How do I help my child improve their Toe Loop?

The toe loop is one of the first jumps most skaters learn, so it's wonderful that your child is working on it! The secret to improvement really comes down to two things: a confident takeoff and a clean landing position.

On the takeoff, make sure your child is using their toe pick decisively—not tentatively. Many young skaters touch the pick without actually pushing off it. Encourage them to think of it as launching from that pick, not just brushing it. The approach should be smooth and controlled, with good speed into the jump, but not so fast that they lose their edge quality.

The other major piece is the landing. A solid toe loop landing means your child needs to come down on their back outside edge with their arms and free leg in balance. Watch whether they're falling forward or sitting back—that tells you everything. If they're falling forward, it usually means under-rotation — they didn't complete the full turn in the air. If they're sitting back on the landing, the weight shift is off and they're catching themselves on the heel rather than the ball of the foot.

The best way to build confidence is through consistent practice of the takeoff motion separate from the jump itself. Have your child practice the approach and the toe pick motion on the ice repeatedly before attempting full rotations.

Want to see this in your child's skating? SkateMarks analyzes every jump with per-second AI coaching notes.