StarSkate Program Overview

 

The StarSkate program is Skate Canada’s flagship figure skating development program. It offers skaters of all ages the opportunity to develop fundamental figure skating skills in the areas of skills, artistic, dance, freeskate, and synchro.

StarSkate allows skaters to progress at their own pace while developing technique, precision and performance.  With guidance from certified coaches, skaters can work towards personal goals and have opportunities to participate in assessments, showcase their skills at competitions and attend seminars.

Highlights of StarSkate:

• Skill Development - focus on edges, turns, jumps, spins, and artistry
• Assessments - skaters are evaluated through nationally standardized Skate Canada tests
• Flexibility - skaters may train recreationally or pursue competitive opportunities
• Performance Opportunities - includes ice shows, competitions, and exhibitions
• Recognition - Achievement is acknowledged at every stage of development
  
  

Who is StarSkate for?

StarSkate is ideal for skaters who have completed the CanSkate program and wish to continue in figure skating. It is open to youth and adults who want to advance their skills, whether skating for recreation, personal growth, or competitive experience. Early starskate programs may include coaching however as your skater progress they will move into more independent practice with private coaching.

The 5 Disciplines of StarSkate

The StarSkate program helps skaters develop in five key disciplines: Skills, Freeskate, Dance, Artistic, and Synchronized Skating. Each area focuses on a unique aspect of figure skating - from mastering the fundamentals and performing technical elements, to expressing creativity and working as part of a team. Skaters progress at their own pace, earning assessments and recognition as they grow in each discipline:

Discipline	Description
Skills	Focuses on the fundamentals of skating: edges, turns, power, stroking, and field moves. Skaters develop balance, control, and flow across the ice - forming the foundation for all other disciplines.
Artistic	Encourages creativity and performance. Skaters express music and emotion through movement, choreography, and interpretation while demonstrating edge quality, flow, and presentation.
Dance	Teaches skating to music through set patterns and timing. Skaters develop rhythm, edge control, and unison, progressing from introductory steps to more complex dance patterns.
Freeskate	The most recognized discipline, Freeskate develops jumps, spins, and step sequences. Skaters learn single and double jumps, spin variations, and program performance to music.
Synchro	A team discipline where 8–20 skaters perform formations and step sequences together. Focuses on precision, teamwork, musicality, and skating patterns performed in unison.

Club Skater Etiquette

Parents are encouraged to review these guidelines with their skaters to ensure a safe and respectful environment both on and off the ice.

1. Only water bottles are allowed at ice level - no food, drinks, or gum.
2. Skaters must keep moving during lessons to avoid accidents. If a fall occurs, they must get up right away.
3. Profanity, disrespectful language, harassment, or any offensive behavior will not be tolerated, whether on the ice or in the dressing rooms.
4. Skaters are expected to arrive on time.
5. Hair must be tied back or secured while on the ice.
6. Coaches and fellow skaters must always be treated with respect.
7. Proper skating attire is required on the ice (leggings, mittens, layers; no jeans).
8. Skate guards must be worn when not on the ice.
9. Do not leave valuables in the dressing rooms. The club is not responsible for lost items.
10. Be courteous and share the ice. Do not block or “hog” areas, step carefully around others, and yield when appropriate. Skaters whose music is playing or who are receiving a lesson have the right of way.

 

Private Coaching FAQ

 

Does my skater need a private coach?

PSC offers group lessons at the CanSkate and early STAR levels with coaching provided by the club but as skaters progress they will move on to private coaching. Once a skater is registered for private sessions, they will need to choose a coach to provide them with individual or semi-private instruction.

Private coaching will help speed progress by increasing focus on each skater’s individual goals and challenges, including the exciting experience of going to competitions or working through Skate Canada test levels.  If your skater wants to try competing or testing, Skate Canada requires that you have a coach.

 

How do I choose a coach?

PSC Board members must remain impartial and cannot recommend a specific coach for you. Nobody is permitted to interfere with a coach-skater (or parent) relationship once it is established.

Nobody knows your skater’s personality and communication style better than you, so the choice is yours.  Private coaches must be hired directly by you, and lesson fees, scheduling and so on are to be arranged directly with your coach.  Private coaching fees are not included in skating session fees, and can not be paid through the club.

Your private coach should be someone the skater is comfortable with.  Ask your skater for an opinion.  If they have been with the PSC throughout their skating development, they will have some familiarity with the teaching style of different coaches through group lessons, warm-ups and so on.   You might want to observe the coaches on sessions other than your usual sessions, or you can ask other parents for their opinions.  While you will not be able to listen in to lessons directly, watching the coaches from the stands might help to give you a feel for how each coach works.

Be careful that they are not just asking for a certain coach because their friends are with that coach!  Personal fit is important.  Your child will be spending time one-on-one with this person at least a couple times per week. There may be an individual that you connect with well, but can the same be said for your skater?

Both parties enter the coaching relationship voluntarily and are expected to act professionally, respectfully and in good faith. Both the coach and the skater’s parent/guardian have the right to determine whether a coaching relationship continues to be appropriate.Skaters should be encouraged to have an age-appropriate voice in decisions concerning their skating and coaching relationships.

 

How many lessons a week does my skater need?

The number of private lessons per week will depend on the skater’s goals. The more lessons a skater has the faster they will progress. However, remember that skaters also need to learn to work independently, so do not schedule so many lessons on each session that they do not have a chance to develop this skill.  Semi-private lessons (lessons where skaters of similar ability share a private lesson) are a good option as long as they are supplemented by private lessons, so each skater gets a chance to work on his/her individual needs with the coach.

Discuss with the coach what your expectations are for your skater in terms of abilities and competitive advancement. The coach will be able to guide you as to what is an appropriate number based on the level of your skater and your budget.

 

Does the coach's teaching credentials meet the needs of my skater?

All Skate Canada professional coaches are accredited and must be in good standing to coach at PSC. Please feel free to consult the coaching staff themselves or the Club Executive on the coaching credentials of each coach.

 

What is my budget?                                                                                                                                                      Your budget will determine how many lessons per week you will purchase for your skater. Estimate how much you are willing to spend per week on lessons. These fees are paid directly to the coach, not to the club. The fees you pay to the club are for ice only. Lessons are usually 15-30 minutes in length (depending upon the attention span of the skater), although this is negotiable with the coach. The coach's fee may vary between coaches based on their coaching level, personal skating level, education and experience.

 

Is the coach you chose available during the sessions your skater is registered for?                                                            Some of our coaches may be fully booked on some sessions. Some flexibility on both sides may be required to fit lessons in.  Availability of a coach to meet your own schedule may ultimately determine which coach you select.

Team coaching is not uncommon and has many benefits. Some skaters learn one aspect of their skating from one coach and another from the second coach. Each coach can often complement the other well.  Once you have found an coach that your skater likes and meets your financial and goal requirements, it’s a good idea to book them.

 

What do we do now that we have a coach?                                                                                                        Communication is key. Make sure that the arrangement you have set up continues to work for your skater, your coach and you. If you have any questions about your skater's progress or your lessons then speak with your coach.  After all, you are paying them to work with your child. This is a business arrangement and must be treated as such. If things aren't working as well as you believe they should; you need to talk.

 

What do we do when things aren’t going as we planned?                                                                                             

For the most part, coaching relationships are uneventful: your skater enjoys their lessons and there are no issues. However not all relationships end up how they started. What do you do when a coaching relationship is not working? First, ask yourself the following: Is this relationship not working because the parents and coach are not in agreement or because the skater is unhappy? If a skater has been with a coach for several years a strong bond may have developed. If they are happy with the coach, then for the sake of the skater remaining happy (this is why we are in this sport, right?)  try to come to an understanding with the coach and do not involve your skater.

If your skater is unhappy, this is different. First, figure out if the issue is solely related to the coach or with the skater. Every skater goes through "slumps" during their skating. Often this is related to growth spurts or could be injury related. Keeping motivation and enjoyment high can be really challenging. Speak with your skater to help them figure out if they are having issues with their coach or if it is mainly related to their own personal development. In either case, you the parent should speak with your coach about the situation. If after several meetings, things are not working between the skater and coach, it may be time to consider making a switch.

Switching coaches can be a big decision and isnt taken lightly. However, especially in the competitive stream, sometimes skaters and parents are quick to look to other coaching options when the skater is not achieving the results they believe they should. It is in this situation that skater and parents need to take a step back and clearly analyze the situation. Are the expectations of the skater and parent realistic? Be honest here. When looking back over a skating season or a year, has the skater continued to improve and develop? Are you basing your decision on a single performance that lasted less than five minutes? Are you basing your decision on the progress of other skaters knowing that everyone develops and matures at separate paces? Are you still on track towards your original goal? If the overall assessment reveals that progress is not being made, your skater is unhappy (and they want to continue skating, not you) then a coaching change could be in order.

You the parent/guardian may choose to discontinue private coaching services and change coaches at any time. Similarly, a coach may choose to end private coaching services to a skater when the coach determines that the professional coaching relationship is no longer appropriate, effective or sustainable.

A coach is not required to continue providing private coaching services solely because a parent/guardian or skater disagrees with the coach’s decision to end the relationship.

Ending a private coaching relationship does not, by itself, constitute discipline, punishment or removal of the skater from Portage Skating Club. If a coaching service is ended the skater remains entitled to participate in club programming for which they are registered and eligible unless a separate club decision has been made under an applicable PSC policy.

A coach or parent/guardian does not need to establish misconduct in order to determine that a private coaching relationship is no longer a suitable fit. A decision to end private coaching services should not be retaliatory, discriminatory or otherwise contrary to applicable Safe Sport, human rights or Skate Canada/Skate Manitoba requirements.

If the decision is made to change coaches or end a coaching relationship, as a parent/guardian you have the following obligations:  Inform the coach that you will be making a change; Ensure that all outstanding debts are paid; Inform any new coach that all matters have been settled with the former coach; Communicate respectfully; Avoid disparaging the coach; Maintain appropriate confidentiality; Cooperate reasonably with any necessary transfer of skating-related information; Prioritize minimizing unnecessary disruption to the skater

Whenever appropriate, communication regarding the termination should occur between the adults rather than placing a minor skater in the middle of a dispute

 

PSC considerations when establishing a private coaching relationship

PSC is committed to providing a safe, respectful, positive athlete centered environment. It is important to establish clear expectations and boundaries between skaters, parents/guardians and coaches regarding private coaching relationships. A successful coaching relationship requires trust, communication, cooperation, mutual respect and a shared commitment to the skaters development and well being.

Participation in Portage Skating Club does not guarantee private lessons with any particular coach. Likewise, a coach’s position with Portage Skating Club does not require that coach to accept or indefinitely continue a private coaching relationship with every individual skater.

PSC recommends that parents/guardians establish a formal written agreement with their skaters coach/coaches prior to the start of each season. This agreement should include but is not limited to expectations for both parties, fees, competitions, availability, communication process between parties, code of conduct, attendance and cancellations, process for transition to new base coach or additional coaches and termination of agreement. PSC also recommends that parents/guardians arrange a meeting in person once a year to discuss progress and goals for their skater. This meeting must be prearranged at a mutually agreed upon time and not be unplanned rink side.

Parents/guardians, skaters and coaches share responsibility for maintaining open and respectful communication. PSC recommends parents/guardians provide coaches with information reasonably relevant to the skater’s skating development, training plan and safety. This may include relevant information concerning: additional skating instruction or coaching; changes to the skater’s training schedule; outside skating-related training that may affect the skater’s overall training plan; competition or assessment plans; injuries, restrictions or circumstances affecting safe participation; and other skating-related information reasonably necessary for the coach to effectively coordinate the skater’s development. This communication expectation should be included in your formal private coaching agreement. Where a skater works with multiple coaches, the parent/guardian should ensure that the coaches are aware of the coaching arrangement so that training can be coordinated appropriately.

Coaches are expected to communicate clearly with parents/guardians regarding the skater’s development, realistic goals, training recommendations and any significant concerns affecting the coaching relationship. Coaches shall respect coaching changes and shall not interfere with a family’s reasonable decision to seek another coach. A former coach should reasonably cooperate with an appropriate transition where necessary for the skater’s development, while maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality.

The Club’s role is separate from the private professional relationship between an individual coach and family unless the coach is providing services directly on behalf of the Club. PSC will not require a coach to enter into or continue an individual/private coaching relationship against the coach’s wishes. Where a coaching relationship ends the skater is able to continue participating in club programming for which they remain registered and eligible.

Skaters and parents are expected to:

Treat coaches and other participants respectfully; communicate concerns regarding their training or well-being (including injuries or illness that can affect participation in skating) in a timely manner; respect reasonable coaching instructions and boundaries; and comply with applicable club and Safe Sport expectations.