TFSC Parent Information and Q &

Welcome to our parent information page. This page has a lot of good information with a lot of frequently asked questions by our members. Parents of both new and seasoned skaters will find this info very useful. If you have any suggestions for this page contact anyone of our executive members and forward your suggestions on. This info can be found on Skate Canada's website as well as a variety of other skating and sports related media.

The first decision to be made before going to the store is what style of skates [figure or hockey] is more appropriate. For a first time skater, this decision is not really critical. Kids will outgrow skates long before the type of skate has a significant effect on performance.

The more important factor is the quality and support of the boot and ankles. To accomplish this, the skate manufacturer installs stiff leather inserts between the outer and inner layers of the boot. Old skates may lack this stiffness; in used skates, it may be broken down from use or abuse.

With the skates laced up snuggly, the ankles should be straight so that the skate becomes a natural extension of the leg. If the skater's ankles lean inward or outward, the skater will have difficulty balancing (particularly on one foot).

Molded plastic skates are not a good choice. They provide a lot of support but they cannot be 'broken in'. This prevents the boot from flexing properly to allow the skater the required range of motion.

The plastic skates with buckles instead of laces may be convenient but they often come loose leaving the skater with no support whatsoever.

Skates should fit more snuggly than regular shoes, particularly around the heel. A properly fitting skate should have no more than 1/2 inch of space at the toe. The skater should be able to wiggle toes inside the boot, but the heel should not move at all in the skate.

The ball of the foot should come just ahead of the point where the sole starts to cut in for the arch. This ensures the proper positioning of the arch and is extremely important.

The front opening of the boot should be sufficiently wide to pull the laces tight. The tongue should be sufficiently wide so that it will stay in place and it should be well padded to prevent laces from cutting into the foot.

Skates that are too small will be very uncomfortable for the skater and feet will tend to get cold very quickly. Skates that are too big do not provide sufficient ankle support. They may even cause blisters due to rubbing inside the boot.

Skates should be worn with one pair of thin socks. Thick or extra socks may appear to fill up the space in a skate that is too big. But as soon as the skater tries to exert pressure against the boot, the extra thickness compresses and the skate doesn't provide the needed support.

Skates should be laced fairly loosely over the toe and front of the foot, but snugly over the ankles. Laces should be hooked securely with sufficient tension to permit one finger down the back of the boot. Laces should be long enough to be tied in a double bow and tucked in.

When? The rule of thumb for skate sharpening is 30 to 50 hours of ice time. This is a very rough guideline and can be greatly affected by use and care:

A good test for sharpness is to try scraping a thumb nail across (not along!) the blade. If it takes fine shavings, it is sharp; if not, maybe it's time. Be sure to check both inside and outside edges. Inside edges often get more wear than outside.

For tests and competitions, consider a sharpening a week or two before the big day. Not the day before!

Where? Sporting goods stores and arena pro shops are fine for hockey skates but should not be used for sharpening figure skates. They will take too much off at the front and back of the blade changing the balance of the blade and dramatically shortening the life of your blades.

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Falls happen. Most are harmless and just a part of the learning experience. Some result in a few tears. Occasionally, despite our best efforts, there are bad falls.

Even skaters who are quite secure on their feet can be the victims of 'chain-reaction' falls. These usually happen when kids crowd together in a group lesson [don't know why they do it, but they always do].

Most young skaters have not yet developed the reflex to protect their head in a fall. Mature skaters often tense up when they feel themselves falling.

For these reasons, helmets are mandatory for young skaters and recommended for beginning skaters of all ages. Here are a few things to think about when shopping for a helmet:

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According to Skate Canada: "CanSkate is the learn-to-skate program for beginners of all ages and is tailored to each user-group (e.g. pre-school, youth, adult). Participants earn badges while they learn fundamental skating skills. CanSkate is the feeder program to all other Skate Canada Skating Programs. Participants are generally taught in a group lesson format by a 3M NCCP certified professional coach. Carefully trained Program Assistants (Test or Competitive Program skaters) also work with CanSkate members. One of the key delivery standards of the CanSkate program is to ensure that participants are moving 90% of their time on the ice."

"CanSkate is Canada's only national learn-to-skate program. It was developed by experts to teach the fundamentals of skating in a progressive and sequential manner. The coach to student ratio is a maximum of 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using tools that create a fun environment and promote learning."

CanSkate badges and standards are the same for all Skate Canada clubs which makes it easy for a skater to move between skating clubs.

The CanSkate program involves seven stages, each comprised of twelve to fifteen skills. When a skater demonstrates all of the skills at each stage, they receive a badge and move on to the next stage.

Badges are one of the incentives that are used to reward [and track] a skater's performance. A sticker is typically given to skaters at the end of each lesson. It is a little reward for effort.

Clothing should keep the skater warm but not restict their ability to move. Typically the more active a skater is, the less they need to wear.

As a general rule, layers work better than bulk. Fleece for insulation and nylon for moisture resistance is a perfect combination. Bulky snow suits are often a problem because they make it too difficult for skaters to get up after a fall.

Jeans are not a good choice. The cotton in them absorbs and holds moisture. Cold and wet is uncomfortable.

Canskate skills can be done on either figure skates or hockey skates. Some are easier on one or the other, but the expectation is adjusted accordingly.

Occasionally, a misguided salesperson will suggest grinding off the bottom toe pick for a beginner skater. Don't do it! The toe picks are important for maintaining proper balance and posture.

The Club's policy is that CSA approved helmets are mandatory for all Helmet Club skaters. They are also recommended for beginning skater of all ages.

Based on registration form information, skaters are grouped by badge level. Fitting new skaters into groups is done by coaches at the beginning of first session. Some adjustments in the first few weeks are to be expected.

Often a skater who excels will be moved up to a higher group where they will be more challenged. Likewise, a skater who falls behind may be moved to a group where they will fit better.

This situation usually happens because, eventhough the child is performing well at some skills (eg forward skating), they have not yet sufficiently mastered other skills at their level (backward skating, stopping, etc). Failure to learn all of the skills at any stage will catch up and cause problems at the next level.

Aside from the motivational factor, this should not impede learning. Coaches normally work on several badge levels in the same lesson. They review skills from previous stages, refine skills at the present stage, and introduce skills at the next stage.

After completing the CanSkate program, skaters will have all of the recreational skating skills to pave the way for a lifetime of enjoyment on ice.

Skaters who choose to continue can move on to other Skate Canada programs including Star Skate [the figure skating test program].

Skating skills are exercises that are skated to specific music containing edges turns and field movements designed to expand on the fundamental movements for skaters of all levels. The basic components of all disciplines of figure skating are contained in the program. Edge quality, control, power and speed are basic skating fundamentals that are mastered in the skating area. Skating skills consist of the following six test levels:

Test Level	Title	Focus
Preliminary	Waltzing Threes	control of forward three turns
	Waltzing Mohawks	power & agility
	Preliminary Circles	edge quality & balance
Junior Bronze	Threes & Power Mohawks	control of backward threes & power
	Power Circles	stroking technique (ie., crosscuts)
	Change Threes	control of change of edge - three turn
Senior Bronze	Forward Brackets	control of forward brackets & agility
	Power Circles	power
	Expanding Exercise	control of swing roll - change of edge & power
Junior Silver	Multi Turns & Power Threes	balance in multiple turns & power transitions
	Snakes & Ladders II (revised)	edge quality in Small Lobes
	Flying Choctaws	agility & power
Senior Silver	Rockers & Choctaws	control of rockers & agility
	Multi-Circle Threes & Brackets	balance of threes and brackets & power
	Expanding Exercise	edge quality, balance & control of all turns
Gold	Counters & Three Change Three	control of counters & agility
	Multi-circle Double Threes & Mohawks	balance in multiple turns & power
	Expanding Exercise	edge quality & balance

In a Freeskate, skaters learn how to jump and to spin in a variety of positions and to incorporate those and other skills in a program of a specified length using connecting steps and music interpretation. It is also divided into six different level:

Each freeskate test is divided into two parts: Elements in Isolation and Free Program. The Elements in Isolation consist of stroking exercises (which all must be assessed as Satisfactory or better in order to pass), jump and spin elements, field movements and step sequences. Of the 14 elements performed at each level, 12 must receive Satisfactory or better evaluations in order to pass that portion of the test. The Free Program is a program of a specified length skated to music of the skater's choice. The program must demonstrate certain elements in order to be passed.

Dance	Partner	Solo or Partner
Preliminary Dances	Dutch Waltz
	Canasta
	Baby Blues
Junior Bronze Dances	Swing Dance
	Fiesta Tango
	Willow Waltz
Senior Bronze Dances	Ten Fox
	Fourteenstep
	European
Junior Silver Dances	Harris Tango	American Waltz
Senior Silver Dances	Paso Double	Blues
	Starlight Waltz	Kilian
	Cha Cha Congelado
Gold Dances	Viennese Waltz	Quickstep
	Westminster Waltz	Silver Samba
	Argentine Tango
Diamond Dances	Ravensburger Waltz
	Tango Romantica
	Yankee Polka
	Rhumba
	Austrian Waltz

The Discipline of Dance consists of seven levels of tests. It teaches timing, musicality, rhythm, interpretation and structure, as well as, basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison. Dancers skate with partners and sometimes by themselves to various musical rhythms, including waltz tango and blues. Each compulsory Dance has a series of steps that must be skated in a specific pattern. Dancers progress through the six different test levels and can skate the Dance tests in any order within each level. A skater must pass a specified number of the test Dances at one level before proceeding to the next.

In Canada, the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) serves to ensure that coaches are trained to standards set by the Coaching Association of Canada and individual sport governing bodies (such as Skate Canada). There are 5 levels of certification under this program. Skate Canada requires that all professional coaches have a minimum of Level 1 certification, or be actively completing the final stages of the Level 1 apprenticeship under the guidance of a mentor coach.

Hiring a coach for individual instruction typically begins during the latter stages of the CanSkate program or at the start of the Junior program. Private coaching is required in both the club’s Junior/Senior and Competitive programs. A brochure listing the general qualifications of our coaching staff is available from the club upon request.

It is common to have discipline-specific arrangements with specific coaches (for example, a skater may receive freeskating lessons with Coach A, and ice dancing lessons with Coach B). It is recommended that all arrangements be clearly understood between you and your coach(s). Feel free to discuss your goals and needs with several coaches before making decisions to hire. Some coaches may be willing to teach skaters on a trial basis.

Skaters’ needs change over time; thus, there may come a time that coaching arrangements may need to change. This can be an awkward and difficult experience for coaches, skaters and parents alike. When handled in a professional manner, the transition can be less disruptive for all involved. If you intend to switch coaches, your present and prospective coaches should be informed and all outstanding fees to your present coach will be paid, prior to the change. It is, considered unethical for coaches to offer lessons to skaters who have established coaching arrangements in place.

Skaters and families will notice that participation in the sport beyond the CanSkate level is more expensive. Consider your goals, level of commitment, and what you can afford. The following are some examples of costs associated with skating at the STARSkate and competitive levels.

Sportsmanlike conduct, safety, courtesy, respect and discipline are expected at all times towards all coaches, fellow skaters and judges.

Skaters are asked to be aware of other skaters on the ice and at no time is any skater to endanger themselves or other skaters, coaches or other members of Skate Canada.

Although all skaters have the same rights on any session for which they are registered there are certain protocols that prevail on the ice.

Right of way goes to the skater doing his/her program to music. Other skaters and coaches are to attempt to stay out of the skater's way while his/her music is being played. This right of way is then followed by skaters in a lesson. During dance/skills sessions the skaters doing the dance/skills to music being played have the right of way, followed by skaters having lessons. The only exception to right of way is a lesson being conducted with a non-coach dance partner.

Skaters may skate on the days and sessions for which they are registered ONLY. There are no substitutions for days missed due to competition, illness, vacation, school trip, seminars etc. Guest fees apply to sessions for which a skater is not registered. Guest skaters may have their solo music played only after all other registered skaters have had opportunity to have their solo music played.

Unless you are in a lesson, please do not practice any spins or jumps during a skills sessions. Coaches and Non-Coach dance partners may request music at any time. Skaters may not request any music.

We ask that you use only plastic bottles and containers (no glass containers) when near the ice surface. Further, no food or gum is allowed on the ice. We ask that you keep the dressing room clean and tidy up around you before leaving the room.

Spectators are asked to be courteous to skaters by respecting noise and conversation levels and their movement in the stands. Please do not distract your skaters’ attention from the coach or practice performances.

For your safety, skaters are reminded not to enter onto the ice surface until the zamboni is off the ice and the doors are closed.

TFSC is responsible for skaters on the ice, however, once the skater has left the ice the skater in no longer under the coaches care. We ask that you request permission from your coach or parent to leave the ice before doing so.

1. Check the approximate time of your test(s) BEFORE test day. Generally at a test day, the skater should arrive at the rink at least 60 minutes before the scheduled test time. This will give enough time to the skater to warm-up off the ice and to prepare mentally for the test.

2. A skater's coach will advise as to an appropriate outfit for the specific test.

3. When you arrive at the rink, check in with your coach so she/he knows you are present and ready to go.

4. When the skater first steps on the ice, it will be for a short on-ice warm-up.

5. Following the warm-up, the skater will perform for the evaluator. The evaluator will note the results and make comments on the test sheet. Once the Test Chair has recorded the result, and the summary sheet is signed by the evaluator, the test sheet will be handed to the skater. Skaters should always discuss the evaluator's feedback with their coach as soon as possible following the evaluation. If your test is unsuccessful, there is always next time. Evaluators are often available for questions during a break or at the end of the test session.

7. Be courteous to other skaters waiting to try tests. Respect noise and conversation levels and movement through the stands. Please be quiet as possible while waiting to go on the ice.

8. When trying a test at another arena (freeskate, interpretive or you use Dance music other than Skate Canada Series 8), ensure you have your music and a back-up tape for the test you are trying. Music is the responsibility of the skater.

9. Please ensure you have cleaned your skates and laces, and that you have a clean pair of tights with no holes or runs in them. Your hair should be neat and off you face. Appearance is important.

On behalf of the Trenton Figure Skating Club we would like to extend a warm welcome to those skaters and their families who are returning to our club and to all those members who are new to our family. If at anytime you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any member of the club executive. We hope you enjoy your stay with us and go as far as your dreams will take you in the wonderful world of figure skating.