What is Canskate ?

The CanSkate Program – It All Starts Here!

Skate Canada’s flagship learn-to-skate program has been developed by experts to teach the fundamentals of skating in a progressive and sequential manner.CanSkate is a program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skills development.

This is a grassroots development skating program that could lead your skater to be the best at whatever area requiring excellent skating skills they choose… be it figure skating, power skating, hockey, ringette, speed skating, etc.
What It Looks Like On the Ice

• Instruction given by Skate Canada NCCP Certified Professional Coaches
• Professional Coaches are assisted by trained Program Assistants
1:10 Professional Coach / Program Assistant to Skater ratio
• Most important aspects of delivery are
90% continuous movement, minimal standing around, no waiting to take turns to practice skills, use entire ice surface more than once to promote speed and basic skating development

Skaters learn a variety of skills and are kept challenged. Coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, music and a wide variety of activities that create a fun environment and promote learning

Skaters progress through the program at their own rate
• Four parts to a CanSkate session
Warm-up
Group lesson
Group activity
Cool down
• Communication
Also very important in maintaining customer satisfaction is the ongoing communication with parents about the programs, the objectives and expectations. Parents are looking for value and professionalism, e.g. yearly plans, monthly newsletters and weekly posters.

Retaining Existing CanSkate Members

Offer shorter skating season for CanSkate

10 or 12 week session – October – December and/or January – March

Offer options
• e.g. one day/week OR two days/week
• Customize the program every year to suit the needs of the customers
• Educate parents that more ice time helps speed the development of the skating skills
• Rates

Reduce rates for preschoolers
Family plan
2 for 1 by a specified date
Bring a new member and share the initial fee
Eliminate fundraising for CanSkaters
Keep costs reasonable
Partner with local hockey association:
Beginner hockey (suggest that the hockey skaters pass at least 3 stages)
Promote CanPowerSkate
Offer an advanced program that will shorten the length of time in CanSkate and give the skater incentive to stay, e.g.
WOCAP – Western Ontario CanSkate Accelerated Program (more info to follow)

Recruiting New CanSkate Members

Advertize
Participate in community program “registration” nights
Approach schools regarding offering learn to skate in Phys. Ed. and suggest that a coach will come in for those sessions
Hand out brochures outlining programs offered to DayCares, Play School, local schools

Partner with Hockey
Focus on developing the CanPowerSkate program
Encourage the idea that it is better to take CanSkate prior to CanPowerSkate
Promote use of hockey players (male and/or female) to work as Program Assistants
Use testimonials from local hockey players that came out of your CanSkate program, i.e. NHL/Junior A hockey players

Offer CanSkate Sessions
Moms/Dads & Tot program in the afternoon or morning when ice costs may be less
Offer CanSkate sessions in the off-season school (Spring, Summer or Fall)
Adult Learn-to-Skate and/or Power skating sessions
‘Bring a Friend’ day

Communication
Public awareness – “Blow Your Own Horn”
Promote activities to all club members, no matter what level
Club website
Monthy information session held during the sessions with Club Executive and Adminstrator/Professional coach available to answer questions and hand out newsletters