Programs - CanSkate Minimum Requirements and Delivery Standards

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Terms used:

Board

The board of Directors of Skate Canada.

Challenge

A championship that qualifies athletes toward and including, but not limited to, the Canadian Figure Skating Championships.

Club

A not-for-profit organization that is operating for the general purpose of providing Skate Canada skating programs and is managed by a volunteer board of directors.

Clubs

A not-for-profit organization that is operating for the general purpose of providing Skate Canada skating programs and is managed by a volunteer board of directors.

Good Standing

The state or condition of a person who has paid all dues outstanding to Skate Canada, a Club, or a Skating School (as applicable) and whom the Board has not declared not to be in good standing and in the case of Members, a Member whose Membership has not been terminated pursuant to Article 3 hereof [of the bylaws].

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.

Segment

The name given to a portion of an event.  Some categories have two segments (e.g., short program and free program) and some categories have only one segment.

Skate Canada Coach

A skating expert with the required National Coaching Certification Program qualifications to provide a remunerated service at Skate Canada sanctioned clubs and skating schools, both on- and off-ice. These individuals shall have registered, provided full payment and have met all professional coach registration requirements as set annually by Skate Canada.

Steps

The visible tracing on the ice that is executed on one foot. A step is counted each time there is a change of foot.

Listed below are the minimum requirements and delivery standards by which all Skate Canada clubs and skating schools must abide when offering the CanSkate program.The advanced delivery standards are optional.

Minimum Requirements

Maximum Number of Skaters Per Session

The number of skaters on a session must allow for the following:

Ideally, sessions should not exceed 50-60 skaters.  Clubs or Skating Schools who wish to offer programs with more than 60 skaters must receive permission from their section.

Standards

  Minimum Delivery Standards Advanced Delivery Standards
Ratio Minimum 1:10 coach/PA to skater ratio 1:5 coach/PA to skater ratio including 1 coach for every 10 skaters
Movement Minimum 90% movement throughout the session

99% movement throughout the entire session.

Note: skaters receiving individual attention do not affect movement percentage, if the rest of the group is moving.
Music Age-appropriate music for the entire session Music that is fun, energizing and contains signals to indicate session segment changes. (e.g., Fast track laps and station rotation)
Teaching Aids Use of teaching aids at each station including marker/skill signs and pylons.  Use of a variety of teaching aids that engages the skater's learning and interest. 
Station Identification Use of Station Identification signs at each station (Fun Zone must be included in one of the 3 stations) Use of official Skate Canada Station Identification Signs
Program Assistants

Use program assistants as required to meet minimum ratio.

All program assistants on the ice must be in skates or a sled (sledge hockey PA).

Assign a program assistant to each group for supervision and assistance. Use additional program assistants as required to offer an effective and efficient program.
Program Assistant Training Ensure program assistants are trained before assisting on the ice with a minimum of one training per season.                 Offer multiple training sessions throughout the season to engage, support and monitor development of the program assistants.

Session Format:

Warm up

Use of full ice or Fast Track.

Include forward and backward skating in both directions

All minimum standards plus:

  • inclusion of deep knee bends
  • evidence of increased heart rate in participants
  • choreographed movements matching the music

Session Format:

Lesson Time

A minimum of 30 mins lesson time. 

Rotation of three different learning or review stations. 

Use of circuits to teach and practice skills. 

A minimum 10 min. lesson to each group by a NCCP Skate Canada coach.

Inclusion of the Fun Zone at one of the stations. May be grouped with a learning station.

All minimum standards plus: 

  • Use of circuits designed to fill 1/3 of ice, maximizing ice coverage.
  • Each station has a designated coach that stays at that station to ensure all skaters who visit that station have the same quality instruction on the topic of the day. 
  • When two groups are sharing a station, inside and outside circuits are being used to maximize ice usage.
  • Fast track laps to be done between every lesson rotation for skaters Stage 2 and up. (Stage 1 skaters may go directly to the next station) 
  • Fun Zone included with a learning station in a creative and engaging way.

Session Format:

 

Group Activity

Use of full ice

Activities include skill enhancing development and speed development

All of the minimum standards plus:

  • use of music to match activity
  • evidence of "challenge" skills
  • use of continuous lanes or similar format

Session Format:

Cool Down

Use of full ice 

Evidence of moving stretches to increase range of motion and lower heart rate

All minimum standards plus:

  • use of slower music to support lowered heart rate
  • use of continuous lanes or similar pattern

Quality Coaching

Coach ensures that each skater in the lesson receives one on one attention on the circuit during the lesson time.  

All minimum standards plus, within the lesson and circuit without stopping the entire group, the coach gives each skater:

  • individual feedback
  • individual corrections
  • individual challenges based on their level of development

Branding & Marketing

 

Must advertise and refer to the program as CanSkate and use the official CanSkate logo. 

Use the official Skate Canada CanSkate Report Card (min one per season)

All minimum standards plus use of Skate Canada CanSkate promotional tools, including marketing toolkit items.

Parent Information Sessions

Offer a minimum of one parent information session.

Offer a written source of information about the program and other club opportunities (info letter, website, bulletin board, etc)

Offer multiple opportunities for parents to connect with CanSkate Coordinators and/or coaches. This could include but is not limited to:

  • In-person information sessions
  • In-person progress update opportunities
  • In-person "next steps" touch base to guide skaters into next program (CPS, Figure Skating, etc)

Offer several written sources of information about the program and other club opportunities (info letter, website, bulletin board, etc)

Awards

Use official Skate Canada Ribbons and Badges for Stages 1-6, in Balance, Agility and Control

Ensure all rewards are given to skaters within one week of achieving

Maintain records of the skater's progress

All minimum standards plus:

  • Award all ribbons and badges on the same day of achievement 
  • Track and maintain records of skater's progress digitally

Off-ice classes

  

Offer off-ice class to CanSkate participants to increase physical literacy and help prepare the body for the on-ice demands.