A Figure Skating Coach Should Be at a Skater’s Test Session, Right?

Today’s question is from an adult skater, but I think that the situation she describes could happen to any skater, any age, any level.

I have a dance and a freestyle coach; my dance coach does moves as well. Freestyle Coach checks moves when I want extra help, but it’s my call as an adult when I want that help. Beyond that, Freestyle Coach keeps her nose out of it.

I’ve completed several moves tests and a week before the latest test session, Freestyle Coach warned me about getting reskates (second attempts asked for by judge). She also said that she couldn’t be at the test session and she checked that Dance Coach would be there. Dance Coach is notorious for not coming to test sessions. I said I’d been told by Dance Coach that she was coming.

Anyway, two days before test, I had my last lesson. Dance Coach does the warning about reskates (they’re not uncommon at my level and they’re tightening up passing standards, so there are more reskates at the moment). Anyway, that’s a rational conversation about reskates being a good thing not a bad thing and being close to passing (the whole psych talk). End of lesson came, and I said See you at the test. Dance Coach turned around at this point and said I’m not coming, not worth the effort as there’s only four of my skaters testing.

Months ago, she’d planned this as a test session she’d attend and had told me as such, which is why we sent in my paperwork. Dance Coach pulled the kid she needed to skate with from his dance test and the rest of us were left to struggle through. She asked if Freestyle Coach could do it, and I told her that Freestyle Coach had already said she was busy. I told her Freestyle Coach said that Dance Coach would organise a replacement.

I went to work highly stressed as my mental image of test day was now all wrong, and as I only work with these two coaches, there is no other coach working at the rink who knows me and the right buzz words to get me to do things right when I’m stressed.

Anyway, no replacement coach was recruited and I ended up asking a coach on the day if he’d step in if needed. I get no advice on what to think about on the warmup and a little bit from this guy when I got the reskate. I failed the test. I needed my coach to tell me what to do. She now claims that she told me two days before the test to ask and get Freestyle Coach to do it. Freestyle Coach doesn’t know buzz words for this test to get me to correct exercises, either. Dance Coach is the one responsible for my moves. Regardless, Freestyle Coach had to take her grandmother to the hospital as she had no one testing that day. She can’t reorganise her life for someone else at 48 hrs notice. (Although she would have come in for me if she could. Just the solitary skater.)

I’ve taken numerous tests with Dance Coach where she’s failed to show. Normally it’s a last minute thing because of snow or she was at a seminar (and Freestyle Coach stepped in on both occasions). Dance Coach didn’t show up at my very first test and I didn’t even have Freestyle Coach then.

I understand the coach’s prospective on tests. Dance Coach lives a long way from the rink and she only earns 15 minutes per test (rink standard policy). Four skaters won’t cover gas. But equally it’s an expected part of the job description. She’s complained to me about going to Nationals with dance couples and not being able to cover her expenses and time, because she feels she can’t charge them for every little expenditure. I’ve never competed in dance, but Freestyle Coach will always come to local competitions (I forgive ones which are a long way away, as I can’t afford to pay her time and expenses and I’d want to). She even came to a competition the other side of the city, bringing her daughter as she had to rush home for the kids swimming lesson. She wouldn’t charge for her time that day, although I insisted on paying her milage and bought her gifts to cover her time.

So the question is: what is the role of the coach at the test session? Should the coach be there? And what should I do about Dance Coach? This is the second test I’ve failed and she’s not been there either time. She’s so infrequent at test sessions, how can she know the standards the judges are looking for? It’s a visual sport; you can’t read the manual to see what the judges are currently favouring (and what sneaks through).

I can tell you’re frustrated, Adult Skater. I would be, too. A figure skater puts a lot of practice ice time in and pays for coaching to prepare for a figure skating test. Skaters feel nervous on test day without having to worry about whether or not the coach will show up. Part of the reason having a coach put a skater on the ice for a test or competitive event is to give the skater confident words before getting on the ice. Another reason is that the coach acts as the figure skater’s guide because the coach knows what to expect. ‘m with you, Adult Skater. I’d be irritated, too.

If it were my kid who didn’t have a coach there for a test session and I had expected the coach to be there, I’d probably switch coaches. Sure, the instruction is good and the coach is a nice person. But, my kid needs her coach at a test session or competition. She doesn’t need to add worrying about the coach not showing up to her list of test day worries.

I will say that Ice Coach hasn’t been able to put Ice Girl on for every competition that Ice Girl has attended. In the cases where Ice Coach had to work at her day job, she arranged for another coach, someone who was familiar with Ice Girl, to put her on the ice. That was fine.

What’s not fine is taking off from a competition for something like a concert, movie, or hockey game. A coach I know did this at a competition last winter. She had tickets to an event and left the younger skaters in her group in the care of the older skaters. The older skaters are good kids, don’t get me wrong. But, as a parent, if I had paid the $150 entry fee for my figure skater, a new dress, and new tights and if I had splurged on hotel rooms, meals out, time off work, and gas money to the competition, and then found out my daughter’s coach would be waving a foam finger at some game instead of coaching my kid, I’d be ticked off. I think this situation and yours are pretty similar.

My last bit of advice is what you should do if you decide to stay with Dance Coach. I’ve found that you can’t change people. However, you can often predict them and outwit them. You wrote that Dance Coach has stood you up at test sessions before. I bet she’ll do it again, too. Freestyle Coach stood in for her a few times, which is great. If you decide to keep Dance Coach, come up with a Plan B for every test session. You might want to arrange with Freestyle Coach to put you on the ice again. You might want to send her reminder e-mails every Friday leading up to the test session. Just load them into your e-mail program and set them to fire off automatically. You could ask her about the test session at every lesson. I know: it’s nagging. I’m totally cool with that.

Do you think it’s normal for a figure skating coach to accompany her figure skaters to test sessions? How would you feel if your skater’s coach said shortly before the test session that she wouldn’t be attending? Should Adult Skater stick with Dance Coach or should she look for someone who can support her during test sessions?

Thank you, Adult Skater, for sending me your question and waiting so patiently for my response. If you’ve sent me an e-mail and you think it might have been buried under the pile, feel free to send me a reminder. I love it when people remind me to do things! Nag me all you want! If you have a question for Ice Mom or a dilemma for the Advisory Board, send that, too. If you have an idea for a post you’d like to read, I would love to hear from you! If you’d like to help me clean out my sewing room, bring your shovel and come on over! I have plenty of work for everyone! E-mail me at IceMom.Diane@gmail.com

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Lynne

My son’s former coach only had one test session that she couldn’t attend due to a meeting at her day job. The only complaint I had about that was she hadn’t let me know and at his last lesson before the test when I said, see you tomorrow she said “Oh, I won’t be there”. Luckily he passed, but I was a bundle of nerves. She didn’t charge us for test sessions or competitions. One competition was 150 miles from where she lives and she only had 3 skaters at that competition. Some of the test sessions were 30 miles away from her and she has to take time off from her day job to attend test sessions. She figures that’s part of her job and I would imagine figures those expenses into her coaching fee. I always gave her a nice end of the skating year gift to let her know we appreciated the extra time she put in. His current coach has been at both test session my son has had with him, and the one he thought he wasn’t going to be able to make he was going to arrange for another coach to be there. If my son’s coach consistently couldn’t make test sessions and competitions, then I would find my son another coach. I’m there for moral support, but the coach needs to see the warm-up and point out all the little things he’s doing wrong.

As far as complaining about not covering her expenses, she shouldn’t be complaining to you about this. Do you complain to her about her coaching fees? Did you complain to her that you basically threw away the fee for the tests she wasn’t there for and you didn’t pass?

If you want to keep Dance Coach, could you switch over to having Freestyle Coach do your moves tests with you and only do your dance tests with Dance Coach? That would reduce the number of test where you might not have a coach present.

Good Luck! This has to be very frustrating for you.
Anonymous

This is pretty sad to me. As a coach how could you ever leave a skater hanging at a test session when they expected you to be there? It’s not about the money; it’s about the well being of that skater and their progression in the sport.

I would never schedule a skater to take a test when I couldn’t make. I will take a day off work regardless if I have one or five skaters testing. I get that there are emergencies that can’t be controlled, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

I would be very disappointed in Dance coach. She is the one who prepared you for the test and she should be at the test session, whether or not she will recover her money, but this is only my personal opinion.
Anonymous

That is a very frustrating situation. I have only been to one test session (so far) that my coach hasn’t been able to go to. I had been asked to judge tests at another rink that was rather far away. I am working on a rather high level test (have been wanting/ready to take it for over a year), but we have problems getting qualified judges to our rink because most skaters either have passed all of these tests or are at very low level tests right now and aren’t ready to progress yet, and it is not worth a judge’s time to just come and watch only one skater. So I took the test at this other rink, but due to the time and distance, my coach was not able to go. It was the first test I had taken without him present (actually the first test I had taken at not my home rink), and I took it after judging all of the other skaters from that rink (they had A LOT of tests, and were not sure if they would have time for them all before session started. As I was there primarily to judge, I wanted to make sure all of their skaters were able to take their tests first). I was stiff and cold from sitting so long, and so I did very poorly in the beginning of my test. By the end of the test I was doing perhaps the best I had ever skated, but by then the damage was done and I failed the test. I do not think having my coach present would have helped, because the mistakes I made were due to me being not properly warmed up, and I think once you are advanced to a certain level you should be knowledgeable and confident enough to be able to take tests without the coach present.

However, I absolutely feel that newer skaters, or skaters who expect to have a coach available at the test should not be without their coach. If a coach can’t be at a test, they should try to have another coach who is familiar with the skater present, and they should not charge that skater for coaching at the test center. With the situation presented here it seems like the Freestyle Coach tries to be available and be at the test sessions. She seems like a good coach, and perhaps she should be more involved with the moves tests, as well as the freestyle. If you want to stick with Dance Coach, know that she probably won’t be at test sessions (or even competitions possibly) and maybe have her work more strictly on just dance, and asking her for moves help occasionally if you are finding something particularly challenging. Or, if things are just not going well at all, perhaps ask Freestyle Coach if she knows of another Dance/Moves Coach who is more willing to show up to test sessions, and make the switch. We have a coach at our rink who goes to all of the local events and coaches, but when it comes time for the big events (like regionals – nationals) she is too busy focusing on herself and her partner who go to adult nationals, and she essentially ignores all of her students. The parents of her students were upset because they did not do as well as the parents were expecting, but none of them made the switch to another coach. Are things going to change? No. By not changing coaches or even expressing their displeasure the coach is never going to change her behavior. I think if this is a major problem you either have to tell Dance Coach what’s what, or find someone else who will be there when you need them.
Helicopter Mom

This just seems so wrong to me… If a coach works with you on your moves and tells you you’re ready to test, that coach should be at the test with you, unless YOU decide you don’t need them there. That’s what I think. Some coaches expect to be paid for a test session, others don’t – I think it’s crazy that the rink dictates what a coach can charge for a test session fee, but that’s an issue for Dance Coach to take up with the rink. Also, if she’s not charging her dancers for her expenses when she takes them to Nationals, that’s also not Adult Skater’s problem. Professional coaches charge for their time. Professional coaches show up when their skaters are testing or competing (unless other arrangements have been made). It doesn’t sound to me like Dance Coach is behaving like a professional coach. I would ask Freestyle Coach for a recommendation for a new Moves / Dance coach. And if Adult Skater decides to continue on with Dance Coach, I would suggest always having a substitute coach at the testing. Better to have two show up than none at all.
Erica

Coaches have lives, they have other commitments, and can’t always be at the rink for test sessions. Freestyle coach couldn’t make it to the test. But thats NOT the point. The point is that Dance coach said she would be there, and only told the skater she’d changed her mind at the last minute. That’s whats unreasonable in this situation.

My coach has a job in addition to coaching, but is normally able to take time off work for tests, competitions etc. If she couldn’t be at my test, I would be upset, but hopefully I’d be aware of it well in advance, so another coach could put me on the ice. I’d ask my coach to tell the other coach the things she would remind me of at the last minute (I tend to do strange things with my hands if i don’t focus on keeping them flat). If my coach said she would be there and then didn’t show, I’d be gutted!

I think all skaters like to think our coaches care about our progress. If they can’t be bothered turning up to tests or competitions, it suggests they don’t really care.
http://xan-boni.blogspot.com/ Xan from XanBoni

Absolutely a coach should be at a test session, or arrange for another coach *who is familiar with the skater* to attend. What steams me about this skaters coach is her “oh only 4 skaters not worth my precious time” remark. Sorry, what? First of all– four skaters is plenty for one session; how many would be enough? That just seems outrageous to me. Second, if she’s such hot shit (skaters at Nationals?), why hasn’t she managed her skaters so that she DOES have enough at a single session? Or charge the 15 minutes, plus gas (I never heard of a rink that limited what a coach can charge for a test, but whatever). And frankly, it’s not your problem if you coach has a long way to drive; what a baby blaming you for where her house is. Part of the cost of doing business.

Now that said, if Adult Skater needs to be reminded of specific buzz words to inspire or correct her, then she’s either got the wrong buzz words (you really can’t remember them yourself?) or she’s not ready to test. Coach was obnoxious, I agree with that, but AS needs to man up a little bit.

Okay, so, solutions.

Especially with this rink fee policy, would it be possible for several coaches to get together and have one coach stand for all? Do one final group session with everyone who’s testing, so that each coach gets a picture in their heads of what everyone needs. The coaches involved can then trade off going to tests so no one is out any money.
http://xan-boni.blogspot.com/ Xan from XanBoni

Absolutely a coach should be at a test session, or arrange for another coach *who is familiar with the skater* to attend. What steams me about this skaters coach is her “oh only 4 skaters not worth my precious time” remark. Sorry, what? First of all– four skaters is plenty for one session; how many would be enough? That just seems outrageous to me. Second, if she’s such hot shit (skaters at Nationals?), why hasn’t she managed her skaters so that she DOES have enough at a single session? Or charge the 15 minutes, plus gas (I never heard of a rink that limited what a coach can charge for a test, but whatever). And frankly, it’s not your problem if you coach has a long way to drive; what a baby blaming you for where her house is. Part of the cost of doing business.

Now that said, if Adult Skater needs to be reminded of specific buzz words to inspire or correct her, then she’s either got the wrong buzz words (you really can’t remember them yourself?) or she’s not ready to test. Coach was obnoxious, I agree with that, but AS needs to man up a little bit.

Okay, so, solutions.

Especially with this rink fee policy, would it be possible for several coaches to get together and have one coach stand for all? Do one final group session with everyone who’s testing, so that each coach gets a picture in their heads of what everyone needs. The coaches involved can then trade off going to tests so no one is out any money.
Anonymous

This is just wrong, wrong, wrong. If I was in your situation, I would fire Dance Coach and get a recommendation from Freestyle coach (if Freestyle Coach) can’t teach moves for you. If it helps to put it into perspective, think it as you being the parent and your child is the skater. Would you allow a coach to do this to your child–you are paying the bills, your child has dreams and goals…your child deserves respect and consideration for all the hard work she is doing…well, so do you!

Obviously this coach is not committed to her skaters, or is unaware of what the job entails. Either “our” IceCoach or Dance(moves)Coach is there for every test and/or competition, and if they can’t make it, they make arrangements ahead of time for another coach to take their place as well as inform my IceBoy so that he can mentally prepare.

I know what you mean about buzz words, it’s just that mental edge that you need when you are nervous even though you know the material. My IceBoy needs that boost sometimes and it helps with confidence.
Testing is already a stressful situation, you don’t need to be worrying about who your coach is, or anything else at this time.

This situation will not change. You will have to change, either accept this or move on. Just know that in general, Professional Coaches will be there even if it is just one student testing. They understand their responsibility to their students. It’s part of the job if you are doing it right.

Also, it’s a bunch of baloney that Dance Coach “can’t” charge all the expenses to her Nationals team. When “our” IceCoach only has one student for a traveling competition, that student pays all the expenses. It’s just expected, and we budget for it.

Don’t settle for second best, you deserve someone who is just punching a time clock.
Good luck!
Anonymous

I agree with what others have said – sadly this Dance Coach should be dropped. The student should never be signed up for the test if the coach can’t be there. Unless the coach lets you know WELL in advance and arranges another friendly coach to put them on. Never under estimate last minute test nerves, no matter the age of the skater! Example in my own skaters life right now: She is done with Moves but new to dance. She had her 1st dance test session back in August, she took her first 3 tests & coach was there of course… Now this Friday is the next Dance test opportunity but our Dance Coach will be at Mids (Sectionals) with her Novice Dance team. So she told us about the opportunity to test (as we are trying to get through the early tests ASAP) but she told us from the start that she would not be able to be there and offered another coach that we know very well to put my daughter on the ice. This was fine with my daughter so she will be taking 3 more dance tests this Friday (plus side – her school is out that day too!) And in credit to our Dance Coach she has already had to call us from Sectionals to let us know about a time change with my daughter’s partner lesson tomorrow! She is ON IT! :~) As far as gas prices – even if the Coach has to come from far away aren’t gas costs/mileage tax deductable anyway???
Silver Blades

Unfortunately some coaches don’t take adult skaters seriously and not worth much effort. I am fortunate in that my coach takes me seriously. She doesn’t let me test unless she thinks I can pass and has attended all of my tests. She considers a student failing a reflection on her coaching. This means that the majority of her students pass and all of her adults students have passed all attempted tests on their first try. This does several things for me as her student; I trust her completely as my coach and I trust myself that I can skate well enough to pass the test. She hasn’t supplied me with buzz words during warm up so much as wonderful advice and wonderful compliments on my skating. Having her there is huge for calming my nerves. If I need to be coached day of test I shouldn’t be there in the first place. In my humble opinion I would get another coach for Moves and probably dance as well. This sport is too expensive and time consuming to waste it with a coach that can’t be bothered to show up for a test session.
Anonymous

I have talked to other adult skaters and they also have problems with coaches taking them seriously. A few will shop around until they find a coach that does. It’s unfortunate. Glad you have a great one! My IceBoy says that his moves coach will be telling him things between the elements, when the judges are writing. There are always little encouragements, reminders and little tweeks that your coach can give you to ensure a good performance. Maybe as an adult you don’t need that, but complements and encouragements sure are nice to boost confidence!
RBO3

Coaches are professionals and need to do what they say they will do if they want to keep students. If this behavior bothers you, and it would me, you should find a reliable coach who keeps their word.

You did state “I needed my coach to tell me what to do.” If that is the case, you may not be ready for the test yet. Your coach is there to encourage and support you but they can’t skate the test for you and you are responsible for what’s going on in your head. I’ve taken a lot of tests with no coach there and also put myself on the ice for competitions. Make 3×5 index cards with your buzz words on them if you need a reminder. It’s not optimal, but sometimes it is inevitable, and if you are well prepared for the test you should be able to keep yourself together in this situation. It’s called mental toughness and it’s part of skating.

This doesn’t negate the fact that the coach’s behavior is unacceptable and would not be tolerated in any other business — and coaching is a business. Take your business elsewhere.
http://icemom.net Ice Mom

I’m with you, RBO3. It’s a business. It’s not great for business to stand up a student.
Angie

I think your coach should absolutely be there! I would think she would WANT to be there to not only support and guide you but to also celebrate WITH you if you pass! Yes… there will always be times when a coach cannot attend a test or competition but it should not be a regular habit. My daughter’s coach had 3 students testing yesterday. Of those 3, my daughter actually kept her there later then then the rest of the kids. My daughter took 2 tests. I don’t think it would ever cross my daughter’s coache’s mind to NOT attend a session. I can’t imagine. Yes, I would be upset. I think it is time for you and dance coach to have a chat.
youngpro

I mostly agree with this comment, except with the thought that the substitute coach should not be paid for coaching at the test session. You’re going to have a really tough time finding another coach if you don’t pay them, and it would be unfair to expect another professional to donate their time to cover the failings of the current professional you’ve chosen.
Anonymous

I meant that the coach who isn’t at the test center shouldn’t charge their students. I think the way I structured that sentence was a bit ambiguous, but I agree a coach who is substituting should be paid for their time. I have seen coaches charge for competitions and tests even though they weren’t present, and I don’t think that is fair.