RFSC Advanced Information

Information for Advanced Skaters Skaters who have passed the Basic Skills levels 1-8 and Freestyle levels 1-4 are in the club's Advanced group. Skaters who are working on the first upper level test, Pre-preliminary Moves, are in the Beginning Advanced group and continue to receive weekly group instruction. Advanced skaters who have passed the pre-preliminary moves test are expected to participate in the annual ice show and will have the opportunity to try-out for a solo, feature solo, or small group in early November. Advanced skaters who meet the coaches requirements will be invited to partcipate on the Razz precision line. Any advanced skater can participate in the Razzettes precision line. Skaters in the Beginning Advanced group will have 1 hour of ice time each week. Each hour will include 30 minutes of group instruction and 30 minutes of individual practice time. The lesson cost ($74 for Winter 2008) includes instruction and ice charges for the entire session. For additional practice time, Beginning Advanced skaters have the option to purchase ice time during Open Freestyle on Sunday or Monday for individual practice and these skaters are encouraged to supplement their group lesson time with private or semi-private lessons with one of the coaches. Beginning advanced skaters can also participate in the group Power and Moves class. Advanced skaters who have passed the pre-preliminary moves test have the option to participate in two optional classes - Power and Moves and Ice Dance. Advanced skaters are expected to contract Open Freestyle ice and to have individual lessons with the professional coaches. Skaters at the Advanced levels will be tested in formal testing sessions with professional judges. Registration for testing is at the discretion of the coach. Detailed information about testing, including test levels and test components is in About Levels and Testing.
Safety on the Ice Each Member of the Riverside Figure Skating Club is asked to follow these safety and courtesy rules and guidelines. Failure to follow these rules and guidelines may result in any of the following actions: 1. Immediate removal from the ice by any club professional. 2. A warning. 3. Loss of ice privileges. 4. The skater may be asked to repeat the safety seminar at their expense. Safely Entering and Exiting the Ice 1. Wait for the last group of skaters to exit the ice before entering. 2. When entering the ice, follow the direction of the skaters who are warming up (usually to the right). 3. Remove skate guards before stepping on the ice. 4. When your session is over, promptly exit the ice. Never remain on the ice when the Zamboni is resurfacing. 5. When leaving your last session; pick up all articles of clothing, your music and water bottles. Safety on the Ice 1. When stretching on the ice, do not kick your foot up backward or kick it up onto the boards, because it is dangerous to you and to other skaters. Carefully place your foot on the boards. 2. Respect the work areas on the ice; the corners and ends for jumps, the axis’s for moves, and the center for spins. All skaters should be using the work areas appropriately. 3. During freestyle, dance, and MIF sessions, all skaters should be working. If it is necessary to talk, please leave the ice. This will avoid distraction and possible safety concerns on the ice. 4. Never lay or sit on the ice. All skaters fall, but for everyone’s safety, get up quickly. 5. Skaters and Pros should respect areas where other Pros and skaters are training or conducting lessons. 6. As a general rule, when two skaters are skating toward each other, pass on the right. When everyone passes on the right it will avoid confusion and collisions. 7. A skater in a spin cannot move to avoid a collision. The skater moving toward a skater in a spin is responsible for changing direction to avoid a collision. If a skater is doing a program, try to avoid doing a spin in the path of the other skater’s program. 8. Do not skate into the path of a jumper. It is your responsibility to change direction. 9. When doing backward spirals, always look first and watch out for other skaters. On crowded ice, backward spirals may not be safe. 10. A skater doing a program has priority on the ice therefore, other skaters and Pros must avoid the program. Everyone should become familiar with each skater’s music and program so you can move out of the way. However, the skater doing the program must avoid the harness. 11. Look both ways when leaving the boards and when entering the ice. 12. When a pro is working with a skater on the harness, avoid this area if possible. 13. No jumps or spins are allowed on MIF or dance ice sessions (except lessons). 14. Do not kick the ice. It is a safety hazard and it is disrespectful. 15. No food, gum or soda is allowed on the ice or boards. Water in plastic containers is permitted. Playing Program Music 1. Place your music in line by the CD player when you first get on the ice. All skaters must make every attempt to play their music in fair turns. 2. It is recommended that you wear the orange belt during your program. 3. Do not hang around the CD player waiting to play your music. 4. Control the volume of your music. 5. When working on a program, a skater may repeat on section of the music, but not the entire program. 6. Skaters who are scheduled to test or compete in the next few days may be granted priority to play their music. Skaters Courtesy 1. As RFSC members, each skater is asked to observe high behavior standards at all times. This includes not using foul language or physical aggression. 2. Skating is a challenging sport and sometimes can bring you to the point of complete frustration. Please be cautious in how you display your frustration and do not take it out on the other skaters or coaches. It may be helpful to take a short break to calm yourself or to refocus your concentration. 3. Treat other skaters and coaches with respect at all time. The golden rule “treat others as you would like to be treated” is a general rule of courtesy of the RFSC. 4. A skater just entering a higher level sessions needs time to adjust to that level. Please give them the same respect and courtesy as an experienced skater. Keep in mind that everyone is a “new skater” to a higher level of ice at some point, and patience is important. 5. Positive attitude bring positive results. Sometimes there are problems that can easily be solved with tactful positive communications. We encourage al skaters to create and maintain this type of helpful, positive environment on and off the ice. 6. The rules of courtesy apply in the locker room and off the ice. The RFSC wishes to foster a safe and positive learning environment for all its members. We are proud of our skaters and wish to support them whether their goals are competitive or recreational in nature. We are also proud of our talented coaching staff and our wonderful group of family volunteers. Working together, we can create a positive skating environment. [top of page]
How to Dress For Figure Skating Practice The key to “dressing for success” in figure skating is to look nice and neat. Do not allow your child to come to the rink for practice looking messy or sloppy. If your child is running to the rink directly from school, allow some time to change before skating practice. Skating Clothing Rule of thumb: Form-fitting clothes that stretch are better than tight, restrictive or oversized clothes that restrict movement. An instructor/coach needs to see a skater’s body alignment to give proper advice and feedback about technique, so form-fitting clothing that allows for movement is better. Girls should wear skating dresses and beige-colored tights for practice. Try to keep boots clean and polished, or wear boot covers or over-the-boot tights to protect the boot’s finish. Unitards, leggings and leotards have become acceptable for skating practice in recent years, but check with your coach first before allowing your child to wear something different than a skating dress for practice. A nice sweater or snug sweatshirt can be worn over a skating dress; stay away from baggy “hoodie” sweatshirts. Even if it is very cold in the arena, do not allow your child to practice in a heavy or bulky coat. If possible, stay away from baggy sweatpants and baggy clothing in general. Boys should wear black skating pants and a neat, plain-colored, long- or short-sleeved shirt and a nice sweater. Gloves or mittens of a plain color are also a good idea. Boys skating boots should be black and girls skates should be white or tan. Many new figure skaters may be practicing in a used pair of skates. If your son has been given a white pair of skates, take the time to either put black boot covers over the white boots or go to a shoe repair store and change the white boot to black. They will feel more comfortable. Hair A girl’s hair should be tied back or put up. It is very important that hair be away from the face. If you are in a hurry, it is fine to quickly put your daughter’s hair in a ponytail. If her hair is very long, you may want to braid her hair or put it in a bun so that a long ponytail doesn’t distract your daughter as she spins and jumps. If your daughter has bangs, make sure they are cut short, curled or pinned back. [top of page]
Where to get Skates and Sharpening & Blade Care Martin's Schwin Cycling and Fitness 1137 South Broadway Avenue Albert Lea, MN 507-377-3704 * Figure skate and hockey skate leasing and sales, skate sharpening. Blades to Ballet 1624 Highway 52 North Rochester, MN 507-281-1401 * Figure skate sales (new and used skates), tights and skating apparel, dancewear, skate sharpening. South Central Athlete 110 4th Avenue NE Austin, MN 507-433-6450 * Skate sharpening Take care of your skates by wearing guards when walking in skates off the ice. Dry the blades after skating with a soft cloth to remove moisture. Do not leave the guards on the blades in your skate bag, leave the blades uncovered or cover with soft soakers to prevent rusting. Have your blades sharpened regularly (after about 15-30 hours of skating). [top of page]

Information for Advanced Skaters

Skaters who have passed the Basic Skills levels 1-8 and Freestyle levels 1-4 are in the club's Advanced group. Skaters who are working on the first upper level test, Pre-preliminary Moves, are in the Beginning Advanced group and continue to receive weekly group instruction. Advanced skaters who have passed the pre-preliminary moves test are expected to participate in the annual ice show and will have the opportunity to try-out for a solo, feature solo, or small group in early November.

Advanced skaters who meet the coaches requirements will be invited to partcipate on the Razz precision line. Any advanced skater can participate in the Razzettes precision line.

Skaters in the Beginning Advanced group will have 1 hour of ice time each week. Each hour will include 30 minutes of group instruction and 30 minutes of individual practice time. The lesson cost ($74 for Winter 2008) includes instruction and ice charges for the entire session. For additional practice time, Beginning Advanced skaters have the option to purchase ice time during Open Freestyle on Sunday or Monday for individual practice and these skaters are encouraged to supplement their group lesson time with private or semi-private lessons with one of the coaches. Beginning advanced skaters can also participate in the group Power and Moves class.

Advanced skaters who have passed the pre-preliminary moves test have the option to participate in two optional classes - Power and Moves and Ice Dance. Advanced skaters are expected to contract Open Freestyle ice and to have individual lessons with the professional coaches.

Skaters at the Advanced levels will be tested in formal testing sessions with professional judges. Registration for testing is at the discretion of the coach. Detailed information about testing, including test levels and test components is in About Levels and Testing.

Safety on the Ice
Each Member of the Riverside Figure Skating Club is asked to follow these safety and courtesy rules and guidelines. Failure to follow these rules and guidelines may result in any of the following actions:
1. Immediate removal from the ice by any club professional.
2. A warning.
3. Loss of ice privileges.
4. The skater may be asked to repeat the safety seminar at their expense.

Safely Entering and Exiting the Ice
1. Wait for the last group of skaters to exit the ice before entering.
2. When entering the ice, follow the direction of the skaters who are warming up (usually to the right).
3. Remove skate guards before stepping on the ice.
4. When your session is over, promptly exit the ice. Never remain on the ice when the Zamboni is resurfacing.
5. When leaving your last session; pick up all articles of clothing, your music and water bottles.

Safety on the Ice
1. When stretching on the ice, do not kick your foot up backward or kick it up onto the boards, because it is dangerous to you and to other skaters. Carefully place your foot on the boards.
2. Respect the work areas on the ice; the corners and ends for jumps, the axis’s for moves, and the center for spins. All skaters should be using the work areas appropriately.
3. During freestyle, dance, and MIF sessions, all skaters should be working. If it is necessary to talk, please leave the ice. This will avoid distraction and possible safety concerns on the ice.
4. Never lay or sit on the ice. All skaters fall, but for everyone’s safety, get up quickly.
5. Skaters and Pros should respect areas where other Pros and skaters are training or conducting lessons.
6. As a general rule, when two skaters are skating toward each other, pass on the right. When everyone passes on the right it will avoid confusion and collisions.
7. A skater in a spin cannot move to avoid a collision. The skater moving toward a skater in a spin is responsible for changing direction to avoid a collision. If a skater is doing a program,
try to avoid doing a spin in the path of the other skater’s program.
8. Do not skate into the path of a jumper. It is your responsibility to change direction.
9. When doing backward spirals, always look first and watch out for other skaters. On crowded ice, backward spirals may not be safe.
10. A skater doing a program has priority on the ice therefore, other skaters and Pros must avoid the program. Everyone should become familiar with each skater’s music and program so you can move out of the way. However, the skater doing the program must avoid the harness.
11. Look both ways when leaving the boards and when entering the ice.
12. When a pro is working with a skater on the harness, avoid this area if possible.
13. No jumps or spins are allowed on MIF or dance ice sessions (except lessons).
14. Do not kick the ice. It is a safety hazard and it is disrespectful.
15. No food, gum or soda is allowed on the ice or boards. Water in plastic containers is permitted.

Playing Program Music
1. Place your music in line by the CD player when you first get on the ice. All skaters must make every attempt to play their music in fair turns.
2. It is recommended that you wear the orange belt during your program.
3. Do not hang around the CD player waiting to play your music.
4. Control the volume of your music.
5. When working on a program, a skater may repeat on section of the music, but not the entire program.
6. Skaters who are scheduled to test or compete in the next few days may be granted priority to play their music.

Skaters Courtesy
1. As RFSC members, each skater is asked to observe high behavior standards at all times. This includes not using foul language or physical aggression.
2. Skating is a challenging sport and sometimes can bring you to the point of complete frustration. Please be cautious in how you display your frustration and do not take it out on the other skaters or coaches. It may be helpful to take a short break to calm yourself or to refocus your concentration.
3. Treat other skaters and coaches with respect at all time. The golden rule “treat others as you would like to be treated” is a general rule of courtesy of the RFSC.
4. A skater just entering a higher level sessions needs time to adjust to that level. Please give them the same respect and courtesy as an experienced skater. Keep in mind that everyone is a “new skater” to a higher level of ice at some point, and patience is important.
5. Positive attitude bring positive results. Sometimes there are problems that can easily be solved with tactful positive communications. We encourage al skaters to create and maintain this type of helpful, positive environment on and off the ice.
6. The rules of courtesy apply in the locker room and off the ice.

The RFSC wishes to foster a safe and positive learning environment for all its members. We are proud of our skaters and wish to support them whether their goals are competitive or recreational in nature. We are also proud of our talented coaching staff and our wonderful group of family volunteers. Working together, we can create a positive skating environment.

[top of page]

How to Dress For Figure Skating Practice
The key to “dressing for success” in figure skating is to look nice and neat. Do not allow your child to come to the rink for practice looking messy or sloppy. If your child is running to the rink directly from school, allow some time to change before skating practice.

Skating Clothing
Rule of thumb: Form-fitting clothes that stretch are better than tight, restrictive or oversized clothes that restrict movement. An instructor/coach needs to see a skater’s body alignment to give proper advice and feedback about technique, so form-fitting clothing that allows for movement is better.
Girls should wear skating dresses and beige-colored tights for practice. Try to keep boots clean and polished, or wear boot covers or over-the-boot tights to protect the boot’s finish.
Unitards, leggings and leotards have become acceptable for skating practice in recent years, but check with your coach first before allowing your child to wear something different than a skating dress for practice.
A nice sweater or snug sweatshirt can be worn over a skating dress; stay away from baggy “hoodie” sweatshirts. Even if it is very cold in the arena, do not allow your child to practice in a heavy or bulky coat. If possible, stay away from baggy sweatpants and baggy clothing in general.
Boys should wear black skating pants and a neat, plain-colored, long- or short-sleeved shirt and a nice sweater.
Gloves or mittens of a plain color are also a good idea.
Boys skating boots should be black and girls skates should be white or tan.
Many new figure skaters may be practicing in a used pair of skates. If your son has been given a white pair of skates, take the time to either put black boot covers over the white boots or go to a shoe repair store and change the white boot to black. They will feel more comfortable.

Hair
A girl’s hair should be tied back or put up. It is very important that hair be away from the face. If you are in a hurry, it is fine to quickly put your daughter’s hair in a ponytail. If her hair is very long, you may want to braid her hair or put it in a bun so that a long ponytail doesn’t distract your daughter as she spins and jumps. If your daughter has bangs, make sure they are cut short, curled or pinned back.

[top of page]

Where to get Skates and Sharpening & Blade Care

Martin's Schwin Cycling and Fitness
1137 South Broadway Avenue
Albert Lea, MN
507-377-3704
* Figure skate and hockey skate leasing and sales, skate sharpening.

Blades to Ballet
1624 Highway 52 North
Rochester, MN
507-281-1401
* Figure skate sales (new and used skates), tights and skating apparel, dancewear, skate sharpening.

South Central Athlete
110 4th Avenue NE
Austin, MN
507-433-6450
* Skate sharpening

Take care of your skates by wearing guards when walking in skates off the ice.
Dry the blades after skating with a soft cloth to remove moisture.
Do not leave the guards on the blades in your skate bag, leave the blades uncovered or cover with soft soakers to prevent rusting.
Have your blades sharpened regularly (after about 15-30 hours of skating).

[top of page]