STARSkate

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 ice dance, skating skills, free skate 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.

STAR 1 to 5 offers a solid development pathway for skaters who are entering a figure skating program for the first time. The STAR 1-5 program will introduce skaters to the sport of figure skating and its disciplines: Freeskate, Skills and Dance.

STAR 1-5 Philosophies:

Golden Age of Learning

The importance of training proper technique during the “golden age of learning” is paramount for optimum skill development.

Remove Barriers for Progression

During this “golden age of learning” it is imperative that skaters are encouraged to move through the assessments at their own rate. Coaches and skaters no longer have to wait for test days or adjust their training plans to accommodate dates for testing as coaches will be assessing this program. Coaches can spend time on training, development and skill acquisition and assess the skaters when ready.

Strong Focus on Quality Basics

The STAR 1-5 program is designed to encourage skaters and coaches to strive for the highest quality of skill execution and acquisition. A strong foundation at this level will enable skaters to progress more quickly in the higher levels of figure skating and be ready for the next level of skills. This philosophy is reinforced by encouraging skaters to achieve the “Pass with Honours” designation on their assessments, as well as achieving “Gold” status on their performances at events.

Introduce More Complex Skills Earlier to Allow for a Better Foundation for Development

Many skills in the STAR 1-5 program will be introduced early to allow coaches to work with skaters on developing these skills over time. Many skills in skating are complex. Introducing these skills early will enable coaches to hone and develop the skaters’ technique over time. This will allow the skaters to have sufficient practice of the skill before it is required in our sport.

Create a Better Bridge from CanSkate to Figure Skating

The entry level of STAR 1 is designed to meet the exit level of Stage 6 in CanSkate. The STAR 1-5 program is designed to assist the skater’s development in a progressive manner. Skaters may move through the STAR program at their own pace per discipline.

Once a skater’s STAR 1-5 disciplines are assessed and passed, the skater then moves on to Intermediate and Senior STARSkate tests. The Intermediate & Senior STARSkate program consists of the following levels:

STAR 6- GOLD

STAR 6- Gold is an assessment and event structure for skaters who completed the STAR 1-5 Program. This structure builds on the skills acquired in STAR 1-5 and introduces skaters to more advanced figure skating elements.

STARSkate participants love to compete! Our feedback indicates that even though a skater may choose not to participate in the Skate Canada CompetitiveSkate Program, they still want the opportunity to test their skill in a competition situation. Skate Canada offers several opportunities to do this.

Regional Invitational Competition

This annual competition hosts skaters from a number of skating clubs within our local region. The competition offers events such as Spins, Jumps, and Freeskate that fall in line with the STAR 1-10 program. Skaters competing in the STAR 2 or 3 level are assessed to a standard (Merit, Bronze, Silver, or Gold). Skaters competing in STAR 3 or higher are assessed to a standard and ranked.

Jean Norman / STARSkate Competition

Jean Norman is an annual competition that hosts skaters from across the province. The competition offers events such as Spins, Jumps, and Freeskate that fall in line with the STAR 1-10 program. Skaters competing in the STAR 2 or 3 level are assessed to a standard (Merit, Bronze, Silver, or Gold). Skaters competing in STAR 3 or higher are assessed to a standard and ranked.

For additional competition opportunities, please talk to your coach.

StarSkate Handbook
We have made a handbook with all the details of what it means to be a starskater within our club. To view the handbook please go HERE.