How To Become a Figure Skating Coach

Figure skaters are among the most graceful people around. They perform not just for competition, but often for a living, too. Many young children dream of becoming figure skaters because of the glamour and gracefulness. At the very least, figure skaters are known to have excellent posture and exude confidence.

Being a figure skater, however, can mean a short career for most people who venture into this field, due to age and physical restrictions. The rigors of training might limit a skater who has reached the peak of his or her youth. If one is no longer able to compete or perform, one way figure skaters continue nourishing their passion for their art is by coaching.

Knowing the ins and outs of this field is a plus factor, and can easily be applied when coaching others who want to learn. If you'd like to be a figure skating coach, you would be able to help countless children and youths attain their dream.

• Observe how other figure skating coaches teach and interact with their students in order to learn how things are done. Just make sure that those coaches you observe are good coaches. Most likely, you already have some experience figure skating. But coaching is different from skating. When you coach, you usually need to learn more of the theoretical aspects of figure skating, and not just the actual execution.

• Have your skating level tested, and be a professional figure skater yourself. Before you can coach, you might want to know your level of competency as a figure skater, too. This way, you know your limitations and your abilities, and you can apply these when passing on knowledge to your protégés.

• Train with the professionals. You can choose to train under various skating associations. These include the Professional Skaters Association in the USA, the National Ice Skating Association in the UK, and the National Coaching Certification Program in Canada, among others. These institutions also offer certification for professional coaching.

• Learn first aid. Students, especially new ones, are bound to fall, and they can injure themselves while training. It is best that you, as their figure skating coach, have a knowledge of dealing with these emergencies, in lieu of a first aid or medical professional. This way, you have the trust and confidence of your clients, knowing they can count on you if something goes wrong.

• Attend seminars and trainings to further hone your coaching skills. As with others pursuing a higher level of competency with their line of work, seminars and trainings will help you learn about new trends and techniques. You have to keep yourself updated on the newest trends and best practices.

• Design a good figure skating program. Having a good figure skating program will entice potential clients to sign up with you. Coaching figure skaters does not only involve one-off movements and sequences. You need to be able to start with the basics and then teach more complicated moves as you progress. The program should also be well-attuned to the needs and capabilities of each of your students.

Contact the skating rink near your area to find out what programs they are offering. Check with your local skating rink to see if they have programs in need of professional coaches. Chances are they can help you run your class as a freelance coach. Or if they need to hire someone full time or part time, you can help teach their clients, too.

Teaching others to excel in a certain field is a rewarding experience. If you love what you do, then you never have to work a day in your life.