Excerpts from an interview with Merita Mullen
(Excerpts from an interview with Merita Mullen, Director of Synchronized Skating for the Colonials; A World Roundtable Discussion on Building a Strong and Successful Team; reprinted with permission from Synchronized Skating Magazine, 2006 Season, Issue 4)
The Role of the Coaching Staff
As coach and choreographer it is my job to assess the ranges of talent in my skaters, find out what motivates them, and discover learning disabilities and learning styles. I have to get my thoughts and steps across to approximately 100 skaters, and children have many different ways of needing to have the info translated. I feel responsible for every single step, whether it's good or bad. I have to be funny, goofy, serious, helpful, inspiring and whatever else I can think of in order to get the skaters on board with my creative ideas. My personal investment is huge; my skaters know it and they return the investment. I consider myself a nurturer, and I try to make the skaters feel respected. If they do not feel respected, it is doubtful they will respect me and the other coaches. I do not yell at my skaters (except to be heard above the music). When my old coaches made me feel badly or screamed at me, I usually fell!
My role is similar to that of my parental role in terms of leadership, warmth, humor and follow-through. I push and challenge, and then there are times to back off and let things chill out.
The Same But Different
I suppose I am different because I coach the same way that I parent. I have to make skaters feel valued, supported, cared for, and positive, while challenging them to be their best, do their best work, and work toward the common goal…my sense of humor on the ice is also perhaps my best asset. I use humor to get through difficult tasks, I laugh at myself and I totally admit fault. I make mistakes and I tell both my athletes and my daughters that I am flawed. I say please and thank you to the skaters "please put in another cross over before the rocker" and when they do so, I say, "Thanks guys". That's also how I speak to my daughters.
Building Strong Skaters
I feel on-ice sprints and intervals are critical in maintaining energy and strength. It also ensures the fact that the last 30 seconds of a program have the potential to be as powerful as the first 30. That is the most important training for my teams, other than practicing steps and transitions. I am relentless in terms of repeated sequences and transitions. "Go again" is what you’ll hear most often from me on any team’s practice, on any given night.
Tryouts
I generally look for skaters who are tested well above the minimum requirement for the category they are trying out for. In the ISU judging system, I especially look for fast, edgy, well-balanced turns. I prefer skaters who show a real smile, not one that is contrived or staged, and I would prefer not to accept a skater who is covertly unkind or self important. I spend several sessions with prospective skaters, and I look for a blend that works with my existing team in terms of attitude and talent. Really, the process of selecting a team, creating a body of work and developing relationships with my skaters spans an entire season, so that is the Colonial focus. This process, as opposed to outcome, is what the skaters will learn from and value. Self confidence and successful performing are not wrapped up in a competition, they come from weekly practice and hard work.
The Winning Edge – The Mental Aspect of Skating
Total picture. That's the extra something. By that I mean it ALL has to be good: the leadership, the parent volunteers, the music, the choreography, the assistant coaches, and the attitudes of all involved affect the success of any organization. As director and head coach, I am responsible for the successful experiences of all of our Colonial teams. There needs to be a plan and a focus on what each team needs to achieve that success, and then the plan has to be acted on. I believe that all on ice and off ice aspects of a synchro organization create a successful business. I do not worry whether or not we can create a winning team, but I know intellectually and creatively what it takes to have a successful organization -- and this contributes to a positive skating season.
Using Adversity
Winning an event does not build character and create self respect; working toward a common goal, and respecting the process does. Anyone can win gracefully, but rebounding from slip-ups and learning to try again is much harder.