The Season

One of the most difficult features about skating: The never ending season. Well, it does not have to be that way, at least not for everyone. We skate worlds in September and then by October it is back to training and for some racing. Why? To my understanding we allow the season to continue. But in a recession like this isn't shortening it reasonable?
Look at athletes, an off season is not a period of time in which you do nothing. If it is then I think most sports have it wrong. It is a period of time where you do not compete, which in our sport means a period of time in which you save money. Yes, strange, saving money. An off season is a period of time where athletes continuing to improve themselves and work on fundamentals/strength/conditioning among other things. So after nationals allow the athlete 2-3 weeks of rest time. Rest in which they can do as little as they want, in fact you should encourage them to downsize their skating for the purpose of rejuvenating their will or drive to succeed. After that time period is up you begin fundamentals including everything, take them back to the basics. Now, many people do this but you also compete in this period of time. Don't compete. Plain and simple, there is no need to. If you are working on technique and fundamentals why have your athletes lose confidence in their abilities by racing.
Why not have Roanoke be the first invitational they attend. You work on fundamentals from September - November. In December you begin training harder, if that means more practice, pushing yourself harder, or harder practices you start in December. Then by Roanoke you have been working harder. You are now back to skating shape with refined technique, which is what usually is missing. Then you have plenty of meets they can attend, Mr. Blair's meet, one of the three Easter Meets, all working towards regionals and nationals. They get the time off, and the rest. Just he physical rest. Especially for you older athletes. You give them time where the only skating fee is monthly practice dues so they can save money. What do you get from skating a meet in October? Yes, it is a judge. It judges how much work you have to do in the next eight months. But if a skater is skating great in October, isn't there reason to worry? Can that athlete sustain a level of greatness until June? Doubtful.
This year Roanoke is my first big meet. I skated league meets, which are fun, smaller meets with local skaters. As if it is a open practice. But now skaters are going to meets in October getting down on themselves and spending the money that they wont have to go to an Easter meet or regionals later in the year.
As the skaters/parents/coaches, if you decide to go to an October meet they will have it every year, if you decide not to they will stop having it which would shorten the season.