Written by Scottie Hill, a former Rocky Mountain synchro skater who has worked as an admissions officer at Mills College, as the Director of Student Life at Carnegie Mellon University's west coast campus, and as a college counselor at Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose, California.

The benefits for young skaters

Synchronized skating may seem like all fun and games to those in middle or grade school, but they are learning valuable lessons that will serve them well as they grow.

For many young athletes, participation on a team can be the first time they work together with a group toward a common goal. They learn that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and can often accomplish more with a team than they would on their own.

A synchro team can provide an outlet for abundant youthful energy, helping the young athlete learn mental focus, physical coordination, and awareness of personal space. This can immediately help improve sleep patterns, some discipline problems, and contribute to a life-long habit of exercise.

A young skater can not help but learn valuable lessons in sportsmanship while skating on a synchro team. In synchro, a team – not the individual – is judged. While a team may not always win at a competition, individual skaters learn to always try their hardest and support the other members of the team in stressful situations.

The benefits for young adolescents

For pre-teen and teen students (those in Junior High) participation on a synchronized skating team can teach them the lessons of teamwork, sportsmanship and the value of physical activity, but it can also combat many of the negative messages they receive in popular culture and at school.

The rink can be a place to learn positive body image - after all, a skater must be healthy, well rested, and strong to ‘pull her weight’. Synchro does not demand a skater be a particular body type, or a particular weight. While skaters wear the same costume and move in unison in competitions, there is room for a variety of abilities and physiques in every team.

In addition, a synchro team can provide a place where a teen can relax and be themselves, without worrying about many social pressures. Sometimes teens can be pigeonholed into roles in a school setting. Contact with a group of teens outside of a school structure can provide a place to break out of roles or expectations placed on them.

The benefits for high school athletes

Even at a more advanced level, skaters can benefit from the lessons of teamwork, sportsmanship and the value of physical activity. High school is a more complex environment than junior high, and the older teen skater in particular can benefit from the positive interactions with peers, competitors and authority that synchro can provide.

As teens gradually take on more and more responsibility, participation on a team can reinforce the ideas of responsibility, accountability, and punctuality. A skater learns quickly what it’s like to have a team of peers rely on them to be well-rested, on time and ready to practice.

Many students expand their circle of friends during high school, and any opportunity to meet other teens helps with social skills, self-definition, and personal development. They may find kindred spirits and life-long friends. They may have to learn to work with people who are not their close friends, teaching them to respect differences.

It’s also natural for teens to challenge authority at this time, and positive experiences with leadership are important. Most synchro teams have a coach, and an assistant coach who are paid professionals. In addition, teams have elected captains or co-captains. Those skaters who are elected leaders by their peers are able to stretch themselves in the role. Those that are not learn to take orders from coaches - and peers acting for coaches. It’s a valuable step towards becoming a tactful and responsible coworker in future professional situations.

The benefits of students applying to college

Synchro competitors naturally make welcome additions to any collegiate environment, a fact easily recognized by college admission offices. (If an admission professional is unfamiliar with the sport, it’s helpful to work an explanation into an application, interview, or essay.) First and foremost, participation in synchronized skating stands out on a college application. Colleges are always interested in unique and well-rounded students who will not only succeed academically, but become active and engaged members of a diverse campus community.

Synchro skaters add so much to a college community. They enjoy the team environment, and are the first to sign up for team sports – be they varsity or intramural. They are accustomed to making healthy choices and working with authority figures. In addition, a competitive skater learns the art of self-management. A team travels a great deal, and a key requirement of participation is attendance at competitions. Students learn quickly to plan farther in advance than the average high school student, to communicate clearly with their teachers, and to complete work with minimal supervision. Competitive skaters also develop the ability to focus despite hectic and unconventional environments to ensure they complete their work. When at home, skaters must allow ample time for practice, team activities, school and homework, and fun with friends. An imbalance in one area leads to the forfeit of all. (For example, if a skater does not take care of her health, she will not be able to keep up with her teammates. If she does not keep up with her schoolwork, her grades will cause a suspension from the team.) It’s this ability to manage time, energy, and expectations that can be a key to success in college. No one can teach a student how to manage themselves, and colleges are finding it increasingly desirable to recruit and enroll students who will not struggle with the basics of self-management during the key first semesters.

The benefits for adults

Some synchro skaters start as adults. They are interesting in finding a place to exercise, make friends, and enjoy healthy competition. They meet people (many of them synchro skaters who have continued to participate on teams their entire lives) who value what they value, and who care about teamwork, sportsmanship, and continuous personal growth.