How important are arm positions in figure skating?

Hi


My dd is learning to figure skate. She can do all her half jumps and some singles but lets her arms hang. She won't put her arms in figure skating position. How important is it?|||When a skater leaves their arms hanging, they're not using the shoulders/arms to check jumps, spins, edges and turns. That makes doing those elements so much harder and can stall progress on learning new things. The upper-body twist is the key to figure skating - skating "square" prevents the skater from doing elements properly, plus it counts against them during tests and competitions as not being proper form.





Not controlling the arms also causes slouching, which leads to the more dangerous forward falls that can split open a chin or cheek. Jumps are often difficult because that slouching leads to something referred to as "breaking at the waist." That's when a skater bends forward during a jump, which prevents proper rotation in the correct position and causes jumps to fail.





Also important: when a skater plods along the ice with their hands at their sides, the first thought is that they don't like skating. Even if a skater has corrected it during their programs, you'll see them trudge onto the ice for tests and performances with that same miserable gait. It sends a message to the judges and audience that they don't want to be there or that the skater isn't prepared. It's a turnoff that loses the viewers' attention. It's a habit that needs to be overcome, the sooner, the better.





Part of this issue is discomfort - she might not think that she's a skater yet or she might feel uncomfortable attracting attention. That will go away as her confidence increases. You should videotape her lessons a few times so she realizes her appearance in between elements or when the coach doesn't remind her.





Another part of the issue is core strength. If an skater doesn't have strong torso muscles, holding up the arms is exhausting, especially on the long spirals that are required for the first tests. Off-ice strength training can really help with this. Pilates, Yoga, or even using light weights to work out can strengthen the core and arms/shoulders, making the "correct" position easier to manage on the ice.





Another tool that is useful is the Champion Cord. It can be threaded from wrist to wrist, down the shirt sleeves and across the back. The elastic cord provides resistance that encourages the skater to keep the arms up and checked throughout the cord's use. It lasts when the cord is removed, but the exercise has to be repeated at least 10 times to be really effective.





If she's putting her hands into her jacket pockets, you might want to pin them closed so that option goes away, lol. Using the upper body properly is vital to figure skating, so the sooner she accepts that the better.|||Arm positions in themselves not vital (I will nuance this in a moment), shoulder positions are VERY important though. What's taught as arm positions to the beginners in edgework, spins etc is usually in fact shoulder positions.





Anyway, arm positions can be important for the jump take-offs (while checking the jump on take-off and landing and keeping the appropriate air position is in fact done with the shoulders and the arms are not necessary for it, throwing them around wildly throws the jumps off, plus using the arms wrongly will minimize lift and slow down rotation which is also unwanted) and the arms are DEFINITELY important for presentation points in comp and for show.|||Arm positioning is part of figure skating. Arms are included in your balance and artistry in programs.





Tell her she needs to start holding up her arms else wise she's not performing moves correctly, most likely to fall and won't have her hands up to break a fall (think head injuries).





But the main problem is jumps and spins. if she doesn't start pulling her arms in, or using them to square herself when entering a jump, she's never going to be able to do an axel let alone any doubles.


Arm position is just as important as foot position. If she complains that her arms are too sore to lift, tell her to start doing shoulder weight training to help, but the arms, have to stay up and be used in jumps. She should find jumps far easier once she starts using those arms of hers. Arms are an asset rather then a hindrance, even in skating.|||they are VERY imporant you need to ALWAYS have them up it helps you alot with your posture to:) my coach was kinda getting mad at me when i wasnt usong ym arms that much when i first started becuase i wasnt used to having to use my arms:)|||Very! It's makes judges think you're more professional if your hands are moving with your body.