Parent Guidelines and Responsibilities
Do’s
- Be supportive of your skater…physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
- Be firm. Children look to us (parents and Pros) for discipline and guidance.
- Give positive reinforcement and praise. Reward successes. Cheer for your child…it’s a good motivator. Clapping and cheering during practice is encouraged.
- Both parent/Pro and skater/Pro meetings are necessary to set goals and review progress.
- Assist skater with off-ice training. Various conditioning exercises, ballet, palates, etc. are encouraged outside of class time.
- Skaters must sign in and pay for all open freestyle, stroking, and specialty classes prior to entering the ice.
- Volunteer for club and rink functions. Be active in community functions as a representative of your skater and the BFSC.
Don’ts
- Do not coach from the bleachers
- Do not spread gossip. This only causes trouble and hard feelings. Any issues resulting in a skater/skater conflict should be resolved by the skaters. If the issue continues after the skaters have discussed it, it should then be directed to a board member or a Pro. Accurate communication and knowing that there are often many perspectives to the issue is pertinent
- Please do not disturb Pros during a lesson. Ice time is precious. Talk with your Pro before or after skating
Responsibilities
The success of a young figure skater is highly dependent upon a three-way partnership and working relationship between the skater, parent, and Pro. Initially, the parent is more involved in daily decisions on training. As the skill level of the skater progresses, the skater must assume more responsibility for their training, the parent’s involvement shifts from that of a manager to a motivational supporter. Abide by the BFSC Code of Conduct.
Teaching Kids to have Good Sportsmanship
- Abide by the rules
- Try to avoid arguments, learn to manage anger
- Always be fair
- Listen and follow the directions of the Pro
- Respect other skaters’ efforts
- Offer encouragement to other skaters. Praise other skaters when they do well and comfort and encourage them when they make mistakes
- Accept the judgment calls of the officials
Sportsmanship is the ability to:
- Win without gloating
- Lose without complaining
- Treat your opponent with respect
How to Be a Positive Role Model
Children learn behavior from many different people – Pros, teachers, other adults, and peers. But the people they learn from the most are their parents. Your child not only soaks up what you say, but also what you don’t say. Nonverbal messages – like a look of disgust or disappointment, often speak louder than words. Modeling good sportsmanship and respect for others provides an important lifelong lesson for your child. Keep all comments positive and avoid criticizing officials, the club, and Pros in the presence of your child.
Be Involved
Every youth sport program needs enthusiastic involvement from parents to be successful. Volunteering your time not only helps your child’s program; it’s also an enjoyable way to meet other parents/adults and make new friends. Here are a few ways to become involved:
- Attend Board Meetings
- Serve on the Board of Directors
-
Volunteer to help with Learn to Skate
- Help with fundraising
Don’t Get Too Involved
No figure skating Pro wants to be – or should be – second-guessed by parents on coaching decisions. Indications that a parent is too involved include:
- You are overly concerned with the outcome of an event
- You spend a lot of time talking with the Pro about competition strategy, skater’s skill levels, and the way she or he conducts practices and at competitions
- Your child has stopped enjoying skating or has asked you to stop coming to competitions or practices
- You require your child to take extra practice
- You technically correct your child’s skating elements
- You insist on being present for every practice session
- Both the Pro and your child will usually welcome a healthy involvement. Show interest, help the Pro where needed, encourage your child – and enjoy the sport yourself
Emphasize Fun and Skill Development
A focus on developing skills and striving to improve takes the pressure off winning – which no one child is in control of. However, all children can improve their skating skills. And when they see that improvement, they are usually motivated to improve more. Developing skills is one of the most satisfying aspects of any sport. Keep winning in perspective; emphasize personal improvement and define success as giving a maximal effort.
See Skater Rules for more infomation about your skater(s).