Whether it’s winter or summer, ice skating is a fun sport that children can
do year-round. It’s also a sport they can enjoy throughout their lives. The
stability, control, strength and endurance involved in ice skating, either
competitively or recreationally, gives kids a way to be physically fit and
appreciate an active lifestyle while having fun. It improves posture,
balance, flexibility and coordination and enhances muscle strength and
endurance.
Overlooked Benefits
But the benefits of ice skating extend beyond physical fitness. It teaches
kids goal setting and the pursuit of excellence, and it gives children a
higher level of self-esteem and a more positive outlook on life. Children
learn to manage stress and perform under pressure, and they learn how to
manage failure and how it feels to be successful. They also learn good
sportsmanship while developing social skills and make bonding friendships.
And all of these things can help them perform better in school.
Whether your child is interested in skating recreationally or pursuing
competitive skating, ice skating classes will teach your child the correct
techniques to make sure they are skating correctly, which will help them
avoid forming bad habits that could lead to injury. Many rinks have group,
private and semi-private lessons for children of all ages, abilities and
goals. Even toddlers can start skating, usually with double-bladed skates
for better balance.
Options
Once skaters learn the basics, they can move on to figure, pair or
synchronized skating or ice dancing if they are interested in formal
competition. Figure skating involves short or long choreographed programs
where skaters are judged on appearance, showmanship and ability; pairs
skating has two skaters perform choreographed programs that include lifts
and throws; synchronized skating has teams of multiple skaters perform a
synchronized routine; and ice dancing is the interpretation of dance and
theater on the ice. Skating skills can also extend to speed skating and ice
hockey.
Isa’s (14) Experience
Isa Neuhauser, 14 years old, of Fairfax, Virginia has been skating since
she was four. “I skate freestyle [figure skating solo] and I’m up to level
four now. There are 11 levels – gamma, beta, delta then levels one through
eight. I’m also ice dancing, and I like having a partner for that. I love
it because it’s dancing on ice,” says Isa.
Children interested in figure skating may want a coach to help them achieve
their goals. To find a coach for private lessons, talk with management at
local ice rinks and ask about available PSA-certified coaches and if the
coaches carry any ratings through the PSA (The Professional Skater’s
Association). Most reputable rinks prefer to hire coaches who have this
industry-standard certification. The PSA works closely with figure
skating’s two governing bodies (the U.S. Figure Skating Association and the
Ice Skating Institute) to establish certification levels for skating
coaches. Coaches who have a PSA rating have maintained their training and
are constantly working to better their teaching skills.
Talking with other skaters and their parents can be very helpful in finding
the right coach. You can determine if the coach is professional by finding out what they like or don’t like about the coach, such as punctuality record and credentials. Also, ask about the age groups the coach has
experience teaching, fees and cancellation policy.
Isa has two coaches – one to help her train on the ice and another to help
her with strength training. “I’m working on lots of things, but the most
difficult thing for me right now is the Contasta Tango because it involves
remembering to do so many things at one time. As for jumps, the axle is one
of the most difficult jumps and the only one that takes off from a forward
position. I’m working on that next,” says Isa.
“Music helps a lot with my skating because it helps set the beat. I love to ice dance the tango and I enjoy the music that goes along with it,” says Isa.
To be competitive, skaters need to dedicate a lot of time to practice.
Depending on the skater’s goals, practice time can involve as much as 16
hours a week. “I usually practice on average four days a week for about two
hours each time,” Isa says.
To gear up for skating, have your child wear form-fitting clothes that
stretch because they will not hinder movement and allow the instructor to see body alignment to give proper feedback to help the skater
improve technique. “Loose clothing is never a good idea because it can get
caught on a skate and cause injury. And I always put my hair in a bun or
braid to keep it away from my eyes so I can see,” Isa says.
If you want to purchase a pair of skates for your child, there are
important things to consider. “Figure skates should be flexible and fit
snugly without being too tight, and the better skates are sculpted from
leather,” says Isa. Ankles should be well supported, but if the skates are
too stiff, or even too flexible, a skater could be in danger of turning an
ankle and causing serious damage. Blades should be very sharp to match the
skater’s need for accuracy. Each blade has a toe pick to help a skater jump
and spin more easily. Skates can be expensive, so boot covers or
over-the-boot tights are usually worn to protect the boot’s finish.
If your child expresses an interest in skating, visit The Skating Club of
Northern Virginia at scnv.org, The Washington Figure Skating Club at
washingtonfsc.org, skatepsa.com, skateisi.com and usfsa.org for lots of
helpful information.
Glide to These Local Ice Skating Rinks
Maryland
- Bowie Ice Arena
- Cabin John Regional Park Ice Rink in Rockville
- Glen Burnie Outdoor Ice Skating Rink
- Herbert Wells Ice Rink in College Park
- Rockville Town Square Ice Rink
- Silver Spring Ice Skating
- The Gardens Ice House in Laurel
- Tucker Road Ice Rink in Ft. Washington
- Wheaton Ice Arena
Washington, D.C.
- Canal Park Ice Rink
- Fort Dupont Ice Arena
- National Gallery and Sculpture Garden Rink
- The Watergate Hotel
- The Wharf
- Washington Harbour Ice Rink
Virginia
- Ashburn Ice House
- Fairfax Ice Area
- Haymarket Iceplex
- Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington
- Mount Vernon Recreation Center
- Pentagon Row Outdoor Ice Skating
- Prince William Ice Center in Woodbridge
- Reston Town Center Pavilion
- SkateQuest in Reston
- Tysons Corner Ice Rink
Originally published: 02-02-18
Updated: 10-18-22
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