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FAQ
Talent, Talent ID and Skater Development
New Evaluator/Judge training
CanPowerSkate
Interpretive Skating Program
What are the Interpretive Test Levels?
There are four levels of Interpretive tests:
Introductory
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Can a skater at age 10 take an Interpretive test?
Yes, there is no age criteria for Interpretive tests. Age has little impact on a skater's ability to interpret music. Skating skills and other basic components are not not necessarily reflective of a person's age, but rather his/her acquired skill set.
How many evaluators are required to evaluate Interpretive tests?
One evaluator will assess Interpretive tests.
Who can evaluate Interpretive tests?
All Interpretive tests shall be evaluated by Interpretive Evaluators. If an Official has their Gold Artistic Evaluator qualification, they will be accredited with their Gold Interpretive Evaluator qualification.
What are the qualifications to become an Interpretive evaluator?
INTERPRETIVE TEST EVALUATOR (from Officials Definition, Appointment, Qualifications Policy)
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Prerequisite: The prerequisite to an Interpretive promotion are:
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A minimum of Gold evaluator certification in the Free Skating, Skating Skills or Dance.
A skating background defined as follows; Any two of Junior Bronze Free
Skating , Skills, Dance; or Any one of Senior Bronze Free Skating, Skills, Dance or a Juvenile Competitive test; or Any one higher level test.
Clinic: Successful completion of the Interpretive Skating Clinic.
Practical: Successful completion of the Interpretive Skating Workbook, which includes as a minimum of the following practical exercises: Standards module (actual or video), report of a supervised evaluation session with three Interpretive tests Summary report of an observation session at a theatrical or dance performance (actual or video).
How long can an Interpretive skating program be?
For all levels, the programs shall be a minimum of 2.0 minutes and a maximum of 3.0 minutes (+ or - 10 seconds)
Can the music have vocals?
Vocal music is permitted at all levels.
If a skater has passed some Artistic tests, do they have to begin at the first Interpretive test level (Introductory Interpretive test)?
No, a skater who has passed an Artistic test that is equivalent to an Interpretive test may try the next Interpretive test. For example, if a skater has passed the Bronze Artistic test, they may proceed into the Interpretive test program by taking the Silver Interpretive test.
If a skater has passed the Bronze and Silver Artistic test, will they be accredited with the Introductory, Bronze and Silver Interpretive tests?
No, the skater may progress into the Interpretive program at the equivalent test level, but will not be given credit for the equivalent Interpretive tests passed in the Artistic program. Their Skate Canada test record will show that they have passed their Bronze and Silver Artistic and when they pass the Gold Interpretive test, it will show that they have passed the Gold Interpretive test.
How do Adult skaters fit into the new Interpretive test system?
The Adult test has been eliminated and the adult skaters will be folded into the Interpretive test program. The Adult Artistic test is equivalent to the Bronze Interpretive test. For example, if a skater has passed the Adult Artistic test, then they can progress in the Interpretive program beginning at the Silver Interpretive test.
If a skater has not passed any Interpretive tests, but has passed their Senior Silver Freeskate and Dance tests can this skater begin testing in the Interpretive program at the Gold Interpretive test level?
Rule 4000-c-3.2(1) states that a candidate for an Interpretive test shall have passed the preceding test, therefore all new Interpretive test skaters must begin testing at the Introductory test level.
Are there any regulations surrounding the costumes for taking Interpretive tests?
There is no regulation regarding costuming, but it is preferred that the costume be simple and bodyline enhancing. These costuming guidelines will be noted in all materials disseminated.
Can a skater qualify for the same test more than once?
A candidate may qualify for the same test more than once using a different theme and program on each occasion.
Can couples take Interpretive tests?
The Interpretive tests are open to singles skaters and couples.
What are the evaluation criteria for Interpretive tests?
Interpretive Skating programs are to be evaluated using the following criteria:
Skating I. Edge and Turn Quality II. Speed, Flow and Power III. Creative Movement with sureness IV. Carriage and Line |
Performance I. Interpretation of Music II. Communication of Theme III. Use of Whole Body IV. Use of Levels and Space V. Originality/Creativity VI. Interaction (couples only) |
Specific skills will be evaluated on the following scale: Excellent, Good, Satisfactory, and Needs Improvement.
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Skating
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Edge and Turn Quality - Quality of basic edges and turns (e.g. three turns, brackets, choctaws etc.) incorporated into the choreography of the program.
Speed, Flow and Power - Gaining and maintenance of speed; easy and continual flow; power reflective of the ability of the skater and the chosen music/theme.
Creative Movement with Sureness - Incorporating new and creative movements performed with sureness and control.
Carriage and Line - Upper body carriage and body line reflective of the chosen music/theme yet still incorporating good style (e.g. a skater may choose African Tribal dance music; one would expect angular lines and departure from the "normal skating posture, but this should not be confused with poor basic form. In other words, there is a difference between intentional choreography and poor basic form and line).
Performance
Interpretation of Music - Clear interpretation of the chosen music.
Communication of Theme - The skater's ability to portray the chosen theme through interpretation of music, skating skills and movement rather than through mime and posing. The current evaluation of "Development of Theme" is problematic in that too many people get caught up in trying to tell (or discern from the performance given) a story from start to finish. This limits creativity and shifts the focus of the program fro development of interpretation skills and creative movement/performance. The "Communication of Theme" idea allows for less subjectivity and more objectivity as it is easier to decide whether a skater is utilizing the music chosen (with an appropriate underlying theme), creative movement and strong basic skating skills then it is to evaluate a skater's ability to tell the story of Juliet's Death for example.
Use of Whole Body - Skater's ability to use the entire body (including torso) to help interpret the music and communicate the theme. Particular attention should be paid in differentiating between postural and gestural movements.
Use of Levels and Space - Skater's ability to use low, mid and high levels as well as space (either immediately surrounding the body as well as within the performance area, or ice surface). The Interpretive Program is a perfect vehicle to begin experimenting with use of levels and space which then can ideally be incorporated into other free skating or ice dancing programs once the skill is more developed.
Interaction - This is relevant to couples only and reflects the need for interaction between the couple during the test but encourages more creativity than what might be the case if the term "unison" is incorporated.
NOTE: Since falls may, in the Interpretive program, be a deliberate choice in order to enhance the development of the theme, marks should only be deducted for falls that clearly interrupt that development. Such falls should be penalized in the second mark.
CANPOWERSKATE
Why is Skate Canada revising CanPowerSkate?
Skate Canada is revising he CanPowerSkate program in response to feedback from coaches, clubs and skaters over the last several years, who have requested additional content and updated materials. Participants thoroughly enjoy the program and want more.
What do the revisions consist of?
The revisions consist of a new Pre-Power level and the addition of Levels 4, 5 and 6.
Pre-Power, developed in response to a large, fast-growing younger power skating market, is designed for young skaters, approximately four to six years of age who can stand up on skates and move forward (shuffle, walk or glide). Pre-Power will help develop their skating abilities in a power skating specific environment, rather than a Skate Canada club's regular learn-to-skate program.
Three higher levels have bee added to the existing Levels 1, 2 and 3. The new levels 4, 5 and 6 will place additional focus on the acquisition of efficient technique, speed, agility, technical aspects of stride and acceleration and skating with the puck/ring. Depending on each individual skater's progress/ ability, it is estimated that this additional content could keep a skater interested and skating in the club for as much as four more years.
A revised coaches' manual, video, awards, incentives and accompanying promotional materials will be produced. Training for CanPowerSkate Coaches will also be revamped.
Why is Skate Canada putting time into a power skating program?
Skate Canada is committed to offering instructional skating programs and opportunities for all Canadians, including those interested in figure skating, synchronized skating, power skating or pleasure skating. Skating skill for hockey or ringette players is critical to their development. Skate Canada provides the opportunity to learn skating basics from experts in the teaching of skating - Skate Canada professional coaches. Coaches with a figure skating background are recognized as such because of their training in error detection, correction and the ability to break down skills into manageable progressions. Research indicates that some of the most successful power skating coaches working with competitive minor hockey teams as well as Junior and NHL level hockey players today were figure skaters and/or figure skating coaches.
The CanPowerSkate program is currently a popular, successful venture for many clubs, and has been for the last 14 years. Clubs surveyed last year stated they would like to see the CanPowerSkate program continue to expand.
How will current CanPowerSkate coaches learn about the changes?
On or more CanPowerSkate Update clinics will need to be held in each Section, depending on the number of trained CPS coaches in the Section. These clinics will be delivered by CanPowerSkate Course Conductors. Written memorandums and information will also be available to send to any know CPS coaches in each Section.
New CanPowerSkate coaches will attend a revised CanPowerSkate Coaches Course - training method and format is in development.
What are the benefits of running a CanPowerSkate program?
The CanPowerSkate program can be a very rewarding undertaking for a skating club in terms of increasing membership and revenues. There are very few quality power skating programs available that offer what the CPS program offers - a nationally regulated certification program for coaches with a unique delivery and skater evaluation system. A skating club could conceivably corner the market in skating instruction in the community! As well, parents of CanPowerSkate participants are another group of potential club volunteers.
How should the program be delivered? What is the recommended format? What does a club charge?
CanPowerSkate skaters register as Skate Canada members like all other skating program participants. The program is delivered in a group lesson environment - 1 Coach/Program Assistant to 10 skaters; maximum 25 - 30 skaters on the ice. The program is designed to be delivered in a standard minimum of ten 50 to 60-minute sessions. Clubs can be creative in scheduling their CanPowerSkate sessions to meet this standard e.g. once/week for ten weeks, twice/week for five weeks, five 2-hour sessions, etc. Clubs are encouraged to offer CanPowerSkate all season long. Clubs may also choose to run pre-season, holiday or March Break CanPowerSkate clinics.
Club registration fees will vary in each area according to local ice costs, coaching, etc. Therefore each club will need to use their own formula and discretion in calculating a fee that is fair for participants and the club.
We would like to offer the program but we don't have very much extra ice time. What do you suggest?
CanPowerSkate sessions are more difficult t share ice with due to the nature of the drill and exercises. However, depending on the number of registrants, Pre-Power sessions for younger skaters can be held on a portion of ice during a CanSkate session.
The most successful CanSkate sessions are offered by clubs that advertise and/or work with minor hockey associations. Hockey and ringette players are always looking for additional ice time to help improve their skating - consider approaching your local minor hockey group or the municipality's ice allocation coordinators to see if there are any possibilities to share resources. e.g. allot an hour per week of hockey practice time to skating development and offer them a CanPowerSkate session, on a cost-sharing or profit-sharing basis, if necessary.
How can we recruit members/promote CanPowerSkate?
As noted above, advertise the program though local hockey and ringette associations, as well as through regular means (local media, newspapers, community activity brochure, word-of-mouth, etc). Skate Canada nationally standardized promotional items will be developed to assist clubs.
How does a coach become trained? What are the qualifications?
Coaches must be certified at a CanPowerSkate Coaches Course and be registered Skate Canada coaches to teach the CanPowerSkate program. The pre-requisites to attend a CanPowerSkate Coaches Course are the following:
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Seventeen years of age
3M NCCP Level1 Theory
3M NCCP Level 1 Technical in figure skating*
Skate Canada coach membership
Valid First Aid certificate
*An amendment is being proposed at the 2001 ACGM to allow candidates with Level 2 Technical certification in hockey (CHA Intermediate) or ringette entry into the course.
Why is Skate Canada making changes to the Evaluator/Judges Training Program?
The current evaluators/judges training program has been in place for 10 years. During that period there have been many programming changes rendering the current system too slow, too expensive and too cumbersome. Feedback from our members has prompted Skate Canada to look at the current situation and make the appropriate changes to accommodate our volunteers and the time they have available to commit to training.
What are the benefits to the new system?
The new system will enable officials to become more qualified, more quickly. The volunteer time invested in training will be less. The result will be a streamlined system that will keep cost down for our customers and partners but will still retain the quality of the previous training program. Evaluators/Judges will become qualified in an average of five years and the Association will be better prepared and able to service a large number of skaters. In addition, new evaluators will be required to have a personal background as a test skater and will actively participate in a new continuing education process.
How will this be achieved?
By combining existing clinics and materials officials will be trained to a certain level in all disciplines at the same time and will therefore be qualified to evaluate/judge singles, pairs and dance tests and competitions.
How will this new system affect skaters who are in the Test Program?
The primary goal of the new program ids to provide an increased number of better-trained evaluators/judges able to better serve the needs of test skaters.
Will all Evaluators/Judges be affected by these changes?
Yes, judges who are currently in the system and missing some component will be required to attend an update clinic to boost their qualifications to include evaluating. In addition they will be expected to be able to evaluate/judge all disciplines at least to the juvenile level. Further, continuing education components such as such as attending coach/judge information session, will be required of all Skate Canada evaluators/judges.
Is it true that all Evaluators will have to have a skating background?
Under the new system, new recruits will be required to have a minimum skating background. With a skating background candidates will move more quickly through the program. The training will focus on teaching individuals how to evaluate the skills rather than on teaching those skating skills to the trainees.
How many non-skater Evaluators are currently in the system?
Approximately 10%
Will they be able to keep evaluating?
Evaluators will be able to continue evaluating as they did before. Only new recruits will be required to have a minimum skating background.
Will existing officials be grandfathered into the system?
Yes and no. evaluators will be able to continue to evaluate but those wishing to advance their qualifications will begin at the most logical point in their training system and continue from there. Judges currently in the system who are qualified in one or two disciplines only will be given the opportunity to train in the other areas so that they will be eligible for the new multidiscipline promotion scheme.
Will Judges be able to evaluate?
Yes, under new system. Newcomers to the system will be trained to both evaluate and judge and will be encouraged to do both.
How long will it take to become a qualified Evaluator/Judge in the new system?
It will take approximately five years to become qualified to the Senior level. this is approximately half the time it took under the existing system.
Where will the new Evaluators/Judges come from?
Individuals may begin training when they are 16 years old. They will be familiar with the skills required and will come from the test and competitive skating programs. The recruitment process will target mature, responsible skaters in Skate Canada Clubs. These individuals will demonstrate leadership capabilities and desire to stay actively involved in a meaningful and rewarding way with a dynamic and internationally recognized organization.
What is Talent Identification or the Selection of Athletic Talent?
The process of the identification or detection of athletic talent in a given sport or discipline, whether male or female, must be based on certain specific criteria aimed at revealing the particular qualities or aptitudes of the young athlete in relation to the demands of the sport or discipline.
What is a Talent Identification Program?
A talent identification or detection program serves no purpose if it is not accompanied by specific programs and activities that will contribute to the development of such talent, from the earliest stages to the highest level of performance. This is part and parcel of the process of replacing retiring athletes, which is extremely critical to a sports federation. Research and popular sport thinking is consistent with where we have evolved. Talent detection and development can be considered essential to the survival of a sport.
Because talent identification programs in most sports are relatively unstructured or even non-existent in Canada, many young athletes are attracted primarily towards traditional sports such as hockey or baseball, or figure skating for females. The young athlete is usually not channeled into a sport or activity on the basis of his or her potential for success; rather, he or she gets involved in a sport on a basis of factors such as preference, convenience, influence of parents or friends, economical reasons, etc.
At all times, however, it should be kept in mind that there is a great deal of uncertainty about any long-term prediction regarding the future performances a child can ultimately give, however talented he or she may be at a young age relative to other children. Decisions about which sport is the "most appropriate" can only be made on the basis of probability of success.
What is the Difference Between Talent ID and Development and Skater Development?
It is important to stress that, at the stage of assessing talent, absolute performance levels may not be the ultimate criterion to look for.
This is particularly true for activities requiring specific shills, in which case a novice's performance may not be representative of his or her actual potential to perform the activity. When assessing talent, coaches should therefore look for fundamental aptitudes (like desire, work ethic, physical predisposition (body type), general fitness level, as well as natural ability) as factors contributing to potential for development, and realize that these may be revealed through activities that may not be very specific to the sport in question.
This same philosophy holds true for talent identification programs: talent is not necessarily connected to event results. This is important since much of our Section and National talent selection has traditionally relied on event results as a method of selection. Judges are not trained or required to mark talent, or potential for future success, when they assess a competition. Therefore, we cannot use final results exclusively as a predictor or determinant of talent.
The terms Talent ID and Skater Development are often used interchangeably. There are profound differences between these two principles.
Skater Development is just as it sounds. Opportunities provided to skaters to assist them in their development as figure skaters. Skater Development has no element of selection involved. Typically the opportunities provided under the umbrella of Skater Development are offered on the basis of very objective criteria. They are generally user pay or application-based in nature - interested skaters sign up and come. Skater Development opportunities have a low risk of offending, as they are open for all to access. These are important parts of any organization's overall development program, but because there is no correlation between level of talent and access to the opportunity, these activities cannot be considered part of a talent development program.
Likewise, for the reasons already stated, opportunities that are provided to athletes based solely on results a a particular competition, cannot be considered part of a Talent Development program. These too would fall more appropriately under the category of skater development opportunities.
Talent Identification and development applies the principles of selecting athletes based on an understanding and application of the criteria established to describe potential for development in the sport of figure skating. There is risk involved in the assessment process as there is a subjective call made in each case based on an analysis by an expert trained to observe and detect talent criteria in individual skaters. And as already stated, the process is not foolproof.
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