Rising Stars

What is Rising Stars?

This introduction to figure skating program is designed to serve as a transitional program from CanSkate (learn to skate program) into figure skating. Skaters will continue to work towards completing their CanSkate badges while simultaneously learning basic figure skating skills in a group setting.

Rising Stars is the next stage of development for skaters who demonstrate enhanced ability & potential to pursue figure skating. This program is taught by our Skate Canada certified coaches and introduces skaters to the foundations of figure skating. Participation within the program is by invitation only.

Skaters need to know the expectations of this program. Some expectations include:

Hair must be tied back and away from face.
Skating attire must be worn – no jeans, long scarves, etc.
Skaters must wear gloves while on the ice.
Skaters must get up promptly after a fall, unless injured.
No standing in the middle of the ice.
Promote good sportsmanship by encouraging fellow skaters and respecting their work time on the ice.

Important Parent Information

# 1 EQUIPMENT
Most department and sports stores and specialty skate shops sell skating equipment in a variety of price and quality ranges. Before buying skates, check carefully for:

proper fit
firm ankle support
good quality leather
correct blade placement

Avoid buying skates that are a larger size. Please check when your child has the skates on that the skates ‘stand up straight’. There are some entry-level skates that have the blades riveted on at odd angles making skating impossible. We will communicate with any parent whose child has a pair of skates that will restrict learning.
When tying your child’s skates, if there is excess lace, please hook it around the hooks a few more times, or cut the lace to a good size.

**Please do not wrap the laces around your child’s ankle.

#2 SHARPENING YOUR SKATES

sharpen skates as soon as they are purchased
use a good skate-sharpening company
re-sharpen skates after approximately 30 hours of skating (depending on usage and care)
the bottom pick should not be removed on figure skates – the pick is part of the design of figure skates and is essential to proper balance

#3 SAFETY

**Helmets are mandatory on CanSkate sessions. Please make sure your child is wearing a CSA certified hockey helmet if they have not yet passed their stage 5 CanSkate Badge. If you are unsure, please contact a coach.

Preventing an injury is better than dealing with one. Skate Canada clubs and coaches plan sessions with “safety first” in mind. Here are basic safety rules that skaters should follow on every Skate Canada session:

Equipment should be checked regularly to see that it is appropriate, fits and is in good condition.
Do warm ups and cool downs which include stroking and slow stretching. Some of these exercises may be done off the ice.
Any skater with a previous injury must be 100% recovered before returning to the ice.
Get up quickly after falling down
Look in the direction of travel when skating backwards
No pushing, playing tag or bumping into others or the boards
No gum or candy on the ice
Sharp objects should not be carried in pockets
Starts and stops should be done a safe distance from the boards.
Laces should be tucked into the top of the boot. The laces should never be wrapped around the top of the boot as it is a safety hazard and circulation to the foot may be cut off.

Coaches and club administrators should be advised of any skaters with special medical condition.

RS Guidelines and Equipment.pdf