Structure

Pre-CanSkate

Pre­-CanSkate will warm up and have lessons in the same zone at an end quarter of the ice for the entire session.

The Pre-CanSkate group is made up of skaters who have never skated before and who are not confident with their balance on the ice, regardless of age. They work on the essentials needed to move safely and effectively on the ice so that they can eventually rotate through the different learning stations. There are eight basic skills designed to ready them for Stage 1. Once skaters are mobile and feel comfortable rotating between zones, they will be moved to a different group. Some children may move quickly out of this group while others will feel more comfortable staying for the season. Each skater will be assessed by the coach and Skating Director regarding movement to the rotational schedule.

Please note that parents are not allowed on the ice with their Pre-CanSkater.  The skater must be at least three years old by the end of the skating term and willing to go on the ice without their parent.  Ratio on this session is 10:1.

CanSkate

There are three main stations on the ice during each CanSkate session:

• Balance
• Control
• Agility

Each week, one of the zones is designated as the Fun Zone, which will have some extra fun added to the circuit. A Fast Track encircles the perimeter of the ice rink, outside of the group stations.

Each session consists of a warm-up, three small group lessons (10 minutes each at one of three stations with a different coach at each station), a group activity and a cool-down with a focus on continuous movement. Skaters use the Fast Track to move from station to station.

The sessions incorporate upbeat music, teaching aids and a wide variety of activities to add fun and variety. Ratio on this session is 10:1.

Academy CanSkate

Academy CanSkate follows the regular CanSkate structure including the three main stations.  The main difference between the regular programming is that the ratio per session is reduced.  And the groups focus on skaters that have already passed their beginner stages of CanSkate and are working on their elements in stages 2 - 6.