Learning Tools
I seek to leverage as many tools as I can in order to supercharge the training time of my athletes, and a number of these tools have the greatest impact when used outside of lesson time. Here’s a curated list of some of the essentials that I’ve identified over the years that are always in my skating bag. Please note that I am not a medical professional and you should discuss any potential concerns or risks with your doctor before using any physical fitness or training product.
As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases when you use the “Buy on Amazon” links on this page. As a matter of principle, I do not recommend products unless I have extensive personal experience using them and genuinely see tangible benefits from their use by my skaters, and I am committed to full transparency with regard to any drawbacks in each product.
Seiko DM51 Clip-On Digital Metronome
Now in its second generation, respected Japanese manufacturer Seiko produces one of the most helpful teaching tools in the arsenal of any ice dancer, solo or partnered: the clip-on metronome.
Metronomes allow skaters to easily train patterns without music. They also increase the productivity and safety of all skaters on a session by freeing up the rink sound system for other uses and by improving awareness of dancers on the session, which is especially helpful in facilities where dance is not as common.
While I personally prefer the interface of the previous generation (model DM50 if you can find one), the new DM51 model nevertheless has some welcome upgrades, including a physical volume wheel. I have noticed some issues regarding durability in comparison to the previous D50 model, and unlike the previous model, the DM51 appears to be more susceptible to water ingress damage, an important consideration for a skate bag.
No matter what, as with any electronic device that can create a regularly timed beeping noise, be sure that you store it with the volume turned off in a hard-sided container to prevent undesired operation, and especially when traveling, carry it within easy reach (not in checked/hold baggage) to facilitate rapid intervention in case of undesired operation.
FEATURED PRODUCT: Noxgear Clip-On Bluetooth Speaker
This is a game-changer for not just ice dancers, but for skaters in any discipline: a lightweight wearable bluetooth speaker.
Ice dance, more than any other discipline, demands music. While many experienced ice dancers are able to leverage metronomes, those newer to the discipline often find the music essential to developing timing and expression. This speaker allows you to train with music without wearing headphones - something which, as a coach I must remind you is both extremely dangerous and against the rules at nearly every ice rink I know of.
It’s easy to pair and use, and includes a sturdy clip that I’ve never had fall off or break, along with play/pause, seek forward/backwards, and volume controls on an intuitive D-pad on the front. When paired with my favorite app for playing music, DanceMaster, you can have full control of the music playback. The highlight of this pairing is being able to. seek through various custom bookmarks in your music with the seek keys, and using the play/pause. button to stop and restart music over and over from the selected cue. Over the course of a season, this alone has saved me literally hours of lesson time for every skater I work with.
Whether you’re doing section training, pattern dances, or even just using dance music as a guide through skating skills exercises, this frees you from the challenges of using the rink music system, spending less time fumbling with plugs and phones and more time actually drilling the skills you need.
After falling head over heels in love with it, I’m now proudly an Ambassador for Noxgear on the basis of my experience working with this device. If you’d like to chat about how you can incorporate this into your coaching, please reach out! As an Ambassador, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you when you use my referral link.
Buy the Noxgear 39g here
Muscle Massage Stick (18”)
Small enough to carry in a skate bag, but large enough to get deep into the muscle fibers, I’ve carried this exact muscle massage stick in my own skate bag for over a decade, and it’s proven an invaluable resource to promote the recovery of sore muscles after a session, especially in the legs.
The model to the left is the precise model that I use, while I’ve also included a number of more cost-effective alternatives to the right (note that I have not personally tested these).
As with any form of physical therapy, I strongly encourage everyone to consult a trained licensed doctor/physical therapist for guidance in the proper use of tools like these before use.
See something I forgot?
If you have a training tool that you’ve found especially helpful, let me know and I may consider adding it here in the future!