Rideau Skating Club
Handbook
Welcome to the Rideau Skating Club!
About Skate Canada and the Rideau Skating
Club
The Rideau Skating Club is an organization sanctioned by Skate Canada, which is
the national body that coordinates and regulates figure skating in Canada. The
Rideau Skating Club is in the Eastern Ontario Section (EOS) of Skate Canada.
Part of your registration fees includes an individual Skate Canada membership
fee, and a skater development fee paid to Skate Canada Eastern Ontario. These
fees help Skate Canada provide support to skaters, volunteers, coaches and clubs
by various means. For more information on Skate Canada, please visit their
website at www.skatecanada.ca. More information on the Eastern Ontario section
of Skate Canada can be found at
www.skate-eos.on.ca.
The Rideau Skating Club operates principally out of the Manotick arena from
September through to Mid April. During the summer months, many of our skaters
guest skate with other clubs in the Ottawa area. The Rideau Skating Club
develops skaters of all abilities, from first time recreational skaters to
competitive skaters. Your membership fees pay for ice time purchased by the club
from the City of Ottawa that maintains the ice facilities and sets the number of
hours of ice time available to the club and other users.
The Rideau Skating Club was
formed in 1976. The club is run entirely by parent volunteers. Operations of the
Club are handled by a volunteer Executive, which is elected at the Club’s Annual
General Meeting in the spring of each year. The Club operates under a
constitution, which is available to members. The Executive meets monthly to
handle Club operations. The Executive communicates with the membership by
posting information on the Club bulletin board at the arena, and through the
club website (www.rideauskating.ca). Members are encouraged to check the
bulletin board frequently for important messages. Members of the Executive are
interested in hearing your compliments and concerns. The Executive can be
reached by leaving a message on the Club answering service at 692-2804 or email
at rideauskating@gmail.com. Feedback can also be provided through the website.
The Rideau Skating Club belongs to the members of the Club. Only through active
participation of the members of the Club will the Club remain strong and
effective. Volunteers are needed to help out in all aspects of the Club
operations. There are many ways to help out, and all members are encouraged to
donate some time to the Club. Contact a member of the Executive to find out more
about how you can help, and watch for opportunities to become part of the
Executive as members retire. These opportunities are posted on the bulletin
board in the late winter.
Club Programs
The skating programs offered by the club enable skaters to have fun and improve
their skating skills. Our coaches are professionally certified by Skate Canada.
Trained program assistants help the coaches in our Learn to Skate and Pre-Junior
& Advanced CanSkate programs. Registration in one of the RSC Test Stream or
Competitive sessions is limited to skaters who receive instruction from a Rideau
Skating Club coach, and/or the club coach's substitute or consultant. Guest
coaches must receive Board Approval to coach at Rideau Skating Club.
Learn To Skate Programs
CanSkate
The CanSkate program is an introductory
learn-to-skate program designed for all kids, whether they wish to play hockey,
ringette, or figure skate. Children are generally ready to participate in the
program after reaching the age of four. The program teaches participants
fundamental movements (forward and backward movement, stop, turn, spin, and
jump) and basic skills. The CanSkate program provides a fun environment that
includes games and music in a group lesson format. The program provides badges
for children to measure their progress. Skaters are tested individually when
they are ready, and as a result each skater progresses at their own rate. Group
instruction is provided by the Club's professional coaches assisted by trained
Program Assistants.
Teen/Adult
CanSkate Teens and Adults are introduced
to the six fundamental movements of skating in a group environment of their
peers.
Parent and Tot This program is a parent and child learn to skate program. Parents skate with their child and help them learn to walk and gain balance to progress to gliding and then towards the six fundamental movements on the ice. Skaters are taught through the use of games, songs and activities in a fun and stimulating environment.
StarSkate/CompetitiveSkate
Pre Juniors/Adv CanSkate
This program is a bridge between CanSkate and the
Skate Canada test program (known as StarSkate). It is taught in a group,
semi-private or private lesson format. The skaters are introduced to the three
primary elements of figure skating: dance, skills and freeskate. This porgram is
available to those who have passed Level 3 CanSkate, and who have a desire to
further their Figure Skating skills.
Junior This
level is for skaters who are in the StarSkate program, and have passed a Skate
Canada test. Skaters are tested in skills, dance and freeskate. At this level
skaters must register in Skills and/or Dance as well as Freeskate. Skaters in
the Junior program are coached privately through contract with one of the Club's
professional coaches. There are a number of competitions available to skaters at
this level, generally within a short drive of Ottawa.
Intermediate
This level is for skaters who have passed a minimum
of 1/2 Junior Bronze Freeskate, or both Junior Bronze Skills & Dance. This level
may compete at invitational and/or competitive competitions. Instruction is
entirely private through contract between the skater's parents and one of the
Club's professional coaches.
Senior
This level is for skaters who have passed a minimum of 1/2 Senior Bronze
Freeskate, or both Senior Bronze Skills & Dance. This level is for advanced
skaters who compete at invitational and/or competitive competitions. Instruction
is entirely private through contract between the skater's parents and one of the
Club's professional coaches.
Training Ice and Guest Skating
This is additional ice time, not on the
regular schedule, is rented by the club, based on needs expressed by coaches in
consultation with parents. Training ice is generally made available to the Club
at a substantial discount in the early morning Monday-Friday. Parents will be
invoiced for training ice time by the Club periodically throughout the year
based on the number of skaters that used the ice surface. Similarly coaches can
arrange for skaters to guest skate in regular schedule club sessions the skater
is not registered in for the full year. This is arranged through the coach and a
form must be completed. The club will invoice for guest skate sessions
periodically throughout the year.
Skating Streams
Skate Canada organizes figure skating
into two streams: StarSkate and CompetitiveSkate.
Skaters start in the StarSkate program and can choose to participate in the
CompetitiveSkate once they have passed the Junior Bronze Freeskate test. The
StarSkate stream offers the skater an opportunity to progress to more advanced
skating tests, with the option to compete in regional skating events.
Advancement thought the program is achieved by passing skating skill tests. The
StarSkate program offers opportunities for skaters to develop basic skills in
four areas: skating skills, freeskating, dance, and artistic/interpretive. The
StarSkate program has the following levels:
Preliminary
Junior Bronze
Senior Bronze
Junior Silver
Senior Silver
Gold
StarSkate tests are conducted by a single evaluator using a scale of: needs
improvement, satisfactory, good and excellent. Each test has its own
specifications as to what must be performed. The Club arranges test days
periodically throughout the year. Parents are invoiced by the Club for the costs
of each test.
The CompetitiveSkate is for skaters who wish to compete in Skate Canada
qualifying events. Skaters may enter this competitive stream at any time, after
passing the appropriate tests, and may switch back to the StarSkate stream at
any time. However, skaters competing at certain qualifying events may not be
able to compete in some StarSkate stream competitions. The competitive Freeskate
levels are:
Pre-Juvenile
Juvenile
Pre-Novice
Novice
Junior
Senior
Competitive tests are judged by a panel of three individuals, and judges award
two marks for each competitive test. Skaters must receive minimum marks in each
category to pass.
Skating Equipment and Attire
Skates In general skates should be the same size as the child’s shoe. The boot
should not be too big. Depending on the manufacturer, skates may be up to a full
size different than the shoe size. Molded skates, with or without picks, are
acceptable for new CanSkate participants. StarSkate participants are encouraged
to skate in leather boots. The toe of the skate should be fitted to allow the
skater to wiggle his or her toes when the boot is laced up. The heel of the foot
should fit closely into the heel of the boot. To test this, unlace your child’s
boot and put a pencil behind the back of the child’s foot when it is pushed
firmly forward into the skate and is right down into the heel of the boot. The
pencil should move easily with a bit of room, but not too much.
Skate Sharpening StarSkaters should have their skates sharpened after about 30
hours of skating. Skaters often know when their skates need sharpening, as do
coaches. Figure skates should not be used on outdoor rinks or for skating on the
canal. If they are used outdoors, ensure they are sharpened right after. The
Club recommends that figure skates be sharpened only at:
Blades and Things - http://bladesandthings.ca/
Vince Derochie 822-1570
Figure 8 http://www.figure8.net
Skate Guards Skate guards are an essential piece of equipment. Please teach your
children not to walk on concrete floors without skate guards. Walking on rubber
mats is acceptable, but should be avoided if possible as well. Skaters should
put guards on right after leaving the ice, and remove them once the skates have
been removed from the skaters' feet. Leaving guards on the skates will promote
rust on the blade. Blades should be wiped dry after skates are removed from the
skaters' feet.
Other Attire Skaters should be warm and comfortable and able to move easily on
the ice. Typical attire includes warm leggings or jogging pants with a
turtleneck and warm sweater. Mittens and/or gloves are essential. Only one pair
of thin socks should be worn, as cushioning of thick socks often restricts
circulation and makes the feet cold. Girls may want to wear skating dresses with
appropriate tights and a jacket.
Club Ice Rules
Please refer to
http://www.rideauskating.ca/documents/Rideau%20Skating%20Club%20Ice%20Rules.pdf
Our Coaches
Please refer to http://www.rideauskating.ca/our_coaches.asp
RSC Executive
Please refer to http://www.rideauskating.ca/executives.asp