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CanSkate is a national certified program offered only through
sanctioned SkateCanada clubs. The SkateCanada program was started about
20 years ago to provide recreational skating to newcomers to the sport.
Over the years, the program has been updated in order to provide the best
techniques to the beginner skater. The program teaches the basic
fundamentals to skating and serves as an excellent introduction to all
ice sports including figure skating, speed skating and hockey. Most NHL
players and all Canadian champions started with this program in their
early years. At CTSC we have adapted this program to adults or skaters of
all ages in our efforts to serve the community.
The CanSkate program is taught in a group format. Grouping is
organized by the Director in conjunction with the staff. Skaters are
divided into groups based on ability and the dynamics of the class.
Beginners receive more individual attention to get them moving as soon as
possible. Skaters progress through the 6 badge format on an 'individual
bases'. Progression is monitored and accessed continuously.
We offer classes for both adults and kids at the same time. This 'one
stop shopping' helps busy parents schedules and eliminates the need for
baby-sitting while adults have pursue their own skating ambitions. Many
parents find this an excellent means to get their own exercise in for the
week while their children are skating and having fun at the same time!
Gloves, winter jackets and pants are essential for kids, optional for
adults. Helmets are compulsory for young skaters just starting out.
This program is offered during the Spring, Summer and Fall sessions.
What happens after a skater graduates
from CanSkate?
The CTSC offers post CanSkate programs for both kids and adults. This
program introduces skaters to the SkateCanada test stream of free style
and dance tests. Skaters discover the pleasures of jumping, spins, edges
and turns, and dance. See our program listing and /or speak to the
Director for advice.
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Private Coaching
One-on-one instruction can be arranged by speaking to any of the
coaches. Fees for private lessons vary depending upon the coaches'
qualifications. Generally, you can expect to pay from $9 - $13 per
fifteen-minute session. The coaches' resumes are available in the skating
office.
Your Relationship With
Your Coach
Your "coach" is your skating
instructor. Read on for:
- How do you get one?
- When do you need one?
- What should you expect
from your coach?
Your relationship with skating instructors usually begins when you
take your first group lesson in a Learn-to-Skate program. Group lessons
are generally taught by several of the instructors at any given rink, and
during your time in these programs you will have the opportunity to meet
and work with several different instructors. Use this time to observe
them -- their techniques, their personality, their teaching and
interpersonal skills, their compatibility with
your interests.
When you are ready to advance beyond the group lesson environment, you
will select a coach to become your teacher. Do not make this decision
lightly -- skating costs a lot of money, takes a lot of your time, and you only live once. Hopefully, your group
lesson time will have helped you to form some initial ideas. Speak to the
Director for advice. Be aware that there is a limited amount of ice time
at all rinks, and instructor's schedules will fill up. You may not be
able to make arrangements with your first choice.
What to Expect From Your Coach
Your coach will become your personal instructor. When you first
contract with a coach, you should have a long talk about your goals and
expectations in skating. Working together, you should build a general
plan for how you will achieve those goals. But then you should trust the
coach to work out the day-to-day lesson plans and "order of
attack". They know best how to teach the elements, and in what order
they should be learned. Don't be afraid to revisit the "goals and
expectations" discussion once in a while, but don't try to
micromanage the coach's method of getting there either.
Your coach will help you to establish an a
private lesson and practice schedule. The coach will help you to balance
the appropriate amount of lesson time with practice time. A general
guideline for the test stream skater is that for each 15 minutes of
lesson time, a skater should have at least 30 minutes of practice time to
reinforce those lessons. Some skaters will need more, some will need
less. In particular, younger skaters may need a higher ratio of lesson
time because they will likely have a harder time "self-directing"
practice time. Usually, coaches give lessons of about 15 or 30 minutes
duration. This will vary according to the needs of the skater, demands
upon the coach's time, and the length of ice sessions.
Your coach will decide when your skater is ready to take about tests and/
or compete. They will prepare you appropriately for these events. When it
is time for a "solo program", they will generally make your
tapes ("cut your music") for a fee. The coach often will
suggest music that they think is appropriate to your skills, level, and
interests. Your coach will choreograph your program to suit the music and
meet the technical requirements of the event.
When you test, your coach will usually be present at your test session to
help you warm up, and to provide support / guidance as you need it.
Similarly, when you compete, you should expect that the coach will go to
the competition with you to guide your warm-up and coach provide any
last-minute support you need (they usually call it "putting you on
the ice").
Finally, expect to be billed for the coach's time. She/he will bill
you directly, usually on a fixed schedule. You should make your payments
directly to the coach. Rates will vary in different areas, and according
to the skill level of the coach. Fee range from $40- $60 generally. The
coach will bill you for cutting music. Expect a bill for time spent with
you at a test session or competition. If the test/competition is not at
your home rink, you should expect a fee for travel, and room/board if it
is an overnight competition (often coaches will divide their expenses
among the students they have at a competition -- sometimes they just have
a fixed fee).
What your coach should expect from parents
and skaters
Your coach should expect your attention and your best effort. No coach
expects every student to do everything right the first time, but they do
expect you to TRY, every time. Do not waste your coach's time, or your
parent's money, through lack of effort.
Your coach should expect you to respect them, just as you expect them to
respect you. Treat them with courtesy on and off the ice. Do not speak
badly about them when they demand things of you. Do not give them
"attitude" on the ice. Leave your personal troubles behind you
when you step onto the ice and focus on the skating.
When you will be unable to attend a lesson, notification should be
given in advance. Otherwise expect to be billed for the booked time.
Remember that for many coaches teaching IS their "job", and the
income they derive from it may be paying their bills. If you are unable
to attend a lesson, they may be able to fit in an extra lesson for
someone else in the time you're not there -- but they need to know in
advance to make those arrangements. Many coaches will charge you a
regular lesson fee if you are an unannounced "no-show".
Pay your bills in a timely manner. Coaches may stop giving lesson for
non-payment of bills. Skaters will not be allowed to take tests or lesson
from other coaches or skate at other clubs when bills are in arrears.
Finally, trust your coach. Sometimes they'll ask you to learn things
you can't see any need for. Or they'll want you to wait on some elements
until after you've perfected other skills. As long as you've jointly set
out your long-term goals, trust them to get you there…
Team Teaching
In many clubs, you will find some coaches that "team teach".
This means that two or more coaches will get together and accept students
"jointly" with one of the coaches being the 'Base Coach'. The
base coach is the coach who is ultimately responsible for
decision-making. The coach will coordinate their lessons with you, and on
any given day you might get one or the other. Sometimes this is done for
scheduling purposes, sometimes it is done because the coach are working
together to make a stronger package (say one is really strong on jumps
and the other is strong on spins), sometimes its done when a long-term
coach is helping a younger coach to get started. If your coach offers you
this arrangement, be sure to understand it before you agree to it (who
gets paid what, when and how many lessons with each coach, who goes to
competitions, etc), but don't be afraid of it as long as you understand
it. If your coach don't team-teach, you may still find it to your
advantage to select different coaches for different disciplines. You
might choose one coach for dance and another for freestyle. Or sometimes
a different one for moves, etc. This is not uncommon, but like team
teaching, it should be entered into with a full understanding on
everyone's part of what the arrangements will be at test or competition
time, and when scheduling conflicts arise.
Choreography
And then there's "choreography". Often, especially at the
higher levels, skaters will contract with a "choreographer" to
help "set" (design) the coach's program, and to work with the
presentation elements associated with that coach program.
When it all fails...Changing Coaches
Before anything else - speak to the Director. The Director's role is
to help you resolve the members problems whenever possible.. You should expect, and be willing to work through,
hard times in any relationship. There will be times in your relationship
with your coach that you'd just as soon never see him/her again, and
you'd just like to hang it up. Try to work through those. But if it all
fails, and you can't work it out, don't be afraid to change coaches. It's
your money, and your career. But don't forget to pay all your bills when
you leave. Even if your arrangements haven't worked out, don't forget
that its usually a 2-way street, and the same coach problems might not
exist for other skaters -- don't spread bad stories and "bad
will" for the coach. Life goes on…Happy Skating!
© 2009 Central
Toronto Skating Club. All rights reserved
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