Reading Figure Skating Club Ice Use & Safety Rules
Effective May 21, 2022
The Reading Figure Skating Club (RFSC) works to purchase and organize Freestyle Ice sessions for the practice of figure skating and/or private lessons for its Club Members and Guests.
RFSC Freestyle sessions are designed for figure skaters to take private lessons, practice jumps, spins, moves & dance patterns, and to perform their programs to music. Some of these elements may be done with speed and low visibility for avoiding other skaters who may skate into their space. We aim to accommodate skaters of various ages and abilities who are dedicated to improving their skills. However, be aware when choosing to skate with us that some sessions, used by advanced skaters, are hazardous to the inexperienced.
RFSC accommodates Home Club Members first and foremost and also offers skating opportunities to Affiliate Members and properly identified Guest Skaters. The RFSC board reserves the right to recommend discontinuation of Affiliates and Guests should it be determined that those offerings no longer serve the club’s goals and best interests of our home membership.
General Rules
All skaters, coaches, and parents/guardians are required to abide by all of the rules and regulations set by Body Zone. This is our club’s “home” and is also a business with other activities being conducted and it is essential to treat the facility and its personnel with courtesy and respect, as you would in any other place of business. Please keep in mind, the RFSC does not have the resources to provide exceptions for individual skaters. Further:
- Skaters 12 and under must have passed Basic 4 or have been accepted and currently a student of our Aspire program before they may use Freestyle ice for practice. There are no age/level restrictions for students during private lessons. Additionally there are no age/level restrictions for skaters age 13 and up however we highly encourage beginner skaters to use their best judgment to practice during non-peak ice times that may be more safe for their skill level.
- Helmets are required for skaters 12 and under who have not passed Basic Level 2.
- No food, drink, or gum is permitted on the ice. Closed, non-breakable water bottles are permitted and must be kept and used at the boards.
- Cell phones are not allowed to be used on the ice except in the following situations:
- Playing music – in this situation the phone must remain along the board area. A skater may not skate while holding their phone for the purpose of playing music.
- A coach skating along to video a student for coaching purposes – In this case only the coach may skate while holding the phone.
- A skater taking video of his/her own movements for practice purposes – In this situation the phone must remain along the board area and in no way should the use of a phone/ recording interrupt another skater’s lesson or other right of way.
- Use of headphones or earbuds or any ear device that limits hearing is prohibited.
- No one is allowed on the ice without skates on, except for coaches or ice monitors.
- The benches by the ice are to be used by the skaters and coaches only. Parents, friends, and other family members are not permitted.
- No one is allowed on the ice when the Zamboni door is open.
- Maximum Number of skaters permitted on ice during a freestyle session is 25. Sessions that frequently approach or exceed the maximum number of skaters may be restricted from use based on membership status.
- Maximum number of students permitted in a private group lesson is 2.
- Some club programs consist of small group instruction during freestyle ice. Scheduling of these programs is subject to approval by the Board and subject to change based upon participation levels during the freestyle session.
- Hockey skaters may only skate on Freestyle ice during private lessons.
- There are no speed drills or use of cones. Warm up laps may be done at a fast speed but not at “racing” speed. Only one skater at a time may take warm up laps. Be aware of other skaters that appear to be waiting to take warm up laps.
- No hockey skaters may bring sticks or wear equipment other than helmets and hockey gloves.
- If any rules are broken, skaters may be asked to leave the ice.
Right-of-Way
It is each skater’s responsibility to yield the Right Of Way (ROW) in the following priority:
- Skater run through to Music – pinnie required for ROW
- Private Lesson
- Active test patterns
Music
- Music will be put in a queue. Private lesson program music is prioritized in the queue.
- Everyone yields to the skater with the music on except when a skater is repeating their program or sections of a program multiple times, including during choreographing. Skaters who are repeating their music should not expect the ROW to apply, even if there are no other skaters waiting to play music.
- Skaters running their program to music MUST wear their pinnie and remove it as soon as the program is completed.
- Choreographing to Music – Coaches are expected to use discretion and good judgment when requiring a pinnie for teaching Choreography/a new program to students while considering the amount of ice required and session conditions.
Skaters’ & Parents’ Rules
- If you are a parent of a minor skater, please educate your child about the Ice Use & Safety Rules and work to ensure your child is compliant with the rules.
- All skaters will sign-on and make payment with an ice monitor prior to stepping on the ice.
- Skaters and coaches should not take the ice until the designated start time of a session, and should exit the ice promptly at the end of a session.
- All skaters will wear a pinnie when running a program or dance.
- All skaters are to remain alert to their surroundings while skating.
- If you are an experienced skater, please be patient with the less experienced skaters. Remember – you were new to freestyle at one time, too. Special care and judgment should be exercised when choosing to practice moves, for example, camel spins, backward spirals and solo dance patterns that limit a skater’s visibility.
- If you are a less experienced skater, please be extra careful to remain aware of your surroundings, other skaters, and to look ahead of where you are skating to see what others are doing or are about to do. Please be aware, some sessions, used by advanced skaters, are hazardous to the inexperienced.
- Crowded sessions may be hazardous to all skaters regardless of experience level.
- The ice is for practice, not socialization. Please go to the wall or leave the ice if you wish to socialize or take a break.
- No playing tag, pushing, pulling, bumping, racing or sitting/laying down on the ice.
- No interrupting a coach while they are teaching a private lesson to another skater.
- Your actions and behavior are a reflection of the RFSC. You are expected to act respectfully towards other skaters, coaches, and guests at Body Zone as well as at events at other rinks.
- Digging holes, scraping, stomping, or throwing the ice is not permitted.
Coaches’ Rules
- Coaches are expected to educate their students and enforce rules while on the ice.
- Coaches bringing new/guest skaters in for an initial lesson are expected to notify the club, in advance of the lesson, at Readingfsc@gmail.com and provide:
- Parent & Skater name(s), email, phone number for the guest skater
- Confirm that the club’s Ice Use & Safety Rules have been communicated to and signed by the guest skater
- Confirm that the club’s sign in and payment procedure has been communicated to the guest skater
- Coaches should be aware of their students Club membership status and ensure that skaters are aware of their eligibility to receive Club benefits and access to certain freestyle sessions.
- Coaches are prohibited for asking for exceptions for their students
- Coaches are prohibited for asking for (or encouraging others to request) club benefits to be provided to guest skaters
- While the club can accommodate guest skaters of other disciplines, Coaches are expected to prioritize figure skating students to help build commitment, engagement, and volunteerism which are critically important to maintaining our club. As a result:
- Coaches are permitted to teach lessons to hockey students, but a coach may not teach more than five 30-minute hockey lessons per week.
- Requests to expand or add freestyle sessions will only be considered if they will result in an increase in figure skating participation and a volunteer for monitoring. Requests with a monitor volunteer will be prioritized over monitoring done by a coach or other individual who will be on the ice.
- Coaches should be aware when the ice is approaching capacity and consider teaching from the boards.
- When teaching a choreography or program to a student, Coaches should use discretion and consider the amount of ice being used and session conditions when requiring a pinnie.
- Please be respectful of our volunteers’ personal time. Comments, concerns, and issues should be made to the club at Readingfsc@gmail.com are not to be made in-person to any club volunteer, monitor, or board member. A board member will add the issue as an agenda item for the next club meeting or, if necessary, for follow-up discussion of such concerns..
- Your actions and behavior are a reflection of the RFSC. You are expected to act respectfully towards other skaters, coaches, and guests at Body Zone as well as at events at other rinks. Negative behaviors that would reflect poorly include:
- Making complaints about the club, club’s procedures, members, board members, coaches, or skaters to Ice Monitors.
- Making negative comments about other skaters, guests, coaches, and members of our board or general community.
- Using inappropriate language toward others in a disrespectful manner: Cursing and other foul language is not tolerated.
- Yelling at others for reasons other than to prevent a collision or safety incident.
Skate Safe
All skaters and coaches agree to abide by the code of conduct set forth by USFS under the “SafeSportTM” statement. Information about USFS Skate Safe can be found at https://www.usfigureskating.org/skatesafe
Information specific to our Reading Figure Skating Club SkateSafe can be found at http://www.readingfigureskatingclub.org/skatesafe/