Amy Brolsma shares a number of warm-up drills to get the knees and ankles warmed up after a skater steps onto the ice. As Amy explains, these kinds of exercises are particularly helpful as warm-ups for competitions or test… Continue reading
In this figure skating turn and steps video, Amy Brolsma explains how she teaches a forward outside mohawk. As with the forward inside mohawk, Amy uses a cone to bring the mohawk into a tighter circle with a more… Continue reading
In this basic skills video, Amy Brolsma provides a framework for teaching beginner skaters the basic forward inside mohawk. Amy uses a cone to facilitate learning the mohawk more quickly. The cone helps skaters focus and understand the… Continue reading
Amy Brolsma provides an update on how she has changed how she teaches backward inside loops for more flow and rhythm. Her focus for loop development has changed somewhat from the precision of figures (based on her figures background)… Continue reading
Amy Brolsma continues her discussion of how she has changed how she teaches figure loops as part of the footwork and USFS moves in the field patterns. In the first video of this series, Amy explained why she has… Continue reading
Amy Brolsma continues her discussion of how she has changed how she teaches figure loops as part of the footwork and USFS moves in the field patterns. In the first video of this series, Amy explained why she has… Continue reading
Amy Brolsma provides an update on how she has changed how she teaches backward outside loops for more flow and rhythm. Her focus for loop development has changed somewhat from the precision of figures (based on her figures background)… Continue reading
This is the second video about choctaws with Karen Olson. In the first choctaw video Karen shared some drills including a powerful back outside pivot drill. In this video Karen provides additional exercises for skaters learning choctaws and… Continue reading
This figure skating video is the first of two on teaching choctaws. Karen Olson shares a number of helpful exercises for teaching choctaws required for the USFS Junior Moves in the Field test. Compare this presentation to that… Continue reading
In this video, Amy Brolsma discusses several ways to help a skater add speed and flow to choctaws. Generating power within the choctaw itself often referred to as a power choctaw but all good choctaws have this power and… Continue reading
In this figure skating video, Amy Brolsma continues her explanation of choctaws. In Part 1, she introduced an exercise at the wall and then showed how she works with a skater to develop the step away from the wall.… Continue reading
In this figure skating video, Amy Brolsma continues her explanation of choctaws. In Part 1, she introduced an exercise at the wall and then showed how she works with a skater to develop the step away from the wall.… Continue reading
Moves in the Field expert Karen Olson discusses backward cross strokes as required on the USFS Juvenile Moves in the Field test. Karen starts the skater at a standstill and slowly builds the feeling of the turned out hips… Continue reading
In this short video, Amy Brolsma continues her explanation of choctaws. In Part 1, she introduced an exercise at the wall and then showed how she works with a skater to develop the step away from the wall. … Continue reading
Amy Brolsma explains how she teaches choctaws. Choctaws are a relatively advanced skating step. Amy starts with a relatively simple drill at the wall and she explains that the skater must fully shift weight or the drill is… Continue reading
Amy Brolsma shares some tips for teaching and properly executing an inside slide chasse or slip. This element shows up as a major part of the US Figure Skating Intermediate Moves In The Field Test. Although this element… Continue reading
Amy Brolsma explains and demonstrates how she teaches backward cross strokes. (This video is a follow-up to Amy’s video on forward cross strokes.) Cross strokes appear repeatedly in the US Figure Skating Moves in the Field tests and… Continue reading
Karen Olson explains and demonstrates how she teaches forward power pulls for skaters just learning power pulls and those working to pass the US Figure Skating Pre-Juvenile Moves in the Field test. Karen did a previous video on power… Continue reading
Amy Brolsma explains and demonstrates how she teaches forward cross strokes. Cross strokes appear repeatedly in the US Figure Skating Moves in the Field tests and are an excellent tool for choreographers to use with a skater to generate… Continue reading
Karen Heng Olson teaches forward inside loops. See Karen’s presentation on forward outside loopsbefore watching this video. As with the forward outside loops, the shoulders start twisted into the circle. Karen emphasized the need to… Continue reading
Karen Heng Olson teaches forward outside loops. As Karen notes in her introductory comments in this video, “as freestyle coaches, without taking as much time as they did for figures, it’s still a process to teach loops. … Continue reading
Karen Heng Olson teaches backward outside loops. When beginning loops with a skater, Karen like to focus initially on the upper body movement. She shows the skater what she wants and holds the skaters arms. (Coaches,… Continue reading
Karen Heng Olson teaches backward inside loops. At the beginning of the video, Karen references the back outside loops, but she generally teaches the back inside loops first because they are easier to learn for most skaters. … Continue reading
Amy Brolsma teaches backward inside rockers.
Amy Brolsma teaches backward outside rockers.
Amy Brolsma teaches forward inside rockers.
Amy Brolsma begins her discussion of rockers by explaining how she teaches forward outside rockers. Amy begins by making sure the skater has complete control and proper alignment of the entry edge.
Amy Brolsma finishes her discussion of counters.
Amy Brolsma continues her discussion of counters.
Amy Brolsma continues her discussion of counters. In the previous video she discussed forward outside counters. In this video, she tackles forward inside counters.
Amy Brolsma introduces counters with a general discussion and then information on the forward outside counter.
Amy Brolsma teaches backward inside brackets. This is a continuation of Amy's discussion of forward outside brackets, forward inside brackets, and backward outside brackets).
Amy Brolsma teaches backward outside brackets. This is a continuation of Amy's discussion of forward brackets (forward outside brackets and forward inside brackets).
Amy Brolsma teaches forward inside brackets. This is a continuation of Amy's discussion of forward outside brackets.
Amy Brolsma shows how she discusses forward outside brackets. She starts off with a definition for brackets and she also talks briefly about the "bunny ears."
Amy Brolsma demonstrates an outstanding exercise to develop leg strength, edge pressure, and power, particularly as it relates to figure loops.
Amy Brolsma shows how she teaches back inside figure loops. (To see Amy's presentation on forward inside and outside figure loops, visit her bio page.
Amy Brolsma shows how she teaches back outside figure loops. (To see Amy's presentation on forward inside and outside figure loops, visit her bio page.)
Amy Brolsma shows how she teaches forward inside figure loops.
Amy Brolsma shows how she teaches forward outside figure loops.
Amy Brolsma explains how she teaches power pulls. Notice that Amy is focused on the mechanics of how a skater generates power from a continuous edge.
Amy Brolsma gives a three-turn theory lesson with diagrams on the ice. This presentation is important and EVERY skater and coach should understand this information thoroughly.
Amy Brolsma talks about body lean on edges and turns. This is a short video but a great reminder for coaches and an important concept for skaters.
Amy Brolsma explains how she teaches back inside three turns.
In this video, Amy Brolsma continues her discussion of the back outside three turn. This short video covers an incredibly important point which is why it's a stand-alone video on the site.
Amy Brolsma explains how she teaches back outside three turns.
Amy Brolsma explains how she teaches forward inside three turns.
Amy Brolsma explains how she teaches forward outside three turns. Notice that Amy believes her skaters should fully understand the concept of the three turn, including how the turn starts and stops. She uses a hula hoop to help develop proper awareness of all the parts of the turn.