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New Year?s Resolutions for Figure Skating Parents

By Jo Ann Schneider Farris

As 2013 begins, it?s time for figure skating parents to evaluate their behavior.? Below are some suggested New Year?s Resolutions for figure skating parents.

1.? Be consistent with your child?s lessons and practice.

Get your children to the rink on time for lessons and practice.? Don?t cancel lessons often.

2.? Make skating fun for your children.

Alway keep in mind that your child is participating in the sport of his or her pleasure, not yours.

3.? Trust and respect your child?s figure skating coach.

Let your child?s coach teach your child.? Never, teach your child from the rink?s rail.? Don?t interfere with what your coach is doing during test sessions, competitions, exhibitions, or shows.

4.? Resolve conflicts privately.

Make it a goal to get along with everyone involved in figure skating.? Never take part in gossip or participate in rumors regarding other skaters, coaches, or parents.

5.? Work hard to follow the guidelines that are set up at your rink.

Pay for ice time and lessons promptly.? Don?t bring up unimportant issues to the rink?s management.? Encourage your children to keep the arena clean.

6.?? Be careful about soliciting business for your coach.

Parents of skaters should never solicit business by encouraging skaters to switch to other coaches.? This is considered indirect soliciting and is considered a violation of the Professional Skaters Association Code of Ethics.

7.? Never ridicule or yell at your child.

During practice sessions, for example, don?t yell at your children or other coaches.? Praise and emphasize your child?s positive accomplishments on and off the ice.

8.? Avoid jealousy.

Teach your child to praise and encourage other skaters, and to never be jealous of others.

9. ?Be a good example for others.

The ideal skating parent is supportive.? He or she acts as a cheerleader for his or her child.? Work hard to make yourself an example of what a figure skating parent should be.

10.? Be happy at the rink.

Make friends with other skaters and skating parents.?? Be supportive of other parents and athletes, and treat all coaches and skaters with respect.

Jo Ann Schneider Farris?has written hundreds of articles about skating. Her articles have been published in SKATING Magazine, The Professional Skater, Recreational Ice Skating, and have been included in US Figure Skating Online, icenetwork.com, Examiner.com, and About.com. She has been?About.com?s Guide to Figure Skating since 2006. In 2010, Jo Ann represented About.com at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She has been a competitive skater and skating coach, and has directed both Ice Skating Institute and U.S. Figure Skating programs. In addition, her own three children are competitive figure skaters?who have competed multiple times in both pair skating and ice dancing at the regional, sectional, and junior national levels. In addition, Jo Ann is the author of?How to Jump and Spin on Inline Skates. She is a member of U.S. Figure Skating, Ice Skating Institute, the Professional Skaters Association, and the Broadmoor Skating Club.