I wouldn't conclude that every skater should be a great coach or volunteer. Sometimes, top skaters (who take privates) are terrible instructors/coaches and are too busy to volunteer because they've been so focused on themselves. They don't remember what it was like to be afraid to glide on one foot or realize that the skater isn't turning their shoulders into the crossovers.
While desire is important, sometimes being blessed with good balance, muscle tone, and natural athleticism can go further than wanting to skate. I've had a few phenomenal skaters in some of my group lesson classes, one using rentals to land a Lutz! I can think of 2-3 that stayed in groups just because they liked the comraderie. They weren't interested in competing or doing track tests - they just wanted to have fun and learn.
The same group of kids can move up together, form friendships, and enjoy the sport. The problem is that, once some of them switch to privates, the group gets smaller and smaller, so the classes end up being combined with different levels. That can backfire, making the skaters frustrated because they don't "move up" as quickly and they feel awkward as younger skaters join the group.
I think it is more the parents that can make it happen. If a kid is talented, but the parent only thinks they only need group lessons once a week then it really isn't going to go anywhere.
I agree on the group lesson point - lots of young skaters never make it out of groups because the parents are afraid of the lesson and ice costs of privates.
I also define promise and potential as someone who grows up skating for the sheer love of growing up skating. I would much rather have a student that skates 2-4 times a week form 2nd grade to senior year of high school and never gets past double flip/lutz but LOVES every second of it than a kid that is full of talent and really has that wow factor BUT who's mom and dad have to drag them to the rink and watch everything like a hawk to make sure they practice. Those kids usually quit when they turn 13 or 14.
Absolutely - skate because you love the sport. Well put.
I think that being a self-starter is important as well. A skater who wants to skate more or take private lessons can do the legwork and figure out how it can be accomplished. I have one student who arranged her own transportation so she could practice an extra 90 minutes a week. Her parents both work and the sessions were too early for them to drive her. They buy the freestyle card and the girl gets to/from the rink with another student's family. That doesn't mean she's a great skater - it just means she has desire. She also wants to learn tricks and tends to teach herself things that fall under "bad habits." Always an experience, but she's a good kid.
I have a young private student who has the whole package: desire, determination, and athleticism. She's sharp as a whip about what's expected and really tries hard to do everything just right. If it were up to her, she'd be at the rink every day. However, their family finances are limited. She shares a lesson with someone else, she practices for two freestyles. Her mom stretches the budget now and then with extra sessions. I'd rather see her work within their constraints than have them pull her out because skating is unaffordable for their budget. We try to find ways to keep the budget in check so skating doesn't become a financial burden.