The CanSkate program is based on Sport Canada’s long term athlete development (LTAD) principles. Exciting new features include a fresh new look, new awards, great tools for coaches and most importantly a tested and proven new curriculum and delivery methods that guarantee skater success in developing stronger basic skills and developing them faster. But there’s more! The new program also includes specific skills that pertain to hockey, ringette, speed skating and figure skating. The result is a dynamic new program that prepares all skaters for virtually every ice sport.
Glencoe Skating Club is also proud to have all its programs taught by professional coaches who are specially trained and certified through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).
Our club is excited to welcome and serve learn to skate clientele from every walk of life, age and every interest level.
CanSkate is Skate Canada’s flagship learn-to-skate program, designed for beginners of all ages. When you sign up for CanSkate you will be in a program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. You will earn badges and other incentives as you learn fundamental skating skills. Lessons are given in a group format and led by an NCCP certified professional coach. Professional coaches are assisted by trained Program Assistants. The coach to student ratio is a maximum of 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, music and a wide variety of activities that create a fun environment and promote learning. CanSkate is the feeder program to all other Skate Canada Skating Programs.
Why sign up for CanSkate?
CanSkate is Canada’s only national learn-to-skate program. It was developed by experts to teach the fundamentals of skating in a progressive and sequential manner.
When you/your child registers for a CanSkate program at Glencoe Skating Club, you also become a member of Skate Canada, the national sport governing body for figure skating in Canada. Membership benefits in the CanSkate program can include:
- Badges and Ribbons
- Stickers
- Colouring Sheets
- Parent Information Sheets
- Progress Updates and Report Cards
- Special CanSkate Events and Club Functions
- CanSkater of the Year Award Program
- Opportunity to be talent-scouted
- Opportunity to participate in a positive healthy lifestyle activity
Program Structure
For CanSkaters, speed, flexibility and solid basics are the most important aspects to be trained. This is accomplished by ensuring increased movement on the ice, using strategies such as circuits, the fast track, effective warm–ups and cool–downs, and having better skill progressions where the skills reoccur on several stages to develop the skills to a higher level of proficiency at each level.
In the New CanSkate program, skills have been divided into three basic Fundamental Areas:
- Balance: Concentrating on most forward skills, pushing technique and edges.
- Control: Concentrating on most backwards skills, stopping and speed elements.
- Agility: Concentrating on most turning and jumping skills.
Coaches are encouraged to push the development of a skater in each of these fundamentals during lesson time. Coaches should always work on more than one stage at a time so that skaters can be challenged and exposed to new skills on a regular basis.
