THE BREEZY POINT FIGURE SKATING CLUB MEMBER HANDBOOK “The mission of the Breezy Point Figure Skating Club is to provide high quality instruction in the disciplines of figure skating and develop each skater’s potential to the fullest in a fun, positive and supportive environment.” Table of Contents WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM................................................................................ 3 Breezy Point Figure Skating Club Contact Information .......................................... 3 GENERAL INFORMATION.......................................................................................... 4 Ice and Coaching Fees .................................................................................................. 4 GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING A COACH ............................................................... 4 PROPER EQUIPMENT AND ATTIRE ........................................................................ 5 Boots and Blades ........................................................................................................... 5 Clothing.......................................................................................................................... 5 CARE OF BOOTS AND BLADES ................................................................................. 6 BPFSC ICE ETIQUETTE AND CLUB MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES ............... 7 Skater’s Responsibilities............................................................................................... 7 Parent Responsibilities ................................................................................................. 7 BPFSC POLICIES............................................................................................................ 9 FIGURE SKATING PRIMER ...................................................................................... 11 Basic Skills Levels ....................................................................................................... 11 Disciplines of Figure Skating ..................................................................................... 11 Skating Frequency ...................................................................................................... 12 Testing and Competitions .......................................................................................... 12 Moves in the Field Test Requirements...................................................................... 13 Free Skating Test Requirements ............................................................................... 14 Additional Tips for Testing........................................................................................ 15 Competitions................................................................................................................ 15 The BPFSC Member Handbook Page 2 of 16 WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM Welcome to the Breezy Point Figure Skating Club (BPFSC) and congratulations for choosing a sport which will foster self-esteem, self-reliance, and self-discipline as well as provide a lifetime of enjoyment and healthy activity. Skating, with its unique blend of artistry and athleticism, has universal appeal and continues to grow in popularity. This handbook is intended to provide you with information about the functioning of BPFSC and background on the sport of figure skating, all in an effort to make your skater’s experience the best that it can be. BPFSC was founded in 2006 and is a member club of the United States Figure Skating association (USFS), the governing body of amateur figure skating in the United States. (For more information about USFS, consult their website: www.usfigureskating.org) Because the Club holds this membership with USFS, all Club members hold the same membership. This association with USFS entitles the skater to participate in official USFS test sessions and competitions. Other benefits of Club membership include: Skating on ice reserved only for BPFSC and limited to 20 skaters Reduced ice fees The opportunity to receive high quality instruction from a professional USFS member coach A yearly subscription to Skating magazine, the official publication of USFS Participation in Club-sponsored exhibitions, shows, and social events Participation in the annual spring Club banquet Breezy Point Figure Skating Club Contact Information Mailing address: P.O. Box 143 Breezy Point, MN 56472 Email address: [email protected] Website: http://www.BPFigureSkating.com The BPFSC Member Handbook Page 3 of 16 GENERAL INFORMATION The BPFSC functions with a volunteer panel of 7-11 elected board members, each of whom serves a term of two years. New board members are elected at the Club spring banquet and annual meeting. The Board manages the affairs of the Club, establishes basic policy and protocol and updates them as needed. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please let a Board member know (visit the Club’s website for a list of the current Board of Directors and their contact information). If you are unable to serve on the Board, please support those who do! Board meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month and are open to the general membership of the Club. Meeting notices are sent via email and also posted on the website. Anyone wishing to have a specific item included on the agenda of a Board meeting is encouraged to contact the Club president. BPFSC is incorporated in the state of Minnesota as a non-profit organization with tax- exempt status. The major sources of income for the Club are the membership fees, contracted ice fees, the Learn to Skate program, and several fund-raisers held throughout the year. The major expense is the rental of ice from the Breezy Point Arena. Ice and Coaching Fees Each skater contracts with the Club for a set number of ice sessions per week and arranges for individual lessons with one of the Club’s approved professional coaches. Ice session contracts are made on a month-to-month basis and are submitted with your check payable to BPFSC. Contracts and checks can be given to the Ice Coordinator or mailed to the previously listed Club address. Ice contracts are due by the first of skating month, or else it is presumed that the skater is contracting all sessions. Payment is due by the fifth of the skating month, or a $35 late fee will be assessed. All of our coaches are self-employed and you will hire the coach on your own from a list provided by the Club. Fees for private lessons are the responsibility of the skater/parent; the coach will bill you separately, usually on a monthly schedule. Coaching fees vary and depend on credentials and experience. Consult the BPFSC website to download ice contracts, the current calendar of ice sessions, and a listing of coaches and their contact information. GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING A COACH A coach will spend hours training and interacting with your child and shape her/his attitude about skating for years to come. Before you can find the best coach for your child, determine what makes your child tick and what types of people work well with her/him. How is your child motivated? Is she/he a self-starter or does your child need to be nudged along in a more structured format? Does she/he feel more comfortable with The BPFSC Member Handbook Page 4 of 16 older or younger adults? Many parents and skaters choose to visit several Club ice sessions and observe the various coaches and how they interact with their students. When a potential coach is chosen, the parent may wish to contact the coach and set up a meeting or short trial lesson to get to know one another and discuss skating goals. Possible questions to ask include: What is your coaching philosophy? How long have you been coaching? What is your skating background? Did you skate competitively? What are your greatest coaching accomplishments? What percentage of your students pass USFS tests on the first try? How do your students place in competitions? How do you stay current with the sport and the profession of coaching? The responsibilities of the coach are to teach technically correct form and bring out the best possible performance and outlook in the skater. The coach will recommend a lesson and practice schedule, give assistance in choosing equipment, and help in finding music suitable to the skater’s skill level and personality. Continued progress and improvement in your skater is very important. If a problem arises, the skater’s attitude becomes negative, or no improvement is noted, the parent should speak directly with the coach to determine the causes of the problem and possible solutions. If skater, parent, and coach are no longer comfortable with each other, a coaching change is often advisable. Always strive for open communication among all parties! PROPER EQUIPMENT AND ATTIRE Boots and Blades Once your skater is ready to join the Club and learn more advanced skills such as spins, jumps, and intricate footwork, it is very important to provide your child with a supportive, high quality boot and a proper blade that will allow performance of the required maneuvers. Examples of quality boots include Riedell, Jackson, and SP Teri; high quality blade brands are MK and Wilson. Your child’s coach can also recommend suitable boots and blades. Generally the boots and blades are bought separately although it is possible to buy a good pair of used skates with the blade already mounted. The BPFSC Member Handbook Page 5 of 16 Plan to spend about $200 for new, beginning level boots and blades. One tremendous advantage of dealing with Clafton