Medicine Hat Skating Club

Transcription

1 Medicine Hat Skating Club Handbook MHSC

2 Medicine Hat Skating Club Handbook Table of Contents Club Contact Information... 2 Club Board... 3 Volunteering... 3 Family Bursaries... 3 Skater s Code of Conduct and Behavior on the Ice... 3 Skating Rules... 4 General... 4 Safety Rules... 4 FreeSkate Rules... 4 Dance Rules... 4 Stroking Sessions... 4 StarSkate Sessions... 4 Out of Town Skaters... 5 Consequences... 5 Dress Code... 5 CLUB JACKETS AND T-SHIRTS... 5 Communication... 5 Private Lessons... 5 Second Hand Clothes and Skates... 6 PreCanSkate... 6 What to expect... 6 CanSkate... 6 What to Expect... 6 PreCanPowerSkate... 7 CanPowerSkate... 7 Skate Canada STAR Skate... 7 The STARSkate legacy:... 8 How STARSkate works... 8 What Options do I have as a STARSkate Athlete?

3 Skating Skills... 9 Ice Dance... 9 Partnering... 9 Free Skate... 9 Interpretive Dance off Ice Class Off Ice Class When It All Fails: A Coach Change Section Website Tests Competitions The week before a competition What to Expect at a competition What to Expect From Your Coach What a Skating Coach Expects from the Skater s When you have questions or concerns Carnival CanSkate Event Program Assistant Viewing Areas Club Contact Information mhskate@telus.net Website *from the website you can get a direct link to our various social media sites Phone Number (403) Fax Number (403)

4 Club Board Our club has a board of volunteers that gather approximately once a month to discuss what is happening now and the future of our club. There is options to volunteer with the board, vacancies are posted prior to the Annual General meeting or talk to the office administrator to express interest. Minutes and additional info is on the club website under the about us tab Volunteering We are a non-profit club, who can only exist thanks to the many countless hours of our volunteers. Whether it help us by being a board member, helping at a registration day, working a bingo or casino or with the Bring on Spring Carnival. Volunteers are essential to our club! Family Bursaries Once you have completed your required volunteer commitment, you are able to work Bingo/s, where $48.00 will be added to your personal account for every bingo worked. This money can be used to put towards registration fees, coach fees and test day fees. You can work a bingo at any time if you wish, as this is a huge contributor to help keeping our program fees down, but the bursary only comes into play when your regular commitment is done. If you are interested in working a bingo please contact the office at You can also get money for your bursary by working a casino shift and sometimes certain fundraisers will have the benefit of putting extra money into your bursary. When a fundraiser has that option the office will the membership to let them know. Family bursaries can be used to pay for coach lessons, competitions, registration and test days. You cannot get this money paid out in cash or cheque it can ONLY be used for the above reasons Skater s Code of Conduct and Behavior on the Ice Skating is a competitive and individualized sport which requires safe and courteous behavior from all participants, on and off the ice. Skaters need to be aware of one another, and react predictably to ensure their own and others safety. Each skater is responsible for being aware of and practicing the rules of etiquette and safety noted below. All skater s registered for sessions at the Medicine Hat Skating Club are expected to exhibit the following behaviors at all times while training, All Medicine Hat Skating Club skaters are expected to further exhibit these behaviors at all times while representing the Medicine Hat Skating Club. Senior Skaters must act as role models at all times. Due to insurance requirements, only registered Skate Canada members are permitted on the ice, except in a medical emergency. Food, drink, and gum are not permitted on the ice; plastic water bottles are acceptable, but must be left at the boards. Glass bottles are prohibited. Spectators, including parents of skaters, may watch quietly from the stands or seating area not by the boards but must refrain from conversing with or offering directions to skaters on the ice. (If a skater needs more direction, the coach should be consulted after the session, and a plan developed to help the skater become more independent.) The gates in the rink boards must be kept closed while a session is in progress, to ensure the safety of skaters on the ice. Sitting on the boards is not permitted. Skaters must clear the ice promptly at the end of each session. Skaters must always look both ways when leaving the boards. Skaters are expected to be skating at all times while on the ice, and to get up promptly after a fall in order to keep pathways clear for other skaters. The ice surface should be used for practice, not for conversation. (Working in small groups with coach s approval is acceptable.) When practicing routines, skaters must learn to maneuver around other skaters and still do jumps, spins, and footwork successfully. The skater whose music is playing has the right of way. Calling out Excuse me! or Heads up! will alert other skaters to get out of the way. Skaters should use the centre of the ice, between the blue lines and away from the boards, for practicing spins. This allows room at the ends of the rink for preparations for jumps, and for other skaters to maneuver around the spinning skater. 3

5 Foul language, yelling, and abusive or aggressive behavior, including kicking holes in the ice, are prohibited, and will result in loss of privileges. Sitting on the boards, is not permitted. Skating Rules General 1. Be punctual for all sessions and lessons. 2. Dressing rooms are to be kept clean. 3. Skaters must leave ice immediately when signaled that the session is over 4. Absolutely no skater is allowed on the ice when the Zamboni is flooding. 5. Distracting noises in the stands or halls should be avoided at all times, especially during test sessions. 6. Visitors and or parents are to sit in the stands-not at the boards or in the player boxes. 7. Profane language and gestures are not permitted at anytime on or off the ice. 8. Opposite gender visitors are not allowed in the dressing rooms at any time. 9. Any complaints must be handed to the President in writing; no verbal complaints will be listened to. 10. All skaters must listen to any and all Club coaches regardless whom their individual coach may be. Safety Rules 1. Skaters are not allowed food, gum or beverages (except water bottles) on the ice or served from the boards. 2. Any article that may endanger safety on the ice is not allowed on the ice surface. 3. Skaters are not allowed on any portion of the ice being flooded. 4. Skaters may not enter or leave the ice surface over the boards. 5. Skaters are expected to keep the ice and arena clean at all times. 6. Skaters are not allowed to sit or lie on the ice. Skaters must get up immediately when they fall as this could be dangerous to both the skaters and others. 7. Skaters are not allowed to clown around on the ice. 8. Skaters are to give the right-of-way to skaters in a lesson or skaters having their solo played. 9. Skaters are to keep moving on the ice. FreeSkate Rules 1. Skaters and soloists having lessons have the right-of-way. 2. Skaters of all ages have equal rights to the ice surface. Dance Rules 1. Skaters are not allowed to free skate during dance periods. 2. Skaters may have a dance lesson on free skate. Stroking Sessions All skaters are expected to listen to and work to the best of their ability for all coaches. Skaters not listening or working up to par will be asked to leave the ice and the Arena for the balance of the session. This applies to all skaters and no exceptions will be made. StarSkate Sessions Senior skaters must have a minimum of 2 lessons per week in their sessions as designated by their coach. These lessons are intended to be arranged in such a manner that all skaters get a fair share of both early morning and prime time ice. 4

6 Out of Town Skaters 1. Must skate when they are assigned by and take lessons on the same basis as Club Skaters. 2. May be bumped should the Club need room for a skater who is a resident of Medicine Hat. Consequences 1 st infraction one week suspension, no refund. 2 nd infraction two week suspension, no refund. 3 rd in fraction A refund will be given for the remainder of the season. These consequences are dependent upon the severity of the behavior of those involved and will be used at the discretion of the Board of the Medicine Hat Skating Club, the Disciplinary Committee or the designate. Dress Code Skaters should wear clothes that are not restrictive, but not loose either such as yoga pants or skating skirts and a tight top. We recommend no hoodies or bulky sweaters. Skaters should have their hair pulled back off their face. CLUB JACKETS AND T-SHIRTS Our Club jackets are available at Logos and come in youth, ladies and men sizes. Price - Adults $56 Youth $52 MHSC logo $15 Skate Canada logo $8 Full name on back $12 Logos has all the information all you need to do is go get sized and add your last name if you want to. Our T-shirts need to be ordered through the office. They come in a variety of colors and sizes and we offer 2 different logos for the back of the shirt with our club logo will be on the front. Preshrunk jersey knit is $18.00 and Shiny Polyester moisture wicking is $23.00 Communication Talk to your coach and ask questions. That is what your coach is here for; to give your skater the best experience possible and help them achieve the goals they have set for themselves. Do not interrupt a coach when they are in a lesson with another skater however, after the skating session is over speak to the coach in the office, them or phone them. Private Lessons You can also add private lessons to your program. This would be at an additional cost to you, which would include an ice fee and the coach s private lesson fee. You are required to talk to your coach/s and book these lessons directly through the coach and the coach will send you your bill. Each coach may charge slightly different amounts, so make sure you are aware of the costs. You may also consider group or semi-private lessons. This means you would share the cost with the other skaters in the lesson. The coach usually puts skaters of similar capabilities together. This help cut down costs. To see any real benefits we would recommend booking at least 1 to 2 lessons per week. Private lessons would not be on your Stargroup ice, they would be done on StarSkate ice when a coach is available. 5

7 You are allowed to have more than one coach give you lessons, but make sure you have discussed with them what you can afford and come up with a plan to stay within that limit. You should pick a head coach and it is that coach who would be in charge of entering your skater into test days and who you would discuss competitions with. Second Hand Clothes and Skates When skaters are done with their dresses they often bring them into the club to put on sale. This is a great opportunity for younger, newer skaters to get amazing dresses at amazing prices. They are stored in our storage room on a rack. We have on hand dresses, skirts and skates. If you are interested in looking or purchasing please come to the office. PreCanSkate The Pre-CanSkate program is a non-parented program designed for children 3 to 5 years of age, who have never skated before or who are not yet confident on the ice. Lessons are taught by Skate Canada Certified Professional Coaches and trained Program Assistants. Skaters will learn in an energetic, fun environment using skating aids and toys with the goal of having funour programs are run by Nationally Certified Professional Coaches and they will be teaching the instructional portion of the PreCanSkate/CanSkate lesson. Additional skaters you ll see working with your children and who your child may refer to as their coach are our program assistants (PA s) who assist our professional coaches. The first class of the October and January session will be an evaluation of the skaters to make sure they get placed into the proper group based on their skill level. Report cards will be handed out at the end of our January to December session and again at the end of our January to March session What to expect Our format for this Program age is play orientated. We have found that it takes 3 to 4 weeks for the skaters to get used to the idea of skating. Class size is limited to a maximum of 35 skaters with a maximum 1: 5 ratio CanSkate CanSkate is a dynamic learn-to-skate program at entry level for all ages that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. After mastering the basics there are many options available..figure Skating, Competitive Figure Skating (Singles, Dance, Pairs),Hockey, Ringette, Speedskating Lessons are given in a group format with a coach-to-student ratio of a maximum 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, upbeat music and a wide variety of activities that create a motivational environment and promote learning Additional skaters you ll see working with your children and who your child may refer to as their coach are our program assistants (PA s) who assist our professional coaches. The first class of the October and January session will be an evaluation of the skaters to make sure they get placed into the proper group based on their skill level. Report cards will be handed out at the end of our January to December session and again at the end of our January to March session What to Expect Complete series of balance, control and agility that will prepare skaters for any ice skating sport or recreational skating Nationally tested and proven curriculum and delivery methods that guarantee skater success Designed for 90% movement so skaters learn in an active and fun group setting Class size is limited to a maximum of 35 skaters with a maximum 1:10 ratio Introduces a healthy, lifelong activity at an early age. Promotes fun, fitness and participation. 6

8 PreCanPowerSkate This class is designed for young skaters, approximately four to six years of age who can stand up on skates and move forward (shuffle, walk or glide) who may not be ready for CanPowerSkate Level 1. Pre-Power helps develop basic skating abilities in a power skating-specific environment, including balance skills, forward and backward skating, stopping, turning and agility skills. Skaters must have passed CanSkate level 1 to join There will be a coach/pa to skater ratio of 1:6 The curriculum is presented in three progressive levels complete with its own awards to encourage participation and motivate skaters Once the skater has passed the requirements and received the Pre-Power ribbon they can progress to CanPowerSkate Our format for this Program age is play orientated. We have found that it takes 3 to 4 weeks for the skaters to get used to the idea of skating. CanPowerSkate CanPowerSkate is an action-packed, high energy instructional power skating program geared to hockey and ringette skaters that focuses on balance, power, agility, speed and endurance. Skills, techniques and conditioning drills are taught in a progressive format that emphasizes how the skills apply to game situations. CanPowerSkate provides an alternative to figure skating and is an excellent complement for those athletes playing on hockey or ringette teams. Its unique skill award program provides incentives and motivation for skaters to continue to achieve. CanPowerSkate is geared to skaters aged approximately six or older who already have basic forward and backward skating skills (they must be able to skate the length of the rink using alternate strides) and are able to stop on command without use of the boards. For safety reasons participants should wear full hockey/ringette equipment that is CSA approved. Levels 1 to 3 focus on the fundamentals of skating Levels 4 to 6 place additional focus on the acquisition of efficient technique, speed, agility, technical aspects of stride and acceleration and skating with the puck/ring. This will depend on the skaters ability to follow instructions, focus and not fool around. Skaters are evaluated on skill level and are timed as they perform a test involving skills in a course-like pattern. The skater receives a mark combining his skill performance plus test time. This determines whether the skater receives a Bronze, Silver or Gold award bar for that Level Skate Canada STAR Skate Skating is very individual and you can gear it towards what you want to get out of skating. 1. Recreational 2. Test stream 3. Competitions 4. Test stream and competitions Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition this is what STARSkate is all about! STARSkate is the next step for higher level CanSkaters who want to continue figure skating. The Skate Canada STARSkate program offers opportunities for skaters to develop their figure skating skills with the option of taking Skate Canada Tests and entering competitions. Figure skating skills are taught in group and/or private lesson format in the following areas: Dance, Freeskating, Stroking and Skills. These are tested at the following levels: Preliminary, Jr. Bronze, Sr. Bronze, And Jr. Silver, Sr. Silver and Gold. The Medicine Hat Skating Club divides the STARSkate program into 2 groups: Junior and Senior STARSkate. Skaters are required to skate on the appropriate ice times. STARSkate offer opportunities for skaters of all ages to develop fundamental figure skating skills in the areas of ice dance, skating skills, free skate and interpretive skating. Unique in Canada, this program teaches figure skating skills in a group 7

9 and/or private lesson format in a progressive and sequential manner and includes specifically designed awards and incentives. Skaters have the opportunity to take Skate Canada Tests through a nationally standardized testing system. Skaters who have mastered figure skating skills in STARSkate may also choose to pursue synchronized skating or pairs skating. The STARSkate legacy: STARSkate has been the mainstay of figure skating in Canada for more than four decades. When you/your child register for a STARSkate program, you also become a member of Skate Canada and will have access to: Opportunity to be recognized through a nationally standardized testing system for achieving specific figure skating skills Complimentary Gold Test pins Invitational and interclub competitions, including the national STARSkate championship stream Specifically designed awards and incentives such as badges, tattoos and stickers STARSkate Skater of the Year awards and programs Progress updates and report cards Special STARSkate events and club functions Opportunity to be talent-scouted Opportunity for personal growth and the development of important life skills such as goal-setting, self-discipline, confidence, time management, healthy lifestyle and coping strategies to deal with success or failure How STARSkate works The STARSkate program consists of figure skating skills in four areas; Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate and Interpretive. Each area is divided into the following levels: Primary Level Tests Skating Skills: Preliminary, Junior Bronze Free Skating: Preliminary, Junior Bronze Dance: Preliminary, Junior Bronze Interpretive: Introductory Intermediate Level Tests Skating Skills: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver Free Skating: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver Dance: Senior Silver, Junior Bronze Interpretive: Bronze Senior Level Tests Skating Skills: Senior Silver, Gold Free Skating: Senior Silver, Gold Dance: Senior Silver, Gold, Diamond Interpretive: Silver, Gold What Options do I have as a STARSkate Athlete? Once a skater is in the Skate Canada STARSkate program, there are several options. Skaters may choose to remain in the STARSkate program, taking tests (although not mandatory) at organized test sessions and honing learned skills. Skaters may also choose to enter competitions, while still trying Skate Canada tests. Other skaters may feel that they have progressed to a point where they may wish to enter the Skate Canada Competitive Skate Program or become involved in synchronized skating, evaluating or judging, or participating as an adult or varsity member. 8

10 Skating Skills Skating skills are a combination of fundamental skating movements, executed on a pattern and skated solo to prescribed music. The basic components of all disciplines of figure skating are incorporated into the program. The movements are derived from former compulsory figures, free skating and ice dancing. The objective of the Skating Skills program is mastery of the basic fundamentals of skating edge quality, control, power and speed. There are 6 Skating Skills tests in the STARSkate program: Preliminary Junior Bronze Senior Bronze Junior Silver Senior Silver Gold Ice Dance Consisting of seven levels of tests, the Dance Test program teaches timing, musicality, rhythm interpretation, structure as well as basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison. The dances in the STARSkate Program can be tried in any order but a candidate must pass the required number of dances in a dance test before proceeding to the next level. In addition to the traditional compulsory dances, there are also Creative Dances to challenge skaters creativity, artistry and originality. The Dance Tests are as follows: Preliminary Junior Bronze Senior Bronze Junior Silver Senior Silver Gold Diamond Partnering For low test day levels, you can choose to partner with your coach if your coach has the physical capability to do so or you may solo. For high test days you have a couple of options. You can choose to perform your dances solo or partner with your coach if they are physically capable of doing so. You can partner with an outside partner that comes to the club strictly for this reason. An outside partner will come approximately once a month at a cost to you, this is not paid by the club. This partner can also be made available to attend the test day with you again at your own cost. The club arranges the partnering days, usually during regular ice and sends an out to the skaters that would be high testing. A schedule will be sent out and you can pick one time slot and if there are left overs and you would like another time slot, then you may ask for another one. The day the partner comes to the club, you need to pay the club the amount that is indicated on the schedule beside your skater s name. Your regular coach will teach you the dance so that you know the steps and the partner will help fine tune it and make corrections where needed. The outside partner for a test day can be made available if you choose. This information would be needed weeks in advance to make sure the partner is available. Please be aware that your partnering fee will be added to your test day bill and the cost will be determined by how many skaters are using the same partner. Free Skate Free skating consists of the execution of jumps, spins, footwork, field movements and stroking, either in isolation or performed in sequence to music. There are 6 Free Skating tests in the STARSkate Program: Preliminary Junior Bronze 9

11 Senior Bronze Junior Silver Senior Silver Gold Each test consists of 2 parts Elements in Isolation and Free Program Interpretive The objective of the Interpretive Program is to encourage and develop skaters creativity, expression, musicality, movement, interpretation of music, as well as the use of space, rythym, line and style. The program provides skaters with the opportunity to explore the performance aspect of skating without focusing on technical elements. The Interpretive tests consist of skating to and interpreting a piece of music 2.0 to 3.0 minutes (+/- 10 seconds) in length. Skaters can take Interpretive tests as individuals and/or as a couple (male/female, female/female or male/male) at four levels: Introductory Bronze Silver Gold Dance off Ice Class The class will reflect movement/flexibility and posture that will help the skaters on the ice. You do not have to buy anything special for this class unless you want to. Just like skating wear something snug and you may wear socks or sometimes barefoot. Class location will be decided prior to the seasons start date Off Ice Class What they will learn may vary, but they will work on cardio, flexibility, posture and jumps. Please bring runners, skipping rope and a mat if you have one or a towel for your skater to lie on. Again what you wear on the ice will be good here. This class will be in a dressing room and is great training for the skaters to learn how to prepare for test days, competitions and better prepare themselves for on ice training. When It All Fails: A Coach Change The relationship between a skater and a coach, like any relationship, will undoubtedly have ups and downs. Both parties should expect and be willing to work through disagreements and difficult times. If after some effort it appears that conflicts are too frequent or cannot be resolved, dissolution of the relationship may be the best option. Any such transition should be made on good terms. Both skater and coach should acknowledge that conflict is a two-way street, and neither should spread bad stories or rumors about the other. Fees owed to the coach should be paid in full. The skater is then free to begin a new relationship with a new coach. Coach: Phone Number: Address: Lesson Fees:$ Competition Fees:$ Test Fees:$ Music Fees:$ Other: Section Website Get to know our section website it will become very important to you as your skater starts to become interested in competitions and test days. www. You can find upcoming competitions under the events tab, then under current season competitions. Test days under Club tab test days then look under high/low test schedule and click the highlighted click here 10

12 Tests 1. STARSkaters may choose to participate in Skate Canada tests. 2. These are given in the areas of Dance, Skills, Elements and Freeskate. A skater is required to pass certain tests in order to move up to the higher STARSkate levels. 3. Your skater s coach will let you know when she or he feels that your skater is ready for testing and help you prepare 4. Please be aware there are fees associated with all tests that are not covered by the club. a. Coach fee for attending the day with you (depending on location of test day this may include mileage/meals and hotel) b. Skate Canada fee c. Judge fee d. Judge gift e. Partnering fee if applicable 5. A schedule should be sent to you at least one week prior to the test day 6. On the day of the test a. Arrive at least 1 hour prior to your first test b. Bring skates, dress, club jacket, music if required, tights, makeup and have your hair up c. Register with the test day captain and pay fees if not already done d. Warm up to prepare e. Get your skates on about 15 minutes prior to your test f. Make sure you are at the ice surface and are ready to go on for your warm up your coach should be with you g. After you test at some point your coach will receive your test sheet and let you know if you have passed or need a retry. h. Pick up your music if you brought any i. Remember you are also representing the club so please act respectfully Competitions 1. Competitions are optional 2. It is your responsibility to look for competitions and then discuss with your coach whether those specific competitions fit your skater s skill level. 3. Ask your coach what level your skater should register in 4. It is your responsibility to discuss developing a routine for competitions with your coach. 5. Talk to your coach about dress ideas that would go with the music they will be skating to. 6. Once you have found a competition your skater can enter it is your responsibility to fill out the registration form and provide the supporting documents. a. At a certain level you will need to provide a planned program sheet which your coach can fill out for you. b. Sometimes you will need to enter this at the time of registration and sometimes you need to bring it to the competition with you. Rule of thumb ALWAYS carry a copy with you to a competition in case! 7. You are responsible for paying for the competition and associated fees a. Coach mileage/meals and hotel if needed these fees are divided between the skaters attending the competition. b. The coach charges a fee for your skater while at the competition make sure you discuss with the coach what these fees are. c. The coach will charge you a fee for providing you with 2 copies of your music on a CD The week before a competition 1. Check out the section website for the competition flights (this is where you will find your skaters name listed and what group they will skate in) 2. Once you know what group your skater is in- go to the schedule and see when they skate. 11

13 What to Expect at a competition 1. Pack a. your dress b. new tights c. Skates d. 2 copies of your music(one marked master and make sure you have listened to them to see that they work properly) e. Club jacket f. Skipping rope g. Hair supplies make sure your hair is pulled back h. makeup 2. Make sure to arrive at least 1 hour prior to your skate time so that you can a. register at the desk b. hand in your music and planned program sheet if needed c. locate your dressing room and warm up and mentally prepare for the skate. your coach should be here at this time to help with this. 3. Make sure that the ice captain also knows that you are there; they should be near the dressing rooms. 4. Put your skates on about 15 minutes prior to your warm up skate 5. Go to the ice surface and start your warm up when your group is announced. you usually get about 5 minutes a. Your coach will be here at this time to help you go through the routine and calm your nerves 6. After you skate you will need to wait for your whole group to skate then the results will be posted somewhere in the arena. It will be a yellow sheet usually posted over the sheet that listed your groups skating order. a. If you placed you will need to go to the podium area to receive your award. b. Be gracious, shake hands and always remember that many around you did not win. Don t rub it in! c. If you lost be even more gracious. It is okay, you worked hard, tried your best, had fun and that is what is most important. d. Before you leave MAKE sure to gather up all your things and pick up your music! What to Expect From Your Coach A figure skating coach is a skater s personal instructor and primary contact at the rink. The skater/coach relationship is a very important one and should begin with a discussion of the skater s goals and expectations. Working together, the skate and the coach can build a general plan for achieving those goals. A skater should trust the coach to work out the day-to-day lesson plans and order of attack. The coach knows best how to teach the elements and in what order they should be learned. Revisiting the goals and expectations discussion once in a while is wise, but a skater or the skater s parent(s) should never try to micromanage the coach or question the coach s methods. Lesson length will vary according to the needs of the skater, the demands on the coach s time and the duration of the ice session. A lesson can be anywhere from 15 minutes to 60 minutes or more in length. A younger skater in particular may need a higher ratio of lesson time to practice time because of the skaters inability to self-direct. A skater s coach has the experience and knowledge to know when it is time for the skater to test or compete. The coach will guide the skater in the necessary decisions and preparations, including selecting freestyle music that is appropriate to the skater s skills, age and interests. The coach will likely be open to music suggestions from the skater and/or the skater s parent(s) but should be allowed to make the final decision. The coach will cut (shorten) the music to meet rules, lay out a well-balanced freestyle program that meets the technical requirements for the test or competition, and either choreograph the program or refer the skater to someone who specialized in choreography. When a skater takes a test, the skater s coach will usually attend the test session, help the skater warm up, and provide support and guidance as needed. Similarly, when a skater competes, the skater s coach will be at the competition to guide a skater s warm up and to provide last-minute support. (The coach s role in guiding a skater through a test session or a competition is usually termed putting the skater on the ice. ) 12

14 A skater can expect to be billed for the coach s time. Since the business relationship between a skater/parent and the coach is a direct one, the coach will bill the skater/parent, usually on a fixed schedule. Payments should be made directly to the coach. Coach rates for private lessons very. Rates are based qualifications, knowledge, and experience and are set by the coaches themselves. The following additional coach fees as considered usual and customary: fees for cutting music, fees for putting the skater on the ice at a test session, and fees for putting the skater on the ice a t a competition. In the case of an out-of-town test session or competition, the skater/parent will be expected to pay expenses incurred by the coach for travel, hotel and meals. Some coaches will divide the expenses by the number of his/her students attending the test session or competition. Other coaches will simply charge a fixed fee. Talk to your coach and ask questions. That is what your coach is here for, to give your skater the best experience possible and help them achieve the goals they have set for themselves. Do not interrupt a coach when they are in a lesson with another skater however, after the skating session is over speak to the coach in the office, them or phone them. What a Skating Coach Expects from the Skater Just as a skater deserves the respect of his/her coach, so does the coach deserve the respect of the skater. A skater should extend courtesy to his/her coach both on and off the ice by stepping onto the ice ready and willing to focus on skating. A coach does not expect perfection or immediate mastery of new skills. However, the coach does expect the skater s full attention and best effort. Anything less from the skater is a waste of the coach s time and a waste of money for whoever is paying the coaching bill. A coach expects to have the skater s trust. Sometimes, a coach will ask the skater to learn things that, to a skater, seem unnecessary. Other times, the coach will hold off on introducing the skater to certain elements until other skills are mastered. The skater must remain focused on his/her long-term goals and trust the coach to know the best path to achieving them. A skater who is unable to attend a lesson should notify the coach as much in advance as possible. Coaching is a job, and, just like any other job, the income is relied upon to pay personal bills. Ample notice gives the coach the opportunity to fill the open lesson spot with another skater. Failure to notify the coach of inability to attend a lesson could result in the skater being charged for the missed lesson. Finally, the skater or the parent of the skater is expected to pay coaching bills in a timely manner. s Make sure you pay attention to s that come from the club so that you know what is going on and if any changes occur. When you have questions or concerns Keep in mind that this is often your skaters first time away from their parents That it can take up to a month for your skater to start to feel comfortable and show progress Coaches are available for questions after the session Avoid before the session begins as they are busy making preparations Please do not disrupt coaches during the session unless it is an emergency Coaches are available after the class for questions or please go to our website Main menu bar under About Us Then click the Coaches Tab to a coach with any questions or concerns Contact coaches directly if you would like to book private lessons Carnival We have a Bring on Spring carnival in March to showcase what the skaters have learned. The carnival will generally be every other skating winter season, based on the coach s discretion. The carnival a fun event for ALL skaters including PreCanSkate, CanSkate, Stargroup and StarSkate classes. At this event they will be given the opportunity to perform a group number and some skaters may be given a solo. All routines will be practiced during regular ice time and for the PreCanSkate and CanSkate class, at least one Program Assistant will guide them on the ice during the show. All skaters will join the finale at the end and this is where report cards and certificates will be handed out. We also have an amazing prize table and door prize for people to test their luck on! 13

15 CanSkate Event At the coaches discretion we may alternate every other year with a CanSkate event called Bring on Spring CanSkate Event. The CanSkate Element Event is an initiative developed by Skate Canada in support of the organization s ongoing implementation of the Long-Term Athlete Development Model. The event has been formatted to introduce participants to the competition component of sport while providing them with the opportunity to showcase their skills in a fun and interactive environment. The focus of the event is on individual skill improvement and therefore performances are not ranked. Instead of the traditional podium presentations for placing first, second and third, all skaters receive a certificate indicating their overall performance levels (Gold, Silver, Bronze or Merit). The award levels are based on the execution and assessment of four individual elements performed in a circuit format. Each element is evaluated using three predetermined performance features. Each skater receives a full overview of his/her performance on a performance standards chart which is provided to the skater along with the award certificate. Program Assistant On your registration forms you have the option to say yes or no to being a program assistant for that season. A program replacement helps the coach with the PreCanSkate and CanSkate classes. We will come up with a schedule prior to the start date of the PreCanSkate and CanSkate. Then if you are unable to work your shift then you are responsible for finding your replacement. There will be a Program assistant course in October that ALL StarSkate must attend even if you are not planning on being a program assistant. This way if we run into an emergency all the skaters will know what they need to do and can be a replacement if necessary. Program assistants need to have their hair pulled back and show up to class 15 minutes early to help set up. They also should wear the club black PA hoodie. If none are left we will order some more. These are to be returned at the end of the season. We also have a PA party at the end of the season to show our appreciation. For every class the program assistant works they will receive $7.00 that will go into a bursary account specific to them. The skaters can access this money to pay for coach fees, test day fees, registration fees and if they purchase something they need for skating ie. skates or dress they can submit the receipt for reimbursement. Skaters cannot also request to have their bursary paid out to them in the form of a cheque. Viewing Areas Please enjoy watching your skaters from the appropriate seating areas in your facility (stands or warm viewing areas) Please do not stand at the doors Bleachers at rink side is prohibited Parents are not allowed on the ice 14