How to confront a trainer about skating level

Elija said:

Don’t know where you live, but it sure sounds like a bit of an unusual system!

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Carloucarla said:

I have nothing against ice dancers, most of them are my friends are they are really nice. It is just the fact that they came at an figure skating club, they didn’t know how to jump, but the director put them directly in level 7 anyway. Normally Îhave the right level of a group 7, it’s just since my club puts everyone in high levels just to please their skaters, well it doesn’t turn out well.

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Ic3Rabbit said:

It's called skating skills. It's not solely based on ability to jump.

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Carloucarla said:

Well, don't want to sound rude but most skaters can't spin very well so we are stuck on the sit spin, they don't have proper crossovers so we work on that at least 15mins per lesson, (on each side of course). If we work on actual skating abilities as you say, we only get to work on three turns or Mohawks.

Also, to be in the level 7, jumps as the salchow ,loop ,toe loop, and flip are required.

I know jumps aren't the only part in figure skating, it's just that when there are 9 groups and you're in the 7, your supposed to be able to do normal twizzles, three turns, Mohawks, crossovers, a scratch spin with at least 6 revolutions( that's in the group 7 test), inside edges, outside edges, be able to combine at least two jumps.

Only two on 5 ice dancers have proper pure skating abilities....The rest can barely do a proper bracket.
Since their parents are so excessive on the fact that their child must be in this group, well since my skating club wants some gold well they will do whatever it takes to make the parents satisfied.

I am aware that most of the pure skating moves (else than jumps) come from ice dancing, it's just that our club had rules and know isn't respecting them anymore, I'm not the only skater who thinks that...

And in figure skating not only the jumps count, but so do the spins (and gliding etc...)

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Ic3Rabbit said:

Well, not to sound rude, but leave that club if it isn't satisfying you, also get a private coach and come down from the clouds a tad.

If you have to stay in group lessons, then you are going to have to deal with everyone having different abilities. There's a little too much superiority complex factoring in here if one realizes it or not. This is coming from a former elite ice dancer and singles skater, turned professional and have lived/trained/toured/worked all over the world.

Come down from the clouds and be realistic.

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Carloucarla said:

What do you mean by "come down from the clouds" Am I not realistic enough?

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Ic3Rabbit said:

No, that is the impression given from posts. A little too egotistical sounding.

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Elija said:

Not sure if I’ve missed something here, but if there are tests for each group why can’t you take the next test and move up?

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Carloucarla said:

I don't know, but for some reason, ever since you posted, you sound quite rude. (Maybe I'm wrong)
The subject of this topic is supposed to be about how to talk with a trainer seriously, about skating abilities and progression.
I asked my parents if I could get a coach, they say yes, a coach contacted them, but they don't contact back...So, switching groups so that I can get better at the sport is supposed to be something normal for a figure skater, I don't think you know how frustrating it is to not be able to have fun in a sport and having one of your favourite sports become boring...

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Ic3Rabbit said:

I am speaking from tons of experience and gave you the advice you needed. I am not being rude. If you don't want an elite level skater helping you then I'll go and you can figure it out. Sorry that I speak from place of reality and no egotism. There are many here that will vouch for my experience with the sport and how much I've helped them with various issues.

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karne said:

I gotta say, I'm with Ic3Rabbit here.

I'm reading a lot of complaining and whining from the OP in this thread and not a lot of willingness to actually do something about it. I know the OP is fairly young, but some of the wording has been just ridiculous, like worries that "reputation" will be affected and so on.

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gkelly said:

I think you should also not think of the conversation you need to have as "confronting" your coach. That implies introducing an adversarial element into the relationship that is not necessary.

What you want to know is how to approach your coach to discuss changing your level, or the kind of instruction you receive in your current class level, so that you will be able to enter competitions in the not-too-distant future.

You've already gotten some suggestions.

It is hard for many of us to answer because we come from skating cultures where instruction works differently and skaters who want to compete generally take private lessons. So we don't understand exactly how the options work where you are skating.

Still, it does seem like the best thing you (and probably your parents) could do would be to have a conversation with whoever is in charge of the skating program where you skate and say "I would like to train to enter skating competitions. What can I do to make that happen?"

Don't focus on what you don't like about the current situation. Focus on what you want the new situation to be and how to make it possible. Think of the people you talk to as your allies in attaining your goals, not as obstacles.

If their program is not set up to allow a skater of your current age and skill level to aim for competition, then it may not be the right program for you.

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Lulu39 said:

Sounds like youre in the wrong club. If you have individual goals you should be working with an individual trainer. You can probably learn from the group classes but it sounds like you need better feedback and communication about your own concerns.

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