QUINTE BLADES SPEEDSKATING CLUB

Transcription

1 QUINTE BLADES SPEEDSKATING CLUB Where we skate for fun and with friends Handbook MISSION: HAVING FUN, PLAYING FAIR, DEVELOPING INDEPENDENCE, COMMUNITY, BODY, MIND AND SOUL THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF SPEED SKATING Quinte Blades Speed Skating Club c/o The Woodalls 220 Farley Avenue Belleville, Ontario K8N 4L5 Ph

2 INDEX 1. Board of Directors and Volunteers 2. QBSSC Coaching Philosophy 3. General Club Membership Information 3.1 QBSSC General Meetings 3.2 Skating Groups 3.3 Age Classes 3.4 About Group Assignments and Advancements 3.5 Pin Program 3.6 Summer Ice 3.7 Dryland Training 4. Speed Skating Meets 4.1 To Do List Before a Meet 4.2 What To Expect At Meets 4.3 About Long Track Meets 5. Equipment Sources 5.1 Safety Equipment 6. All About Skates 6.1 Use, Care and Maintenance of Equipment 7. Parent Participation and Volunteering 7.1 Fundraising 8. Year End Banquet 9. QBSSC Publications

3 1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND VOLUNTEERS Season President Beth Wismer Vice President Cheryl Quenneville Secretary Dwayne Quenneville Treasurer Carol Blair Registrar Paul Neal Special Olympics Laura Woodall Past President vacant Director Dave Clements Director Kim Wood Director Paul Pickard Asst. Registrar & Cutting Edge Stella Haskin Coaches Laura Woodall Stella Haskin Junior Coaching Team Lot s of willing helpers Equipment Coordinator Dwayne Quenneville and Richard Wismer Club Skin Suit Coordinator Kim Wood Web site Maintenance Media Reporting Paul Pickard Dave Clements

4 2. Quinte Blades Speed Skating Club Coaching Philosophy Parents entrust their children to coaches with an implicit understanding that their children will be treated equally and fairly. A coach faces the challenge of recognizing and responding to the different personalities, work ethics, developmental levels, physical strength levels, pressures, communication skills of each skater as he/she grows and develops in the sport. As coaches, we attempt to work in a co-operative and supportive manner, thus providing a positive example to our skaters while, at the same time, reaffirming to their parents that their trust has been well placed. A true champion is one that is a champion of life, an independent thinker with enough self-confidence to share their skills and teach others. A great skater is one who has passion and glory enough for all who love the sport. The medals these great skaters achieve are a reflection of the group; not just the skater. As coaches we need to challenge the individuals and the group just as they challenge each other in a supportive and positive manner. Encouragement is the order of the day. To a coach, each athlete is a star in his/her own way. We would rather have a 100 second place finishes by children who are great people than one first place finish by a child riddled with feelings of inadequacy. Development as an athlete is incomplete without reinforcement of self-esteem. Skaters who are self confident and self-directed challenge the club and help it grow. As coaches we aim to encourage great skating and great people. Our goal is for each child to have fun; to develop to their personal best; and to encourage their development into happy, productive children and adults.

5 3. QBSSC GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Arrive at the arena in time to warm up, lace up and ready to go on ice at the start of the practice. 2. Parents should stay with their children at the rink, or leave another responsible adult in charge 3. Help put board mats on the ice and if your child s practice is the last one for the day, help take board mats off the ice. 4. Parents please check the club web site, bulletin board or with executive members for activity and competition updates. 3.1 QBSSC GENERAL MEETINGS The club holds meetings several times throughout the year to approve club business and annually to elect board members. All parents of skaters are welcome to attend. 3.2 SKATING GROUPS There are five primary groups of skaters in the club: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Masters and Introductory. Criteria is based on relative age, maturity, skating ability, peer group and speed. Safety of each skater is paramount, therefore skaters must demonstrate safe on-ice practices and personal comfort level before group transfers can occur. 3.3 AGE CLASSES Speed Skating Canada (SSC) rules state: A skater's racing class shall be his/ her age on June 30th prior to the competition. The following is a guideline to age-related classes:

6 AGE Cradle class under 6 Peewee class 6-7 Bantam class 8-9 Midget Juvenile Junior Intermediate Senior Masters Masters Masters Masters Masters Extensive rules and regulations covering every aspect of ice racing are published in the SSC handbook, the ISU Regulations, and the SSC High Performance Short Track and Long Track Committee Bulletins, Ontario Speed Skating Association (OSSA) Information Manual and Technical Bulletins/Memorandum. 3.4 ABOUT GROUP ASSIGNMENTS AND ADVANCEMENTS The coaching committee assesses the skaters and will recommend which group they should be placed in, and when those changes are to be made. This is done in consultation with the parents. The coaches are also guided by the objective of creating fun community for all children. The boys and girls always skate together and they share the same dressing rooms for practices and meets. Sometimes during the skating season a skater will make a sudden step forward in her or his skill. The coaches are very careful to ensure that any change suggested by an

7 ability improvement will not have a negative effect on any friendships that exist within the group. The QBSSC philosophy views elite glory for youngsters as doing more harm than good to the skaters, their families and the sport. Although we race a lot, it is because racing is fun. Serious competitive dedication is fair, practical and has its place in the late teen years when biological maturity has become more even, a philosophy which is supported by the Long Term Athlete Development Plan (LTADP) from Sport Canada. Please speak to a board member or coach about any questions or concerns you may have about appropriate group placement. 3.5 PIN PROGRAM We participate in Speed Skating Canada s Cutting Edge Skills Program. When the skill set is successfully achieved, recognition is marked with receipt of a pin (11 levels). These program skills are worked on throughout the year. 3.6 SUMMER ICE Currently, the QBSSC has not consistently scheduled regular summer ice. However, the possibility does exist to develop this area for future seasons. Requests for ice are due during the month of October for the following summer. Please express your interest in a summer program with the club executive. 3.7 DRYLAND TRAINING Dryland training programs are available through club coaches for anyone interested.

8 4. SPEED SKATING MEETS Speed skating races are fun, fast and exciting. Skaters can test their skills and progress against themselves and other skaters in a safe and friendly atmosphere. The Ontario Speed Skating Association publishes the calendar of events after the Annual General Meeting. All skaters who race are registered with SSC. A card may be issued each season with the skaters permanent SSC registration number. A racing number (helmet cover) is issued each meet to be used by the skater and returned at the end of the meet. Each meet has a registration fee to cover expenses. A speed skating meet is like a day or two of indoor winter camping. Meets are designed at the club level to provide lots of kids with lots of races. Furthermore, the children enjoy playing and socializing with their friends between races. Some meets are two days while others are only one day. Meet Registration forms are usually distributed by or as a link on the club and OSSA web sites. If your child wishes to compete, fill out the form and hand it back in to the coach in charge for that meet before the deadline on the form. Fee payment is to be made out to the Quinte Blades Speed Skating Club with the registration form. 4.1 TO DO LIST BEFORE A MEET The night before the competition you should make sure: 1. Your skates are sharp, laces are ok and you have your guards and blades socks 2. Pack your bag with skates, guards, kneepads, shin pads, helmet and neck guard, gloves/mitts and your extras (wrench, band aids, ankle pads, laces, etc). You should pack extra clothes in case of a fall and you get wet since water is spread in the corners on the track during the competition in order to help preserve the ice and smooth out the ruts created by cornering. 3. Bring nutritious snack food such as granola bars, fruit and juice. Avoid junk food until after the meet is finished and 4. Get a good night sleep. P.S. You may want to bring blankets to sit on, some rinks are cold.

9 4.2 WHAT TO EXPECT AT A MEET When you first arrive at the arena, you should check in with your club coach, so he/she knows you have arrived. The coach will then inform the meet officials. Normally, your coach will have club registration package and information for the skaters. This information will be warm-up times, what division the skaters are in, the start time of racing, the order of racing and the helmet covers. For the warm-up, the skaters are usually divided into groups by age or division and each group is given about 10 minutes of ice-time to warm-up. This also allows the skaters to check all their equipment and get a feel for the ice conditions. The ice is then flooded and racing begins. Each skater usually gets 2 or 3 races in the morning before lunch break. The host club will feed the officials and meet volunteers. Everyone else must fend for themselves. It is a good idea to pack snacks, drinks, water and a lunch as if you were going camping. Once lunch break is over, racing continues. Most of the meets use all points format. Racers are grouped in divisions based on skill level rather than by age or gender. All skaters race the same number of races, although distances may vary, and boys and girls race together. In this way, skaters are encouraged not only to participate but to consider each race as an experience opportunity rather than as a competitive verdict. Some meets may have some meet format experimentation. For each racing distance, there is a heat and then there is a final. Your child s time or placement in the heat determines which final race he or she will be in. Advancement to a final can be decided either by Place Advancement or Time Advancement. Points are awarded to skaters per division. THE RACE BEGINS... The skaters are lined up in their groups usually 6 or less in an area of the rink set up as a heat box. There is usually one group on the ice while the next 5 or 6 groups await their turn at the Clerk of the Course.

10 After a race, your child can take off his/her skates as there is usually enough time until the next race. The time between races depends on the number of skaters, the distances being raced and the age range of the skaters. Although each child is racing in a group, we try to stress, especially to the younger ones, that they are testing their skills and trying to beat their last best time. Each time they go on the ice to race, they try to better their last time for that particular distance, and challenged to conquer all the unexpected variables that can take place. Race distances vary and are measured in meters, from 111m to 3000m. 111m is one lap around the track while 3000m is 27 laps. Once the racers are all lined up on the line and the starter fires the gun, the race is on. However, if someone falls before he/she passes the third track marker (block or puck), the race may be called back to re-start the race. During meets, ribbons are sometimes awarded for placement. After a meet, once the statistics are tallied, if your child has achieved a personal best, his/her coach will present your child with a Race Card listing the personal bests that were achieved and feedback about the races. It is usually presented to the skater within a week following the meet. t. 4.3 ABOUT LONG TRACK MEETS We are used to dressing for the cold arenas. Dressing for day outdoors at a long track meet requires a few additional considerations and layers: The additional factors are wind, glare and temperature changes. Bring For your skin: moisturizer and sunscreen to protect from wind, sun and glare burn. For your feet: two pairs of socks, with a wool pair on the outside, and warm boots with insulating soles (ex: Sorel felt-lined boots, mukluks made for snow-shoeing, insulated construction boots). For your hands: insulated mittens. If your job requires use of your fingers, wear lined gloves with fuzzy windproof mittens to put on as warm-ups whenever possible. For your body: layers. The middle of the day can get quite warm but when the sun starts to go down the temperature will drop very quickly. Wear long johns, t-necks, sweater,

11 warm pants, wind pants, parka and downhill ski pants, or a ski-doo suit. Remember to be windproof. For your head: a hat that covers your ears, a scarf for your neck and sun glasses for you eyes. If you get chilled go warm up, have a hot chocolate or thermos of soup. Remember to drink lots of water and juice, so that you don t get dehydrated. 5. EQUIPMENT Skate rentals: The club equipment co-ordinates have speed skate boots and blades for rent. Short Track skates and blades are $100 rental for the season. 5.1 SAFETY EQUIPMENT Helmets: Helmets must be worn with the fastening closed by all skaters on the ice. Bicycle (rounded back recommended), hockey and speed skating helmets are suitable. Gloves: waterproof gloves or mittens are required to keep the hands warm and safe. Knit gloves or mittens are not permitted due to safety regulations. Body guards: skaters must wear kneepads, neck guards of kevlar or equivalent material and shin guards, Special Olympic skaters must use elbow pads. Skate guards: All skaters should always wear skate guards on the blades when off the ice. Soft Blade Covers: Soft blade covers to protect the blades (and hands) while not in use. Skins: Team shirts and club racing skins can be ordered through the club. Club skin suits are available to rent for competition for $5.00 per day.

12 6. ALL ABOUT SKATES We can teach a child to skate on any type of skate. As the child becomes proficient and wants to race, there are distinct advantages to speed skates with the long blades. Long blade skates are easier to balance on because they are curved less than hockey or figure skates. They also provide a longer glide from each push. 6.1 LONG BLADE SKATE MAINTENANCE 1. New laces are a good idea every year. They are reliable to use and cheerful to look at. 2. Polishing your boot leather periodically is also recommended to improve its life and looks. 3. Skate guards should be worn to protect the blades when walking in them "off ice", even when on proper rink cushion flooring. Your edges provide smoother gliding when they are clear of nicks, gum, slush and dirt. Also, a sound, even edge (blade corner) is safer, lasts longer, and is easier to sharpen. 4. After use, and still at the rink, thoroughly dry the blades and boots at room temperature. Carefully remove most ice shaving "snow", and wipe all wet parts of your skates with a clean, dry absorbent towel. Use a towel dedicated for this purpose, as it will sometimes be cut by the blade. Usually, beads of water condensation will form on already wiped cold surfaces. A Second wiping, after the skates have warmed up a bit, often finishes the job. Pay particular attention to the eight small angle-to-blade bolts as they have no protective plating. 5. Fabric covers can be fitted over the blades for the trip home as the guards are usually still wet inside. The covers will protect both the blades and the other equipment in your carry bag. 6. At home, hang all your equipment out to dry at room temperature (in a somewhat open place), including your guards, fabric blade covers, and dry towel. Repack your equipment bag only after all elements are completely dry. It is especially important to let your boot interiors breathe by opening the laces up wide and pulling the shoe tongue to open up the

13 interior to ventilation. If the skates are not going to be sharpened before the next outing, de-burr them with a small stone now. PERIODIC MAINTENANCE: Frequency of blade sharpening depends on the amount and intensity of use as well as on the quality of ice and whatever else the blade edges may come in contact with. Sharp skates provide the most service and control to vou. Use of traditional speed skate flat-ground, hand sharpening prolongs blade life and provides the best glide. On adjustable blade-type models, the rigid shell finish is tough but may score, scuff or chip upon some impacts. Should you change the blades orientation ("setting") using the angle-to-boot connection, or find a loose connection, use a well fitting tool to bring it back to "finger tight" - good and snug but far away from maximum full hand force. Over tightening will strip screw threads and require part replacement. TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE: Exposure to higher than comfortable temperatures (such as within a closed, parked car on a sunny summer day) can lead to deformation of the boots rigid shell, as well as delaminating of the composite materials. This may bring discomfort in fit, and shorten your skates life. Treat your skates like a favorite family member, and they will always give you a good glide. END OF SEASON CARE: Follow the "Long Blade Skate Maintenance procedure, and remove the laces and sole liners, too. When the exterior leather is completely dry, rub the surface with matching color shoe cream and polish. Thoroughly wash and dry the blade guards, fabric covers and the dry towel. Check all your equipment for wear, and arrange for any parts or repairs. (i.e. loose lace grommets, torn guard elastics etc.) Do it now while there is no rush. Remove the angle-to-blade bolts and soak them in light machine oil. A small wire brush or an old toothbrush can reach most stubborn rust. Wipe lightly with a rag after.

14 Store the reassembled boots and blades in a dry, ventilated place; if in a carry bag, be sure to leave it open. Measure the laces and buy replacements for next season. There are usually one or two people in a club who have involved themselves in equipment supply and technology, and can solve just about any skate problem. Your coach or a member of the club s Board of Directors can identify them. SKATE SHARPENING: Sharp skates are necessary for satisfying performance by all levels of skaters. Speed skaters should get their own sharpening jig and sharpening stone to maintain their own blades. If you are new to sharpening skates, 1~ talk to one of the coaches. Clinics on speed skate sharpening are held during the season for parents and skaters. If you have questions regarding sharpening or blades, talk to the Equipment Coordinators or coaches. There are QBSS parents and skaters who are willing to sharpen skates for a fee. SHARPENING SPEED SKATES (Tech talk): Hollow versus Flat Ground: Speed skate blades are flat ground as opposed to hockey and figure skate blades which are hollow ground. A flat ground blade reduces the friction on the ice and is a major reason why the speed skate will glide further than the hockey skate for a given amount of force. Speed skates cannot be sharpened effectively on a hockey skate-sharpening stand. Both speed skates must be simultaneously sharpened in order to assure that the blades are mirror images of one another, both in the rocker and in the amount of blade on each skate. Setting up the Skates: There are many ways to set up speed skates in a jig. The most important thing is to be consistent in whatever method you learn. If possible, always sharpen skates on the same jig so that the skate adapts to the idiosyncrasies of that jig. Changing jigs may sometimes necessitate several sharpenings before the skates are adjusted to the new jig.

15 With the blade holder jig, the simplest method is to loosen the wing nuts on each jaw, insert the skates and tighten the nuts so that the jaws of the jig are gripping the blades and resting on the metal lip at the base of the tube. Ensure that an equal amount of each skate is showing behind the jig The skates must be set up so that both blades are parallel to one another and level on top. The simple check to see if the blades are set up correctly is to take the stone and run its comer across the tops of the blades. A thin etch mark completely across both blades indicates that the blades are level, hence, when grinding starts, the blades will be sharpened equally. If the etched line only covers a portion of one blade, adjust the skates until a subsequent check shows a complete etch mark. Note: When a skate is new, it may be necessary to sharpen longer in order to get a flat surface on both blades. Set up the skates as described ensuring that the jaws are snugly against the metal lip of the tube and then sharpen to level off the blades. After they have been leveled once, they should set up evenly. Grinding: The idea behind sharpening is to build up a very slight "lip" or "burr" on each side of the blade. Naturally the less burr that is built up, the less steel is being ground down and the longer the skates will last. Ideally, the same amount of burr should be developed on the entire length of the blade. This will ensure that the skate is being worn down evenly. To achieve this idea, it is best to develop a pattern of sharpening which covers the entire blade equally. The big 10 x3 " or 11 "x3" stone can be held with one hand at either end, thus removing the fingers from any danger and providing even pressure on each side. The stone should remain perpendicular to-the blades at all times so that the same part of each blade is being sharpened. Beginners are advised to make five strokes in one direction and then five in the other, sliding the stone across the blades so that the entire surface of the blade is covered. After three or four cycles of alternating direction, turn the jig around so that the stone is traveling from the toes to the heels of the skates and repeat the same number of

16 cycles. This will ensure that any pressure differential in one direction is canceled out, therefore permitting an even wear of the blades. It is also important to try and run the stone to the tips and the tails of the skate blades. If this is not done, the tips and the tail will gradually assume an out-of-proportion shape. Do not over grind the ends of the skates. In order to prevent this from happening, make sure to grind the total length of the blade evenly without turning the stone toward the ground at both extremities. This measure is necessary to ensure equal wear of the blade. Make sure that you verify the curve of the blade before each sharpening. The rocker should not be affected by sharpening in this manner. What will effect the rocker is repetitive grinding over a blade, which has no burr. Never grind over one spot. Always maintain the pattern of strokes and, in due course, the bare spot will develop a burr. Burrs can be detected easily by using the fingernails, which will click on the tiny lip of steel. When a complete burr is present, make a few passes with the smooth side of the stone to remove obvious crosshatch marks. Then take the burr stone and, placing it on the tube sleeve and the blade in this manner, run it up and down the entire length of the blade a couple of times. The burr should disappear. Again, even pressure is very important during this procedure. When the burr has been removed from all four edges, take the fine side of the big stone or a marble stone and lightly polish the entire length of the blades a few more times. If any burr builds up, it can be removed in the aforementioned manner., the skates are now sharp and ready to use. Difficulty in sharpening is directly proportional to the length of the time between sharpening and the care that the skate blade gets. If you cannot shave any fingernail on the edge of your skate, it is too dull to skate on and should be sharpened. The duller a skate gets, the more grinding must be done to produce a burr and the greater the chance of changing the position of the high point of the rocker. A very important point to re-emphasize is that only a small burr is required for sharp skates. A large burr is harder to get rid of and directly contributes to a shorter blade

17 life. If the skates are set up correctly in a consistent manner and a pattern is used for sharpening, the entire process should take no more than ten minutes per pair. Rockers, High Points, Flat Spots and Hollows (More Tech Talk): The rocker of a skate is the amount that the blade deviates from being perfectly flat. A hockey skate has a far larger rocker than a speed skate and a short track skate has a larger rocker than a long track skate. The amount of rocker can be measured by placing a straight edge along the blade of the skate and checking to see the clearance at each end or by holding skates together by the blades. For most speed skates, the straight edge and the skate should contact each other for about one inch. If they contact for more than this distance, the skate has a "flat spot" and if, upon holding the skate and straight edge up to the light, light can be seen between the ends of the flat spot, the skate has a "hollow". Flat spots and hollows are to be avoided because they interfere with the natural action of the skate blade on die ice, causing lack of control and an inefficient push. Hollows and flat spots can be both visually and audibly detected. If a straight edge makes a clicking noise or jerks when it is rotated over die surface of the blade, it indicates that the normal curvature of the blade has been altered. A normal blade will allow the straight edge to pass soundlessly along its length. The high point of the skate blade is the point where the blade has the most steel. The position of this high point is critical as this is the place where the force of the leg push is transmitted into the ice. The high point should be directly under the center of gravity of the skater when in the skating position. On a speed skate, this translates to a point approximately one-third of the distance forward between the front and back cups. This spot can be located in a couple of ways. A visual sight can be made along the side of the blade. The high point can be estimated by this method very quickly. Another way is to place the straight edge along the skate blade and allow it to find the high spot for you. It will balance on the high point of your blade.

18 How to Correct Flat Spots and Hollows: Proper sharpening will ensure that a rocker stays constant and that the high point will not move. If you are faced with a pair of skates that have a hollow or a flat spot along the rocker, it is necessary to have an understanding of what you are facing and how to remedy it. When the rocker was first made on your skates, a special and very precise rockering machine was used. These machines are available at all training centers and in a few clubs. If your rocker needs adjusting, a very precise and time efficient way of correcting the problem is to use one of these machines. The second way is to grind the blades by hand. Flat spots can be eliminated by increasing the curvature of the blade at the ends of the flat spot. Mark out the flat spot with tape on the tube so that you know exactly the extent of the problem. Remember you are trying to make a flat segment of blade into a curved segment of blade. If the flat spot is towards the back of the skate, sharpen over the back end of the flat spot, towards the front of the blade. Do not grind on the flat spot itself as this will only increase the problem. Remember, what you take off on one end must be removed on the other end also in order to retain the overall curve of the blade. With flat spots, a little spot-specific grinding with the coarse side of the big stone is usually all that is needed to restore a proper rocker. Check frequently with the straight edge. When it passes smoothly and continuously over the blade, the flat spot has been removed. Do a complete sharpening after the corrective work has been done. For a hollow, the process is similar except that it is more concentrated. A hollow is essentially two high points with a low spot between them. What you want to do is to remove the high point, which is closest to the end of the blade and also over all the blade between this point and the end of the blade. Marking the extent of the hollow with tape will help you to focus your grinding attempts. Never grind in the hollow part. All you are trying to do is to reduce the second high point to a normal curvature. If the high point is too far to the rear of the skate, it can be removed forward by grinding the blade from the high point back to the end of the steel. This will lower the back part of the skate blade and push the high point forward. If the high point is too far

19 towards the toe of the skate, it can be removed backwards by grinding over the high point and the blade from there to the toe. Remember when doing this that you must also grind down the other portion of the blade so that you do not get one end being ground down more than the other. It does not take much grinding to move the position of the high point, so check frequently either with a straightedge or visually. Special thanks to Speed Skating Canada for this material. 7. Parent Participation and Volunteering QBSS has two main sources of revenue: membership fees and fundraising. The majority of fundraising dollars come from the bingo events, which are therefore very important to the operation of the club. Parents of each skater are requested to help operate the bingos two times per year. Further information is available with the fundraising coordinator. 8. Year End Banquet Planning and organizing of the year end event will take place later in the season with input from skaters and families. 9. QBSSC publications Members will receive updated information, news and club activities posted on the club web site or handouts. The web site is A club brochure is also available for those interested. 10. Enough said, now LET S GO RACING!!! Special Thanks to KW Speed Skating Club for their help and support of this hand book.