My daughter's coach wants her to start doubles — how do we prepare mentally?

Doubles are a big milestone! Your daughter's moving into territory where she'll need real confidence, and that comes from both physical readiness and mindset.

First, mental prep starts with reframing what "doubles" means. It's not twice as hard—it's a different skill. At Pre-Preliminary and Preliminary levels, skaters often feel intimidated because singles feel solid, then doubles suddenly feel impossible. That's normal. Help her see it as learning a completely new jump, not failing at an old one.

Talk with her about what doubles will feel like: more speed into the jump, a tighter rotation, less time in the air to think. Knowing what to expect reduces fear. Some skaters benefit from visualizing successful doubles before attempting them—closing her eyes and imagining the rotation and landing helps her nervous system prepare.

Also check in: is she landing her single consistently from both directions? Does she feel confident with her takeoff speed? If there's hesitation on singles, that's often what needs attention first. Mental blocks on new jumps usually point to physical technique gaps.

Finally, celebrate the attempt itself for the first few weeks, not just the landing. Doubles take time.

Here's your next step: Ask her coach specifically which single needs the strongest foundation before you start doubles work—then film her single and watch it together to build her awareness of her own technique.

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