother, softer skating feet! This is the literary home of Lisa Maliga, owner of EverythingShea.com. This is the literary home of Lisa Maliga, owner of EverythingShea.com
Taking lessons is an excellent way to learn how to skate properly. In fact, it’s the only way if you want to really learn all the basics and build up confidence for intermediate moves. Watching videos and reading books and articles is wonderful for supplemental learning, but shouldn’t be used as the only guide.
It makes no difference how old you are, a first-rate skating coach will be able to work with you at your level. The ideal coach will obviously be able to skate and enjoys teaching students.
A Warning
About Coaches:
As an adult skater, don’t expect to be taken as seriously as a child with
loads of obvious potential. Unless you have a strong dance and/or athletic background
and possess a natural ability noticeable on your first visit to the rink, expect
nothing. Many skating instructors want to train future Olympic or at least National-level
hopefuls. So it’s important you learn right from the start what coach
is even interested in accepting your money AND actually teaching you. Some coaches
simply refuse to work with adults.
Other coaches
will accept adults and happily cash their paychecks. One coach referred to her
older adult student, who was a college professor, that: “I feel like I’m
a paid escort.”
“Some coaches solicit students. The first step is under the guise of a
casual conversation. Soon, there is an offering of advice. You may think you're
getting free instruction but that's not the case at all. These coaches will
appeal to your ego by saying you have loads of potential, commenting on your
skates, etc. After that, they will try to set up an appointment for you. The
solicitor can even sound as informal as the ‘free’ tips that he
or she has already been providing.” Kim Hee, a skater since 1992 from
Los Angeles, California.
On the positive side, there are many coaches who gladly take on adult students and have wonderful rapports with them. Hopefully they will be employed at your local rink.
However, if you’re interested in taking Group Lessons, check the rink’s skating school schedule and find out when these classes will take place. Most of them are on Saturday mornings, although many rinks also have adult evening classes. Lessons are well structured and relatively inexpensive. By signing up for Group Lessons, you’ll be guaranteed to find out just how involved you want to become in learning how to skate.
Advantages
of Group Lessons:
1. The classes are usually for adults only.
2. Generally, the classes last from 30-45 minutes once a week.
3. Skate rental is often included.
4. This is an inexpensive way to find out for certain if you want to skate regularly.
5. The Semester lasts for 6 to 10 weeks but if you’re dissatisfied, your
money’s refunded in full if you quit after the first or second class.
6. You’ll meet other like-minded adults. You will probably improve your
social life!
7. When you graduate from the class you often receive a discount on your next
Semester.
8. Most of the time an additional practice session is included in the price.
9. Oftentimes you can take a test and receive a patch and certificate of achievement.
10. The atmosphere can range from relaxed to serious – this will depend
on fellow students and the coach.
11. The group lessons should allow you to take with a certified coach and sometimes
this will lead to private lessons with that coach.
Disadvantages
of Group Lessons:
1. There is little individualized instruction, especially in the larger classes.
2. You can’t choose your coach. Sometimes your coach will not be certified
as such, but will instead be a new instructor.
3. Class times might not coincide with your schedule.
It’s still obvious that there are more benefits to taking Group Lessons
when you’re just beginning to skate. However, for those of you with extra
cash or a strong desire to skate, or if you’ve skated in the past, then
you’re a candidate for taking Semi-Private or Private Lessons.
Semi-Private
Lessons:
Not the most common arrangement [most skaters go with either Group or Private],
Semi-Private Lessons is an alternative. There can be anywhere from two to five
people taking instruction. Actually, some Group Lessons are like Semi-Private
lessons, especially towards the end of a semester when the drop-out rate is
at its highest.
Oftentimes, a group of skaters who know each other take Semi-Private lessons
from a coach. The lengths of time vary from 10 minutes to one hour. The Coach
can pay more attention to the students, but not as much as he or she would during
a Private Lesson.
Private
Lessons:
For the serious student of figure skating, this is the way to truly learn how
to skate correctly. Private Lessons are more expensive than any other type of
lesson and average approximately $1 per minute. Olympic-level coaches usually
double that amount. The costs are contingent upon where you reside and the rink.
A training rink will charge more than a smaller rink with fewer amenities. California,
Florida and the East Coast generally are places where it’s more expensive
to skate and take lessons.
Private Lessons range from 10 minutes to one hour. The Coach can assess your ability and work on any weak areas. Unlike Group Lessons, you’re unable to get away with elements you may not want to work on! The advantages of taking Private Lessons are numerous but this is only for the students who genuinely want to learn to skate and possibly perform in local competitions and exhibitions.
Kay, the founder of SkateJournal.com, advises: “Take lessons. Group is a good way to start. Move on to private when you are comfortable on the ice. This will prevent bad habits. Ask around about coaching. Ask coaches about their backgrounds. Pick what is best for you without going overboard. Beginners (and most adults) do not need elite coaches.” Kay, the founder of SkateJournal.com, advises: “Take lessons. Group is a good way to start. Move on to private when you are comfortable on the ice. This will prevent bad habits. Ask around about coaching. Ask coaches about their backgrounds. Pick what is best for you without going overboard. Beginners (and most adults) do not need elite coaches.”
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