This blog is a collection of my thoughts and experiences from ten years as a skate dad. For those of you sitting with your jackets in the bleachers, first I salute you, but second I want to give you an honest sense of what you are in for and what to expect. Ice skating is both a trying and a glorious sport, but it doesn't happen without the special group of folks who cheer, support, and console the participants. This is dedicated to you.


Thursday, August 15, 2019

- questions


In a recent blog post on Blazing Blades Janet Lynn was asking hypothetical questions for the next USFSA president. Naturally she takes a viewpoint very much from her own experience of the sport (which might have little to do with the USFSA's internal mandate, unfortunately). Although it seems somewhat brash to be doing this nevertheless in the spirit of the times, if I could ask leading questions of the governing body (from a skate parent's perspective) it would be:

1. Can you establish standards for ice rinks that ensure the comfort of the casual observers and parents during the freestyles?

2. Can you make an effort to rate rinks' comfort, costs, and ice quality online? Incorporating this with Google maps would be awesome.

3. You could add in some sort of calendering so I could log in to just one place to find out who has freestyles in the next 3 hours within a 15 mile radius of my house.

4. How does my kid's coach rate? When was her last accreditation tests and how did she do?

5. Can I view free online videos from all of the sectionals and regionals?

6. Can you promote a parallel non-competitive track that still has awards and such?

7. What about injury incident reporting? Something that could be used for epidemiology -- maybe certain rinks / ice conditions / blades / boots / sharpeners are prone to a greater frequency of injuries?

8. How does my sharpener rate?

9. Tributary carpooling or bus rental for events?

(repost from 2014)
Posted by Jeff Chapman at 3:53 PM
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5 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 4, 2014 at 7:29 PM

    I would also like to know the carbon monoxide levels at the rink (that still uses non electric zamboni)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 4, 2014 at 7:32 PM

    How would #6 work? (i.e. different from the current MIF and FS testing system)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeff ChapmanMay 5, 2014 at 6:44 AM

      Hello Anon,

      I was thinking more along the lines of a "showcase" or an individual version of Theatre on Ice. Or even individual dance. Generally a place where artistic expression on ice can be exhibited and rewarded, without the explicit "measurement" aspects of the current judging. Perhaps instead of medals everyone gets flowers or plushies. I just feel that many gals have something to express artistically but aren't into the whole "upsmanship" business of a competition.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousMay 5, 2014 at 7:49 AM

    Ah.. I agree! In instrumental music, there are many opportunities to perform and many city/state-wide clubs have these festivals (multiple times a year) where kids perform and are adjudicated, then the top third or so score-getters get invited to perform at a larger concert.

    ReplyDelete

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