Figure skating club
Encyclopedia
A figure skating club is a local organization of figure skaters
, often centered around a single ice rink
. Typical club activities include arranging practice ice time, hosting test sessions and competitions, and producing an annual ice show in which club skaters may take part. Some clubs also emphasize non-skating social activities for members.
owned, do not sell practice ice directly to figure skaters. Instead, the local figure skating club contracts with the rink for blocks of ice time, which the club then resells to its members. At some clubs, the normal procedure is for skaters to contract in advance for an entire season's worth of ice time.
In North America
, a relatively small number of skating clubs own their own rink instead of buying ice time. In recent years, it has also become more common for privately-owned commercial rinks to run figure skating sessions themselves.
Figure skating coaches are typically private contractors paid directly by the skaters for their work, rather than employees of the skating club or rink. However, skating clubs can effectively make hiring decisions by requiring coaches to go through an approval process before being allowed to work on practice sessions controlled by the club.
and Skate Canada define a graduated series of skill tests which are used to measure and reward skaters' progress, and to classify them into competition levels. Administration of these tests is largely left up to the individual skating clubs. Some clubs with a large and active membership may have a test session each month, or even more frequently. Other clubs that cater primarily to recreational skaters may have only one test session each year. In addition to being of benefit to skaters, test sessions are the primary means by which figure skating judges are trained.
Many clubs organize an annual competition
. Most club competitions are focused on giving children an opportunity to perform. A low-level skater might compete a few times a year at competitions hosted by various clubs in their region. A few of the larger established club competitions attract elite competitors as well, who may use these events to try out new programs or receive a critique or evaluation from international judges.
Clubs may also host or assist in organizing a major competition from time to time. For example, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships are typically organized with the assistance of one or more local skating clubs in the host city, which share a portion of the event's profits.
Ice shows or "carnivals" are another annual tradition at many clubs. Again, the focus is usually on giving younger skaters an opportunity to participate. Often club shows feature one or two invited elite guest skaters who perform solos, while the club members skate in groups sorted by age or ability.
and ice theatre
teams. Some clubs offer regular social ice dancing
sessions, or dance camps aimed primarily at adult skaters
.
A few older figure skating clubs, including the Skating Club of Boston
and the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club
are organized along the same lines as a country club
, effectively as much elite private social clubs as sports organizations. Other club activities can include dinners and teas or receptions. At these clubs, prospective members typically need to be sponsored by existing members and are expected to become acquainted with others in the club before the board votes on their membership application.
At the other extreme, some skating clubs accept any member who pays the dues, and sponsor no activities at all outside the rink.
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
, often centered around a single ice rink
Ice rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
. Typical club activities include arranging practice ice time, hosting test sessions and competitions, and producing an annual ice show in which club skaters may take part. Some clubs also emphasize non-skating social activities for members.
Practice ice
Many ice rinks, particularly those that are municipallyMunicipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
owned, do not sell practice ice directly to figure skaters. Instead, the local figure skating club contracts with the rink for blocks of ice time, which the club then resells to its members. At some clubs, the normal procedure is for skaters to contract in advance for an entire season's worth of ice time.
In North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, a relatively small number of skating clubs own their own rink instead of buying ice time. In recent years, it has also become more common for privately-owned commercial rinks to run figure skating sessions themselves.
Figure skating coaches are typically private contractors paid directly by the skaters for their work, rather than employees of the skating club or rink. However, skating clubs can effectively make hiring decisions by requiring coaches to go through an approval process before being allowed to work on practice sessions controlled by the club.
Tests, competitions, and shows
Some national skating federations such as the United States Figure Skating AssociationUnited States Figure Skating Association
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating on ice in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic Committee "USOC" under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating...
and Skate Canada define a graduated series of skill tests which are used to measure and reward skaters' progress, and to classify them into competition levels. Administration of these tests is largely left up to the individual skating clubs. Some clubs with a large and active membership may have a test session each month, or even more frequently. Other clubs that cater primarily to recreational skaters may have only one test session each year. In addition to being of benefit to skaters, test sessions are the primary means by which figure skating judges are trained.
Many clubs organize an annual competition
Figure skating competition
-International:* International competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union. These competitions are held using ISU rules; skaters are entered by their respective national skating federations....
. Most club competitions are focused on giving children an opportunity to perform. A low-level skater might compete a few times a year at competitions hosted by various clubs in their region. A few of the larger established club competitions attract elite competitors as well, who may use these events to try out new programs or receive a critique or evaluation from international judges.
Clubs may also host or assist in organizing a major competition from time to time. For example, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships are typically organized with the assistance of one or more local skating clubs in the host city, which share a portion of the event's profits.
Ice shows or "carnivals" are another annual tradition at many clubs. Again, the focus is usually on giving younger skaters an opportunity to participate. Often club shows feature one or two invited elite guest skaters who perform solos, while the club members skate in groups sorted by age or ability.
Other activities
Many clubs sponsor synchronized skatingSynchronized skating
Synchronized skating or synchronised skating, a large and fast-growing discipline, consists of 8—20 athletes skating on ice at one time moving as one flowing unit at high speeds...
and ice theatre
Ice theatre
Ice theatre is a branch of figure skating which merges the technical jumps and spins with unique choreography, ice dancing, pairs moves, synchronized skating, and theater to tell a story or act out an emotion or idea. It is a relatively new branch of figure skating, but it is also growing quickly...
teams. Some clubs offer regular social ice dancing
Ice dancing
Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....
sessions, or dance camps aimed primarily at adult skaters
Adult figure skating
Adult figure skating is a term used by skating organizations to refer to tests and competitions for amateur ice skaters over 21. The category was originally aimed at skaters who had taken up the sport as adults, but more recently has expanded to include adult skaters performing and competing at an...
.
A few older figure skating clubs, including the Skating Club of Boston
Skating Club of Boston
The Skating Club of Boston is a figure skating club based in Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1912, it is one of the oldest skating clubs in the United States, predating the formation of U.S. Figure Skating. The club owns its own rink in Brighton, Massachusetts, built in 1938.-Club activities:An...
and the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club
Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club
The Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club is a sporting club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:The club's history dates back to 1827 when the Toronto Cricket Club was established in part by the efforts of George Anthony Barber. Cricket was joined by the Curling Club in 1836, and the Skating...
are organized along the same lines as a country club
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
, effectively as much elite private social clubs as sports organizations. Other club activities can include dinners and teas or receptions. At these clubs, prospective members typically need to be sponsored by existing members and are expected to become acquainted with others in the club before the board votes on their membership application.
At the other extreme, some skating clubs accept any member who pays the dues, and sponsor no activities at all outside the rink.