Stroking & Skating Skills Course

1. Stroking & Skating Skills Course NCCP Intermediate STARSkate Provincial Coach (ISPC) Program

2. Today’s Agenda Stroking Technique Senior Bronze & Junior Silver Stroking Step Sequences in the CPC Interpretive Skating Skating Skills (History & Objectives) Turns and Steps Senior Bronze & Junior Silver Skating Skills Tests

3. The Importance of Stroking…

4. What is Quality Skating? Edge Quality Ability to skate all the basic edges Establish a solid lean of the edge Change lean easily from one edge to the next Smooth and quiet glide of the edge

5. What is Quality Skating? Turning Ability Ability to hold the edge after the turn Ability to maintain the dept of the edge before and after the turn Ability to turn in balance on both feet, forward, backwards and in both directions. Ability to do all turns with speed and control

6. What is Quality Skating? Stroking Ability Pushing correctly from the side of the blade Producing a powerful stroke equally from both legs Good balance with a soft and consistent knee action All of this with great posture and in time to the music

7. Stroking Technique More Factors to address Direction of stroke Angle of push Extension of free leg Correct body lean & alignment Basic arm & shoulder placement

8. 30º Rule All must be 30º off the circle: Edges – open & undercut strokes Head position Arms Legs & feet

9. 30º Rule

10. Use of the whole body … .

11. Jogging Approach Light warm-up to introduce “rhythm” Helps establish weight over ball of foot Concept makes skaters work both sides of body equally Arms relaxed (tucked up) in a swing mode helps build a stable center

12. Basic Stroking Patterns Perimeter () () Forward Backward

13. Senior Bronze Stroking Test Russian Stroking Quick and dynamic Skate on correct edge (inside/outside/inside) Power strokes important Must have equal edge strength Timing of steps not crucial Body lean important during change of lobe

14. Senior Bronze Stroking Test Swing Change of Edge Shift lean during change of edge while maintaining good flow Powerful crosscuts on the end to increase speed Place crosscuts correctly between change of edge Strong rhythm and consistent timing of free leg & skating knee action

15. Basic Stroking Patterns Circle () () Forward Backward

16. Junior Silver Stroking Test Circle Stroking Strength – posture and balance Defined strokes with free leg extended Free leg lifted into prescribed position and sustained until bringing the foot down Flow and control

17. Basic Stroking Patterns Figure eight Forward Backward

18. Junior Silver Stroking Test Figure Eight Stroking Power and strength Extended position during circle transition Press edge: either last stroke of first circle or first stroke of second circle, an inside or outside edge, a change of edge or change of foot – in all cases, it must be consistent on each transition

19. Pair Stroking ISU DVD General Points Strong, smooth stroking is the basis of a good pair team Stroke speed, length and strength, leg, body, arm and head position of both skaters must match at all times Set time aside to work strictly on power and cardio stroking and additional time on technique and unison

20. Basic Positions & Holds Parallel

21. Basic Positions & Holds Hand-in-hand

22. Basic Positions & Holds Rear hand-to-shoulder

23. Basic Positions & Holds Kilian / reverse kilian (closed)

24. Basic Positions & Holds Kilian / reverse Kilian (open)

25. Basic Positions & Holds Eagle

26. Juvenile Pair Focus on 1. Forward circle () hand-to-hand – reverse kilian Forward circle () hand-to-hand - kilian Backward circle () and () hand-to-hand Forward perimeter () and () in parallel

27. Ice Dancing Stroking Dance Patch Breaking dances down to specific edges Improves positions and patterns Can be done as a couple or as a single dancer

28. Dance Patch Example Blues Choctaw Exercise

29. Juvenile Dance Emphasize Good stroking skills: proper pushes, balance, positioning and style, knee rhythm Technique of turns 30ºrule described in module 1 Good technique and unison Tracking and rhythm

30. Synchronized Skating Emphasize Direction of thrust Balance over the blade Unison, accuracy in steps Speed, power and confidence Smoothness in turns/edges

31. Example of ExecutionBlock Perimeter In a closed block formation Intro count – 5…6…7…8 Perform 6-8 open strokes down the sides L/R/L/R/L/R Perform 6-8 chassés around the end Block formation must “fan out” while moving across the end of pattern

32. Step Sequences in CPC Patterns Today’s best step sequences can last up to 30 seconds or more and do not follow the tight rope shape of days past.

33. Step Sequences in CPC Patterns

34. Step Sequences in CPC Note: The step sequence must fully utilize the ice surface. Step sequences too short and barely visible cannot be considered as meeting the requirements of a step sequence. Turns and steps must be balanced in their distribution throughout the sequence. If there is no balance, the Level cannot be higher than 1. To be considered, all turns must be done with proper execution on clear edges. An attempted counter that becomes a change of edge followed by a three turn for example, will count as a three turn.

35. Turns & Steps in CPC Types of turns (executed on one foot) three turns, twizzles, brackets, loops, counters, rockers. Types of steps (executed on one foot whenever possible) toe steps, chasses, mohawks, choctaws, curves with change of edge, crossrolls, running steps.

36. Turns & Steps in CPC Simple variety: • Must include at least 7 turns and 4 steps, none of the types can be counted more than twice. Variety: • Must include at least 9 turns and 4 steps, none of the types can be counted more than twice.

37. Turns & Steps in CPC Complexity: • Must include at least 5 different types of turns and 3 different types of steps all executed at least once in both directions. • “Both directions” refers to rotational direction. Skating forward and skating backward is not a change of rotational direction.

38. CPC Step SequencesFeatures for levels (Singles) • Simple variety (Level 2), variety (Level 3), complexity (Level 4) of turns and steps throughout (compulsory) • Rotations (turns, steps) in either direction (left and right) with full body rotation covering at least 1/3 of the pattern in total for each rotational direction • Use of upper body movement • At least half a pattern on one foot only • Combination of difficult turns (rockers, counters, brackets, twizzles) quickly executed in both directions (at least twice within the sequence)

39. CPC Step SequencesFeatures for levels (Pair Skating) • Simple variety (Level 2), variety (Levels 3–4) of turns and steps of both partners throughout. (compulsory) • 2) Rotations (turns, steps) in either direction (left and right) with full body rotation (360 degrees) covering at least 1/3 of the pattern in total for each rotational direction. • 3) Use of upper body movements • 4) Changes of positions (crossing at least twice while doing steps and turns) for at least 1/3 of the sequence • 5) Not separating at least half of the pattern (changes of holds are allowed)

40. Interpretive Skating

41. What does Interpretive Skating offer? It provides an avenue within which skaters can develop their ability to interpret music without feeling the pressure created by the demand of technical difficulty

42. STARSkate Tests • Introductory • Bronze • Silver –Intermediate SS training • Gold – Advanced SS training Primary SS training

43. Encouraging Skaters To have: • An understanding of the relationship between movement and music • An ability to employ basic skating skills as vehicles of expression

44. Encouraging Skaters To have: • An awareness of their innate choreographic creativity • An extensive repertoire of expressive movements • An increased confidence in their performance skills

45. Evaluation Features • One interpretive evaluator will assess tests • For all levels - programs are minimum 2.0 minutes and maximum 3.0 minutes (+ or – 10 seconds)

46. Evaluation Features • No age criteria – age has little impact on a skater’s ability to interpret music • Skating skills and other basic components are not reflective of a person’s age, but rather his/her acquired skill set

47. Evaluation Features • Adult skaters are now part of interpretive skating! • Equivalencies Example: An adult skater passed the adult artistic test, he/she can now begin with the Silver interpretive test.

48. Evaluation Features • A skater may qualify for the same test more than once using a different theme and program on each occasion • Open to everyone – skate single or in couples!

49. Coach’s Main Role Mentor • Guiding skaters to develop their own choreographic skills • Discuss theme and music to draw out skater’s understanding of the theme

50. Program Components Theme Symbolic meaning to music, movement suitability and skater’s skills Motivation Reason that generates movement