Welcome. I'm working on Adult Bronze, but can do some things from the silver and gold tests. Doesn't mean I'm a silver or gold level skater, yet. And, my really picky coach picks even my three turns apart. . . which I have done for 35 years. Or, my crossovers or stroking, because it can always be more elegant, better extension, faster, smoother, etc. All skaters are in a range of levels, and even the basic elements (like stroking) can be done weakly by a puny beginning skater or with the finesse of an ice dancer at full 20+mph speed across the ice. For skaters, there is a level that they have clearly mastered, one with difficulty, and one that they might be able to do some of the moves. But, until they are at the mastery level, it is really dangerous to move them on too soon. She risks a bad fall & concussion. Coaches are not moving skaters up, mainly because of safety reasons. Skating takes alot of time on the ice. In 10 weeks, if she goes 5 times a week, she might just pass all the levels. But, if she goes 1 time a week, maybe not. Most importantly, IS SHE HAVING FUN? If so, then she's at the right place and at the right time.
A waltz jump is a half turn in the air. One can get away with just over a quarter of a turn (90') in the air. It's very important that she absolutely perfects the waltz jump, with the free leg swinging straight through (not around in a circular motion). The reason for this, is the axel jump. Axel takeoff has to be straight up. I'm sure the coaches are watching to make sure that she doesn't develop this very bad habit of swinging around. But, to a spectator, any waltz jump is going to, "she took off forward and landed backwards". But, I've seen kids do this jump, taking off on the inside edges, landing with inside edges, free leg hurling around (instead of through), little/no jump/air time. They are no where near even close to having this jump. They need time on the ice. A coach is going to be able to do a multi-bootlength, hang 10 waltz jump. I don't think her coaches are expecting her to jump a waltz like Jason Brown, but they are probably looking for clean, outside edges on take-off and landing, free leg coming straight through, and feet (or one foot) off the ice. And, a little checking of the arms and shoulders would be icing on the cake to the skating coaches.
A toe loop is a little trickier, but really not that much. It is alot like a waltz jump, but taken off from the toe pick. It kind of feels like a waltz jump. The picking of the toe pick can cause a few issues for the tentative. Again, it's not a full 380' rotation jump. Around 90' to 120' is probably more than sufficient to do a single toe loop.
Next up will probably be here salchow jump, which is also alot like a waltz jump. But, those backwards crossovers are going to help develop her inside, backwards edges. She has to have a decent inside, backwards edge (which is pretty hard at this level) to do a salchow. Now, the beginning kids that do this jump are going to do a three turn and immediately jump at the turn. They can't hold an inside edge, which is key to the jump technique being sound to move them into doubles eventually. But, to a spectator, seeing a quick three turn and then jump, they are going to think that it's a passing salchow.
Then up will probably be the loop jump, which is nothing like the previous jumps. But, those backwards crossovers are going to further develop her ability to do a deep, backwards outside edge completely on that foot, without pre-rotation . . . .
She has alot of levels to go. And, she, like most skaters, will be a variance between the levels. Within individual moves, you may think that she has it . . .but the coaches want it fairly mastered with no bad habits . . . because of what's coming up next.
Topic: Coaching methodology... (Read 3143 times)