CanSkate Program Handbook - Peterborough Figure Skating Club

QUALITY LESSONS
Our primary goal for CanSkate is to teach quality skating. Here are some tips to keep in mind when teaching
your lessons:
1. When working in a circuit, choose one skill to concentrate on. By staying in one place on the circuit, it
encourages skaters to continue to move and allows you to work with skaters individually as they pass
you.
2. Make sure you have allowed for multiple repetition of skills on your circuit in both directions.
3. When teaching a new skill, the first half of the circuit should be progressions leading up to your new
skill. The second half of the circuit should be repetition of the learned skill.
4. By adding props and teaching aids, you create a more visual experience for the skaters. This will help
motivate skaters and add variety to previously learned skills.
5. Be sure to use a lot of demonstration either by yourself or your PAs, so skaters can see what they are
working towards.
6. Helping skaters ‘feel’ the skill greatly improves their acquisition rate. Creating muscle memory allows
the skater to better understand expectations. Lots of assistance and hands-on techniques allow for this
to happen.
7. Your voice can be a great motivator. Be sure to use lots of praise when making contact with each skater.
A simple, “Wow, good job!” can do wonders.
8. Be strong in your foundations. Teaching proper technique early lays the ground work for easy transition
into any ice sport.
9. Try to create 10 different ways to teach the same element. Your creativity will result in more effort from
the skaters, more interest and faster learning.
10. Have fun! The more fun you have, the more fun your skaters will have. It’s contagious.
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