Figure Skaters Can Be Bullies
Thursday January 8, 2009
Did you know that there can be bullies at ice rinks? Figure skaters can sometimes be the worst bullies ever. I've seen skaters get in other skaters' way on purpose. I've seen the same skaters pull other skaters' music out of line. I've seen figure skating coaches that encourage their students to cheer for certain skaters and to not support others in the same club. I've seen parents fight over ice time and over a coach's attention. I've also seen written recognition of skaters' achievements that have been posted on bulletin boards at ice arenas covered up, torn down, or defaced. I've heard skaters saying negative things about others.
Figure skating is such a wonderful sport! My wish is that the ice skating world could truly be a happy one. Since it is the New Year, I would like to encourage everyone in the figure skating world to work hard at being nice at the ice rink!
Comments
This article hits the nail on the head! I think it is the meanest sport I have ever seen and it is such a shame. My daughter still loves to skate but we seek out hole in the wall empty rinks so she can enjoy her training.
The problems is age old . . . at least in the past 50 years that I’ve been skating both as a skater, parent and, now, watcher.
But the problem goes further than just what goes on during figure skating sessions and competitions. In rinks that have both hockey and figure skating, skaters’ parents vociferous about wanting better and/or more ice time. So much so that many rink managers and staff really do not have good relationships with the figure skating community.
But the rudeness is not just on figure skating sessions. It also happens when figure skaters are on the ice during public sessions. Because they are comfortable with skatig fast and dodging other skaters, they scare the heck out of beginners who do not have the control figure skaters do. The lack of respect or the urge to boost one’s ego by showing off often scares possible new skaters away from doing more than just “ankle skating.” Where are the better figure skaters on public sessions who will help the rank beginners transfer from “walking” or slipping on the ice to skating? It matters not the age, they are seldom seen unless the public session preceeds a figure skating session.
For most rank beginners, what seems to be basic A,B,C skating is Olympic level skating. Little do they know how easy it is to get beyond skating on one’s ankles.
There are twoanother factors that cause, in my experience, to the lack of ice etiquette.
One is the money factor. Parents and skaters, because, in many cases, they are in over their heads financially with skating costs, want to get every penny out of their dollars. Good sportsmanship is not in their vocabulary. They need to justify to themselves and others that they are getting maximum mileage for their money.
Then, there is little or no discipline on figure skating sessions because the coaches are independent contractors and not employees of the rink. Why or how can they take time to discipline other skaters when they are “hired” to work with one skater? Why should anyone pay a coach to discipline some other skater with the parent’s money?
The “Lombardy Syndrom” (the only thing is to win) is pervasive in figure skating when it should uphold the Olympic ideal — the thing is not to just win, but to participate and do one’s best.”
If we as skaters, parents, officials would look at our sport as those in the musical world look at music . . . not everyone will end up being a ccncert pianist, but everyone can through their music studies enjoy music for the rest of their lives. When 90% of all young figure skaters quit when they stop competing, their efforts and their parent’s money has been wasted. When money is thought that it might be wasted, rudeness is the end result.
It hard for us, even thought we only have a few skater and parents in our rink but there always have a so call very out of control skater, skater mom or dad. But rewards is there always great and nice parnets that are support each other. I think is important to looking different angle of the sports, there is few “roach(s)” in every kichen but you never get raid of them they are exist, so just ingore them makes travel to the rink happier trips..
I’ve also seen written recognition of skaters’ achievements that have been posted on bulletin boards at ice arenas covered up, torn down, or defaced…. and Yes, our skater news got pull off the board 3 times and I thought of that yesterday and I say to myself, doing this kind of thing only makes them weak and no a GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP and NO GOOD KARMA!
The skaters I admire the most are those who skate without letting the negativity eclipse their love of the sport. As a skatiing mom, I’ve seen it all. As long as my child wants to skate, I will support her. However, for my own sanity, I limit my involvement to supporting my child directly. I also control where my money goes, supporting activities (and coaches) that are, in my judgment, a positive influence.
It is unfortunate, but it seems to be the nature of competitive sports to leave honor at the door. This is not unique to skating – talk to parents involved with individual sports such as tennis, gymnastics, or even cheer leading. It is up to parents to set the tone and set limits. The parents who are out of control breed children who are out of control, so I suggest you just steer clear.
this sport is so cutthroat! thanks 4 saying something. but still i think ppl shud get along.