General

• The first major question which you have to ask yourself is, Why is your child involved in skating?. The answer should be enjoyment, for a sense of sportsmanship and accomplishment, and to socialize with other kids.

• As parents we typically provide challenges and goals for our child to attain. The parent moulds a passion for excellence and rewards dedication, commitment, and hard work. Skaters soon learn that by displaying their commitment to skating and fulfilling parental expectations, they reap many rewards

The Skater

• The development of the skater is the whole purpose for the existence of the club, the coach and Skate Canada. The success of any club's on-ice activities is completely dependent on the behavior of the skaters

• The skater's responsibility is to make the most of the resources put before them. The best way for them to do this is to adhere to the necessary basic rules of courtesy during all on-ice activities. Every skater has the duty to show respect for the other skaters of the club and their parents, the volunteers, the coaches and the judges. In an harmonious atmosphere, everyone is in a position to gain maximum results from their valuable practice time

The Parent

• The skating parent's role is to provide physical, emotional and, of course, financial support.

• Your skater will need you to show an interest in the progress, as well as giving your encouragement and understanding when times are difficult. You help to shape your child's attitudes, how they cope with success and failure, how they relate to other skaters and how they react to criticism. Set a good example, as your child will be watching and learning from you.

• Even young skaters need to have some input into skating decisions. Do not impose your goals onto your child. Assist your child in establishing his or her skating goals with the coach.

• Skating can become expensive if you allow it to. Ultimately, the decision of how much money from the family budget should go to skating is up to the parent. Try not to put added pressure on the skater about financial matters.

The Coach

• Skate Canada is a firm believer in the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). This program is conducted in partnership with the Coaching Association of Canada. Every coach registered with Skate Canada is, at a minimum, a level one certified coach.

• The NCCP is a five-level education program for coaches and includes general theory and sport specific technical and practical components.

• The role of the coach is to teach and develop your skaters technical ability. They are also role models for young people

• Coaches play an important role in shaping the skater's attitudes towards skating as well as their personal values, such as sportsmanship, discipline and work ethic

The Club

• There are over 1400 clubs and 180,000 members of the Skate Canada Association

• The club is the vehicle through which Skate Canada programs are delivered to the skaters. With the exception of the coaches, the people who run our club are volunteers. Become acquainted with the members of the Executive Committee. Also try to help out at test days, Club competition, for fundraising and other activities. We are always looking for volunteers to help in many aspects of the club's function

Lessons

• The number of lessons your child will need depends on many factors including; how fast your child progresses with new material; how much the parent is willing to spend per week in lessons; and how much time the coach has to teach them

• Coaches give separate lessons for each discipline and each lesson lasts approximately 15 minutes. The cost per lesson varies with each coach due to qualifications and experience.

Selecting a Coach

• The coaching of figure skating in Canada and most other countries is done on a professional basis. Individuals make their coaching services available for a fee.

• When hiring a coach, the club can provide information about the coaches available to teach your son or daughter. The coach should be one that the skater feels comfortable with, and one you both respect as an individual as well as a teacher. You want a coach who treats your child with respect and who is interested in your child's development as a person as well as a skater.

• Regular meetings and planning sessions between the coach and parents are important. You should keep the coach informed about the skater's educational commitments, financial constraints and other information that may impact on your skater's training. This is a good time to discuss any concerns and ask questions about your skater's progress.

What to Expect on Test Day

• During a test day at a club, skaters taking tests perform specific maneuvers in front of judges or evaluators to see if they are eligible to move on to the next level.

• Each skater will get time to warm up their test. If there is more than one skater skating the same test, the order of skating will be determined by the test chair.

• The skater should be at the rink approximately one hour before he/she is scheduled to skate. Skates and laces should be clean, polished and tidy.

• Tests are observed by the evaluator and test elements are assessed as excellent, good, satisfactory, or needs improvement for the particular level. The skater needs to obtain a specific number of satisfactory, or better, ratings to successfully complete the test.

About Competitions

• If and when your child chooses to enter a competition you will be exposed to a whole different part of skating.

• Within the category your child enters, there will probably be several other skaters also competing. There will be a draw to fairly determine the order the skaters will compete. If there are many skaters competing in the same category, they will likely be divided into "flights".

• Each flight of skaters has the opportunity to "warm-up" for about 5-6 minutes. Following the warm-up, each skater will perform his/her program in the order drawn. Each flight will receive the same amount of warm-up time.

• A panel of judges will mark each performance and Skate Canada trained accountants will tabulate and post the results for everyone to use.

• A skater who skates a personal best and graciously wins as well as graciously loses, is a winning skater

• Please feel free to communicate with any members of the Executive for more information, we will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. After all we were once in your shoes

Club Code of Ethics

Mission Statement

The Trenton Figure Skating Club shall encourage the instruction, practice, enjoyment and advancement of its members in all aspects of skating in accordance with the Rules, Policies and Procedures of Skate Canada and membership in the Club shall be open to all, irrespective of sex, age, creed or color. We are a not for profit club  administered by volunteers and our coaching staff are registered Skate Canada Professional Coaches

Introduction

This mission can only be successful if all skaters, parents, coaches, officials and Club executives involved in the sport of skating share this common vision and understand their respective role to create and commit to a positive learning environment. However, it is the actions of each stakeholder that ultimately contribute to or undermine the existence of a positive staking environment. The onus of establishing and maintaining appropriate behavior in the pursuit of this worthwhile objective falls on and must be accepted by the leaders in our sport. At our Club these people are coaches, Club executives and officials.

Obligations to the Skater and Parent

• To provide up-to-date quality Skate Canada programs to all members.

• To provide the skater and their parent(s) with the basic information necessary to enable them to choose a realistic and affordable course of action to achieve their goals and objectives

• To clearly outline all Club program policies including cost and method of payment

• To clearly outline all Club policies including parent responsibilities, safety issues, Club competition and ice show, test days, ice qualifications, etc.

• To ensure that sufficient, qualified coaches are available to teach all programs within the Club, including private instruction.

• To ensure that the best interests of all skaters in the Club are taken into account when making Club decisions.

• To communicate as regularly and effectively as possible with skaters and parents as to Club activities, changes in Skate Canada rules and regulations, Club regulations and policies and other important or relevant information affecting the skater’s participation in the sport.

• To help promote that a positive learning environment is maintained in the Club

• Respect all members’ racial and religious practices.

• To inform all members in regards to the Club’s constitution and by-laws and requirements for the Annual General Meeting

Skater Code of Conduct

General

• Respect, and support fellow skaters, parents, coaches, officials, Club executives and arena staff at all times.

• Keep in mind your goals and objectives while at the arena and do not interfere with fellow skaters and arena staff.

• Do not use profane language.

• Respect arena and ice surface, do not chew gum, do not eat or drink while on the ice surface. Water bottles are permitted but must be to the side of the ice surface near penalty boxes, or in the stands

• Do not request music for freeskate and dance. The coaches will make these requests only

• Do not interrupt a lesson, or try to get the attention of a coach giving a lesson to a fellow skater

Skating Attire

Do's:

• Keep hair neat & tied back.

• Girls: Wear leggings, tights, warm-up pants, skating dresses, and skating skirts, dance leotards, sweaters, turtlenecks and fleece or club jackets.

• Boys: Wear warm-up pants, sweaters, turtlenecks and fleece or club jackets

• Wear mittens or gloves

Don'ts:

• Wear oversized T-shirts, baggy clothes or jeans.

• No hanging or loose jewelry, e.g. drop earrings, necklaces or bracelets

FreeSkate Rules

• Standing on the ice is not allowed except when waiting for your solo to start.

• Jumps are to be performed at the ends of the rink, spins at the centre

• Sitting on the ice is not allowed. Use the penalty boxes or dressing rooms when retying skates. After a fall, get up immediately otherwise it will be assumed that you are hurt.

• When your name is called for your music, identify yourself to the music operator and position yourself promptly for your solo. Do not wave off your solo without good reason.

• Attempt to identify each skater having their solo played so you can keep clear when they are doing their solo.

• Priority for right of way is set by club policy

Dance Rules

• Skaters must not assemble to begin a new dance before the current dance being played is finished.

• A skater must not follow a coach while that coach is giving another skater a lesson

• All skaters are expected to do the dance being played unless they are in a lesson.

• Skaters are expected to skate all dances up to their level of proficiency.

• Skaters are to be doing dances during the dance session only – no freeskating or skills

• Priority for right of way is set by club policy

Skills Rules

• Practice skills only during skills time unless in a lesson

• Priority for right of way is set by club policy 

• Skaters are expected to skate the parts (A, B and/or C) of the level being taught by the coach as set out by the Trenton Figure Skating Club and will accept and follow this code

Coaches Code of Conduct

Skate Canada Mission Statement

Skate Canada is an Association dedicated to the principles of enabling every Canadian to participate in skating throughout their lifetime for fun, fitness and / or achievement

Coaching Statement

To strive to improve and recognize coaches and to promote continuous coaching development through education and communication.

Introduction

This mission can only be accomplished successfully if all stakeholders involved in the sport of skating (including skaters, parents, coaches, judges/evaluators, officials and club directors) share a common vision and understanding of their role to create and maintain a positive learning environment. However, it is the actions of each stakeholder that ultimately contribute to or undermine the existence of a positive skating environment.

The onus of establishing and maintaining appropriate ethical behavior in the pursuit of this worthwhile objective falls on and must be accepted by the leaders in our sport. At the club or sanctioned skating school, these people are the coaches, sport officials, judges/evaluators and club directions.

Definition of Ethical

• Relating to morals or moral principles

• Philosophy that governs human character and conduct i.e. the distinction between right and wrong and/or moral duty and obligations to the community

• Originating from the Greek word “theos”, meaning character.

Ethical Conduct Concerning Obligations to Skater and Parent

• To assist one’s skating student to determine realistic goals and objectives in the sport

• To provide the skater and parent(s) with the basic information necessary to enable them to choose a realistic and affordable course of action to achieve these goals and objectives.

• To outline clearly one’s coaching services available including cost and method of payment for such services

• To provide such coaching services as agreed or contracted to each student.

• To maintain the skater’s best interests at heart when making decisions that will affect the skater’s advancement through the sport

• To be ever mindful of the influence one can exercise, to avoid making promises or giving guarantees to the skater and/or parents of test or competitive achievement but rather endeavor to restrict dialogue to the skater’s personal skating development

• To communicate as regularly and effectively as possible with a skater and parent(s) as to the skater’s progress, changes in Skate Canada rules or club regulations, or other important or relevant information affecting the skater’s participation in the sport.

• To respect the fact that a skater and/or parent(s) have the right to contract the services of another coach to either replace or supplement the student’s instruction

Ethical Conduct Concerning Obligations to the Sport

• To be familiar with and adhere to the standards of coaching as defined under Section 2400 of the Skate Canada Rulebook; and maintain a current working knowledge of ISU, Skate Canada, Section and club rule changes, policies, regulations and programs so as to be able to deliver the product of skating in a professional manner

• To maintain professional competence by continually pursuing educational and professional upgrading including knowledge in related fields beneficial to skating (e.g. the performing arts, sport science, sport psychology, officiating, etc.)

• To exhibit the important character traits of honesty, reliability/ dependability and cooperation when dealing with all participants in the sport so as to bring credit to the profession

• To share responsibility with coaching colleagues, judges/evaluators an club officials to initiate and support actions that are required to meet the needs of the skaters, the club and skating in general.

• To actively participate in the development and/or maintenance of desirable standards of coaching practice, education, certification and working conditions in the sport

• To dress in a neat, clean and appropriate manner that is becoming a member of this profession

• To give back a certain portion of time, effort and knowledge to the sport as a volunteer

• To promote Skate Canada and its’ programs and the sport of skating in general

Ethical Conduct Concerning Obligations to the Club

• To accurately represent one’s technical, educational and professional credentials and resume

• To accept personal responsibility for providing and delivering coaching services in a professional manner

• To help ensure that a positive learning environment is maintained in the club

• To negotiate coaching contracts in good faith and honour their terms.

• To treat members of the club with respect and fairness

Ethical Conduct Concerning Obligations to Professional Colleagues

• To strive to create and maintain cooperative relationships with coaching colleagues for the purpose of ensuring a positive skating environment

• To avoid criticizing another coach’s teaching methods, techniques and/or opinions unless done so with the coach’s knowledge and permission

• To respect the fact that a coach becomes the base coach of a skating student from the moment that a skater contracts the services of that coach, whether individually or in a group situation, and that other coaches must initiate discussion about a skater’s training only through the base coach

• To respect a coach/skater and/or parents’ relationship and not solicit or cause to be solicited, directly or indirectly, or through a third party the skater(s) of another coach.

To pursue the following course of conduct in the event that any of the following or similar situations occur::

• To communicate clear, precise guidelines or parameters to a coaching colleague whose services one wishes to retain on a temporary or permanent basis to assist, supplement or replace one’ services currently being rendered and to communicate these parameters to the skater and/or parent(s).

• To obtain authorization and clear, precise instructions from a coaching colleague as to what the coach wishes to be done with a skater in the absence of the coach or agreed upon team coaching situation and do nothing to undermine the base coach/skater and/or parents’ relationship

• To immediately advise a coaching colleague and seek confirmation from the at coach that all undisputed coaching and/or related skating bills are paid or arranged to be paid to the reasonable satisfaction of the coach and/or club upon being approached by a skater and/or parent(s) who request to contract your services. This is to ensure that the proper procedure occurs when taking on a new skater as a student. The parent should have discussed the situation with the previous coach and informed him/her of the change to the new coach. All bills should have been paid to the former coach prior to coaching a new student.

Guest Skating

Policy

• The Guest Skating policy applies to all Club members who wish to skate on a session that they have not registered for. This applies when you miss a session that you are registered for and wish to replace it with another session or if you want to skate an extra session during the week.

• If you miss a regularly scheduled session that you are registered for and want to replace it with another session that you are not registered for, you must pay the guest skating fee and follow the process outlined here.

• A skater will only be permitted to guest skate on appropriate ice (i.e. junior skaters cannot guest skate on senior ice and vice versa).

• EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY, FEES, AND PROCEDURE STATED HERE CAN ONLY BE MADE BY THE CLUB EXECUTIVE.

Procedure

1. A skater must have her/his coach's and executive approval to guest skate on a session different from those she/he is registered for.

2. The skater must pay the appropriate guest skating fee (see below) before going on the ice.

3. You must notify the person playing music that you are guest skating.