Frequently Asked Ice Skating Questions

There is no precise answer to when a child is ready to begin skating in a structured environment. I have taught children as young as age 2 and adults into their 60s in private lessons! 

Rinks usually require children to be at least 3 years old for group lessons. Some three-year-old children are very mobile and can do complete stops or skate backward with relative ease. 

A child is ready to skate when they can comfortably walk with reasonably straight ankles while wearing skates. Children must be able to understand simple instructions and follow directions from a person other than their parents. In order to avoid unnecessary accidents, all children must be properly toilet trained.

However, young children often have short attention spans and can find group instruction challenging. As long as your child can walk well and is potty trained, they can begin in private lessons. 

Children develop at different rates. Physical, emotional, and social development varies with each child, as does their readiness to learn to skate. What may work for one beginner may not work for another. If your child has a lot of difficulties, you can always try again in a few weeks or months. 

The ability to ice skate can add to a child's overall development of motor skills.  

Here's why:

• The blade on figure skates is longer and flatter than the blade on hockey skates. 
• The more pronounced rocker and shorter blade on hockey skates can make it too easy for beginners (especially younger skaters) to fall forward or backward frequently, which can cause injuries and frustration.
• Figure skates offer more stability for beginning skaters, which promotes good posture and skating technique. 
• To achieve consistent progress in hockey skates, proficiency is required at all 4 points of balance - this is difficult for someone that is just learning.
• Skaters often find it easier to learn their basic edges and other fundamentals in figure skates and often progress faster.
• Once the correct skating techniques are learned, it is an easier transition to go from figure skates to hockey skates than it is to transition to figure skates from hockey skates. 

For more information about equipment, click here.

Bending the knees is one of the single most critical skills to learn in skating, so anything that inhibits knee bending should be avoided. In addition, knee pads prevent a beginner from being able to push up off the ice from a fall because they may slide on the ice.

The sliding issue is one reason that snow pants are not recommended either. Waterproof-style pants will slide on the ice, and beginners have difficulty pushing up from a fall when this occurs.

It is also difficult for a coach to see if a skater is bending their knees properly when the skater is wearing bulking clothes such as snow pants. Fitted leggings are suggested. If you think you will get too cold, wear tights under the leggings or multiple layers of fitted pants.

In addition, it's best not to wear waterproof or hockey gloves either. These styles of gloves may cause the skater difficulty when trying to get up from the ice or if they need to hold on to their coach.

Founded in 1921, U.S. Figure Skating is a non-profit organization and the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United Skates. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and is the United States member of the International Skating Union (ISU). 

U.S. Figure Skating regulates and governs the sport and defines and maintains the standard of skating proficiency. It specifies the rules for testing, competitions, and all other figure skating-related activities. U.S. Figure Skating promotes interest and participation in the sport by assisting member clubs, skaters, and athletes, appointing officials, organizing competitions, exhibitions, and other figure skating pursuits and offering a wide variety of programs. Athletes and officials who represent the United States at international figure skating competitions are selected by U.S. Figure Skating.

Learn to Skate USA offers programs for skaters of all ages and abilities through local rinks. Fully supported by U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey, and US Speedskating, with support from Special Olympics, the Professional Skaters Association (PSA), and the U.S. Ice Rink Association, Learn to Skate USA offers every student a heartfelt welcome, lifelong benefits, and fond memories. Passion: It's why Learn to Skate USA is recognized as the world's best ice skating program.

Skaters in group lessons are typically required to pay a membership fee each year (beginning July 1) as part of their registration to join Learn to Skate USA. This provides you with the following benefits:

• Be a member of the best skating program endorsed by U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey, and US Speedskating.
• Gain great information to make sure your first glides on ice are successful ones.
• Receive a Welcome Packet in the mail, which includes a subscription to Learn To Skate USA The Magazine valued at $3 (allow 2-4 weeks for delivery)
• Receive secondary sports accident insurance
• Participate in lessons, performances, competitions, and all Learn to Skate USA activities.

Skaters that take private lessons and do not take group lessons may join Learn to Skate USA on their own or U.S. Figure Skating directly or through their local club. More information about clubs can be found by clicking here. 

Skaters are required to be a member of U.S. Figure Skating either through a club or directly in order to skate on Freestyle Skating sessions - there are no exceptions.

You need the basics in place first to achieve more complex elements such as jumps and spins. 

Appropriate skill progression is used by good coaches to achieve long-term athletic development and the future success of the skater.

Every skill builds on another, and higher-level elements are comprised of the building blocks of lower levels. A skater's progress can suffer if there is a break in the chain of skill development.

Introducing an element to a skater before they have the necessary skills in place can lead to frustration, injury, and lack of success, often resulting in the skater leaving the sport. 

So, when a skater is struggling with an element, I often go back to a different skating skill to improve the building blocks rather than repeating the desired skill without the solid building blocks already in place. 

A skater struggling with an element such as forward crossovers, for example, may not be able to hold proper forward edges securely or may not have a steady one-foot glide. These skills are necessary to execute forward crossovers correctly, so improving the earliest skills as a component to the desired skill works to ensure success. 

Gaps in skills will become more apparent when trying to properly execute more complicated elements. Improper technique, from basic skills that have been rushed, are often very difficult to change. 

So, a good coach will introduce the appropriate skills when you have mastered the fundamental skills that are required to properly execute that particular element.

You must know how to teach skating effectively and efficiently, using sound techniques.

Teaching group learn-to-skate lessons as a group lesson assistance is usually the first step. 

I suggest skaters interested in becoming coaches start by discussing your interest with your coach and the skating director at your rink. They can help you take the next steps!

View U.S. Figure Skating's chart of requirements for coach compliance.

View Coach Compliance Tips from PSA.

I highly recommend that all new and prospective coaches get on the path to becoming PSA-Rated. The PSA Rating process will help you become a better coach by helping you understand: what you are teaching and how you teach it, using safe, efficient, effective, and sound techniques.

Get started on your journey to becoming a PSA-Rated coach by joining PSA as a Basic Member! - If you need a sponsor, contact me.