Photos by Tiesha DiMaggio

coaches want their students to do off- ice training at home or take classes that will benefit their abilities on the ice, but the skaters do not always follow through, sometimes due to busy schedules.

Providing an opportunity for off-ice, warm-up training at the rink helps skaters incorporate it into their skating day. Also, offering classes at convenient times ( for example, before a freestyle session for high-level skaters) will help bring skaters to the rink. Arenas may want to bundle skating packages based on programming for learn-to-skate or freestyle ice. Also, offering discounts is a great way to appeal

to the parents and to get your skaters to take classes.

Coaches should be properly trained on how to teach their skaters to warm up. Encourage coaches to become certified as a personal trainer or hold another certification that can be beneficial for instructing warm ups for skaters.

Tere are many different ways to instruct coaches how to properly teach a warm up. For instance, a personal trainer can be hired to teach coaches proper techniques and to provide warm-up ideas. Coaches can also attend seminars that provide off- ice instruction by trained individuals that

can show how to use proper technique for the skater. Reading studies on warming up and keeping up-to-date on information is crucial for a coach. Tere are many online courses as well.

Alyssa Fort is an ACE certified personal trainer and coach at RoseGarden Ice Arena in Norwich, Conn. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science from Kaplan University.

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SPRING 2018