Clubs

This section contains useful information regarding how to start a speed skating club, as well as the guidelines, the organization, the management and the finances of a club.

If you have any question or would like more information, please contact Speed Skating Canada at ssc@speedskating.ca.

Racing on Skates

Speed Skating Canada’s Racing on Skates makes specific recommendations for competitions at each stage of skater development. Skaters in the FUNdamentals (FUNd) and Learn to Train (L2T) stages should be racing shorter races (less than 45 seconds), with a focus on speed skating skills. Later in the L2T stage, skaters can begin participating in longer aerobic events. The competitions should be at the club or Interclub level, lasting four to eight hours, with each skater participating in many races during each competition.

Across the country, clubs have incorporated these recommendations into fun and meaningful competitions for FUNd and L2T skaters. Some suggestions include:

Incorporating a mixture of more traditional speed skating races (e.g. 50m, 100m, 200m, 300m and 800-1200m mass start counterclockwise races) with “skills-based races”. Skills-based races are different from “games” in that they have a designated race course, a start and a finish. Examples include: the Loop’d’Whirl and Candy Cane races. The BC Speed Skating Association has developed an online events manual with suggestions for skaters at this developmental level: http://bcssaregionalstreamevents.blogspot.ca/.
Providing a mixture of individual and team events. Team events for younger skaters can include a Push-and-Chase relay, or a Race Car relay.
Where (short track) facilities allow, use an 85m track for young and developing skaters.

Other suggestions to make the competitions fun, without interfering with the racing, include:

Set a theme for the event. Decorate the arena, use stickers on posted event information and encourage volunteers to dress up!
Provide individual recognition awards for all skaters. These differ from participation awards because they point out a specific accomplishment for a skater. For example, a ribbon for all skaters who skated personal best (PB) times, a special pin for any skater participating in their first competition, or a “cookie medal” for anyone achieving their first crossover in a competition. A designated award ceremony, with time for pictures, is a great opportunity to hand out awards.