Terms used:
Axel
An edge jump with natural rotation that takes off from a forward outside edge; listed in the Scale of Values according to the number of rotations. Unlike other single jumps which are one rotation, a single Axel has one-and-a-half rotations.
Category
The name for each level of competition within a discipline. Examples of categories are STAR 1, STAR 2, Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, Pre-Novice, etc.
Director
An individual elected or appointed to serve on the Board pursuant to this Bylaw.
Event
The name given to a group of skaters entered in a category. There may be one event per category or several events per category depending on the number of total entries. Each event is independent of the other events within the category.
Events
The name given to a group of skaters entered in a category. There may be one event per category or several events per category depending on the number of total entries. Each event is independent of the other events within the category.
Grade Of Execution
The mark given by a judge to evaluate the quality of an element in a program. There are 11 GOEs ranging from +5 to -5.
International Competitions
Within Canada, these are defined as competitions/championships conducted according to the rules of the International Skating Union, where teams from at least one foreign country are invited by Skate Canada.
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union (ISU) is the exclusive international sport federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee administering the sports of Figure Skating and Speed Skating throughout the world. The ISU is composed of a number of national associations called ISU Members that administer ISU sports at the national level and recognize that all international matters are under the sole jurisdiction and control of the ISU.
Loop
A one-foot movement where the skater skates an oval pattern using the same edge. The entry and exit of the loop must cross. The loop must be clean cut without scrapes or points.
Lutz
A toe jump with counter rotation that takes off from a backward outside edge; listed in the Scale of Values according to the number of revolutions.
Members
Each person that meets the requirements of any of the three Member classes as defined in Article 3 hereof [of the bylaws] and that has been duly admitted as a member of Skate Canada.
National Summer Series
Section-hosted events identified by Skate Canada.
Rhythm
The regularly repeated pattern of accented and unaccented beats which gives the music its character.
Rhythm Dance
A dance created by an ice dance couple to dance music with designated rhythm(s) and/or theme(s) selected annually by the ISU Ice Dance Technical Committee.
Section
An organization incorporated or organized in a particular province or territory (and in some cases, a combination thereof) strategically aligned with Skate Canada, that may receive funds from provincial or territorial Governmental Authorities and be subject to applicable sport recognition programs and transfer payment arrangements. Each Section is held to the governance and operating requirements of their respective province and / or territory(ies) and is responsible for skating in their respective jurisdictions.
Sequence
The set order of the prescribed steps that compose one pattern of a Pattern Dance.
Sequences
The set order of the prescribed steps that compose one pattern of a Pattern Dance.
Spins
An element where the skater rapidly revolves, centred on a single point on the ice, while holding one or more body positions. In singles and pairs, a spin must have at least three revolutions to be considered a spin. The minimum number of revolutions in a position is two without interruption.
Step
The visible tracing on the ice that is executed on one foot. A step is counted each time there is a change of foot.
Throw Jump
A partner-assisted jump in which a skater is launched into the air by a partner on the takeoff. and lands without assistance from the partner. Throw jumps are named after the basic solo jump which is initiated and executed only by the skater being assisted.
Transition
A term used to describe sections of the program that occur within elements, during entrances and exits of elements and as connecting elements and executed in-between the required/optional elements.
Twizzles
A traveling turn on one foot with one or more rotations which is quickly rotated with a continuous, uninterrupted action. The weight remains on the skating foot with the free foot in any position during the turn then placed beside the skating foot to skate the next step.
The ISU has officially announced the 2019/20 Jr Grand Prix Season. Canada is eligible to send entries to the following competitions:
| Location | Dates | Men | Ladies | Pairs | Ice Dance |
| Courchevel, FRA | 21-24 AUG | 2 | 1 | N/A | 2 |
| Lake Placid, USA | 29-31 AUG | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Riga, LAT | 04-07 SEP | 2 | 1 | N/A | 2 |
| Chelyabinsk, RUS | 11-14 SEP | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Gdansk, POL | 18-21 SEP | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Zagreb, CRO | 25-28 SEP | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Egna, ITA | 02-05 OCT | 1 | 1 | N/A | 2 |
| Torino, ITA | 05-08 DEC | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Long-Listing of Skaters
To ease the process of quickly entering delegations (skaters, coaches, chaperone, etc.) into a Jr. Grand Prix via the ISU on-line system, Skate Canada will change the internal process. All members of the NextGen Team will be considered “long-listed” entries for Jr. Grand Prix, which is a process similar to the Olympic Games. “Long-Listed” does not mean a skater/team will be automatically named to a Jr. Grand Prix but rather there is a strong probability that you could be named. Therefore, all “long-listed” skaters will be asked to complete all entry forms for the Jr. Grand Prix. Electronic forms will be available on the Skate Canada website. Forms must be completed within 14 days after they become available.
NextGen Team members should expect to receive the forms no later than the end of June. Skaters will be required to complete those forms and send scanned versions of them to Skate Canada within 10 business days.
Process for Selection to a Junior Grand Prix
Grand Prix assignment are not exclusive to the NextGen Team. All skaters competing at the Junior level at the Summer Series who are age eligible according to ISU rules will be assessed along with members of the NextGen Team. Those skaters showing the strongest potential based on the Jr Grand Prix selection guidelines will have greater chances to be named to a Jr Grand Prix.
Stages of Selection
Stage 1 – Skaters/teams with medal performances at the 2018 ISU Grand Prix and/or top 10 performance at 2019 World Junior Championships will be nominated to Jr Grand Prix starting in mid-June. Follow up monitoring sessions will take place from mid-June to late-July to oversee the progress and preparedness of these nominated skaters/teams to ensure they are on track to achieving an optimal performance at the Jr Grand Prix in which they are assigned.
Stage 2 – Based on performances at the NextGen Team Camp, some skaters will be monitored during training in late June or early July. Following these monitoring sessions, there is a probability that some additional skaters will be named to an early Jr. Grand Prix. These skaters will be required to compete in at least one Summer Series competition to ensure that the development during the summer months is on track to achieving an optimal performance at a Jr Grand Prix.
Stage 3 – During the Summer Series, all skaters competing in the Junior category will be monitored. Following these competitions, additional skaters may be added to the NextGen Team and either a Jr Grand Prix and/or Jr. International competition.
Long Listing Process for new Pair and Ice Dance Teams
New Pair and Ice Dance Teams who feel they have a strong possibility of achieving the selection guidelines at a 2019 Summer Series competition should contact their Section Technical Director to arrange a monitoring session with Skate Canada technical advisors.
Skate Canada is continuously working with various Sections to identify any new or existing teams who have shown good development during the spring months and are potentially on track to perform well at a Jr Grand Prix. All new teams will be monitored prior to being long-listed. Following the monitoring session, some new teams may be added to the “long-list” of Jr Grand Prix potential skaters. Prior to being named to a Jr Grand Prix, new teams will be required to compete at a Summer Series competition to demonstrate they can achieve the required skating standard in a competitive environment.
Officially named to a Jr Grand Prix
Skaters/teams are officially named to a Jr Grand Prix once they have received and accepted the official invitation from Skate Canada. Once accepted, their name will appear on the Skate Canada website.
Named to a Jr Grand Prix on ISU Website but not Skate Canada Website
In some rare instances, a skater’s name may appear on the ISU website as entered in a Jr Grand Prix and not the Skate Canada website. In this case, the skater has yet to receive an official invitation from Skate Canada and is still being considered for a Jr Grand Prix along with other skaters. This process will be used when Skate Canada needs to reserve the place for an entry. Failure to provide an entry to the ISU by the deadline will result in Skate Canada losing the spot which could go to another country.
Selection Guidelines
Skate Canada has developed Selection Guidelines which are based on current skating trends at the Jr. Grand Prix. These guidelines are designed to ensure Canadian skaters have the success necessary at a Jr Grand Prix. This is to ensure the smoothest transition to the Senior category which will assist them to succeed international on a long-term basis. Success at a Jr Grand Prix is not always measured by medals won, but by having Canadians skaters be competitive at Jr Grand Prix, performing at their personal best and self-identifying the factors which can contribute to personal best performances. Please refer to Appendix A for the Selection Guidelines.
Monitoring Sessions in a Training Environment
Some NextGen skaters may be monitored in a training environment. The purpose of these monitoring sessions is to provide feedback to the skaters on the development and to ensure that the skater is on track to performing well at upcoming competitions. Decision with regards to selection to a Jr Grand Prix may be made following these type of monitoring sessions. These monitoring sessions will include some members of the Skate Canada High Performance Team. In some cases, a Section representative may also assist in the monitoring sessions. Skaters will be excepted to performance programs in which the technical content performed may be adjusted depending on the program’s stage of development. Any technical elements which are not performed in the program must be performed in isolation with a few repetitions to demonstrate the consistency and quality of the elements.
Monitoring during National Summer Series Comeptitions
All NextGen Team members will be monitored at Summer Series competitions. Some benefits Skate Canada hopes skaters achieve with this monitoring and debrief process are:
- Improve performances
- Increased motivation
- Clearer focus and direction
- Greater personal satisfaction which leads to greater confidence
Prior to the competitions, skaters and coaches will be informed of which Skate Canada officials will conduct their monitoring and short debrief session. Similar to the previous season, skaters will be asked to complete Part 1 - Performance Plan & Objectives of the “Competition Monitoring Form” and hand it over to the NextGen Director prior to the start of their event. Following their events, skaters bring Part 2 - Post Competition Debrief of the “Competition Monitoring Form” to meeting with the monitors to complete it during the meeting. Skaters are encouraged to work with their coach to complete this form. As soon as their event is completed, skaters and/coaches should follow up with the monitor to schedule the time and location for the debrief. In most cases, it should be done within an hour or two after the event. Due to the busy schedules of coaches and monitors at summer competitions, the debrief sessions will often be no more than 10 to 15 minutes.
Workshops for Parents of Potential Jr Grand Prix Skaters
Skate Canada will conduct workshops for parent at the Summer Series competitions for all NextGen Team Members and “Long-Listed” teams. (Ottawa, Edmonton and Montreal)
Julie Carignan & Jean-Benoit Lajoie, the parents of Marjorie Lajoie, 2019 World Junior Champion, will conduct these workshops. The focus of the workshop is for parents to share ideas, challenges and successes when it comes to parenting an elite athlete. In addition, these workshops will provide an opportunity for parents to meet other parents and build a supportive community of parents of NextGen skaters.
At least one parent of each skater is required to attend a workshop. Should a parent of a skater not attend, Skate Canada will have the right to withdraw the skater from the Jr Grand Prix or International competition. In addition, this is an opportunity for Skate Canada High Performance staff to meet the parents and answer any questions.
The workshops will be held at least twice at three Summer Series competitions and will be scheduled around the Junior events to ensure a parent of the skater can attend. The workshop will be about 60 minutes.
- Ottawa, ON (English & possibly French)
- Edmonton, AB (English)
- Montreal, QC (French)
Appendix A - Selection to 2019 Jr Grand Prix and International Competitions
Skate Canada will take in the following factors into consideration when making decisions with regards to the selection of skaters/teams to represent Canada at Jr Grand Prix and Jr International competitions:
- Selection will be based on those skaters who can best demonstrate the potential to achieve the scores and skills outlined in this document which are based on World trends at Jr Grand Prix’
- The number of years a skater/team is eligible in Junior
- The skater/team’s consistency of performances from one competition to the next
- The improvement and progress the skater/team has made from the previous season
- The number of available entries at the Jr Grand Prix
- Skate Canada budget
Below are the proposed scores and skill level for selection which should be achieved at the Summer Series competitions
|
MEN |
Jr Eligible Years |
Total Score |
Technical Skill Level (Jumps with minors will be considered) |
|
2 or less # |
200 |
Skaters should be striving to be competitive with the top 6 skaters at the Jr Grand Prix and able to achieve the following technical elements: SHORT PROGRAM: triple solo jump, triple + triple combo, triple Axel, all spins with a positive GOE FREE PROGRAM: 5 different triples, 7 triples in the free, at least one triple + triple or double Axel + triple combo, a triple Axel or quad, two spins with a positive GOE |
|
|
3 or more# |
160 |
Skaters should be striving to be competitive with the top 12 skaters at the Jr Grand Prix and able to achieve the following technical elements: SHORT PROGRAM: triple solo jump, triple + triple combo or triple Axel, all spins with a positive GOE FREE PROGRAM: 4 different triples, 6 triples in the free, an attempt at a triple + triple or double Axel + triple combo, two spins with a positive GOE |
# As of July 1, 2019
|
WOMEN |
Jr Eligible Years |
Total Score |
Technical Skill Level (Jumps with minors will be considered) |
|
2 or less # |
165 |
Skaters should be striving to be competitive with the top 6 skaters at the Jr Grand Prix and able to achieve the following technical elements: SHORT PROGRAM: triple solo jump, triple + triple combo, all spins with a positive GOE FREE PROGRAM: 4 different triples, 5 triples in the free, at least one triple + triple or double Axel + triple combo, two spins with a positive GOE |
|
|
3 or more# |
137 |
Skaters should be striving to be competitive with the top 12 skaters at the Jr Grand Prix and able to achieve the following technical elements: SHORT PROGRAM: triple solo jump, triple + triple combo or triple + double combo with triple loop or lutz, all spins with a positive GOE FREE PROGRAM: 3 different triples, 4 triples in the free, an attempt at a triple + triple or double Axel + triple combo, two spins with a positive GOE |
# As of July 1, 2019
|
PAIRS |
Jr Eligible Years # |
Total Score |
Technical Skill Level (Elements with minors will be considered) |
|
2 or less # |
150 |
Teams should be striving to be competitive with the top 4 teams at the Jr Grand Prix and able to achieve the following technical elements: SHORT PROGRAM: Double Axel, plus triple twist and throw triple FREE PROGRAM: Double Axel, plus achieve 3 of the 4 following elements: 1 triple twist, 1 triple jump, 1 triple throw jump, 1 additional throw jump |
|
|
3 or more# |
130 |
Teams should be striving to be competitive with the top 8 teams at the Jr Grand Prix and able to achieve the following technical elements: SHORT PROGRAM: Double Axel, plus triple twist or throw triple FREE PROGRAM: Double Axel, plus achieve 2 of the 4 following elements: 1 triple twist Level 1, 1 triple jump, 1 triple throw jumps, 1 additional throw jump |
# As of July 1, 2019
(Eligible years will be used as a guide should there be a large age difference between partners)
|
ICE DANCE |
Jr Eligible Years |
Total Score |
Technical Skill Level in the Rhythm Dance and Free Dance |
|
2 or less # |
145 |
Teams should be striving to be competitive with the top 5 teams at the Jr Grand Prix and able to achieve the following technical elements: 1 step sequence at a minimum Level 3, another step at a minimum Level 2, at least 1 Twizzles Level 4 and an average GOE on all technical elements of +1.0 or higher |
|
|
3 or more# |
125 |
Teams should be striving to be competitive with the top 10 teams at the Jr Grand Prix and able to achieve the following technical elements: 2 step sequences at a minimum Level 2, at least 1 Twizzles Level 3 and an average GOE on all technical elements of +0.75 or higher |
# As of July 1, 2019
(Eligible years will be used as a guide should there be a large age difference between partners)
