How ISSA Set the Stage for Aimee Ricca’s Coaching Success

When you speak with Aimée Ricca, it’s immediately clear that her journey into the world of fitness and coaching is anything but ordinary. A Core Certified and Level 1 Accredited U.S. Figure Skating coach, Aimee has leveraged her ISSA certifications to elevate her career and provide exceptional training to her athletes. Her path, marked by determination and a passion for learning, showcases how ISSA has played a pivotal role in her success.

A Coach on a Mission

Aimée’s journey into coaching began with a desire to ensure that figure skaters, both on and off the ice, received the best possible training. "There’s a lot of coaches who do off-ice training with their skaters, but many of them aren’t certified," Aimee explained. "They know what their coaches told them to do, but that’s not always safe or effective."

This realization sparked Aimée’s interest in personal training, not just to help skaters improve their performance, but to address the knowledge gap among many figure skating coaches. She saw an opportunity to raise the bar in her field by becoming more knowledgeable about the human body, conditioning, and effective training techniques. This is where ISSA entered the picture.

Leveraging ISSA Certifications

Aimée’s ISSA journey began with the Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) course, which she completed during the pandemic lockdowns. “I had the gift of time when we had the closures, so I just went through as much as I could,” she shared. This was just the beginning, as she went on to earn certifications in nutrition, youth fitness, and strength and conditioning—all through ISSA.

What sets Aimée apart is her application of this knowledge to her work with figure skaters. "With figure skating, you're using a whole lot of muscles all at the same time," she explained. "I’m better able to direct them on what muscles to engage and how to avoid injuries." Her background in Pilates, reinforced by an ISSA Pilates certification, has also been instrumental in her ability to help skaters, particularly those with unique challenges like low muscle tone or coordination issues.

Interestingly, while Aimée initially aimed to work with ice skaters, she found an unexpected niche in the world of artistic roller skating. "The roller skating world has actually come to me more than the ice skating world," she noted. Roller skating, much like figure skating, requires a deep understanding of muscle engagement and coordination, areas where Aimee’s ISSA training has proven invaluable.

Her work with a national junior bronze medalist in roller figure skating is a testament to the impact of her training. "I'm her strength and conditioning coach," Aimée proudly shared. "It’s incredibly rewarding to see athletes grow stronger and more skilled because of the training programs I’ve designed."

A Lifelong Commitment to Learning

Aimée’s approach to coaching is rooted in a commitment to continuous learning. Despite not having an elite skating background herself, she has built a successful coaching career by acquiring as much knowledge as possible through credentials. "I wasn’t a successful high-level skater. That’s why I felt it was critical to learn as much as I could about conditioning and the human body," she said.

This thirst for knowledge led her to pursue certifications not only through ISSA but also through other respected organizations. However, she credits ISSA for giving her the foundational knowledge and tools she needed to truly excel in her coaching career. "All of my ISSA certifications help me be a better coach," she emphasized. "I’m better able to identify where the weaknesses are in my skaters and how to address them effectively."

For those considering a career in coaching, Aimée’s advice is simple: "Get certified, learn as much as you can, and never stop improving." With the right tools and a commitment to excellence, the sky's the limit for what you can achieve.

As Aimée continues to inspire her skaters—whether on ice or wheels—there’s no doubt that ISSA will remain an integral part of her coaching playbook, setting the stage for even greater successes ahead.