CSSA Parent s Guide Version

Transcription

1 CSSA Parent s Guide Version

2 Table of Contents Introduction...1 Core Values of Long Term Athlete Development...2 Coaching Philosophy of the Calgary Speed Skating Club...3 Skater s Code of Ethics...5 Skater s and Parents Code of Conduct...6 Social Media Policy...8 Equipment...9 Safety Equipment...9 Helmet...9 Gloves...9 Neck Protection...10 Eye Protection...10 Full-Cover Protection...10 Ankle Protection...11 Knee Protection...11 Shin Protection...11 Skate Blades...12 Other Equipment...12 Ankle Booties...12 Skate Guards...12 Soft Guards...13 Jig...13 Equipment Maintenance...13 The Skate...13 The Boot...14 The Blades...15 Skins...16 Meets...17 Types of Meets...17 Inter-Club...17 Provincial...17 Regional...17 National...18 Age Class...18 Ability...18 Racing Rules...18 Summary of Key Rules...18

3 Etiquette...20 Dressing Rooms...20 Officiating...21 Parents Role...21 What to Take to a Meet...21 Mandatory Equipment...21 Additional Items...22 Foods to Bring...22 Foods to Avoid...22 What to Expect on the Day of the Meet...23 When You Arrive...23 Warm-up...23 What to do to Prepare for Racing...24 Race Structure...24 Points...24 Personal Best...24 At Race Time...24 After a Race...25 Glossary of Terms...26 Record of Results...27

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5 Introduction Speed, agility, strength, endurance and determination. These are the hallmarks of speed skating, whether it be the speed, endurance and determination of a long track race, or the speed, agility, strength, technique and strategy of a short track race. The Calgary Speed Skating Association (CSSA or The Club) has programs at all levels from the very young (ages 6+) to the young at heart (seniors/masters). This Parent s Guide is an introductory resource to be used by parents and/or skaters. This guide is meant to supplement other information provided by the Club. The Club designs its programs to follow Speed Skating Canada s Long-Term Athlete Development Program. -1-

6 Core Values of Long Term Athlete Development - LTAD CANADA 2007 Long term athlete development is anchored in the belief that each child, player and athlete is different, with individual needs and rates of development. Long term athlete development provides a framework for planning and decisionmaking on athlete development, NOT a rigid template. Long term athlete development is concerned with the holistic development of children, players and athletes. Long term athlete development stages overlap and are unique to each individual. Long term athlete development recognizes the significance of transitions in the development of children, players and athletes. Long term athlete development recognizes that the accumulation of deliberate practice and training age is linear and that the development of key capacities is non-linear and individualized. -2-

7 Coaching Philosophy of the Calgary Speed Skating Club It is the coaches responsibility to see that all members of the club are taught to skate in such a way that values learned are values that can be applied to everyday living. A skater may not always win and cannot be expected to always win; however, it is their responsibility to do their best at all times. It is the duty of the coach and parents to see that the skaters are improving. Striving for personal bests keeps the skaters encouraged and motivated. Communication between parents and coaches is very important since everyone wants what is best for the skater. Coach's Responsibilities: Plan and conduct practices. Ensure practices are safe and fun. Utilize age and skill appropriate drills to improve the skater s skills. Schedule parent/coach meetings as required. Emergency response on ice during practice copies of skater medical profiles will be at CSSA Office. What skaters can expect from coaches: Organized practices. Information about meets and rules. Regular communication. Realistic goals and expectations. Enthusiastic commitment and willingness to develop skaters and their love for the sport by making their practices and competitions FUN FOR ALL. What coaches expect from skaters: Show up to all or as many practices as possible, and to be on time. If the skater is late, please wait until the coach OKs entry onto the Short Track ice surface, to ensure safety and minimize impact on ongoing drills. -3-

8 Listen and try their best. Encourage each other. Respect coaches, other skaters and officials. Communicate with the coaches. Honest effort to set new realistic personal goals. Show sportsmanship at all times (practice, competitions, travel). Most importantly - HAVE FUN! What coaches expect from parents: Be positive and supportive of all skaters. Have your children ready to go on the ice at the proper time with proper equipment. Ensure skates are properly sharpened and all equipment is in good working order. Communicate problems/conflicts re: practice times, program, etc. and encourage coaches in their efforts to develop skaters. Social involvement within the club to help develop skater friendships. -4-

9 Skater s Code of Ethics As a member of the Calgary Speed Skating Club, I promise: 1. To carry out my speed skating activities in a spirit of goodwill towards all, and in particular: a) Towards my coaches and trainers whose greatest reward is the respectful cooperation I will show to them at all times. b) Towards my fellow skaters and competitors, who will find me a good sport on every occasion. One who loses and wins with grace and dignity. c) Towards parents, officials and volunteers whose efforts provide me with opportunities to train and compete. 2. To be appreciative of my sponsors whose generosity has provided me with the facilities and equipment which I will care for. 3. To attend skating practices regularly and on time. 4. To respond to instruction with enthusiasm and respect. 5. To be loyal to my club - at home and away from home. 6. To strive to do my best. -5-

10 Skater s and Parents Code of Conduct Participation on the ice at Calgary Olympic Oval is a privilege, not a right. Our standards of behaviour are exceedingly high and a willingness to live up to them is a condition of being a member of the CSSA. Consistent with these standards, and as a continuing condition of participation, skaters and parents are maintain these standards. Skaters and parents should recognize and understand the responsibility to adhere to the basic concepts of good citizenship, fair play, and those positive examples with which every CSSA participant should be identified. The goal of our Club is to support athletes in pursuit of excellence and achieving their potential in the sport of speed skating. To do this, we need to appreciate that there is a need to maintain a strong behaviour and discipline code to support each and every athlete s efforts. While participating in any Club activity, including practices, meets, social events, team travel, overnight stays in hotels/motels, dining in restaurants and when in or on public/private property, including change rooms and parking lots, etc., athletes are expected to demonstrate responsible manner, as befits the CSSA. Unacceptable behaviour as listed below will not be tolerated at any time: use of foul language bullying damage to facilities fighting unsportsmanlike conduct use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol sexual harassment act committing any which would be considered an illegal offence breaking training or curfew without consent when away at meets, doors will be left open when a non-occupant visits the room Should any unacceptable incidents occur, actions may include: verbal/written warning further action as described in the CSSA Disciplinary Outline -6-

11 being sent home from a meet at the member s expense damage to property will be the responsibility of the instigator and his/her parents Parents/Guardians are encouraged to promote sportsmanship at all practices and meets through your actions by demonstrating positive support for all skaters, coaches, officials and spectators regardless of race, creed, religion, sex or ability. We recognize the importance of coaches and their importance to the development of the individual skater and the CSSA will work to provide a positive experience for all. -7- Skaters will comply with instructions from the coaches who, in consultation with the parents, have the final authority at all competitions and practices. Possession and/or use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco or illegal drugs will not be tolerated. Use of any of these will result in immediate suspension. A curfew may be set for each trip by the assigned coach(es). Skaters are expected to abide by the curfew. No minor skater, travelling without their parent(s), will leave the rink or accommodation without permission from the coach, manager, or chaperone. No adult skater will leave the rink without informing the coach. Absolutely no foul language will be tolerated at competitions or practices. The use of hotel rooms, private rooms, skating facilities, buses and private vehicles is a privilege. Skaters will be held responsible for any damage they cause. Respect of all officials and fellow competitors is expected - on and off the ice. Any use of banned performance enhancing substances is prohibited. Skaters will conduct themselves with decency and modesty while changing. Skater conduct will comply with standards set by the Alberta Amateur Speed Skating Association and Speed Skating Canada.

12 Social Media Policy As a CSSA athlete, you are encouraged to use social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, to help promote Speed Skating, our organization and yourself as an athlete. The following are guidelines that you should take into consideration when using these and other social media sites: Post as yourself and about yourself. People are following you because they are interested in YOU. Take that opportunity to talk about yourself. Tell your fans how hard you have been training, how excited you are to get on the ice and how it felt to train and race. Remember that you are representing the CSSA, AASSA (Alberta Amateur Speed Skating Association), SSC (Speed Skating Canada) and most importantly, yourself. What you publish online is permanent, so consider the content carefully. Post meaningful, respectful comments. Do not post spam or remarks that are off topic or offensive. This includes ethnic slurs, offensive comments, defamatory comments, personal insults, obscenity, etc. Ask yourself: is the image you are projecting by your communications and photos the one you want your parents, friends, teammates, coaches, and fans to know you by? Be respectful to fellow athletes. Social media can be a great tool to congratulate competitors and discuss the sport, but it should never be used to speak poorly of a fellow athlete or an official. Protect yourself and your privacy. Be cautious about disclosing personal details. Do not post information that you would not want the public to see. This may include names, photos, address, phone numbers, etc. Don t post photos or videos of other athletes. Never flood your fans news feed by posting rapid, continuous updates. It may be tempting to post results of an event as they happen, but refrain. This will get you unliked very quickly. -8-

13 Equipment Safety Equipment Helmet Why: To prevent major and minor head trauma and traumatic brain injury due to impacts with ice, boots, blades, bodies, boards and crash pads. A helmet must be worn for all on-ice activities. It must be securely fastened under the chin at all times. A skate blade should not be able to penetrate any ventilation holes in the helmet. For Learn to Speed Skate and Introduction to Speed Skating Programs, as well as training for Active Start and FUNdamentals aged participants, helmets must be ASTM F 1849 certified or CSA approved (speed skating, hockey, snowboard/ski skateboarding helmets only). For all other competitions and activities, helmets must be ASTM F 1849 certified. Gloves Why: To prevent cuts and puncture wounds on the hands from blades. Full cut-resistant material gloves with a minimum 1 cuff must be worn at all times while skating. All the surfaces of the glove must be made from cutresistance material, including the palms, sides, tops, fingers and cuffs. Appropriate cut-resistant materials include: Medium to thick leather Kevlar mixed (minimum 12%) Nylon and/or spandex or similar material. Kevlar lined leather gloves provide the most protection. Dyneema mixed Nylon and/or spandex or similar materials. Other cut-resistant material approved by the Canadian Speed Skating Association. Example of gloves that are not recommended (not cut-resistant) are: -9- wool gloves

14 cotton gloves nylon only gloves baseball batting gloves golf gloves thin leather ski/winter gloves non-leather ski/winter gloves non-leather soccer goalie gloves Neck Protection Why: To prevent cut and puncture wounds to the neck area, especially in the areas of the major arteries. All skaters are required to wear bib-type neck protection. It must be made of Kevlar, Dyneema, or ballistic nylon. Protection may be integrated into the design of a skater s skin suit or worn tucked into a skater s skin suit. If separate neck protection is worn it must fastened securely. Eye Protection Why: To prevent eye injuries resulting from ice chips or a collision with a blade or other objects. Shatter-resistant protective sport glasses or a complete visor are required for all skaters. Glasses must be held securely in place by a strap. Hockey helmets with cages are NOT an acceptable alternative. Full-Cover Protection Why: To prevent cut and puncture wounds on any other part of the body not already covered by other protective equipment. No skin below the mid-line of the neck can be visible (bare). Skaters aged 11+ (L2T) participating in events sanctioned SSC Championships and/or as Selection/International competitions must wear cut resistant clothing

15 meeting or exceeding the minimum standards established by the ISU. Several times a year, the Club will place an order for CSSA branded skin suites. Communication will be sent out as to when samples are available to try on, and to place an order. It typically takes 8 10 weeks for our supplier to fill an order. Ankle Protection Why: To prevent cut and puncture wounds of the Achilles tendon from blades during the thrust phase of the stride. No skin can be visible between the skater s boot and skin suit. Puncture resistant anklet made of Kevlar or Dyneema must be worn on both legs, covering the legs from the tops of the boots to 10 cm above the tops of the boots. Knee Protection Why: To prevent puncture and blunt force impact wounds to the knees. Full frontal knee coverage providing complete coverage of the patella. Made of puncture resistant (e.g. Kevlar or Dyneema) and impact absorbing (e.g. high density foam) material. Protection may be worn over a skater s skin suit or it can be integrated in the suit. Shin Protection Why: To prevent cut and puncture wounds along the shin from blades, as well as some measure of blunt impact protection from hitting hard objects/bodies. Skaters must wear hard plastic or built-in cut and puncture resistant material with some impact energy absorption. Full frontal shin coverage is from within 2.5 cm of the top of the boot

16 to within 2.5 cm of the bottom of the knee protection. Protection may be worn over/under a skater s skin suit or it can be integrated in the suit. Skate Blades Why: To reduce the puncture making capacity of the blades. The rear and front tips of all skate blades shall be rounded to a minimum radius of 1cm. Skate blades need to be sharp and well maintained. All skates rented from the Club will have the skate blades rounded appropriately. Other Equipment Ankle Booties Why: to help prevent blisters. Form fitting pull-on anti-blister booties that allow your foot to grip your footwear better, yet offer protection from rubbing and blistering. Highly recommended. Skate Guards Why: To prevent damaging the blades. Skate guards must always be worn when not on the ice. Put your guards on before you step off of the ice and do not walk on the toes of the skates, walk on the flat of the blades

17 Soft Guards Why: To prevent blades from rusting. Use blade protectors while transporting your skates and store skates removed from your bag with blade protectors off. Jig Why: To help keep the blades sharp. Speed skates are sharpened by hand, using a jig and stone. Instruction sessions on how to sharpen your skates are held during the skating season. If you rent club skates you are responsible for sharpening them throughout the season. The club has jigs available for club members to use. Equipment Maintenance The Skate It is important to properly maintain your skate during the season. Regular maintenance helps keep the skater performing optimally and ensures a longer life for the skate. Tips for skate maintenance: Clean skates after each use by wiping with dry cloth and wrapping in Terry Cloth type of material to protect the blade edges. Hard skate guards are to be used when you are walking from the dressing room to the ice surface and return to the dressing room. The skate blades should be covered with soft guards or similar type of material for 24 hours until the moisture is drawn out of the skate blade. DO NOT STORE THE SKATES IN THE GUARDS. If you keep the plastic skate guards on the blades while they are damp, rust will form and damage the skate blade edges. Keep skates sharp. Get your skates sharpened regularly (at least once/month). This can be done by using club equipment or at the Oval Skate Shop. Ask your coach how to get this done. If you find that the skates are very uncomfortable then consider heat moulding the

18 boots to your feet. Checking skate hardware: Before you put on your skates check that all nuts and bolts are tight and that there are no visible signs of deterioration. Short track blades are intended for use only on indoor short tracks at practice and sanctioned competitions. Any damage to club blades when used on outdoor natural ice will be the financial responsibility of the skater. Generally, please look after your skates. The Club skates are expensive and you are expected to take good care of them. The Boot Of particular importance when choosing equipment for speed skating is the fit of the equipment. Speed skating is about feeling the ice, therefore it is important that all equipment fits properly. Avoid boots or blades to grow into as this will negatively influence the capacity of the participant to acquire skills. It is also important to properly dry out all equipment between each practice and wash clothing regularly. CSSA rents skates for beginner skaters. Safety equipment is generally the responsibility of the participants. When selecting a speed skating boot be sure: The boot provides support for the foot and the ankle. The boot allows the skater to move their knee as far forward as possible. The boot needs to be tight but comfortable without cutting off the skaters circulation. If the boot does not fit snugly, or is not properly tied, the skater s foot will slide around inside the boot and decrease control of the blades. Purchase boots that can be heat moulded. This will improve the fit and increase comfort for the participant. To dry the leather out slowly if the boots become wet. Drying the boot too quickly will damage the leather. To keep spare laces available as they can break at any time. Laces should be kept relatively short so as to avoid tripping over them

19 The Blades Speed skating blades are quite different than those used for hockey and figure skating. Not only are they longer, they are also flat ground (see illustration). This allows the skater to glide more effectively, but also requires that speed skating blades be sharpened by hand. If speed skates are sharpened using a machine designed for hockey or figure skates it will permanently damage Hockey Skates Speed Skates the blades. CSSA holds a skate sharpening clinic several times a year. Please drop into the office to find out more information. The set-up of the blades for a speed skater is just as important as the boot. For developing skaters maintaining sharp blades with a proper rocker and bend will have the most significant influence on a blade s performance, far more than the actual quality of the blade. Improper blade set up often limits a participant s ability to perform a skill, making the sport less enjoyable. Improper blade set-up is the equivalent of not properly inflating the tires on a bicycle. To properly maintain blades: Be sure to fully dry the blades after each use to prevent rust from developing. Store the blades in a cotton skate cover, between practices, not in plastic skate guards where condensation will accumulate on the blades and cause them to rust. Use a hard-plastic skate guard when going on and off the ice. Sharpen the blades regularly. It is best to sharpen quickly on a regular basis rather than an occasional long sharpening job. Check the edge of the blade with a finger nail to check for sharpness and burr. If you are able to scrape some of your nail, the blade does not need to be sharpened. When checking for burr, you want to be able to scrape your fingernail upwards on the side of the blade without catching it on a piece metal. Have the rocker and bend on skates checked at least twice (beginning and midseason) per season by a club coach or equipment person.

20 Skins Speedskaters wear tight fitting suits called Skins to reduce air resistance and provide protective padding. Putting on your Skin Begin by holding each leg of the suit near the bottom of the leg and work each foot, one at a time, into the suit. We realize it's much easier to hold the suit by the waist and just jump in with both feet, but we don't advise it. Also don't rely on the zipper-pull alone to close up suit. Use one hand to close the suit above the zipper-pull so it closes easier when you pull the zipper up. In the long run, this will prevent stretching of zipper teeth and prolong life of zipper. Hold the bottom of the zipper when you remove the skin suit to prevent stretching. TAKE YOUR TIME. Washing instructions Keeping your skins looking good and functioning at their best requires specific care and maintenance. Washing is the first area of concern. Do it correctly and it will preserve the garment. More frequent washing is better than less frequent. Body sweat contains acids, oils, and bacteria and can be quite corrosive and will eventually attack the fabric. Hand washing in lukewarm water with a mild soap or detergent is the safest washing method for most skin suits. Five minutes in the sink will do the trick. DO NOT wring the garment. You can roll the garment in large towel and squeeze roll allowing as much moisture to transfer onto towel. Dry time should be reduced to half the time. If machine washing is preferred, use a gentle cycle with mild soap. The garment should be zipped up and turned inside out, prior to being placed into the washer. The spin cycle of the machine should be enough to rid excess water and then hang in the shower to dry. The life of most skin suits will be prolonged if you avoid hot/warm machine drying, unless your dryer has a no-heat setting. Too much heat over time will breakdown the stretching fibers

21 Meets The Calgary Speed Skating Club encourages all members to participate in competitions, otherwise known as meets. We believe competitions are a fun and educational aspect of speed skating. Competitions allow members to meet and race with skaters from across the province. Meets also allow skaters to put their practice drills to use and apply what they ve learned to a racing situation. Types of Meets Speed skating meets can best be divided into four categories: inter-club, provincial, regional, and national. Determining which meets to attend can be a bit overwhelming; however, below are some general guidelines. Remember, if you are interested in competing but are unsure of what meets to attend, your coach is your best resource. Inter-Club Inter-Club meets are hosted by speed skating clubs around the province and are generally for skaters of all ages and abilities. At Inter-club meets, skaters are grouped so that those with similar ability (NOT necessarily similar age) skate together. Provincial Provincial meets are championship meets hosted once a year for short track and long track speed skating. These meets are based upon the categories outlined in Speed Skating Canada's LTPAD model. These meets are very competitive and offer a great chance to skate with athletes from across the province. Regional Regional meets are short track and long track competitions held in western Canada and are part of Speed Skating Canada's national competitions program. Regional meets have a qualification standard attached to them and offer a very high level of competition

22 National National meets are high level championships meets run under the guidance of Speed Skating Canada. Skaters from across the country compete in various age groups based upon the LTPAD. These meets are very competitive and require specific performance standards for entry. There are National championships for skaters in the L2T (Learn to Train) category and above in long track, and the T2T (Train to Train) and above category in short track. Age Class Age class meets are competitions where the skaters are grouped based on age and gender. The age class is based on the skater s age as of June 30 prior to the meet. Ability Ability meets are competitions where skaters are grouped by ability, not age. Ability is based on designated distance (seed) times for that competition. In this type of meet, your skater may be racing against skaters several years younger or older than them. Racing Rules The official rules of speed skating are governed by Speed Skating Canada ( SSC ) and the International Skating Union ( ISU ). In addition, our local and regional competitions have some specific rules that have been established by our provincial associations. For those who wish to review the detailed rules, please consult the Speed Skating Canada Red Book. Summarized here are the general rules that pertain to speed skating. Regarding the rules, in general, common sense prevails. That is, given the number of skaters on a small ice surface, the objective of all the rules is to be as fair as possible for everyone and as safe as possible for everyone. That means: no interference with other skaters, complete the distance assigned, no false starts, no dangerous moves, etc. If you have additional questions regarding the rules, please consult with your coaches. Summary of Key Rules 1. The distances skated are determined by the level of the skaters in a division. The track size varies, with a 100m track for most skaters and an 111m track used for the oldest

23 and fastest skaters. The start line of the race may change for races that have a half-lap in them (eg 500 M is 4.5 laps on the 111m track), but the finish will always be in the same place (the side with the single red line). The cones marking the track are periodically moved to protect the ice and so the start line may also move to match the cones to keep the distances skated constant. 2. Assigned helmet covers must be worn for all races, showing skaters numbers on both sides of the helmet. 3. All protective gear must be on and bare skin covered or a skater will be disqualified or barred from skating in the race. Skates must be tied and all bolts tight. Equipment must not be removed until the skater has left the ice. 4. Two false starts and a skater is penalized (disqualified). The skaters first line up behind the blue line at the start of a race. They then move to the start line on the command Go to the Start. Once at the start line, they remain relaxed in a standing position until the starter says Ready. After a pause to allow skaters to take their start position and become still, the starter fires a gun or sounds a tone to start the race. If there is a false start, the starter either fires the gun or sounds a tone a second time or blows a whistle. Starting in , the first false start in a race is charged against the entire field. This means that if any skater commits another false start in that race, even if they did not commit the first false start, the skater will be penalized and removed from the race. 5. If a skater is knocked down by another skater at the start (before the first corner apex block), the starter may call the start back. However, if a skater falls on his or her own and was not interfered with by another skater, the race will normally continue. If a falling skater interferes with another skater off the start, the race is generally called back. This is a judgment call by the starter and it should never be assumed that a race will be called back. 6. Skaters are not allowed to shoot a leg forward to try and get a skate across the finish line in front of another skater. This action is called kicking out and will result in a penalty. 7. A skater may knock a cone without being disqualified but if a skater skates inside the

24 cones marking the curve to try and shorten the track, they will be disqualified. There are track stewards on the ice surface who replace displaced cones. 8. Skaters are not allowed to interfere with other skaters: no pushing, no bumping a skater in front of them (e.g. by cutting inside as they enter a corner). This is referred to as impeding. 9. If a skater falls, it is their responsibility to make sure they don t interfere with another skater when getting up and starting to skate again. This means that they have to check behind them for other skaters before getting up or back on the track. Skaters who have fallen and are effectively out of the running will usually keep to the outside of the track. 10. Any unsportsmanlike behaviour may also result in disqualification. This may include, but is not limited to, swearing or insulting other competitors or officials, punching mats after a fall, or inappropriate celebration on crossing the finish line. 11. If a skater falls on their own or is taken down in an accidental fashion by another skater, it is simply considered bad luck. However, if a skaters is knocked down or knocked off course as a result of an infraction by another skater, that skater may be advanced from a heat to a higher final by the referee. This will only happen if the referee has determined that the skater was in a position to earn a position into that higher final when the infraction occurred. Etiquette Dressing Rooms The dressing rooms are primarily for the skaters and the coaches. With a lot of skaters, there is often not much room. Also, it is a good place for the skaters to meet and interact with other skaters and it is the place where the coaches can talk to the skaters before and after the races. Parents in the dressing room tend to interfere with the interaction between coaches and skaters. Younger skaters will obviously need help with their equipment prior to the race and perhaps after the race as well. However, please limit assistance in the dressing room to one parent only (no siblings please) and only to the time needed to dress the skater. In general, if your child is over 12 years old, parents should not be in the dressing room

25 In the dressing room, skaters should keep all their belongings together between races, preferably in their bag so that they know where to find their equipment when it comes time to get ready for the races. Officiating Parents, skaters, and coaches must respect the officials at all times. Please see the section on rules for a general overview of speed skating rules. Some of the calls made by officials are judgment calls. Please do not openly criticize the officials. If the Coaches feel a significant error has been made (i.e. the wrong skater penalized by mistake), they will raise the issue with the referee. While the Coaches may ask for clarification so that they may properly explain the call to the skater, they will generally not argue judgment calls with the officials. Parents Role The assistance of parents of the younger skaters (under twelve) is requested in ensuring that your child is ready for their race. Please cheer loudly for all our skaters and congratulate all children, but especially your own, for their efforts. Even in a race that doesn t go well, there is always something good to encourage. Leave all coaching and helpful tips to the Coaching staff. They have a good understanding of what to expect from kids at each age and ability level. If a skater falls or has an otherwise bad race, please do not rush down to the dressing room to console the skater. Let the coaching staff talk to the skaters. All skaters, regardless of their level, need to learn to handle competition on their own. What to Take to a Meet There are both equipment and additional items you should bring to all meets. Mandatory Equipment Skates with guards Knee pads Shin guards Cut resistant gloves Safety glasses with strap Certified racing helmet

26 Bib style neck guard Shin and ankle Kevlar protection Additional Items Extra skating clothes for skaters that fall (they will likely get wet) Blankets for sitting on and using to keep warm Items to keep skaters busy between races (e.g. homework, books) A note pad or smart phone to record your skater times and accomplishments Camera or video camera (No flashes in the arena please as skaters WILL get distracted and accidents can occur) A small cooler filled with nutritious and appropriate snacks and lunches Clean towel for drying blades Blade socks Jig and sharping stones Foods to Bring Proteins Whole grains Fruit Vegetables Carbohydrates Fluids (water is best) Homemade snacks (e.g. muffins, breads) Foods to Avoid Nuts (due to allergies of other skaters) Junk food (e.g. chips, pop, candy) Concession stand fast food (e.g. French fries, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza) If you are not sure of a particular food, ask your coach before you bring it to the meet. Skaters will have a lunch hour assigned, but they should be eating soon after racing, and far enough ahead of the next race so their food has time to digest. Grazing is better than waiting for a full meal. Always hydrate immediately after a race. Parents please note you may not have enough time to leave the arena once racing starts so please plan ahead for snacks and lunch!

27 What to Expect on the Day of the Meet When You Arrive 1. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before warm-ups start. If you are unsure of the warm-up time, please talk to your coach at least a day prior to the competition. 2. Follow the posted signs to the change rooms our change room will have either CSSA or Calgary posted on the door. Look for fellow CSSA skaters and coaches to guide you if you need help. 3. The same change room may be shared between multiple clubs. 4. Contact the coach and let them know you are present. Pick up your helmet cover with your assigned number from the coaches. Please return the helmet cover at the end of the meet. 5. Confirm your skater s group either with the coach or by checking the posted race sheets in the vicinity of the change room. 6. Confirm the warm-up group your skater is in. 7. Listen carefully to the coach. They will tell you where they want to meet your skater after each race for debriefing. 8. Leave skate bags and equipment in the change room. Coolers and other items should be kept at your seats to avoid unnecessary clutter in the change room. 9. Please be quick to get skates on and off for warm up this is the busiest time of the meet with the maximum number of skaters in the change room at once. It s really important to be calm and prepared so skaters have a great start to the day. Warm-up 1. Skaters usually get 10 minutes of warm-up time on the ice in their designated racing groups. It s really important to get the warm-up in before racing to make sure skaters are loose and confident on the ice they will be racing on. 2. Skaters should be ready a few minutes early prior to warm-up. They must have helmet covers and all equipment on in order to be allowed on the ice. 3. Please remind your skater - if they are practising starts during warm-up, they can only do this in the centre of the rink and not at a start line. 4. After warm-up, be sure to put skate guards back on to walk to the change room. Once in the change room, dry the blades and store skates with blade socks, not skate guards. 5. Skaters also need to warm-up on land before each race. Practising starts, running, doing stairs are all good examples of dry land warm-up. Do active warm-ups before racing rather than stretches. Get your muscles doing what they will do in a race!

28 What to do to Prepare for Racing Race Structure Races occur in order of groups as posted on the racing schedule. Each race is a specific distance. For each distance, the groups are divided further into heats. It is important to become familiar with the posted racing schedule. Please Note that the time of race may change due to delays or if the meet is ahead of schedule. Always listen/watch for any changes to the posted schedule. Late skaters may not be allowed on the ice and the skater could be disqualified. Ensure that you have enough time to get your skater ready. This keeps both your skater and yourself from feeling stressed before the race. Points In short track speed skating, points are earned in final races (not the heats). The heats determine the final grouping a skater will race: A, B, C or D. Primary, or A finals, award the highest number of points, then B and so on. Ask a coach or experienced parent how this works. A skaters accumulated total points from all distances raced determines overall placing for the meet. Personal Best A skater s primary goal at a meet is to earn personal best times. A personal best time is earned when a skater races a distance faster than he or she has ever raced in that distance before. Regardless of how they place in a race, PBs are really worth celebrating! At Race Time Before races, skaters are called into a specific area by the Clerk of the Course. This area is called a heat box or marshalling area, where they are organized into their racing groups. The Clerk will want the skaters in the marshalling area at least 20 minutes before the start of their race to make sure they are in the correct order for racing. They will be checked for equipment and will not be allowed on the ice if they are missing anything. The skater may be disqualified for improper equipment. It is the parent s responsibility to make sure skaters have all mandatory equipment on and are ready to race. Once your skater is in the marshalling area, find a place to watch the race. Parents are not allowed in the marshalling area

29 Have fun racers! This is your time to use the techniques you ve learned and compete with other skaters on the ice. Listen for your coaches while you skate they will be giving you information to help you perform your best during the race. Go for personal bests, skate hard and turn left! And smile at the end of your races you did it!!! After a Race Put on skate guards to walk to the change room. Dry blades thoroughly with a clean towel and put on the soft guards. Knock snow or dirt out of the skate guards. Have skaters talk to coaches after each race in the designated format discussed before warm-ups. This talk is valuable to recap how the race went and get coaching suggestions for the next race. Please make sure your skater has time to debrief with the coach. 5. Questions about race results must go through your coach. Parents and skaters are NOT allowed to challenge referees or enter the recorder s office. Only coaches can interact with these groups. Violation of this rule could result in the removal of the skater and parent from the rink at the discretion of the official 6. At the end of a meet, awards may be given in each group. Your coach will advise you if your skater is eligible for an award and let you know where the ceremony is being held at the end of the meet

30 Glossary of Terms Announcer Keeps everyone informed Chief Place Judge and place judges Determine the finish positions of each skater Chief Timer and timers Responsible for timing each skater Clerk of Course Supervises draw for races. Bell ringer Rings bell identifying last lap Lap Recorder Keeps competitors informed regarding number of laps remaining Meet Coordinator Responsible for the total organization of the meet. Recorder Assigns skaters to heats Runners Retrieve results from Timers and place judges and bring to the recorder Referee Responsible for all aspects of the meet and decides on matters of dispute Starter In complete control of the start of race Track Stewards Replace missing pucks during a race

31 Record of Results Competition Date Distance Race Time