Parent Guides from U.S. Figure Skating: Whether you are new to figure skating or have been involved with the sport for years, USFS has information and resources for you as you support your children in their development and pursuit of their life, recreational and competitive goals:
- Volume 1 – An Introduction to being a successful figure skating parent
- Volume 2 – The tips and tricks to being a supportive figure skating parent
- Volume 3 – Striving for success on and off the ice
Private Lessons
Private lessons are available for one on one time with a coach to polish elements and move ahead through skills. Private lessons can be for any skater – Learn to Skate, Aspire, Advanced or Hockey.
The skating club provides a list of coaching staff available for private lessons. The skater is responsible for contracting private ice time with the AFSC and contracting lesson time with a coach. Coaches charge lesson fees independently of the figure skating club. Coach information can be found on our Coaches page or by clicking the below PDF:
Once you have secured lesson time with a coach, then you will register and buy private ice time with the AFSC. All skaters must have a current membership with either Learn to Skate USA or US Figure Skating for the season before you may skate on any AFSC ice. The skating year, or 2024-2025 Season, runs from July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. Membership is paid once per skating year. If you have questions or are unsure of your membership status, please ask.
***** Click here to go to our REGISTRATION platform run by GoMotion-SportsEngineMotion to register for classes, private ice, membership and everything in-between! ***** If you have any issues or questions about registration, let us know.
How to buy Private Ice and set up Private Lessons
A quick recap of the steps needed to contract Private Ice with the AFSC and contract lesson time with a Coach:
- Review the Private Ice schedule for the upcoming session either on the club calendar, news post or registration form.
- Reach out to coaching staff to see what their availability is for lesson times. A Coach contracts with skaters independently and may have different rates, billing methods and requirements/expectations than other coaches.
- If you are changing coaches or looking to take on another coach, please inform your current contracted coach. DO NOT simply show up working with another coach without informing your current coach first. All monies due must also be paid before switching.
- Once you have a time secured with coaching staff, then you may proceed to register for private ice with the AFSC
- Annual membership with LTS or USFS is required once per season, make sure you are current before registering for ice time.
- Registration is available online on our Registration & Payments Page. Note that there is a separate registration form for Hockey Players and Guest Skaters from other clubs.
- Ice time can be bought as a package for an entire session or by using a punch card for individual times.
Note – Parents and/or Guardians are expected to work as Ice Monitors for the ice their skaters skate on. We organize the volunteers over on SignUp Genius. Click the below link to go to the SignUp. Policies are procedures are available to download there as well if you have questions.
EARLY FALL PRIVATE ICE MONITOR SIGN UP LINK (Click button below):
FALL PRIVATE ICE MONITOR SIGN UP LINK (Click button below):
Thank you for volunteering!
Rules of the Ice
With many users on the ice at one time, it is important be aware of your surroundings and take steps to make sure that all skaters have a fun and safe experience on the ice. US Figure Skating, through their Aspire Program has put together a document that covers many of our expectations:
These expectations, although geared to figure skaters, apply to all types of skating during our private ice times. If you have questions, you can also ask your coach.
Other Expectations
Skaters Check-In:
All skaters must check in with the ice monitor at the rink door or music box area.
This will indicate whether or not you have pre-paid with a registration form or will be buying on with a punch card. Skaters buying on to ice with a punch card must purchase the entire ice time even if you do not plan on skating the entire hour. There are NO partial buy-ons.
Rink Ice Monitors:
Note that ice monitors are in charge at all times. The ice monitor and/or any coach has the right to reprimand any skater at any time if the ice rules are not adhered to.
Ice monitors also play program music for coaches/skaters. Other music may be played during practice, but must be in good taste. If a coach or board member feels inappropriate music is being played, you will be asked to turn it off.
If there are any traffic issues, those need to be brought to the attention of the ice monitor or coach to be resolved.
Parents and Skaters:
Please DO NOT TALK with coaches during someone else’s lessons. You are wasting valuable ice time that someone else is paying for.
Parents, your role is to encourage your skater to practice and use his/her time wisely. Please do not send negative messages to skaters or parents about other coaches or skaters.
Please encourage your skater to SUPPORT other skaters as a team, as we are all skating for and representing the same club, regardless of the fact that your skater has a different coach.
DO NOT spread rumors or gossip about skaters, coaches, or other parents. If you think there is room for improvement, which there always is, please let one of the board members know immediately!
Skaters, please support one another at all times, on the ice, in the arena, at a competition. NEVER make fun of someone else for falling, or not quite mastering something they are working on, after all you were once there too! Never tell another skater that they aren’t any good, or that you are better than them, or that your coach is better than their coach. Encourage one another to feel good about yourselves.
DO ALL OF THESE THINGS AND YOUR CLUB SPIRIT WILL GROW and be passed on to others and the community which you represent.
“Skate and work hard and you will improve; stand by the boards
and gossip, and you will stay at the same level you were last year.”
Finally, to Parents:
These rules apply to all skaters, however, this is a lot for a young skater to remember. Please tell them the general rules. If you see a rule being broken, please remind them again of the rule. They will learn in time. We will all be patient, kind, and encouraging. Thanks for your help!
