Welcome to the Miami FSC!

1. Welcome to the Miami FSC! Club Dinner/Bingo Night Stars On Ice Outings Competition Competition, USFS Testing and Social Activities We are member club #4956 of US Figure Skating and the most southern club in the United States. We are committed to the development of all levels and areas of Figure Skating. We provide USFS testing, support and social activities for the greater Miami Figure Skating community.

2. Parenting Essentials “When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one, but you won’t come up with a handful of mud either.” ---Leo Burnett

3. Figure Skating Programs and Development / Pipeline of Figure Skating U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program/ KIA Skating Academy Bridge Program / KIA Skating Academy Advanced Figure Skating Program U.S. Figure Skating Club Membership / Miami FSC T E S T S Passing skill tests advance the skater to the next level. Skaters test in moves in the field, free skating, pairs and dance. N O N Q U A L I F Y I N G C O M P S. Skaters of all levels compete in non qualifying competitions. Q U A L I F Y I N G S Y S T E M This is the pipeline for singles, pairs and dance to advance to the U.S. Junior Champ., U.S. Champ., and international, World and Olympics Synchronized skaters also follow a qualifying track that leads to Worlds. The competitions are separate, and there is not test track. S Y N C H R O N I Z E D S K A T I N G Preliminary – Open Junior go to the first level of qualifying comp., but cannot go to U.S. Championships Development & Education programs held for all levels of synchronized skating. Pre-preliminary Pre-preliminary Preliminary x Pre-juvenile Preliminary Preliminary Open juvenile Pre-juvenile Pre-juvenile U.S. Junior Championships: Reach for the Stars Open junior Juvenile Juvenile Juvenile U.S. Synchronized Championships: Juvenile - Adult Juvenile Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate U.S. Championships: Team 2010, NACS Sports Science Novice Novice Novice Novice Junior Junior Junior Junior U.S. Synchronized Championships: International comp., World Junior, World Senior Senior Senior Senior U.S. Championships: International comp., Worlds, Olympics Adult Test Program Collegiate Programs Collegiate Champ. Collegiate Adult Programs Adult Champ. Adult

4. Test Structure The test structure is the base of U.S. Figure Skating. All skaters must participate to advance to the next level. Each level has specific required elements that the skater must perform in a program for a panel of 3 qualified judges. The pass rate decreases as the level increases. 99% of skaters taking the pre-preliminary test passed, while 59% of skaters taking the senior test passed. There were a total of 402 Adult free skating tests taken; 26 gold. Senior: 239 Junior: 368 Free skating tests passed by U.S. Figure Skating members in calendar year 2006. On average it takes a skater one year to progress one level. T E S T S Passing skill tests advance the skater to the next level. Skaters test in moves in the field, free skating, pairs and dance. Novice: 531 Intermediate: 931 Juvenile: 1506 Pre-Juvenile: 1857 Pre-preliminary Preliminary: 2346 Preliminary Pre-juvenile Pre-Preliminary: 3272 Juvenile Limited Beginner / Beginner / Bridge Program Intermediate Over 100,000 skaters are in the Basic Skills Program each year. Retention rate from year to year is about 35% Novice Basic Skills Advanced Programs: FS, synchro, dance, pairs, AIM Junior Basic Skills Program, Snowplow 1,Basic 1, Hockey 1, Adult 1, Special Olympics 1 – FUNDAMENTAL SKATING LESSONS Senior Adult Test Program

5. Basic Skills to Senior - Non QualifyingCompetitive Free Skating Structure Snowplow Sam – Basic Skills 1-8 Music Programs Competitive Test Track Newevent for non-qualifying restricted competitions Limited Beginner Beginner Pre - Pre Test Preliminary Test Pre- Juvenile Test Juvenile Test Intermediate Test Novice Test Junior Test Senior Test Free Skating Track Well Balanced Program Requirements No Test Free Skate Pre-pre Free Skate Preliminary Free Skate Pre- juvenile/Open Pre-juv. Free Skate Juvenile/Open Juvenile Free Skate Intermediate Free Skate Novice Free Skate Junior Free Skate Senior Free Skate No Axel Allowed Please note: A Basic Skills approved competition can include all events above the line. A sanctioned competition can include all events in both tracks. A Basic Skills approval is still necessary to cover the Basic Skills events.

6. Nonqualifying system All skaters may compete in non-qualifying competitions, held by member clubs around the country. The approximate number of skaters competing in singles free skating at each level is indicated. Senior : 240 N O N Q U A L I F Y I N G C O M P S. Skaters of all levels compete in non qualifying competitions. Junior: 425 Novice: 550 Intermediate: 1,000 Basic Skills Juvenile: 1,500 Pre-preliminary Pre-Juvenile: 2,200 Preliminary Pre-juvenile Preliminary: 3,000 Juvenile Pre-preliminary: 4,000 Intermediate Novice Basic Skills Competitions: Approximately 25,000 skaters participate per year, Junior Senior Collegiate Programs Collegiate Programs: 500 Adult Programs Adult Programs: 700

7. Qualifying Structure The qualifying system is where competitive figure skating and the “road to the Olympics” starts. The total number of entries at the regional level is 2560 (1,963 girls/ladies 77%; 350 boys/men 14%; 116 pair teams 4.5%; 131 dance teams 5%). REGIONALS: 2,560 JR. NAT’L / SECTIONALS NATIONALS 155 INTERNATIONALS 200 WORLD CHAMP. 16 Q U A L I F Y I N G S Y S T E M This is the pipeline for singles, pairs and dance to advance to the U.S. Junior Champ., U.S. Champ., and international, World and Olympics OLYMPICS 16 Senior: 234 x Junior: 318 U.S. Junior Championships: Reach for the Stars Novice: 512 Juvenile Intermediate Intermediate: 822 U.S. Championships: Team 2010, NACS Sports Science Novice Junior Juvenile: 674 * skaters must be under 13 to participate Senior U.S. Championships: International comp., Worlds, Olympics Collegiate Champ. Adult Champ.

8. Qualities of a successful skater • Technical ability • Quality edges • Presentation- carriage, expression, artistry • Involve the audience • Passion • Confidence • Strong and healthy body • Athletic • Drive (hungry for the challenge) • Work ethic

9. Ten Commandments for Skating Parents • Don’t impose your ambitions on your child • Support your child…remember skating should be “fun” • Let the Coach coach! • Offer positive comments or none at all • Acknowledge your child’s fears • Do not criticize the officials • Honor the bond between your child & coach • Be loyal & supportive of your child’s team • Help set realistic goals -stress success in the process not the outcome And above all… • Accept your child’s abilities & limitations

10. Skater Coach Parent Triangular Relationship

11. Role of a Parent • Provide financial & emotional support • Determine the best coach/program to fit your needs • Teach and develop good sportsmanship • Balance skating with your life • Keep skating in perspective • Help your child keep the sport in perspective • Work with the school to support your child • Do not shortchange education for skating • Support coach & child relationship

12. Responsibilities of a Parent • Maintain balance & cohesion between parent, coach, & skater • Clearly communicate your financial limitations to the coach • Discuss with the coach the necessity of off-ice training and programs • Fill out competition forms & send them to the LOC in a timely manner • Help set goals with your child & coach on a periodic basis • Determine with the coach which competitions the skater will attend • Provide a nutritional diet for your child • Get involved by volunteering to show your child that their sport is important to the family • Reinforce sportsmanship • Find the ‘optimal push’ for your child

13. Characteristics of Supportive Parents... • Focus on skill mastery rather than competition placements • Decrease the pressure to win • See sport as an opportunity for self-development • Communicate effectively to child, coach and club • Understand your role in supporting your child

14. What Parents Want... • Parents want what’s best for their child • Parents have the right to ask questions and be informed about their child’s activity • Parents deserve to be treated with respect • Parents want to know how to best help and support their child

15. What Coaches Want... • Parent agreement • Clearly defined coach & parent roles • For parents to understand the natural growth and development of their child • Have realistic expectations for child • U.S. Figure Skating to provide parental role models at programs • To support the whole team and all participants • No gossiping or undermining program

16. What Skaters Want…. • To have fun • To learn and improve skills • To be with their friends • To compete • To succeed • To be supported

17. The Dad’s Place is on the Team! • Money • Pay the bills. Not only is the team missing the balance of his input, he is missing some of the best parts of his skater’s life • Communication • Second hand information or not at all • Communication should be more consistent than balancing the checkbook

18. Consider this…... • Not every child is going to be an Olympian. • In fact, your child’s chance of making the Olympic team is slim! • HOWEVER, the life lessons learned from skating far outweigh any material rewards your child may receive.

19. Skater Coach Parent Are You A Supportive Parent?

20. Skater Coach Parent Are You a Pressure Parent?

21. Are You A Supportive Parent or A Pressure Parent….Is winning more important to you? • After a poor performance is your disappointment obvious? • Do you feel you are the only one who can “psyche up” your child? • Is winning the only way your child can enjoy sports? • Do you conduct post mortems after competition or practice? • Do you feel you have to force your child to practice? • Do you think you could coach your child better? • Do you dislike your child’s opponents or their parents? • Are your child’s goals more important to you? • Do you provide material rewards for performances?

22. Support Coach & Skater Relationship

23. Sportsmanship • Parents are first moral educators of their children • Coaches share in character development of athletes • Parents are responsible for developing and encouraging good sportsmanship • Competition is an opportunity for the development of good character (reveals it) • Good character in the athletic arena should be integral part of the competitive spirit • Sports culture pushes in the opposite direction • Commitment of parents to sportsmanship is essential

24. Sportsmanship Ten Ways to Raise a Good Sport • Expect respect • Be a role model • Reinforce good sportsmanship • Encourage a wider perspective • Use language of sportsmanship • Discuss the two sides of sports • Look beyond the headlines • Promote reflection about sportsmanship • Encourage personal responsibility • Help your child remember to play

25. DEFENDING FIGURE SKATING • Figure Skating is not a sport • Figure Skating doesn’t look difficult • Why does figure skating take so much time? • Is your skater going to the Olympics? • The judging is fixed

26. Specific Athletic Demands of Figure Skaters Supramaximal Effort in a Cold Environment Heart rate during program is 195 beats/minute • At its max 200 beats/minute • Skaters will sustain this heart rate in a 3-4 minute program • equal to an 800 meter runner

27. Specific Athletic Demands of Figure Skaters Athletic Demands • Spins/jump rotation = 2-300 pounds of centrifugal force to hold arms/legs in position • Jump force = 2-4 times the body weight (power to lift off ice) • Landing force = 8-14 times the body weight (impact on landing) • Stroking force = 1 times the body weight

28. Specific Athletic Demands of Figure Skaters Jumping Facts for triples • Air time is .6 - .7 of a second • Turn rate in air 5 times per second • Arms pull in at .1 of a second • Feet cross at .08 of a second • Jump height 22 - 32 inches • All jumps landed on one leg versus two legged landing in other sports • All jumps land backward on blade 1/8 inch wide

29. Specific Athletic Demands of Figure Skaters Injuries • Effect is overuse injuries in 90% of cases due to muscle fatigue and increased loads • Figure Skating Injury Type: Acute 50% vs chronic 50% Non-serious 90% vs serious 10% Overuse 90% vs one-time 10%

30. Specific Athletic Demands of Figure Skaters • Injuries • Cost of Injury: Type Off-Ice Full SkatingCompetition Compatible Strain 0-2 weeks 1 week yes Tear 2-4 weeks 2-3 months yes/no* *tear can be 2-3 months before they can compete Bone contusion 0-2 weeks 1-2 months yes Stress fracture 2-4 weeks 2-3 months yes/no Fracture 2-3 weeks 3-4 months no

31. Financial Commitment Nutrition Competitions Team Sports Sleep & Rest Testing Ice Time USFS Conditioning Health Issues Skater Coach Goal Setting Church Off Ice Training Fine Arts Parent School Career Planning Family Siblings Skating Club Peer Pressure Equipment

32. Benefits of Skating in College There are many benefits of skating in college, even though scholarships are not yet available. Students and parents should look at the non-financial benefits to be satisfied with a collegiate skating career. • Continue participating in a sport you love is a supportive environment – train and compete with other students in your same situation. • Helps adjust to college life. Joining a skating club helps new students to immediately find a group of friends they can relate to. Provides a sense of belonging on a large campus. • Teaches time management skills. Student athletes are more likely to have better grades and attendance than non-athletes. • Teaches leadership, organization and responsibility. Clubs are student run and athletes must learn how to run and manage their own teams, including hiring coaches, budgets, running practices, travel arrangements, working together to reach a common goal.

34. U.S. Figure Skating Parents Code of Conduct Codes of Conduct give everyone a guide to what is expected of us, if we are part of an organization, participating in a sport, or as spectators at our child’s events

35. "The one who wins all the time is great, ispowerful. But the one who has been trampled on and fallen and is injured and is able to get back up and stand up and fight - that's who I admirethe most." – Michelle Kwan Sportsmanship Michelle Kwan

36. Thanks for stopping by! • Membership and club information can be found on the Club’s Website at: • miamifsc.org • Club & USFS News • Tests, Competition Information, Photos • Social Activities • Announcements