|
Programs
We
are proud to offer SkateCanada programs:
CanSkate
and StarSkate
Every Skate Canada skating program complements the others
and allows for unrestricted movement and development through
the system. All programs are taught by professional coaches
certified through the National Coaching Certification Program
(NCCP).
Skate Canada programs are based on a Participant Development
Model and an Athlete Development Model.
CanSkate
CanSkate is Skate Canada's flagship learn-to-skate program,
designed for beginners of all ages. When you sign up for
CanSkate you will be in a program that focuses on fun, participation
and basic skill development. You will earn badges and other
incentives as you learn fundamental skating skills. Lessons
are given in a group format and led by an NCCP certified
professional coach. Professional coaches are assisted by
trained Program Assistants. The coach to student ratio is
a maximum of 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and
coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, music
and a wide variety of activities that create a fun environment
and promote learning. CanSkate is the feeder program to
all other Skate Canada Skating Programs, and is presented
by BMO Financial Group, reflecting their commitment to grassroots
development
Why
sign up for CanSkate?
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.
When you/your child registers for a CanSkate program at
your local Skate Canada club, you also become a member of
Skate Canada, the national sport governing body for figure
skating in Canada. Membership benefits in the CanSkate program
can include:
badges
stickers
tattoos
colouring sheets
parent information sheets
progress updates and report cards
special CanSkate events and club functions
BMO CanSkater of the Year award program
opportunity to be talent-scouted
opportunity to participate in a positive healthy lifestyle
activity
Program Structure
The CanSkate program focuses on the development of six fundamental
movements organized in six stages of learning, with an optional
7th level for skaters who want to move into figure skating.
The skills are arranged in progressions, from very simple
to the more complex. Each stage has a primary focus. Once
the skills on each stage are mastered, a badge
is awarded. The series of badges include Stage badges, Fundamental
Movement badges and Fitness badges.
The names of the STAGE badges
are:
Stage 1 - Balance
Stage 2 - Glide Forward
Stage 3 - Glide Backward
Stage 4 - Edges
Stage 5 - Power
Stage 6 - Speed
Stage 7 (optional) - Pre-Preliminary
The names of the FUNDAMENTAL
MOVEMENT badges are:
Go Forward
Go Backward
Stop
Turn
Spin
Jump
The names of the FITNESS badges
are:
Fitness I
Fitness II
STARSkate
Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition – this is what
STARSkate is all about!
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.
Unique in Canada, this program teaches figure skating skills
in a group and/or private lesson format in a progressive and
sequential manner and includes specifically designed awards
and incentives. Skaters have the opportunity to take Skate
Canada Tests through a nationally standardized testing system.
Skaters who have mastered figure skating skills in STARSkate
may also choose to pursue synchronized skating or pairs skating.
STARSkate has been the mainstay of figure skating in Canada
for more than four decades.
When you/your child registers for a STARSkate program at
your local Skate Canada club, you also become a member of
Skate Canada and will have access to:
opportunities to be recognized through a nationally standardized
testing system for achieving specific figure skating skills
complimentary Gold Test pins
invitational and interclub competitions, including the national
STARSkate championship stream
specifically designed awards and incentives such as badges,
tattoos and stickers
STARSkate Skater of the Year awards program
Progress updates and report cards
Special STARSkate events and club functions
Opportunity to be talent-scouted
Opportunity for personal growth and the development of important
life skills such as goal-setting, self-discipline, confidence,
time management, healthy lifestyle and coping strategies to
deal with success and failure.
These are some of the awards and incentives that have been
developed to encourage athletes in the STARSkate Program.
Free Skating Pin, Stickers, STARSkate Program Badge.
How
STARSkate works
The STARSkate program consists of figure
skating skills in four areas –
Skating
Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate and Interpretive.
Each
area is divided into the following levels:
Primary Level Tests
Skating Skills: Preliminary, Junior Bronze
Free Skating: Preliminary, Junior Bronze
Dance: Preliminary, Junior Bronze
Interpretive: Introductory
Intermediate Level Tests
Skating Skills: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver
Free Skating: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver
Dance: Senior Bronze, Junior Silver
Interpretive: Bronze
Senior Level Tests
Skating Skills: Senior Silver, Gold
Free Skating: Senior Silver, Gold
Dance: Senior Silver, Gold, Diamond
Interpretive: Silver, Gold
What Options do I have as a STARSkate Athlete?
Once a skater is in the Skate Canada STARSkate Program, there
are several of options. Skaters may choose to remain in the
STARSkate Program, taking tests (although not mandatory) at
organized test sessions and honing learned skills. Skaters
may also choose to enter competitions, while still trying
Skate Canada tests. Other skaters may feel that they have
progressed to a point where they may wish to enter the Skate
Canada CompetitiveSkate Program or become involved in synchronized
skating, evaluating or judging, or participate as an adult
or varsity member.
Skating Skills
Skating Skills are a combination of fundamental skating movements,
executed on a pattern and skated solo to prescribed music.
The basic components of all disciplines of figure skating
are incorporated into the program. The movements are derived
from former compulsory figures, free skating and ice dancing.
The objective of the Skating Skills program is mastery of
the basic fundamentals of skating - edge quality, control,
power and speed.
There are 6 Skating Skills tests
in the STARSkate program:
Preliminary
Junior Bronze
Senior Bronze
Junior Silver
Senior Silver
Gold
Ice Dance
Consisting of seven levels of tests, the Dance Test program
teaches timing, musicality, rhythm interpretation, structure
as well as basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control
and unison.
The dances in the STARSkate Program can be tried in any order
but a candidate must pass the required number of dances in
a dance test before proceeding to the next level. In addition
to the traditional compulsory dances, there are also Creative
Dances to challenge skaters' creativity, artistry and originality.
The Dance Tests are as follows:
Preliminary
Junior Bronze
Senior Bronze
Junior Silver
Senior Silver
Gold
Diamond
Free Skate
Free skating consists of the execution of jumps, spins, footwork,
field movements and stroking, either in isolation or performed
in sequence to music.
There are six Free Skating tests in
the STARSkate Program:
Preliminary
Junior Bronze
Senior Bronze
Junior Silver
Senior Silver
Gold
Each test consists of 2 parts - Elements in Isolation
and a Free Program.
Interpretive
The objective of the Interpretive program is to encourage
and develop skaters' creativity, expression, musicality, movement,
interpretation of music, as well as the use of space, rhythm,
line and style. The program provides skaters with the opportunity
to explore the performance aspect of skating without focusing
on technical elements.
The Interpretive tests consist of skating to and interpreting
a piece of music 2.0 to 3.0 minutes (+/- 10 seconds) in length.
Skaters can take Interpretive tests as individuals and/or
as a couple (male/female, female/female or male/male) at four
levels:
Introductory
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Competitions for STARSkate
Athletes
STARSkate participants love to compete! Our feedback indicates
that even though a skater may choose not to participate in
the Skate Canada CompetitiveSkate Program, they still want
the opportunity to test their skill in a competition situation.
Skate Canada offers several opportunities to do this.
Club Competitions
Clubs offer competitions for their own members to compete
against each other. The club determines the categories which
generally follow Skate Canada STARSkate guidelines (e.g. length
of program, category name, type of event offered, etc.) The
club may also offer other creative events such as longest
shoot-the-duck, similar pairs, spins and jumps, etc.)
STARSkate Interclub Competitions
These are events involving a number of clubs in the same region
or area. The competition categories offered generally fall
in line with the applicable Skate Canada Section specifications,
so that all Interclubs within the Section are standardized
(this allows Skate Canada Sections to offer a Section Final).
The National STARSkate Interclub Championship stream provides
opportunities for skaters who want to remain in the STARSkate
program but also want to have the challenge of competing up
to a national level in a credible, nationally standardized
event.
Invitational Competitions
These are events coordinated by a Section or Club(s) and offered,
generally, to STARSkaters and competitive. Most events fall
within Skate Canada's specifications regarding program length
and eligibility to compete. For more information contact the
hosting Section or club.
|