GENERAL FAQ
Answers to general questions about skating with Ingersoll Skating Club. For questions about specific programs we offer, please scroll down.
I am a new skater. Which session should I register for?
CanSkate is a great place to start for the majority of young skaters. It is a full-season program (Sept-March) that builds a solid foundation to continue in recreational, hockey, or figure skating, and registration is open through January. Coaches provide guidance and do regular, informal assessments to ensure your child is getting feedback, and our Program Assistants are always around to offer assistance and encouragement. CanSkate is suitable for any child who can usually stand up by themselves when they've fallen, but no prior experience is necessary.
Learn to Skate is a half-season program for skaters of all ages wishing to improve their skating for mainly recreational purposes, while surrounded by people at a similar skill level. Our Learn to Skate sessions are targeted to Teens and Adults in the Fall, and open to All Ages in the Winter session. No experience is necessary.
Parent & Tot session is a great option for our youngest or more timid skaters who need full-time support on the ice. Our Coaches and Program Assistants are still around to offer direction and encouragement, but skaters in this session want a known, trusted adult close by at all times. This is a 10-12 week program offered in both the Fall and Winter.
Which CanSkate level should I register for?
Skaters under age 8 with no previous experience should register in CanSkate PreBeginner/Level 1.
Skaters age 8 and over with no previous experience may register in CanSkate Level 2-5.
Rest assured, our Coaches do skill assessments of all skaters regularly. If your child is assessed to be at a different level than what they have registered for, they will be moved to the appropriate session for the safety of everyone on the ice. (Start time may differ by 45 minutes, but skating day would usually not change.)
What is the Skate Canada fee that has been added to my invoice?
All skaters must be registered with Skate Canada prior to taking to the ice. The annual membership fee is $62.00. Annual Skate Canada Membership and Insurance is valid from September 1 to August 31. This fee is 100% non-refundable and is not prorated at any time during the season.
Membership Benefits**
Become part of the skating family and a national recognized association with a strong history and an outstanding national and international reputation. *Participation in the Member Accident insurance program as a reduced rate *Access to Skate Canada Programs and program incentive materials *Expertly developed and professional delivered Skate Canada Programs *The opportunity to participate in interclub and invitational competitions *Special member prices on merchandise from the on-line store *Receive the option to purchase selected Skate Canada event tickets prior to the general public or at a discounted prices for members *Opportunities to be recognized through a nationally standardized testing system for achieving specific figure skating skills
**Information from Skate Canada Website
Where can I buy skates?
New skates for beginner or recreational skaters can be purchased at many retail outlets: Canadian Tire, SportChek, etc. Please note that new skates have a protective coating on the blades and MUST be sharpened before going on the ice for the first time.
Used skates can be purchased or rented at our neighbour, ProEdge Skate Shop across from the arena. Used skates can also be found in various on-line buy-and-sell groups.
For StarSkate athletes (Junior, Intermediate or Senior sessions), Cheryl and Steve Butterworth continue to be an excellent local resource for high quality figure skate rental and purchase. Rental contracts are available for skaters under age 14 until they have passed Star 4 Freeskate. Mid-season changes are permitted, when available, to accommodate growth spurts. Repairs, maintenance and sharpening on-site. Contact Cheryl for more information at butterworths.sc@gmail.com
How should a skate fit?
When fitting your child remember these basic guidelines:
Never buy skates more than ½ size larger than the foot measures. Make sure when your child puts on the skate that you can squeeze no more than one finger down the back of the boot. If the boot is slightly too big a thick insole will make the boot comfortable and decrease the chance of blistering.
Make sure your skater can stand securely in the boot. If the ankle is tilting to one side, the boot is too big or there is not enough support for their weight.
If it is a second hand boot, make sure it is not too strong as this will make it difficult for the skater to learn proper knee and ankle bend. Make sure there are no wrinkles.
Molded plastic skates should be avoided because the plastic ends up controlling the foot. These skates are so inflexible that skaters will have problems bending their knees and changing flexion of the ankle. In addition the plastic gets very cold and stiff on the ice, making the skater’s feet cold as well.
Skates should fit snugly around the ankle and heel with some room to wiggle the toes. The tongue should be well padded and wide enough to cover the front of the ankle and stay in place.
Walk around in the skates off the ice; they should feel comfortable.
Where can I get my skates sharpened?
There are no skate sharpening facilities inside the arena, but we recommend ProEdge Skate Shop or Steve & Cheryl Butterworth Skate Rental & Service. Appointments may be required, so please consider calling ahead.
My child missed several lessons due to illness or vacation. Will I be compensated?
There will be no make-up or substitute skating days allowed regardless of the reason. There will be no pro-rated fees or refunds for missed classes. In the event of a long-term injury, please contact a Board Member.
Can I go on the ice to help my child?
Every person to step foot on the ice surface must be registered with Ingersoll Skating Club and pay the annual insurance fee of $62 that we submit to Skate Canada. Adult helpers are allowed in our Parent & Tot program, but generally our Coaches and Program Assistants can provide all the help your child will need.
How do private lessons work?
Once skaters enter the Junior session, they may elect to take private lessons with a Professional Coach as a break-away during their regular group sessions. Lessons are billed separately (per minute) by each Coach, and rate will depend on a number of factors including the Coach's level of expertise and years of experience. Most will range $8-15 per 15 minute lesson. You may like to work with different coaches for different disciplines (skills vs dance, for example). If there is a specific Coach your child seems to respond well to, don't hesitate to approach them to work out a private lesson schedule.
When skaters progress to the Intermediate and Senior sessions, all sessions are conducted as independent practice with private lessons interspersed throughout.
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC FAQ
CanSkate
What clothing/equipment does my skater need?
Which CanSkate level should I register for?
Skaters under age 8 with no previous experience should register in CanSkate PreBeginner/Level 1.
Skaters age 8 and over with no previous experience may register in CanSkate Level 2-5.
Rest assured, our Coaches do skill assessments of all skaters regularly. If your child is assessed to be at a different level than what they have registered for, they will be moved to the appropriate session for the safety of everyone on the ice. (Start time may differ by 45 minutes, but skating day would usually not change.)
Can I go on the ice to help my child?
Every person to step foot on the ice surface must be registered with Ingersoll Skating Club and pay the annual insurance fee of $62 that we submit to Skate Canada. Adult helpers are allowed in our Parent & Tot program, but generally our Coaches and Program Assistants can provide all the help your child will need.
Parent & Tot
What clothing/equipment does my skater need?
What clothing/equipment does the registered Helper need?
Hockey or figure skates. Shoes are not allowed on the ice surface at any time.
If the Adult who is signed up as a Helper can't attend, can someone else come in their place?
No. Every person to step foot on the ice must be registered through ISC with Skate Canada at the beginning of the session. This registration is required for insurance coverage. ONLY the people who are registered and who have paid their non-refundable Skate Canada membership are allowed on the ice. If there will be multiple days where one adult can not attend with the child, please speak to one of our Board members about registering a second adult with Skate Canada. The annual fee for each Helper to be registered is $62.
Advanced Power Skating Skills
What equipment does my Advanced Power Skater need?
- a CSA-certified hockey helmet
- full hockey gear is preferred
- hockey stick will be used some weeks (no pucks will be used)
Where are the dressing room assignments?
When you enter the arena, the monitor screens above will indicate which change room your group is assigned to. Rooms are assigned by gender. The room assignment is subject to change weekly.
Junior
What is Junior session?
Junior session is a combined class of skaters in CanSkate Stage 5/6, and those beginning their journey in STARSkate to learn the three disciplines of Figure Skating:
• SKILLS: Edges and turns to music on a set pattern.
• DANCE: Set pattern of steps to specific music.
• FREESKATE: Jumps, spins and solos.
The skaters work on these disciplines in small group format, instructed by Professional Skating Coaches and and assisted by some of our higher level Program Assistants. Skaters have the option to take private lessons from a Professional Coach to expediate their progress. The skaters work toward testing in the three disciplines to demonstrate proficiency and advance to learning new skills. Skaters may also choose to participate in a skating competitions. Once they have passed certain tests, they will be moved up to the Intermediate Session.
How do private lessons work?
Once skaters enter the Junior session, they may elect to take private lessons with a Professional Coach as a break-away during their regular group sessions. Lessons are billed separately (per minute) by each Coach, and rate will depend on a number of factors including the Coach's level of expertise and years of experience. Most will range $8-15 per 15 minute lesson. You may like to work with different coaches for different disciplines (skills vs dance, for example). If there is a specific Coach your child seems to respond well to, don't hesitate to approach them to work out a private lesson schedule.
When skaters progress to the Intermediate and Senior sessions, all sessions are conducted as independent practice with private lessons interspersed throughout.
Does my child still need to wear their helmet in this session?
Skaters must wear a helmet until they pass CanSkate Stage 5.
Coaches have said my child will be "testing" soon. What does that mean?
As skaters make progress in their skill development, Skate Canada requires them to demonstrate their proficiency before they can begin working on the next skillset. Skaters in the Junior session will be at the Star 1-2 level, and may be asked to test in any of: Skills, Free Skate Elements, Free Skate Programs, or Dance. Testing at this level is done by our Coaching Team and is conducted on regular session ice. Skaters will only be asked to test when the Coach is confident they know their stuff! Testing is exciting, not something to get stressed about.
Parents will be notified by the Coaching Team that a skater is ready to test. There is a testing fee of $12 per test that is required by Skate Canada. Payment can be made via e-transfer to ingersollskatingclub@outlook.com or with cash/cheque before the test is administered. All of our skaters results are submitted to Skate Canada online and are tracked with their name and Skate Canada number.
Intermediate and Senior
What are Intermediate and Senior sessions?
In the Intermediate Session, the skaters work independently on the discifourplines of skating. They receive private lessons from one or more of the Professional Coaches, for which they are invoiced directly by the Coach. The skaters continue to try tests and attend competitions, if they choose to do so. Once they have achieved a certain skill level, they will move up to the Senior Session. Senior Session runs similarly, but at a higher skill level and with longer sessions.
What is my skater working on?
Always feel free to ask your skater or ask a Coach. Skaters will often be at different levels in the different disciples. An athlete testing a Star 9 Dance may simultaneously be working on a Star 3 Freeskate. There is no "right" way to progress through the disciplines, and you should resist comparing your skater to another. At ISC, our mission statement is: To ensure that all skaters have the opportunity to define and reach their own personal level of success.
How does testing work? Why do Coaches sometimes test, but other times we must test before a special judge?
Assessments STAR 1-5
STAR 1-5 is the official "Learn to Figure Skate" program of Skate Canada. It covers the content outlined in the Learn to Train stage of development. The Ingersoll Skating Club offers this program to support all of our skaters using the Skate Canada Standards.
- Testing at this level is done by our Coaching Team on lesson ice.
- Parents will be notified by the Coaching Team that a skater is ready to test.
- There is an administrative fee of $12 per test that is required by Skate Canada.
- Payment of these tests can be made via e-transfer at ingersollskatingclub@outlook.com or with cash/cheque before the test is administered.
- All of our skaters results are submitted to Skate Canada online and are tracked under their name and Skate Canada number.
There are different categories that your skater can work towards:
- STAR 1-5 Skills
- STAR 1-5 Freeskate Elements
- STAR 1-5 Freeskate Programs
- STAR 1-5 Dance
- STAR 1-5 Artistic
These are exciting milestones for our skaters and we love celebrating them with you. They are also preparing for their next levels in assessment, which are STAR 6-Gold Assessment Days. These are done with a Skate Canada Evaluator from our area.
Assessments STAR 6-Gold
STAR 6-Gold is the official "Learn to Compete" stage of development of Skate Canada. At the beginning of every season Ingersoll Skating Club and Dorchester Skating Club work together to schedule Assessment Day opportunities for our skaters.
- Testing at this level is done by a Skate Canada Evaluator on ice assigned for this purpose (not during a regular lesson)
- Coaches will monitor, prepare and make a final list for the Assessment Day two weeks before the date.
- Parents will be notified by the Assessment Coordinator that a skater is ready to test on the next Assessment Day.
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Test fees payable are broken down as follows:
- $12 per test is collected by ISC on behalf of Skate Canada.
- Additionally, an administrative fee of $5 for one test or $8 for two or more tests is collected by ISC to help offset the costs associated with hosting an Assessment Day.
- There will be an extra $10 “Guest Skating” fee for any skater who is welcomed to participate in our Assessment Day who does not skate in a regular session at our Club. (This is only applied once per Assessment Day regardless of how many tests are being attempted)
- All Payments must be received 7 days before scheduled test dates. After this, we have enacted a no refund policy so that we can submit the final schedule with Evaluator*
- All of our skaters results are submitted to Skate Canada online and are tracked under their name and Skate Canada number.
* In cases of withdrawal due to unforeseen circumstances or injury, the Skate Canada fees will be waived but administrative fees will stand.
If my skater wants to start competing, what are the next steps?
Early in the season, one of our Coaches will send an email asking whether your skater would like to compete and in what kind of competitions (ie. freeskate/solo, dance, artistic, elements). She will then send you a list of competitions you may be interested in, along with registration details. There are additional fees associated with competing. Be aware that it is possible, and often likely, that registration exceeds capacity, so it is advisable to register for competitions as soon as registration opens to avoid disappointment.
