The Skating Booklet

TRAINING CAMPS

Each year WAISA holds a Training Camp for the State Team. The object of this camp is to bring skater together, who normally train with different coaches, to have fun and the opportunity to come together and form a bond, which will carry over to the National Championships and beyond, where team spirit is so very important.

Occasionally, camps are held in the Eastern States, for National level skaters. This is also a wonderful opportunity for our Western Australian skaters to get to know their peers from other States.

As WA is so isolated our skaters are not always able to compete in the competitions in the Eastern States so training camps serve a dual purpose, extra training and valuable socialisation.

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SKATE SHARPENING

To ensure efficiency on ice, the blades need to be sharpened regularly.
It is recommended that blade be sharpened after approximately 30 hours of skating. This will vary according to the size of the skater.
Younger skaters will not blunt their skates as quickly as older skater.
If you are not sure, ask your child's coach.

Listed below are skate sharpening services available in Perth.

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KEEP IT FUN - THE 10 COMMITMENTS

1. I will encourage my child to participate - not force them into anything.
2. I love my child and I will focus on their efforts and performance - NOT their marks.
3. I will encourage my child to compete within the rules and respect officials and coaches decisions no matter what.
4. I will enjoy the competitions - cheer and clap the good efforts of ALL the competitors.
5. I will appreciate good performances by all participants at different skill levels.
6. I will respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person regardless of their gender, cultural background or religion.
7. I will appreciate the efforts of all volunteers in the sport and enjoy the company of other parents.
8. I WILL NOT embarrass my child by yelling abuse from rink side.
9. I WILL NOT criticise my child's performance after the competition, test or training session. I realise that good fun is more important than a good win.
10. I WILL NOT pressure my child in any way. I know that it is their sport - NOT MINE!

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WHAT YOUR CHILD MAY GAIN FROM FIGURE SKATING

PHYSICAL FITNESS
• Improve fitness, strength, flexibility and co-ordination
• Improve general health and helps weight management
• Develop a wide range of motor skills
• Establish health behaviours that young people will carry throughout their lives

SOCIAL BENEFITS
• Develop communication and interpersonal skills
• Develop leadership and co-operation skills
• Create lasting friendships
• Increase interest in accepting responsibility
• How to deal with winning and losing
• Provide a vehicle for responsible risk taking

PERSONAL BENEFITS
• Enjoyment factor - a biggy!!
• Improve self esteem and confidence
• Improve ability to concentrate: facilitating better performance at school
• Learn self-discipline, commitment and responsibility.
• Learn organisational skill and how to share.
• Learn how to deal with pressures and stress.
• Encourage health related behaviours, i.e. better eating habits, less likely to smoke

HOW DO I BENEFIT FROM MY CHILD ICE SKATING?

• You get to be a bigger part of their lives by sharing more of their experiences.
• Appreciate that your children are having fun, being active and healthy.
• You know where your children are, that they are being supervised and having fun.
• Research has shown that children who are involved in sport tend to stay in school longer and get better grades.
• Assist in developing behaviours that will encourage life long health and well being.

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PARENT ETIQUETTE IN SPORT

DEALING WITH COACHES

• If a parent wishes to seek clarification or have a discussion with a coach, then the following guidelines should apply:

1. Choose a time that does not interfere with another skaters time with the coach.
2. Allow high emotions to subside before engaging in any discussion.
3. Listen.
4. Avoid interrupting.
5. Clarify the issue.
6. Obtain closure.
7. Leave the door open for future discussion.

• Parents should leave the coaching to the coaches.
• Parents should find the opportunities to recognise the effort their child's coach puts into developing their children and the sport.
• Avoid speaking negatively about the coach, especially in front of your child.

DEALING WITH OFFICIALS

Parents should not question the decision of an official during the course of a competition or test.
If a parent needs to seek clarification they should approach the official and apply similar guidelines as mentioned above.

It is NEVER appropriate to question or abuse officials during a competition or test.

1. In most instances, officials have received training and have a better understanding of the rules.
2. Officials make mistakes, as do skaters and parents. Even officials aren't perfect.
3. Officials may have a different view of the sport to those of spectators and so may see something that you cannot or vice versa.
4. All officials are volunteers who give up their time to do the job. In fact, many officials are out there because NOBODY else will offer to do it.

Abusing officials will not change the outcome of a competition or test but it will lead to fewer and less qualified officials.

Parents are role models for their children - so your children will reflect your attitude towards coaches and officials. Have you ever offered to officiate?

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AFTER AUSSIE SKATE

Most children come into the sport of Ice Skating by skating in a public session, show an interest in wanting to learn more and enrol in a "Learn to Skate" course. These courses teach the skater the basics of figure skating.

A child may be happy to stay in these group classes, and become a competent social skater.

However, some children show an interest in pursuing figure skating as a sport.

At this stage the rink management will help you to choose a coach that will suit the needs of your child.

There are several different paths that a skater can take;

• Skating with the Synchronised teams.
• Ice Dance.
• Pairs.
• Figure Skating.

Each of these disciplines can lead the young skaters to skate at State level and even National and International level. It requires many hours of training on and off the ice.

Parents and skaters have to be prepared for Ice Skating to become a huge part of their lives if the skater gets "the bug"!!!

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