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.