How to Choose Your First Skating Coach
Find the perfect coach to guide your skating journey
🎯 Why the Right Coach Matters
Your coach is one of the most important factors in your skating success. A great coach doesn't just teach technique—they build confidence, prevent injuries, keep you motivated, and help you achieve your goals. The right coach-student match can make skating joyful and rewarding, while the wrong fit can lead to frustration and slow progress. This guide will help you find a coach who's perfect for you.
Key Qualities to Look For
Look for coaches with proper credentials and relevant experience teaching adults.
- Certifications: PSA (Professional Skaters Association), USFS (U.S. Figure Skating), or equivalent credentials
- Adult teaching experience: Teaching adults is different from teaching children—find someone who understands adult learning
- Skating background: Former competitive skaters often have deep technical knowledge
- Continuing education: Good coaches stay current with new techniques and teaching methods
- Specialization: Some coaches specialize in beginners, others in advanced skills or specific disciplines
Effective communication is crucial for learning and building trust.
- Clear explanations: Can break down complex skills into understandable steps
- Positive reinforcement: Balances corrections with encouragement
- Listening skills: Hears your concerns, questions, and goals
- Adaptability: Adjusts teaching style to match your learning preferences
- Patience: Understands that adults learn at different paces
During a trial lesson, pay attention to how the coach explains things. Do you understand their instructions? Do they check for comprehension? Do you feel comfortable asking questions?
Your coach should understand and support your specific skating goals.
- Recreational vs competitive: Some coaches focus on fun and fitness, others on competition
- Skill level match: Beginner-focused coaches vs advanced technique specialists
- Timeline expectations: Realistic about progress and patient with your pace
- Flexibility: Willing to adjust goals as your interests evolve
- Supportive of YOUR goals: Not pushing their own agenda
Practical considerations matter for long-term success.
- Schedule compatibility: Can they teach when you're available?
- Location: Teaches at a rink convenient for you
- Pricing: Fits your budget (rates vary widely by experience and location)
- Lesson frequency: Can accommodate your desired schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.)
- Cancellation policy: Fair and clearly communicated
You'll spend significant time with your coach—personality fit matters!
- Encouraging vs demanding: What motivates you best?
- Structured vs flexible: Do you prefer rigid lesson plans or adaptable sessions?
- Serious vs fun-focused: Match their energy to your preferences
- Professional boundaries: Maintains appropriate coach-student relationship
- Respectful: Treats you as an adult, not a child
How to Find Coach Candidates
Where to Look:
- Your local rink: Ask rink staff for recommendations
- Rink bulletin boards: Many coaches post contact info and credentials
- Other adult skaters: Ask for referrals and honest feedback
- PSA or USFS directories: Search certified coaches in your area
- Rink group lessons: Try group classes to observe different teaching styles
- Social media: Local skating groups often have coach recommendations
Initial Research:
- Check their website or social media for background info
- Look for reviews or testimonials from other adult students
- Verify certifications if possible
- Note their specialties and experience level
- Check pricing and availability before reaching out
Questions to Ask Potential Coaches
About Their Background:
- What are your coaching certifications?
- How long have you been coaching?
- Do you have experience teaching adult beginners?
- What's your skating background?
- Do you specialize in any particular skills or levels?
About Their Teaching Approach:
- How would you describe your teaching style?
- How do you structure a typical lesson?
- How do you handle students who are nervous or fearful?
- Do you give homework or practice assignments?
- How do you track student progress?
About Logistics:
- What are your rates and payment policies?
- What's your availability?
- What's your cancellation policy?
- Do you offer trial lessons?
- How often do you recommend lessons for beginners?
- Do you teach at multiple rinks?
About Goals and Expectations:
- What can I realistically expect to learn in 3 months? 6 months?
- Do you work with recreational skaters or just competitive?
- Are you comfortable with students who have specific limitations (age, injuries, etc.)?
- How do you handle goal-setting with students?
The Trial Lesson
Always take a trial lesson before committing! Most coaches offer a single lesson or discounted trial package. Use this time to evaluate fit.
What to Observe During the Trial:
- Communication: Do you understand their instructions?
- Attention: Are they focused on you or distracted?
- Safety: Do they emphasize proper technique and injury prevention?
- Encouragement: Do they balance corrections with positive feedback?
- Pacing: Is the lesson too fast, too slow, or just right?
- Comfort level: Do you feel at ease asking questions?
- Progress: Did you learn something new and feel accomplished?
After the trial lesson, ask yourself: "Am I excited for the next lesson?" If yes, that's a great sign. If you feel anxious, uncomfortable, or unmotivated, keep looking. The right coach will make you feel supported and eager to improve.
Red Flags vs Green Flags
🚩 Red Flags (Warning Signs):
- Dismissive of your goals or concerns
- Pushes you to compete when you don't want to
- Frequently late or cancels last-minute
- Doesn't explain WHY you're doing something
- Compares you negatively to other students
- Makes you feel stupid or incapable
- Unclear or inconsistent pricing
- Inappropriate personal boundaries
- Refuses to answer questions about credentials
- Promises unrealistic results ("You'll land an axel in 2 months!")
✅ Green Flags (Positive Signs):
- Listens to your goals and tailors lessons accordingly
- Explains the "why" behind each skill
- Celebrates your progress, no matter how small
- Punctual and professional
- Encourages questions and provides clear answers
- Sets realistic expectations
- Adapts teaching style to your needs
- Maintains appropriate professional boundaries
- Transparent about pricing and policies
- Other students speak highly of them
- Makes you feel confident and motivated
Understanding Coaching Costs
Coaching rates vary widely based on location, experience, and credentials. Here's what to expect:
Typical Rate Ranges (as of 2025):
- Group lessons: $15-30 per session (most affordable option)
- Semi-private (2-3 students): $25-50 per person
- Private lessons (beginner coach): $30-60 per 30 minutes
- Private lessons (experienced coach): $50-100+ per 30 minutes
- Elite/championship coaches: $100-200+ per 30 minutes
Additional Costs to Consider:
- Ice time fees (separate from coaching fees)
- Rink membership or punch cards
- Equipment and apparel (see our practice wear collection)
- Competition fees if you choose to compete
- Testing fees for USFS levels
If private lessons are too expensive, start with group lessons to learn basics, then add occasional private lessons for personalized feedback. Many adult skaters successfully combine group and private instruction to manage costs while still progressing.
When to Switch Coaches
Sometimes a coaching relationship doesn't work out, and that's okay. Here are valid reasons to switch:
Good Reasons to Switch:
- Your goals have changed and your coach doesn't specialize in your new direction
- You've outgrown their expertise level
- Communication breakdown or personality clash
- Logistical issues (schedule, location, cost)
- Lack of progress despite consistent effort
- Coach is unprofessional or disrespectful
- You don't feel motivated or supported
How to Switch Gracefully:
- Have an honest conversation with your current coach
- Give appropriate notice (2-4 weeks is courteous)
- Be respectful and professional
- Don't bad-mouth your former coach to others
- Remember: switching coaches is normal and acceptable
Coach Selection Checklist
- Researched coaches at my local rink
- Checked certifications and experience
- Read reviews or asked for referrals
- Contacted 2-3 coaches for information
- Asked about rates, availability, and policies
- Scheduled trial lesson(s)
- Prepared questions to ask during trial
- Evaluated communication style and teaching approach
- Assessed personality fit and comfort level
- Confirmed goal alignment
- Checked for red flags
- Trusted my gut feeling
- Made a decision and scheduled regular lessons
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing a skating coach
While you can learn very basic skating on your own, a coach is highly recommended for several reasons: they teach proper technique from the start (preventing bad habits), ensure safety and injury prevention, provide personalized feedback, accelerate your progress, and keep you motivated. Even occasional lessons make a huge difference. If budget is a concern, start with group lessons or monthly private check-ins rather than weekly private lessons.
Both have benefits! Group lessons are more affordable, social, and great for learning basics. Private lessons offer personalized attention, faster progress, and customized instruction. Many adult skaters do both: group lessons for foundation and community, plus occasional private lessons for specific skill work. Start with what fits your budget and goals, then adjust as needed.
Most coaches recommend 1-2 lessons per week for beginners, combined with independent practice. Weekly lessons provide consistent feedback and steady progress. If budget or schedule limits you, bi-weekly lessons can still be effective if you practice between sessions. More than 2 lessons per week is usually unnecessary for beginners—your body needs time to absorb new skills.
That's completely normal! Not every coach-student pairing works out. Give it 2-3 lessons to see if the relationship improves, but if you consistently feel uncomfortable, unmotivated, or misunderstood, it's okay to try someone else. Switching coaches is common and acceptable in the skating world. Be professional about it, but prioritize finding the right fit for you.
Not necessarily! While competitive experience can provide deep technical knowledge, teaching ability matters more than skating achievements. Some excellent coaches never competed at high levels but are phenomenal teachers. For adult beginners, look for someone with strong teaching skills, patience, and adult student experience rather than focusing solely on their competitive resume.
Rates vary widely by location and coach experience. Group lessons typically cost $15-30 per session. Private lessons range from $30-60 per 30 minutes for newer coaches, up to $100+ for highly experienced coaches. Urban areas and coaches with elite credentials charge more. Remember that coaching fees are separate from ice time fees. Budget for both when planning your skating expenses.
Yes, but it's generally not recommended for beginners. Multiple coaches can give conflicting advice, which confuses learning. However, some advanced skaters work with different coaches for different specialties (one for jumps, one for spins, one for choreography). As a beginner, stick with one primary coach to build a consistent foundation. You can always add specialists later as you advance.
Look for PSA (Professional Skaters Association) or USFS (U.S. Figure Skating) certification. PSA offers different rating levels (Registered, Certified, Senior, Master). USFS has its own credentialing system. While certification isn't legally required to coach, it demonstrates professional training, ongoing education, and commitment to teaching standards. Always verify credentials if they're important to you.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Look great and feel confident in our premium practice wear designed for adult skaters.
Shop Practice Wear