IMPORTANT REMINDERS

FOR SKATE CANADA CLUBS & COACHES

Club Requirements and Program Delivery Standards

Please note the following important information:

Skate Canada Program Delivery Standards - Skate Canada skating programs offered by member clubs & skating schools mustbe operated according to national delivery standards. The complete document can be found on the Members Only section of the Skate Canada website under Technical and Program Information. Highlights are outlined below:

CanSkate - minimum standards

  • Ensure 90% continuous movement, active, FUN!
  • Use circuits to teach and practice skills, stations for variety
  • Use music for entire session
  • Use teaching aids, toys
  • Use variety of learning activities, games, drills
  • Use entire ice surface to develop power, speed
  • Ensure minimum of 1 certified Skate Canada coach teaching on the ice; program assistants assist as required
  • Ensure 1:10 coach/program assistant to skater ratio
  • Ensure minimum 10-minute lesson to each group by Skate Canada coach per session
  • Use CanSkate awards and incentives
  • Award CanSkate badges the same day skills are mastered

STARSkate - minimum standards

  • Ensure minimum 1 Skate Canada coach teaching on the ice (may be assisted by experienced/trained program assistants)
  • Provide stroking, free skating, skating skills, dance and interpretive instruction (synchronized skating is optional) on a regular basis
  • Organize group lessons for primary levels; use private lessons or both formats for intermediate and senior levels
  • Ensure 90% continuous movement
  • Use circuits and stations to teach and practice skills
  • Use variety of age-appropriate activities and teaching methods
  • Use music for entire session
  • Use teaching aids
  • Use entire ice surface throughout session to develop power and speed
  • Use Skate Canada STARSkate Program awards and incentives
  • Award STARSkate badges the same day skills are mastered
  • Issue and review on-ice safety rules to skaters and parents

Program names - Programs must include the official program name within the title e.g. CanSkate Juniors, Preschool CanSkate, STARSkate Juniors, Pre-STARSkate, Adult STARSkate etc. The official logos shown below are available to download from the Skate Canada website. They should be used on all correspondence or printed materials, e.g. website, brochures, advertisements, club handbooks, newsletters, etc.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS & RESOURCES TO BE USED

Instructional Programs

CanSkate - Canada’s learn-to-skate program - is Skate Canada’s flagship program that teaches skaters of all ages the fundamental movements of skating, with a focus on fun and continuous movement taught by certified NCCP coaches and assisted by trained program assistants. With over 125,000 members strong, CanSkate represents over 70% of our overall membership.

CanSkate program delivery resources:

CanSkate Resource / Description / Where to find it
President’s CanSkate Challenge Handbook / Now in its third season, the President’s CanSkate Challenge goes out to all clubs to increase their club’s CanSkate membership. We have reset our goals to reach 135,000 CanSkaters by 2010 and 201,000 Associate Members by 2010.Also new this year is an additional percentage of membership increase category. Deadline for CanSkate registrations to be considered for the President’s CanSkate Challenge this season is April 11, 2008. This Handbook provides key information to help clubs promote and market their program and to recruit and retain members. / Members Only section of the Skate Canada web site in the Main Menu under Program & Technical Information / CanSkate.
CanSkate Technical Manual / This manual provides all technical information coaches need to operate the CanSkate program on and off the ice, from technical curriculum (the skills and how to teach them) through to the record-keeping tools required. It also contains Program Assistant training modules for coaches to follow to train and mentor their on-ice assistants. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanSkate Technical Video / This video accompanies the above manual and provides visual representation of the skills of the program as well as examples of how to deliver the program on the ice.
Please note: This video shows mainly the “rotating stations” method of on-ice delivery. Also acceptable is the “one group with one coach” method, where stations are used periodically for variety. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
Skating Programs Promotional video / DVD / An excellent tool consisting of clips of each Skate Canada program which shows CanSkate and STARSkate program standards in action, after which your club’s programs should be modeled. The video/DVD also includesfootage of CanPowerSkate, CompetitiveSkate, AdultSkate, CollegiateSkate and SynchroSkate. It also doubles as the perfect promotion and marketing toolthat can be usedat all your club functions and promotional venues such as registration days, parent information sessions, open houses, community fairs, as well as at Program Assistanttraining sessions and coaches'seminars. Running time: approx.13 minutes / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanSkate Program Delivery Guide / Provides guidance to clubs on how the program is to be organized and delivered from an administrative point of view. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanSkate badges / Series of 15 badges rewarding the mastering of the fundamental movements and skills curriculum of the CanSkate program / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanSkate badge poster / To house the above badges / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanSkate stickers / sheets of 25 stickers, used to reward effort and participation / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanSkate colouring sheets / Series 1 & 2, 10 sheets each, used to reward effort and participation / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanSkate report card / Provides CanSkaters and their parents an easy-to-follow chart of their progress. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanSkate progress sheets & CanSkate
summary cards / Record-keeping items that help to keep your CanSkate program organized. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department

Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition – this is what STARSkate is all about! The mainstay of Canadian figure skating for over 40 years, STARSkate offers 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.

Although CanSkate is typically the largest in terms of registration numbers, STARSkate is one of the most important programs a club offers. STARSkate is THE program that trains figure skaters and synchronized skaters in Canada, as well as produces future champions, judges, evaluators, professional coaches, and program assistants. With this being young skaters’ and parents’ first exposure to figure skating, STARSkate must be a positive experience on every front from content to cost.

Program format - we strongly recommend that all clubs offer group lesson STARSkate programs, especially at the Primary level, in addition to private instruction. This is to allow for a smooth, seamless transition from CanSkate to STARSkate as well as provide options for skaters and keep costs reasonable for skaters and parents.

STARSkate program delivery resources:

STARSkate Resource / Description / Where to find it
STARSkate Promotion & Marketing Information Sheet / Provides ideas and suggestions on how to advertise and promote your STARSkate program to skaters and their parents, how to recruit and retain members. / Members Only section of the Skate Canada web site under Clubs & Schools / Marketing Information
Skating Programs Promotional video / DVD / An excellent tool consisting of clips of each Skate Canada program which shows CanSkate and STARSkate program standards in action, after which your club’s programs should be modeled. The video/DVD also includesfootage of CanPowerSkate, CompetitiveSkate, AdultSkate, CollegiateSkate and SynchroSkate. It also doubles as the perfect promotion and marketing toolthat can be usedat all your club functions and promotional venues such as registration days, parent information sessions, open houses, community fairs, as well as at Program Assistanttraining sessions and coaches'seminars. Running time: approx.13 minutes / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
STARSkate Program Delivery Guide / Provides guidance to clubs on how the program is to be organized and delivered from an administrative point of view. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
NCCP Primary STARSkate Manual / This manual provides all technical information coaches need to operate primary level STARSkate from technical curriculum (the skills and how to teach them) through to the record-keeping tools required. / Section Offices via NCCP course registration
NCCP Intermediate STARSkate/Provincial Coach Manual / This manual provides all technical information coaches need to teach and operate the Intermediate and Senior levels of the STARSkate program. / Section Offices via NCCP course registration
STARSkate badges / Series of 18 badges rewarding the mastering of skills from the Preliminary skating tests. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
STARSkate badge poster / To house the above badges / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
STARSkate stickers / Sheets of 24 stickers, used to reward effort and participation / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
STARSkate tattoos / Popular, colourful tattoos in sheets of 12, used to reward effort and participation. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
STARSkate report card / Provides STARSkaters and their parents an easy-to-follow chart of their progress. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
STARSkate group progress sheets
STARSkate summary cards / Record-keeping tools to help keep your STARSkate program organized / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department

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 and are able to stop on command without use of the boards.

CanPowerSkate’s Pre-Power 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). Pre-Power helps develop basic skating abilities in a power skating-specific environment. The curriculum is presented in three progressive levels complete with its own awards to encourage participation and motivate skaters.

CanPowerSkate program delivery resources:

CanPowerSkate Resource / Description / Where to find it
CanPowerSkate Promotion & Marketing Information Sheet / Provides ideas and suggestions on how to advertise and promote your CanPowerSkate program to skaters and their parents, how to recruit and retain members. / Members Only section of the Skate Canada web site in the Main Menu under Program & Technical Information /CanPowerSkate
CanPowerSkate Technical Manual / Provides all technical information coaches need to operate the CanPowerSkate program from technical curriculum (the skills and how to teach them) through to sample 10-week lesson plans. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanPowerSkate award bars / Bars are awarded upon completion of each level. Bronze, Silver, Gold, Levels 1 to 6. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanPowerSkate participant badge / Awarded to skaters who are progressing in the program but have not yet mastered the skills necessary for the Level 1 Bronze assessment. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
Pre-Power ribbons / Series of 3 ribbons (Level A, B, C) awarded to skaters in the Pre-Power level of CanPowerSkate. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanPowerSkate report card / Provides CanPowerSkaters and their parents an easy-to-follow chart of their progress from Pre-Power to Level 6. / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanPowerSkate group progress sheets
& summary cards / Record-keeping tools to help keep your CanPowerSkate program organized / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department
CanPowerSkate promotional poster / To help advertise your program in a colorful, professional way / Online Store or by phone to the Order Department

General Club Operations

Club Operations Check List

A checklist your club can follow to serve as a reminder of all the important tasks to complete and events that must occur to operate a great skating club. Geared to the average club that operates skating programs from September to March, this checklist gives you a general overall picture of the season, by month, and will help to keep your club executive and coaches organized and on top of their game! It is by no means exhaustive and meant to give your club a basic starting point, so feel free to add tasks that apply to your particular situation.

Where to find it: Members Login section of the Skate Canada website in the Main Menu under Clubs and Schools.

Should you have any questions on the above or require further information please do not hesitate to contact Skate Canada’s Member Services department at or 1-888-747-2372 extension 2519 or the Order department at extension 2521.

Have a great season!

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Important Reminders for Clubs & Coaches: Club Requirements and Program Delivery Standards

November 2007