Precanskate – Age 3 & 4 years of age
If your skater is 3 – 4 years old and has never skated in a Canskate program before PreCanSkate is Skate Canada’s Flagship learn-to-skate program designed for those who have never skated before or who need to learn to balance and begin to move on the ice. In their fun 30-minute session, skaters will learn to balance and move forward, to move backward and stop, to stride, jump & turn.
Canskate – Ages 4 and up
If your skater is 4 years or older, CanSkate program based on Sport Canada’s long term athlete development (LTAD) principles. Exciting new features include a fresh new look, new awards, great tools for coaches and most importantly a tested and proven new curriculum and delivery methods that guarantee skater success in developing stronger basic skills and developing them faster. But there’s more! The new program also includes specific skills that pertain to hockey, ringette, speed skating and figure skating. The result is a dynamic new program that prepares all skaters for virtually every ice sport.
The Coldwater and District Skating Club is proud to have all its programs taught by professional coaches who are specially trained and certified through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).
If your skater is 6 years or older, has been in CanSkate before and is interested in figure skating then please contact Coach Lisa at [email protected] to register with our Future Stars program.
WHY SIGN UP FOR CANSKATE?
What is CanSkate?
CanSkate is a dynamic learn-to-skate program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. Based on Sport Canada’s long term athlete development (LTAD) principles, CanSkate centers on physical literacy and the fundamental skills needed to take part in any ice sport or to skate as a recreational activity.
Who’s it for?
For beginners of all ages, as well as for those wishing to improve their basic skills whether their focus be for figure skating, hockey, speed skating or just skating for fun.
Who teaches it?
NCCP-trained professional coaches, assisted by trained program assistants.
What will you learn?
A complete series of balance, control and agility skills taught in six stages of learning that pertain to hockey, ringette, speed skating and figure skating as well as general recreational skating. CanSkate uses nationally-tested and proven curriculum and delivery methods that guarantee skater success in developing stronger basic skills and developing them faster.
What can you expect?
Action, movement, and fun! Lessons are given in a group format with a coach-to-student ratio of a maximum 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, upbeat music and a wide variety of activities that create a motivational environment and promote learning. Badges, ribbons, and other incentives are used to benchmark skaters’ progress and reward effort and participation.
What do you need to participate?
All you need are skates, a CSA-approved hockey helmet, long pants, mittens, warm sweater, or jacket. Dress in layers – it will get warm!
When your child’s class has begun, we ask that all parents sit in seating to watch your child’s class. Standing at the side is not recommended as skaters tend to leave their group to chat with their parents, to ensure the best quality lessons please sit in the seating area. All ice surface doors are to remain closed during the session for your child’s safety. At the end of your CanSkate session, we ask all parents to meet your skater at the exit door
Star Skate – For skaters who have completed the Canskate program
FutureStars
Our introductory FutureStars program is designed to help the skater’s transition from the Canskate learn to skate program to the more advanced StarSkate program. Children in this program will experience a more advanced program than CanSkate. At this level, skaters may choose to compete, test, or skate recreationally.
What to expect from the FutureStars Program
Introduction to Stroking: involves all skaters using the entire ice surface in a warm up format. The stroking session is set up to develop a skater’s edge quality, control, power and speed. Warm up sessions last for 15 minutes.
Group Lessons: taught in group format. Group lessons will include skating skills, spins, jumps, field moves and an introduction to dance.
Freeskate: skaters begin to develop independent practice skills such as spins, jumps and field moves, skills will be taught in a group lesson. Learning the skill of independence on the ice at the StarSkate Junior level is critical to a skater’s overall development in the future.
Extra independent practice time may be required for skaters who have advanced to a solo routine. Coaches will guide the skater to work independently on improving the skills the coach has taught in their program.
Private Lessons: private lessons are available from the club’s Professional coaching staff, all of which are registered with Skate Canada. To book a private lesson, parents must approach coaches prior to or after ice sessions or email the club or coach to request a private lesson.
StarSkate
This program is for advanced skaters. Your coach will tell you when it would be time to move up to this level.
The StarSkate program continues to provide instruction through group lessons using Skate Canada’s advanced CanSkate programming and when ready, introduces the skater to the preliminary level skating skills of stroking, free skate, dance and skills. It is strongly recommended that skaters in the StarSkate Program skate twice a week.
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. 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 with the focus being on testing and local competitions over qualifying for national level events.
Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition – this is what StarSkate is all about!
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:
• Skating Skills: STAR 1 – Gold
• Free Skating: STAR 1 – Gold
• Dance: STAR 1 – Gold
• Interpretive: Introductory, Bronze, Silver & Gold
Skating Skills are a combination of fundamental skating movements that include edges, turns, field moves and basic skating. 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.
Ice Dance teaches timing, musicality, rhythm interpretation, structure as well as basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison. In addition to the traditional compulsory dances, there are also Creative Dances to challenge skaters’ creativity, artistry and originality.
Free Skate consists of jumps, spins, footwork, field movements and stroking, either in isolation or performed in sequence to music. Each test consists of 2 parts – elements in isolation and a choreographed program (except for STAR 1 which is just elements in isolation).
Interpretive programs 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 like jumps or spins
Parents need to arrange their own private lessons at the Starskate level.