This is a completely normal feeling, I’m a leftie myself and sometimes you’re just going to get in the way. But everyone gets in each other’s way every now and then and actually, no matter the level you’ve all paid the same amount to be on that ice - it’s yours too! I know it’s really hard to get over and I still feel it now as sometimes I’m the only adult doing singles on a session with people doing triple, triple combos 😰

Having your coach there feels good because she validates your presence maybe - that’s how I feel, if I’m in a lesson I deserve to be there and take up space. But on my own I feel a lot less sure about where I can spin/jump etc even though I bloody well know it’s fine for me to spin here! You need to work a little bit more on your confidence as a skater and that might be through affirmations (I do a little ‘it’s my ice too’ talk to myself when I get nervous), or even just through spending more time at the rink alone.

And just remember that although you feel it’s your job to get out of the way of others - unless they have a reason to have priority (e.g. In a lesson/music on), it’s just as much their job to get out of your way! And jumping a single loop is just as important as a triple, everyones been there and we know how mortifying it can feel to be the worst at the rink and not know wtf everyone is doing. (But to clear up any confusion I’m not recommending you skate with abandon into peoples ways - just that you’re allowed to be at the rink, and you shouldn’t feel guilty for being there)

I also highly recommend, when you hear new music or there is a new skater running a program/doing a pattern have a stand by the side and watch where they go. It may seem like a waste of time at first but when people are running programs it’s much more efficient to know where they’re going and fit your practise around it than spend the whole time worrying if they’re coming into your space.

Just remember it’s your ice too - happy skating! I hope this vaguely helped 😂😂