Choosing a coach FAQ
HOW DO I CHOOSE A COACH?
Consider a favorite coach from the list shown above, follow a personal recommendation, or refer to the Club Office for advice. A printed list of coaches is also available in the office alcove. Once you have decided, contact one of our coaches directly to arrange lessons either during a Public Session or you may want to consider any of the options open to membership in the Club so you may skate in less crowded regular Club Sessions. If you want to try out a variety of coaches to see which one is right for you or your child(ren), let the coaches know that you are undecided. This is perfectly acceptable and a normal process, but do communicate to the coaches that you are undecided and will make a decision at a later date. Even when you decide on a specific coach or coaches, let them know about your expectations and whether they are realistic or not. It is also not unusual to decide on several coaches for an extended period of time. Again, you are advised to communicate your decision to those coaches to avoid mixed signals.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT IN A PRIVATE LESSON?
Typically, private lessons are 20-30 minutes long depending on the total length of a skating session. In Group Lessons the lessons are shared between other skaters. As the skill level progresses, you may work with more than one coach to cover a range of skating disciplines and get a different perspective. Sometimes, having one coach say something differently from another on the same technique will help a skater better understand the subtlety of a specific skating move.
Payment to coaches are arranged individually with each coach either after each lesson, once a week, or billed monthly. Parents or skaters pay the coach directly. The Club Office is not involved in payment to coaches for private lessons. Coaches will contact you if they are unable to fulfill a private lesson commitment. Please let your coach know if the skater cannot make a scheduled lesson. You are responsible for un-cancelled lessons. Usually, if you do not show up for a lesson that was scheduled previously, you are expected to pay the coach for that un-cancelled lesson because they have allocated that time only for you. However, check with your individual coach or coaches to find out what their cancellation policy is and how to contact the coach if you do need to cancel a lesson.
THE USE OF JUNIOR COACHES FOR PRIVATE LESSONS
Junior coaches are defined as those coaches who are qualified and certified by the Club to teach in the Group Lessons program, but they have limited privileges in teaching private lessons due to their younger age and limited coaching (teaching) experience. However, they are qualified to coach because of their skating expertise and knowledge of figure skating techniques, and they may only teach private lessons to Group Lesson students who wish to further improve or more quickly improve their figure skating skills.
The advantages of using Junior Coaches are that new skaters, who are often young children, may relate better with a young coach than working with an adult coach, besides the added benefit of paying a reduced private lesson fee.
