Is it not true that some of the mothers!! who are asking these question the problem?
Is it not true that some of the mothers!! who are asking these question the problem, not the clubs or other skaters. In my club we have to contend with the "talented"skaters mothers's telling everyone else that their child is special and that is why we should move out of their way or why they get more lesson etc... .I think some coaches create this anomosity themselves. Other skaters are sometimes made to feel that they are not special. All skaters have their own special qualities. The mothers and coaches of these chosen ones should perhaps realize that. You child can sucseed but they won't be happy is you don't let them be a kid. Kids who have respect for other skater often. Having seen this happen in my club it makes me feel very sorrry for some of these children. Nick J. (CFSA) |
Traci says:
Each skater has the right to be on the ice. Skater A may have a different goal than Skater B, but it is not any less important. Some skaters want to go to the Olympics, some just want to achieve Gold Test status, some just want to skate for fun. Each goal is important! All skaters who are on the ice pay the same amount of money in ice fees. Everyone has the right to skate. No skater should have to "make way" for someone who is more "talented" or for anyone else.
But...any skater that is in a lesson with a coach, or has their solo music playing has the "right of way".
As of lessons from the coaches that depends on how many each skater wants or how many the parents are willing to pay for. Lessons also depend on availability. Some coaches may have more time than others. Perhaps they opt to have only 5 students and spend more time with the five (longer lessons or more lessons). Some coaches may want 10 students and spend less time with the student, but have more students. "Seniority" may also be another factor. A skater who has been with a coach for 5 five years may be asked first if they want extra lessons. The coach would then ask the next student, maybe a 4.5 year one and so on...
And I do agree that some, NOT ALL, coaches create their own problems - but I thought coaches were not supposed to show favoritism to their students?
Skating is supposed to be fun, no matter what your goal may be. If it's not fun anymore, our children shouldn't be doing it!
Amanda'sMom says:
First of all, you bring up a very good point in that there are 'some' parents who do nothing but go on and on about their own children with no regards to others as well as some coaches who create their own problems.
Fortunately, my daughter (who is a member of two different skating clubs) has not have to contend with this "type" of parents such as you stated! For example, at one club, the highest test level skater is Novice, my daughter being one of few skaters at this level. The "High Freestyle" sessions are limited to skaters at the "Pre-Juvenile" level or higher. On the other hand, the High Freestyle sessions at the second skating club she belongs to are limited to Novice thru Senior level freeskate. Although these are both High Freestyle sessions, they are remarkedly very different to skate on! At one club she's had "near misses" with lower-level, smaller skaters. At the other club, she has no problem with staying out of the way of the faster, higher level skaters where she actually prefers to skate on.
At both of my daughter's clubs, it's the responsiblity of the coach to tell their students to courteously "give way" to faster, higher level skaters and that higher level skaters should show courtesy to those lower level skaters as they were once at that level themselves. This is mainly a safety issue!
You say that you have to contend with these types of parents and that you think that some coaches create this anomosity themselves. Perhaps you could bring this issue up to your club's Board of Directors and to either have rules put in place for the sake of safety or if there are already rules in place and a Rules Committee that oversees this, to have the rules enforced.
In my opinion, having both on/off ice rules enforced helps to instill common courtesy and sportsmanship not only among skaters, but among parents and coaches as well.