STARSkate - Test Days, unlike in the CanSkate program, are special days set aside for skaters to take tests at the StarSkate level. The Huntsville Skating Club typically offers two test sessions during the season (December and March). This year they are scheduled for December 2, 2019 and March 2, 2020. There may also be opportunities to attend test days at other local area clubs. There are separate tests for each of free skate, dance, skating skills, and interpretive skating (see test levels below).
Testing is a very important part of a Skaters development, it measures their progress and allows them to see the results of their hard work. Each child will progress at his/her own pace, so this is a very individual matter. When your coach feels that your child is ready to test, they will notify you of the upcoming test days.
PLEASE LET YOUR COACH KNOW IF YOU WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON THAT DATE. Coaches have to submit a tentative test list up to 4 weeks in advance, and final decisions are due 2 weeks before the test. After this point, a test that is not complete is considered an automatic "RETRY" and you will be charged the fee for the test. Coaches will then distribute test envelopes to be completed by the skater/parent to officially submit the test for the test day.
The test chair organizes the test days, makes arrangements for the evaluators, and collects the test list from the coaches. Judges and evaluators do not get paid. This is all done on a volunteer basis because they enjoy the sport. We are in short supply of judges and evaluators so from time to time we may need to cancel a test day or send the skater elsewhere to test depending on the circumstances.
A final test schedule is then done and share with the skaters by email and posting on the club, so the skaters can see what time they are testing. Skaters must arrive at the test day 1 hour prior to testing as sometimes the tests move along fairly quickly and the skater should be prepared.
The club will set test days fees based on ice time required, SkateCanada fees, judge travel and appreciation fees, ice costs, etc. Coaching fees will be set by each individual coach for attending your skater's test day.
What to Wear on Test Day
After the Test Skaters may take their skates off and then wait for their results. Please keep in mind that it may take some time before the results are released, depending on when the test evaluator has time to sign the test evaluation result sheets. A volunteer or coach will bring the results as soon as they are ready. Once the paperwork has been submitted by the Club to Skate Canada with the test fees, the Skater’s profile at Skate Canada will be updated with the results of each test taken. It is important to regularly check your skater profile by logging on to www.skatecanada.ca to check to see that the results have been updated, although sometimes, test results can take a while to get posted to the Skater’s record if Skate Canada is backlogged.
It is very important to keep the test sheet when you receive it back from the evaluator for your records.
Skate Canada Test Levels
Free skate:
Free skate tests comprise of elements and program portions that can be tried separately or together
Dance:
Based on findings and feedback from the coaching and sport science experts who have been working on the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model for Skate Canada, the following levels have the ability to be “coach assessed” – Star 1-5 Skills, Dance and Freeskate.
CanSkaters will be instead be evaluated continuously by the coaches during the season. Badges and ribbons are presented when achieved. For questions relating to your CanSkater's process talk to one of our coaches.
Testing is a very important part of a Skaters development, it measures their progress and allows them to see the results of their hard work. Each child will progress at his/her own pace, so this is a very individual matter. When your coach feels that your child is ready to test, they will notify you of the upcoming test days.
PLEASE LET YOUR COACH KNOW IF YOU WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON THAT DATE. Coaches have to submit a tentative test list up to 4 weeks in advance, and final decisions are due 2 weeks before the test. After this point, a test that is not complete is considered an automatic "RETRY" and you will be charged the fee for the test. Coaches will then distribute test envelopes to be completed by the skater/parent to officially submit the test for the test day.
The test chair organizes the test days, makes arrangements for the evaluators, and collects the test list from the coaches. Judges and evaluators do not get paid. This is all done on a volunteer basis because they enjoy the sport. We are in short supply of judges and evaluators so from time to time we may need to cancel a test day or send the skater elsewhere to test depending on the circumstances.
A final test schedule is then done and share with the skaters by email and posting on the club, so the skaters can see what time they are testing. Skaters must arrive at the test day 1 hour prior to testing as sometimes the tests move along fairly quickly and the skater should be prepared.
- The schedule may include a time which may require your child to miss school.
- The test day may need to be changed to another day, or include sessions due to the availability of evaluators, ice availability or quantity of tests.
- Each skater will get time to warm up their test. The order of skating will be determined by the Test Chair.
- While “on test” the skater will be asked to perform specific skills in front of an evaluator in order to assess if he / she is ready to advance to the next level.
- Tests will be observed by the evaluator and rated as “excellent”, “good”, “satisfactory” or “needs improvement”. The skater needs to obtain mostly “satisfactory” or better ratings in order to be successful on the test.
The club will set test days fees based on ice time required, SkateCanada fees, judge travel and appreciation fees, ice costs, etc. Coaching fees will be set by each individual coach for attending your skater's test day.
What to Wear on Test Day
- Freeskate (elements) – Skating skirt or dress, tights, and appropriate sweater, gloves
- Freeskate (solo) – Solo dress, tights
- Dance – Skating dress (please wear a sweater and gloves for warm up only)
- Skills – Skating skirt or dress, tights, appropriate sweater, and gloves
- Male skaters should wear dress pants
After the Test Skaters may take their skates off and then wait for their results. Please keep in mind that it may take some time before the results are released, depending on when the test evaluator has time to sign the test evaluation result sheets. A volunteer or coach will bring the results as soon as they are ready. Once the paperwork has been submitted by the Club to Skate Canada with the test fees, the Skater’s profile at Skate Canada will be updated with the results of each test taken. It is important to regularly check your skater profile by logging on to www.skatecanada.ca to check to see that the results have been updated, although sometimes, test results can take a while to get posted to the Skater’s record if Skate Canada is backlogged.
It is very important to keep the test sheet when you receive it back from the evaluator for your records.
Skate Canada Test Levels
Free skate:
Free skate tests comprise of elements and program portions that can be tried separately or together
- Star 1
- Star 2
- Star 3
- Star 4
- Star 5
- Senior Bronze
- Junior Silver
- Senior Silver
- Gold
- Star 1
- Star 2
- Star 3
- Star
- Star 5
- Senior Bronze
- Junior Silver
- Senior Silver
- Gold
- Introductory
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
Dance:
- Star 1 - dance elements
- Star 2- Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango, + Dance Elements
- Star 3 - Baby Blues + Dance Elements
- Star 4 - Swing, Fiesta Tango
- Star 5 - Willow Waltz
- Senior Bronze - Ten-Fox, Fourteenstep, European Waltz + Dance Elements
- Junior Silver - Keats Foxtrot, Harris Tango, American Waltz, Rocker Foxtrot + Dance Elements
- Senior Silver - Paso Doble, Starlight Waltz, Blues, Kilian, Cha Cha Congelado + Dance Elements
- Gold - Viennese Waltz, Westminster Waltz, Quickstep, Argentine Tango + Dance Elements
- Diamond dances: Rhumba, Tango Romantica, Yankee Polka, Austrian Waltz, Golden Waltz, Ravensburger Waltz,
Based on findings and feedback from the coaching and sport science experts who have been working on the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model for Skate Canada, the following levels have the ability to be “coach assessed” – Star 1-5 Skills, Dance and Freeskate.
CanSkaters will be instead be evaluated continuously by the coaches during the season. Badges and ribbons are presented when achieved. For questions relating to your CanSkater's process talk to one of our coaches.