Returning to Normal vs. Redefining our New Normal

By Alex Chang, MFS, RM

By now, many of us are returning to a more “normal” work environment. In my town, restaurants are re-opening and movie theaters are expanding capacities. Rinks and class programming are starting back up in many areas. Amidst all the hope, I feel this so-called return to normal begs a much deeper question: Is it possible to truly return to normal or is our concept of normal a construct? A thing of the past?

I think there are always unanswerable questions that have no clear answers. They may lead us to even-deeper questions — but they may also lead us to even-deeper understanding. What I mean by this is that our definition of normal has never been static — certainly not in our fastpaced world of rule changes, technique changes, schedule changes, coaching changes, competition changes, you name it. A catch-all concept we created to let us go to sleep at night, normal lets us look at our activities each week and accept the ebb and flow of coaching in a competitive sport. There are no guarantees in life, certainly not in skating, but we persevere and do what we can to make our skaters better, stronger, kinder, smarter, faster…we raise them to achieve their individual goals, deal with their individual circumstances, and make sense of the chaos. That is the greatest skill of the coach.

So what does normal look like in a post-COVID skating world? Crystal ball moment: No one knows what will happen in the future and they never have. So, rather than try to ‘recapture the past,’ it may be better to create anew for the future and redefine our New Normal, NOW. Remember, we can learn from the past to see what worked, what didn’t, what has changed, and where we ultimately want to go. But we don’t have to carry the expectations and baggage of the past with us (‘It’s so hard, it’s not fair, it will never be the same’) — we want to learn from our past to bravely define our future.

Business in your rinks (schedules, skaters, programs, and staff) are all probably going to look a bit different this season too. Rather than try to recapture the past or bemoan facility/county restrictions, maybe it’s time to move on and refresh programs, reset prices, repackage bundles, utilize off-ice and yes, incorporate zoom classes for annual planning and organization.

Many skaters and families will not fully remember how it was, and are willing to embrace a new training model — IF IT’S WELL THOUGHT OUT. So spend the time to re-chart your course. A pandemic is a shut down, but every pause allows you to restart — to reset your business, redefine your teaching, and re-commit to new goals. Do you see a new potential coaching partnership? How about creating off-ice class for LTS, or maybe introduce TOI or Excel in your building? Are there emerging segments in your local community, new kids looking for physical activities and sports to get out of their Zoom fogginess?

Each of us has the power to re-write the script of our daily lives and shape the storyline of our season. Be bold and be curious. If you can DREAM it, you can bring VISION to it, and with a plan, dedication, and proper resources, you can DO it! Nothing happens without intention, planning, and execution, but remember, the PSA is here to support and empower you.