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KEY TERMS
TROY SKATING CLUB Who governs TSC? The Troy Skating Club is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of eleven members, five of whom may be officers. Officers need not be voting members of the Board to be elected. The five officer positions include President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Membership Chair. There are a variety of committees within the Board and chaired by Board members which include, but are not limited to, Competition Chair, Float Chair and Fundraising/Sponsorship Chair. The Board meets on a monthly basis and oversees all aspects of TSC functioning. Meetings, except Executive Sessions, are open to the public. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center at 7 p.m. VOLUNTEERING AT TSC How can I volunteer? We welcome any and all volunteers at TSC. It takes hundreds of hours to put together our annual events, including, but not limited to National Great to Skate Day, club competitions and recitals, and the annual Troy Summer Skating Competition. In addition, running the day to day operations of the club is a full-time job. Volunteers are needed in any area – whatever your gift or interest, we would be happy to have you on board. Call the club office at 937-339-8521 for more information or e-mail any Board member. TSC members are required to fulfill a set number of hours of volunteer work each year. Some of our volunteers have gone on to pursue higher levels of service with USFS. Examples include referees, judges and announcers. If you are interested in volunteering at this level, contact Kim Heim or Kathy Slack for more information. What are volunteer hours and how are they tracked? Volunteer hours are a requirement, in varying amounts, for all club members. Marti Cain, Membership Chair, is in charge of tracking all hours, though we encourage you to also keep track of what you have accomplished each year. There is a binder in the TSC office where you can input your hours. All hours for each membership year must be turned in by June 30 and the new year requirements begin July 1 of each year. Unfulfilled hours will be billed at $10 per hour at the end of each membership year. CLUB MEMBERSHIP AND SKATING LEVELS What is the benefit of being a club member? A club membership varies in cost depending upon the skating or non-skating level. All competitors and testers are required to have a membership with USFS. There are many benefits to being a club member, both for the member and for TSC. Each member has the right to test and compete on behalf of TSC and receives a free subscription to USFS’s Skating magazine. Each member has the right to vote annually to elect Board of Directors members and to receiving club scholarships and awards. TSC gains national voting rights for each level of membership achieved at the local level, giving us a say in national governance. Family members of skaters may join the club for a very nominal fee and this helps TSC to be more viable. What are the levels of club membership? TSC offers instruction and membership for skaters of all levels and in a variety of disciplines. The instruction levels include: *Beginning Level:
*Skaters enrolled in Basic Skills programs must purchase a USFS Basic Skills membership for a yearly $10 fee. **Intermediate Level:
**Advanced Level:
**Skaters in intermediate and advanced levels may elect to purchase a TSC membership at their corresponding level – Bridge, Jr. Club, Sr. Club or Adult. Membership is required for those wishing to test or compete. ***Non-skating members may purchase a yearly membership as either a Board member, Patron member (with a full paid membership), or non-skating member. I’ve passed Basic Skills/Adult Basic Skills – now what? Congratulations! You are now eligible to take private lessons (if you are not already doing so) and/or continue your skating if you so choose, in any of the tracks below for which you have eligibility. There are also many competition opportunities available for skaters of all levels, ages and disciplines. USFS levels include: USFS Basic Skills
USFS Standard Test Track
USFS Adult Test Track
*Once a skater passes Gold tests, adults can opt to test the standard track beginning with the Juvenile MIF and FS tests. USFS Dance Test Track
USFS Pairs Test Track
USFS Figures Test Track
*Skaters must pass tests in order and must pass corresponding level MIF test before taking FS test of same level. *Other USFS programs include Synchronized Skating, Collegiate, Theatre on Ice, S.T.A.R.S., School Programs, Competitive Test Track and National Showcase. More information on these and existing programs can be found on the USFS website www.usfigureskating.org. *Skaters interested in pursuing hockey opportunities beyond Basic Skills instruction, Hockey Power and Hockey Skills can contact Phil Knoll at Hobart Arena. When can I skate? Hobart Arena offers many skating opportunities from classes, club ice and coupon ice. Ask for a calendar at the office. When our ice is down, there are opportunities at other local rinks to keep up on your skills. How do I compete? Talk to an instructor and let them know of your interest in competing. Many competitions offer beginner packages for reduced rates. TSC COACHING PROFESSIONALS When is the right time to hire a coach for private lessons? The short answer is – it’s up to you. If you feel you are ready for private lessons, then you can start the process of interviewing coaches or observing lessons to get a feel for which coach you would like the best. Many skaters already know who they want to work with based on the coaching they’ve received during group lessons. Skaters hire private coaches for a variety of reasons – to take their skating to the next level, to learn specific skills for a test or competition, to get more one on one time with a teacher, to learn skills more quickly. Coaches are not required for skating, but are highly recommended in order to maximize skills and time on the ice. How do I hire a coach? You should consider very seriously your choice of a coach. It is perfectly acceptable, if you are unsure of your choice, to ask to observe lessons, or to hire a coach for a six week trial run. Once you’ve made a decision, you can ask the coach if they will accept you as a student. The coach/skater relationship is a contractual one that is made between the coach and the skater and/or parent/guardian. Some coaches speciailize in a certain area and many skaters have one primary coach and other specialty coaches who work with them on a particular element of their skating such as Moves in the Field or choreography. What should I look for in a coach? Different skaters have different needs. It is important that the skater feels comfortable with their coach and that they are making progress toward their goals. Adult skaters should also consider whether or not a coach is understanding of and serious about the goals of the adult skater. Some coaches do not understand the mentality of an adult skater, so a trial period may be important before making a final hiring decision. Some coaches accept adult students and some do not. What should I expect from my coach? Your coach should set up a time with you for private lessons. You can expect your coach to be on time and ready for the lesson. While it is the coaches’ job to layout lesson plans, do not be afraid to speak up and be clear about your overall goals. Your coach will help you to figure out a way to reach your goals and should support you at tests and competitions. SKATING APPAREL AND EQUIPMENT What should I wear – how do I care for my skates? For small children, warmth is important. Always wear gloves when skating and dress in light layers which can be removed if necessary. Baggy clothing should be avoided. Clothing should be form-fitting so coaches can see body line during movement. Pants should not have wide bottoms as they tend to get caught on the blade of the skate and can cause falls. Skating tights or knee-highs are a must. Wearing thick socks will affect the fit of a skate. Boys can wear thin socks. Skaters can also skate barefoot. Long hair should be pulled back. Skating tights and dresses can be found online or at some dance stores. TSC hosts skate sales a couple of times per year and we invite vendors to our annual competition. For skates: Proper fitting skates will only improve your skating skills. Talk to a coach or skate representative to ensure you are wearing the correct skate and blade. Always wear blade guards and wipe off skates and blades with a towel after skating. Use soakers to soak up excess water when storing skates. Never keep blade guards on skates during storage. Do not store skates in your vehicle for a long period of time – the temperature changes can wear down the skate prematurely. It is important to clean and polish the boots for tests and competitions. Be sure skates are conditioned properly and the soles are sealed to protect the leather from water-corrosion. Skates should be sharpened on a regular basis – one time initially when purchasing the boot, and then according to the skater’s need. If you are falling off your edges, it is time to sharpen your skates! Be careful on newly sharpened skates as they tend to be hard to stop. Where is a good place to get skates sharpened? Glenn Replogle sharpens skates for $12/pair. Where can I buy skates and other skating equipment? There are many online vendors and some local ones. Kettering ice arena sells basics such as tights and guards, while Findlay Skate Shop offers a full line of apparel. When purchasing skates, it is best to first talk with a pro. Any of our instructors will be happy to guide you and also measure you for your new skates. Sometimes, there are used pairs available for purchase from other skaters. Lacing Proper lacing is vital. Skate laces should be long enough to be tied securely and should tied snugly around the ball of the foot and the ankle. Do not wrap laces around the ankle of the boot – doing so can cause injury. If skate laces are too long, replace them with shorter laces or tuck them into the front laces of the boot. |