Join the TFTI Historical Livewatch!

Week 1: 2010 Skate Canada International, Free Dance Watch with the YouTube playlist and share your thoughts on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #tftilive! * With the fall Grand Prix season looking a little sparser than the norm, TFTI presents an alternative: revisiting competitions past. HOW DOES IT WORK? You, the viewer, can vote…

When the Student Becomes the Master: The Future Is Now

Part 4 of a series on young coaches. Read parts 1, 2, and 3 at the links. by Jacquelyn Thayer Colin McManus: I’ve learned to have a different appreciation for my coaches because coaching is horrible. I’m talking like coaching at a competition. It’s horrible. Horrible. It is the worst nerves that you’ve ever had.…

When the Student Becomes the Master: Crafting the Transition

Part 3 of a series on young coaches. Read parts 1 and 2 at the links. by Jacquelyn Thayer I think one thing that coaching has taught me, and also being a freeskater—try to have an open communication with your athletes, asking them questions, because I think we are so inclined to think we’re just…

When the Student Becomes the Master: Moving Up, Moving On

Part 2 of a series on young coaches. Read part 1 at the link. by Jacquelyn Thayer Growing up a coach’s son, I definitely gained some insight into the job from my dad. I think my first memory is just how much traveling is involved when you have your own program—competitions, seminars, etc. My dad…

When the Student Becomes the Master: Coaching in the Time of COVID

by Jacquelyn Thayer How does the skater become the coach? It was the question that returned to mind with each summer competition circuit; one more retired competitor would take a new seat in the kiss & cry, trading in team jackets and self-critique for business casual and constructive support. From a wave of retirements in…