How do I tell if my child's coach is a good fit?

A good coach match comes down to three things: clear communication, visible progress, and your child's enthusiasm to get to the rink.

Communication is foundational. Your coach should explain why they're working on something, not just barking corrections. They should be reachable about your child's goals and adjustable if something isn't working. You shouldn't feel like you're guessing at the plan.

Progress looks different at every level, but you should see it. At Pre-Preliminary, that might be cleaner crossovers or a more confident spiral. At higher levels, it's refined technique, increased consistency, or mastery of new skills. Ask yourself: Is my child landing things they couldn't three months ago? Are they getting fewer of the same corrections?

Attitude matters most. Does your child light up talking about their lesson, or dread it? A great coach pushes skaters but also makes them want to improve. Fear and respect aren't the same thing.

Trust your gut, but also give it time—real progress takes a few months to assess. If you're noticing stalled development, repeated injuries, or your child dreading the rink, those are signals worth acting on.

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