Learn To Skate and Stage 1 (Parent and Tot)

This is an introductory skating program for children aged 3 years+. We recommend that children under the age of 4 be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older. The accompanying adult must have competent skating abilities and must be able to assist the tot throughout the lesson. A Skate Canada coach will lead each session. For insurance purposes, the same adult must accompany the tot for all lessons. Both the child and the adult must wear a CSA-certified hockey helmet. The adult's helmet not only improves safety on the ice, it sets a good example for all the children in the lesson.

Your child will be able to enter the ice unassisted only when the Skate Canada Coach has passed your child on the necessary skills needed to ensure the safety of your child on the ice. 

We offer this program as a 5 week session, and run it a few times a year. This session fills up fast, and usually has a waiting list. 

Once your Child has passed the Learn to Skate and Stage 1 of our CanSkate program, they will be moved into our CanSkate Stage 2-6 program. 

What is CanSkate?

CanSkate is a dynamic learn-to-skate program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. Based on Sport Canada’s long term athlete development (LTAD) principles, CanSkate centers on physical literacy and the fundamental skills needed to take part in any ice sport or to skate as a recreational activity.

Who’s it for?

For beginners of all ages, children or adults, as well as for those wishing to improve their basic skills whether their focus be for figure skating, hockey, speed skating or just skating for fun. Must have passed all of their Learn to Skate and Stage 1 to register for our CanSkate Stage 2-6 program.

Who teaches it?

NCCP-trained professional coaches, assisted by trained program assistants.

What will you learn?

A complete series of balance, control and agility skills taught in six stages of learning that pertain to hockey, ringette, speed skating and figure skating as well as general recreational skating. CanSkate uses nationally-tested and proven curriculum and delivery methods that guarantee skater success in developing stronger basic skills and developing them faster.

What can you expect?

Action, movement and fun! Lessons are given in a group format with a coach-to-student ratio of a maximum 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, upbeat music and a wide variety of activities that create a motivational environment and promote learning. Badges, ribbons and other incentives are used to benchmark skaters’ progress and reward effort and participation.

What do you need to participate?

All you need are skates, a CSA-approved hockey helmet, long pants, mittens, warm sweater or jacket. Dress in layers – it will get warm!

The PreSTAR STARSkate program is an introduction to the fundamentals of figure skating for CanSkaters between Stage 3 and Stage 5.

Upon their coach’s recommendation, a CanSkater can register for an accelerated PreStar program. This combined program offers the CanSkater early exposure to the fundamentals of figure skating while they are still progressing to their Badge 5 in their CanSkate session.

Early introduction to these fundamentals allow skaters to master edges, crossovers, stronger backward skating, agility, speed and endurance.

Private coaching is also available for the PreSTAR program.

A CSA approved helmet (no cage) is required for the PreStar session, if your child is on CanSkate stage 4 and 5. Upon completion of Stage 5, under the coaches descretion, your child can enter into our Star 1 program without a helmet, or with a CSA approved Halo (a special helmet for figure skating). 

Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition – this is what STARSkate is all about!

STARSkate offers opportunities for skaters of all ages to develop fundamental figure skating skills in the areas of free skate, skating skills, ice dance and interpretive skating. Unique in Canada, this program teaches figure skating skills in a group and/or private lesson format in a progressive and sequential manner and includes specifically designed awards and incentives. Skaters have the opportunity to take Skate Canada tests through a nationally standardized testing system. Skaters who have mastered figure skating skills in STARSkate may also choose to pursue competitive skating, synchronized skating or pairs skating.

Trained and certified professional coaches provide the instruction for this program, focusing on fundamental physical movement and skating skills. At SSC we are proud to offer group instruction for our STARSkaters which provides them with active, engaging and fun programming that is skater centred and allows each skater to progress at their own pace.

How STARSkate works

The STARSkate program consists of figure skating skills in four disciplines – Free Skate, Skating Skills, Ice Dance and Interpretive. In accordance with Long Term Athlete Development philosophy skaters exit the CanSkate (Learn To Skate) pathway and enter the STAR 1 to 5 (formerly Preliminary and Junior Bronze) pathway which is geared to skaters who are entering a figure skating program for the first time. At this stage the focus is on the development and consolidation of basic figure skating skills, with an emphasis on free skating, while continuing to develop motor skills, agility, balance, coordination, rhythm, time/space orientation, speed, dexterity and control. At this point in a skater’s development the goal is to provide internal, informal assessment that removes any barriers that may hinder the skater from progressing as they acquire skills in the four disciplines. Skaters may progress at different rates through the different disciplines – everyone has their own strengths and areas of interest and the informal assessment system encourages this individuality.

As skaters grow and develop they are ready to acquire more complex skills. At this point in their skating they move into a more formalized external assessment system. Test days are scheduled throughout the skating year and skaters will be tested by trained evaluators when coaches have determined that they have attained and surpassed the minimum standards required to pass the tests at that level. Test are arranged to become progressively more challenging and at this stage skaters generally progress at various rates through the four disciplines.

Throughout their journey through the different levels of STARSkate, skaters are provided with opportunities to compete/perform in events that are scheduled both within and outside of the community. At the initial levels of competition skaters are not ranked and receive individual assessments of the skills they have performed. Skaters have an introduction to the performance aspect of the sport without the added stress of worrying how they will compare to the other skaters in their event. This non-ranked format has been adopted by most sports in Canada at the introductory levels to allow young athletes the best possible environment in which to develop their performance skills. As skaters progress to higher levels of competition they will enter ranked events when it is felt they have the appropriate sport specific skills and mental strength to handle this more challenging environment. From here skaters can attempt to progress to the Provincial or National level in various categories through qualifying competitions in the disciplines of Free Skate, Pairs and Ice Dance.