Frequently Asked Questions

• Basic Skills (our Learn to Skate program) group lessons are based on the United States Figure Skating's (USFSA) Basic Skills Program. This is a nationwide, skills-based, instruction program designed to teach all skaters (youth and adult) the fundamentals of skating. The skills taught are fully applicable to recreational, hockey, or figure skating. Cost is $75 for a six-week session.
• Hockey Skating Skills will be taught as a series of guided drills to increase skill level skating with and without a hockey stick. Skaters should be over the age of 8, able to comfortably skate forward, reliably stop (without using the boards or a fellow skater), and be learning to skate backwards. Cost is $75 for a six-week session or $15 per class to drop in.
• Figure Skating is a three-day-a-week program for skaters that have finished Basic Skills Level 8 or Adult Level 4. Skaters will work through the Free Skate levels in the United States Figure Skating program. Students work individually with their coach to develop their skills. Students pay the coaches separately for private lessons; use of JSC club ice for Figure Skating lessons is $75 per day (up to four days per week) for six weeks.

• All skaters new to the ice should sign up for Basic Skills lessons. You will learn all you need to know to get started with skating in a fun and safe environment. You will be placed in groups by ability level, so you will be skating with other skaters working on the same skills as you.
• Basic Skills lessons are held once a week during each six-week session (a total of four sessions through the skating season). Lessons are available Friday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm or Saturday mornings from 11:45am-12:45pm. The cost for each set of six lessons is $75.
• If you are new to skating and do not own skates, please read "What kind of ice skates should I buy", below.

• Skaters who want to improve their skills for recreational skating should take Basic Skills lessons.
• Skaters who are interested in moving into Figure Skating, Hockey Skating Skills, or Synchronized Skating should take Basic Skills lessons.
• Skaters who want to develop skills for hockey may sign up for Hockey Skating Skills as soon as they are:
  • over the age of 10,
  • comfortable going forward,
  • stopping reliably (without the use of the boards or fellow skaters), and
  • starting to work on skating backwards.
• Skaters who want to develop skills for hockey, but do not meet these requirements, should take Basic Skills lessons.
• Skaters who can skate forward and backward, do front crossovers, two-foot turns and stop reliably can sign up for Synchronized Skating.

• Tots are ages 4 and 5. TOTS MUST BE 4 AT THE TIME THAT THE SESSION STARTS. Basic Skills lessons for tots are available on Saturdays from 11:45am-12:45pm only, and last half an hour.
• Youth skaters are generally ages 6 through 18, although some teenagers may want to move into an adult group.
• Adult skaters are 18 and older.

• All skaters should come prepared for cool temperatures-hat and gloves are required for young children and recommended for youth and adults. Wear comfortable clothing allowing freedom of movement. Layers work best, allowing you to remove and replace items as your activity level changes throughout the lesson.
• Students in Hockey Skating Skills should wear full hockey equipment. Students in Beginning Hockey Skills (part of Saturday Basic Skills classes) should wear as much equipment as they are comfortable with.

ADEQUATE SUPPORT FROM THE SKATING BOOT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO SKATING-WEAK, SOFT, FLACCID SKATING BOOTS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

• If you do not have skates, do NOT purchase them until you discuss fundamentals with your instructor. The skating instructors can help you determine what kind of skates will meet your needs best.
• If you do not have your own skates we recommend using the rink rental skates for your first few weeks of instruction, then decide if purchase of new skates is warranted.
• Most inexpensive skates (especially figure) sold in stores or found at yard sales do NOT offer sufficient support to make your skating experience pleasant. If the boot ankle is just one layer of leather (or faux leather), don't buy them, no matter how appealing the price is.
• Quality used skates have a good resale value, and will save your skater a lot of frustration.
• Your skates must fit close-they should feel tight, but not painful...like a firm handshake.
• DO NOT size skates with extra thick, heavy, or double pairs of socks.
• DO NOT buy skates large allowing for “growing into them”. One layer of socks of moderate to thin weight is preferable for best skate fit, thus best skate control.
• New skates must be sharpened. Second-hand skates usually need to be sharpened as well. Dull skates make learning difficult.
• DO NOT buy double runner skates. Walking around on double-runner skates does not help children learn to skate.

Do not make tight, extra wraps of the lace around the lower leg. Your laces should resemble a “V”, closer and tighter at bottom, slighter looser towards the top. If your ankles can move sideways in your skates, they are not properly laced. If the laces are extra long, then re-lace around the hooks from the top down before you tie them.

Hockey skates can take some time to get laced properly, but will perform much better if they are adequately tightened. Putting the time in while you are lacing will pay off once you are on the ice.

Because of the risks inherent in skating, no horseplay will be tolerated. Skaters are expected to listen and follow their instructor’s directions. Inappropriate conduct on the ice will result in loss of ice time. NO CHEWING GUM, FOOD, OR DRINK ON THE ICE. NO FAST, OUT-OF-CONTROL SKATING OR CHASE GAMES. NO PUSHING OR BUMPING OTHER SKATERS.

Skaters’ conduct on the ice during instruction time is key to a pleasant and safe learning experience for yourself and others. Following a few simple rules and listening to your instructor will ensure more rapid progress, mastery of skills, and increased skating satisfaction.

These group lessons are based on the United States Figure Skating's (USFS) Basic Skills Program. This is a nationwide, skills-based, graduated series of instruction for youth and adult skaters. This program is designed to teach all skaters the fundamentals of skating. The skills taught are fully applicable to recreational, hockey, or figure skating. Skaters work through levels of skating skills by taking and passing proficiency tests with patches offered as rewards for skaters upon successfully completing a given level. Lessons and testing cycle on approximately a 6-week basis. Typically, we will have skills testing on the last class day of the lesson series. Testing is entirely optional, according to the preferences of the skater. Sometimes skaters will advance to the next higher level after only one lesson series, and for others it may take two or more lesson series to master the skills of a level. There is no pressure to advance; skaters progress at their own rate. Group lessons are the most cost-effective way to achieve fundamental skills. Skaters who desire maximum one-on-one instruction may wish to pursue private lessons as an alternative or a supplement to group lessons.

There are some inherent risks in ice-skating. An important part of skaters’ instruction relates to matters of safety and conduct. Instructors will teach concepts that will assist skaters in advancing their skills, while at the same time ensuring safety. For example, clothing, on-ice behavior, and equipment are factors that will be discussed to help minimize safety hazards. We ask your cooperation on matters of safety and conduct, and we expect appropriate on-ice conduct. Skaters who cannot exhibit appropriate on-ice conduct during group lessons may risk loss of ice time.

Following are the names of the skill levels we will be teaching. At the completion of these levels the skater will have mastered the following:

Snowplow Sam 1-3 (for very young, Tot age skaters, starting at age 4); Very basic skills: standing, falling, getting up, marching dips, swizzles, wiggles.

Basic 1-8 (all ages); Eight carefully planned levels allow the beginning skater to feel comfortable on the ice while gaining the basic skating techniques needed to advance into any of the specialized areas of the Basic Skills Program. The 8 Basic levels include skills such as forward and backward basic strokes, one-foot glides, edges, crossovers, snowplow stops, two-foot turns, one-foot turns, small jumps and two-foot spins.
Adult 1-4 (over 18): Four levels generally including the same skills as Basic 1-8, taught in an adult-oriented progression of skills.

Hockey 1-4: Four levels including many of the same skills as Basic 1-4, taught in a hockey-oriented group.

Following completion of Basic 5 or Adult 3, skaters may move into Synchronized Skating and Moves in the Field. Following completion of Hockey 4, skaters can move into the Sunday Hockey Skating Skills group. Following completion of Basic 8 or Adult 4, skaters can then move into the Bridge Program and the Figure Skating program.

• Tot lessons last one half hour. Skaters will work on Snowplow Sam skills with their instructor. We ask that parents of tot skaters stay at the rink during the lesson in case their skater needs them. Once a tot can skate independently across the ice, the tot may stay for an extra half hour of supervised practice time. Your tot's instructor will tell you when your tot is able to join the older students during practice ice.
• Basic Skills lessons last one hour. Half of the hour will be spent on focused instruction within a small group, and the other half of the hour will be spent in supervised practice of these skills. Some skaters will be in focus groups during the first half of the hour, others during the second half of the hour. This includes skaters in Basic Hockey Skills.
• Hockey Skating Skills classes last one hour. The class will be taught as a series of guided drills to increase skill level skating with and without a hockey stick.

Skaters’ conduct on the ice during instruction time is key to a pleasant and safe learning experience for yourself and others. Following a few simple rules and listening to your instructor will ensure more rapid progress, mastery of skills, and increased skating satisfaction.