The sport of Figure Skating is very demanding all-around – from the sport’s culture which requires early specialization to the significant physical & mental demands on the skater. The frequency and duration of practice puts figure skaters at risk for repetitive injuries. Plus skates that aren’t the best at absorbing force during takeoff and landing,
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a coach, it’s that one of the powerful ways to apply the knowledge you’ve learned is to teach it to others. What it does is, it forces you to clarify your ideas, confront inconsistencies in your thoughts, and walk your talk. Most important, to teach the information
We’ve all seen Youtube videos where athletes showcase how fast they can do a ROUTINE cone drill, or how quickly they can shuffle their feet during a ladder drill (more on this in another blog post). Not to bash those drills because they can be great at improving change of direction speed, footwork, coordination, etc. but
In the beginning, some female athletes/clients (especially if they have little experience with training) I worked with get a little bit hesitant when we walk over to the squat rack. The first question that comes to their mind is “Would I get really big and muscular if I lift weights?” My response sometimes (depending
It is NOT coaching when you say or yell out general phrases like “faster” or “quicker.” Take the time and put in the effort to actually instruct an individual. It’s definitely worth the investment to develop a ton of positive and effective coaching cues. Reinforce what the individual did well and be specific on what
A major problem that I encounter as a coach is parents specializing their kids too early in one sport. Dealing with young hockey athletes, sometimes I see parents put their kids in hockey organizations that focus on having young athletes play hockey several times a week year-round while putting them through EXTRA on and
