My daughter has been skating since 3 (if you can call flopped over a chair skating)!
I put her into skating lessons just before she turned 5 and she immediately earned her Canskate level 1.
When she was 5, she earned her level 2 and 3 and skated about 3 times a week (2X in group lessons and a two hour family skate). Last summer I introduced her to private lessons for two weeks.
She has just turned 6 (Nov.1) and she skates 4 times a week (2X in group, 1X in private and a family skate).

She is now showing interest in competion but her level does not seem good enough to compete. She loves spinning, two foot jumps forward to back and backward to forward while gliding, doing a waltz jump from stationary. There is even one child her size that seems so much better (I don't know how at 6 years old!). I have instructed her coach to make skating fun and not serious as I like it that she is enthusiastic about skating and I don't have to drag her for lessons. Her coach is a young man. She has a very friendly yet competitive nature and I am wondering if anyone who has experience can suggest how I should introduce her to skate competition?

I am not a figure skater so please do not use terminology that I would not understand.

Many skating schools have in-house comepetitions for their learn to skate students. We have one a year. The kids are grouped by age and skill level in very small groups. Every child gets a medal. It's an event that is fun for all (except the very few adults who take it too seriously). Each first place winner then get to make a short solo appearance at our end of season show. Ask your daughter's coach about it, and if he doesn't know, ask the skating director.

I applaud your concern for keeping skating fun for your daughter. Re the other six year old who is so much better - I have seen tots get on the ice and just skate away without any lessons at all. Those are the kids who may someday become elite competitors. That's if they want to give up every other activity and focus their entire youth on skating, and if their parents have upwards of $50,000 a year to spend on it.

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I know many young skaters who are introduced to competition at a young age and they can become very upset if they don't do as well as they'd hoped. I recommend waiting until the child is mature enough to understand that as long as they're proud of their accomplishments, what judges say doesn't matter. At 6, your daughter's probably still too young to understand this concept. By the time she's 7 or 8 she should start competing. Even though that's still young, she should get used to the atmosphere so when she's older it isn't too overwhelming. Just continue to encourage her and as long as she's happy it's all good!

The other person posted about in-club competitions. These are great for beginners. At our club the CanSkate beginning competitions usually don't even require a solo, there are about 3 or 4 elements that the competitor performs and then they're judged on them. Every place receives either a medal or a ribbon, which is great! That way no one feels left out.

Good luck! And if you have any more questions, feel free to message me! You spoke about CanSkate, so I'm assuming you're in Canada? I skate in Ontario so any Skate Canada program-related questions I should be able to help you with.

-Katie

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~*~Katie~*~ ...you, the ice, and the music...

"The other person" disagrees with Figuresk8_katie about when to start competition. I think as long as you can keep it a no pressure event for your daughter, then the sooner the better. Both of my girls were introduced to solo performance (through music) so early that they do not remember the first time, and neither has ever had serious performance anxiety on or off the ice because it was just something they did as a matter of course.

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As a start I would talk to your daughters coach. As other have mentioned some clubs hold little competitions for the canskate kids. If she can start with those they are a great way to start, it's no pressure and the kids have a lot of fun. Often they don't need to have a program or even a costume but they do get medals and ribbons which the kids really enjoy (everyone recieves something, regardless of placement).

If that's not an option then younger kids can participate in local invitationals, if you talk to her coach he can give you a better idea of what goes on in your area. In this case her coach would work with her to make up a short little program, you do have to pay for the music and there are also entrance fees for competitions (there isn't normally a fee for canskate "competitions"). I'm not sure about your area and at what level they start this but you could also enter her to do elements or dance instead of a solo routine. Elements consists of her performing different skills one at a time for judges and you can compete in dance without having a dance partner. Those are also fun things for all kids to do.

It is up to you if she's ready for competition but as a former skater and a coach I think you can make competing fun and not all about results, especially if they are little. Some kids will have stage fright going out there alone and some kids love performing right away. If she's not ready right now it doesn't hurt to look into what's available so you're ready for next year or the year after. If you can talk to some of the other parents while your daughter is skating you find out a lot that way, especially if they have older children who have already gone through a lot of this.

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* Marcoux & Buntin * Miller & Moram *

Does your skating club have a Christmas festival that she could take part in? I realize it isn't a competition but it would give her experience skating in front of people but with the support of being in an ensemble cast.

CanSkate competitions are very relaxed and non-competititve where I am from. The skaters go out and skate a "circuit" which incorporates skills from the CanSkate level that they are working on. A coach or assistant is allowed on the ice with the child. They do award medals, however each child that participates recieves some sort of trophy, medal or ribbon.
Normally your local interclub competition will have a CanSkate division. If you club has a competition chair, you could ask them if there is one near you.

Because our results are posted in the arena, it is up to you to inform your child of their placing. If you don't want to, you don't have to, especially when they are so young.. of course, if they medal, you will want to tell them!

My daughter started competing around age 6, after her 1st year in CanSkate. She was out to have fun and my hope was for her to get used to skating in front of a crowd. She is now 12 and has no problem going out to skate in front of a bunch of people.

If you decide to take her, just keep it relaxed and fun. Hope this helps. You could also ask your coach about this, as most are informed about local competitions, and he/she will be the one to prepare your child.

The other thing that is great fun for children of that age is an "exhibition-style" programme, aka interpretive or artistic, where they get to dress up in fancy dress, and it doesn't much matter if all they can do is skate round and round..... Especially if you, as her mum, are good at making costumes - of course, it's a total nightmare if you aren't!

But I agree with what the others have said - a relaxed competition on home club ice with no pressure (and ideally a certificate or medal for everyone who takes part) would be the best way to start.

Our lot start with what's called a "hop, skip and jump" competition - a basic jump, a forward spiral and a basic spin. Great fun.... even us adults get to do it (but not in competition with the kids, of course!).

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Thank you for your replies. I am from Saskatoon. My daughter is definitely not shy. Every chance she gets she does skating exhibits in front of all the parents.
My mother also enjoys making her skating dresses and, except for family skates, she always wears one. It seems though she is now at the stage that she tries to mimick other skaters and has gained many older friends on the ice.
An other girl her size does great solo's and even skates backwards in a circle doing leg crossovers and half jumps. VERY IMPRESSIVE. The two go in front of the parents and do their own thing. When this girl is in group skate, she does not stand out though. In group, she does not do leg crossovers.
The main difference I believe is that the other little girl must be starting to learn a routine and my daughter is just winging it!!

The Ice Skating Institute competitions here in the US are often like that: easy-going, low-pressure. They divide the skaters into groups by age and skill level based on their tests. There are some over-the-top families, but most people in your situation are there for the fun.

Here's my 2¢ about introductions: take them to WATCH and cheer for other skaters they know at a competition. It builds friendship and sportsmanship, and also gives you an opportunity to teach lessons about disappointment and having fun.

Not just on the ice, the real drama happens off-ice. This is a golden opportunity to teach your kids what to expect and how to behave. Watch and see the podium standoffs when they give out medals.

I gave out awards at a USFS Basic Skills competition last year. In one eventthe 3rd place skater (out of 6!) stood on the podium and sulked. I tried to cajole the nasty look off her face, but to no avail. My little ones asked about it and I pointed out how unhappy she looked in ALL THE PICTURES people took. We talked about how that made the 1st & 2nd place skaters feel. More importantly, what if you were the sixth-place skater? (BTW, the last-place winner had a beautiful smile. She was just happy to be there. I LOVE that family!)

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Both my kids started early, one at age 3 1/2, one at 4.
Even though some kids never have issues, It does seem like the ones who start early have a head start over 9 and 10 year olds who just start.Its good practice for later, and its even good for memory. My 6 year old has 5 programs she remembers now for a comp in two weeks..When she was 4 she only had one.
Good luck !!!!

I think the concept is ALOT easier to introduce early than late.My kids have been taught since day one that EVERYONE doesnt win, and even the best fall.They dont care how they place, even with kids twice their age.
On the other hand, they have conpeted with 10 year olds who dont like losing to a younger child and think they always should win.
My kids do both ISI and USFSA, and they just skate their best period.
At age 6, a child should already know some win, some dont.Just like football games, hockey games, and elections.

For me, this is the most important point. Having kids put themselves in other's shoes is the best way (IMHO) to raise well adjusted kids. I also agree with twokidsskatemom that discussing winning / losing / doing your best with kids early in life can make any sport or activity more pleasant for the child.

If your daughter enjoys performing and would like to try competition then I say go for it. Talk to her coach (let her do as much of the talking as she is able) about what she needs to do to prepare and then sit down and discuss it with her. If she is still keen and you've covered the "not everyone wins" stuff with her, then go ahead and see what happens.

That's a good idea, or, if the competition is at your rink, see if she could be a flower-girl. That way, she gets to dress up in a pretty dress and go on the ice in front of everybody, but without having to compete.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

That's where I grew up skating. I still go practice at SFSC whenever I'm home for a while!

At the club I'm at in Calgary, every spring we have a Spin-Spiral-Jump competition. It's just like it sounds....sort of a competition for individual elements, vs. competing a whole program. I don't remember having something like that when I skated in Saskatoon, but maybe they do now.

If she loves performing, definitely have her participate in the ice show at the end of the year!

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

Personally, I think it's a good idea to let the little ones compete when they really can't do much and don't care what place they get so long as they get some kind of a medal. That way, they get used to competing and performing while the skills are not difficult and while the competitions have no implications, and it is much easier for them to transition into true competitive skating if they choose to do so later on. Many of the competitions that include younger skaters group the kids in such a way that everyone is assured of receiving some type of medal, trophy, or ribbon.

It is much tougher on the kids who hold back on competing until they are trying to do axels and double jumps. At that point, they have both the pressures of learning how to compete while at the same time trying to do very difficult skills. If she wants to compete now, let her do it and absolutely keep it fun. Cheer for everyone. Praise her efforts no matter how she performs. You will lay the groundwork for a healthy competitive skating career, if that is the path she chooses later in life.

My Granddaughter (6) and I entered the ISI competiton together in Ahaheim this summer and we placed sixth in our category. Everyone, regardless of placement got a medal, placement was differentiated by what colour ribbon the medal came on. 5th on down was on a purple ribbon. Her response was "I like the purple ribbon better than the blue one because it's my favourite colour" She was thrilled and all ready to go out and do it again.

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If you keep your eyes on God, you can walk on water.

Two points: One, this little girl may practice more often than your daughter, and she may have more lesson time. At this age and level, a lot can depend on how many hours the kids spend on the ice just increasing their comfort level.

Secondly, you said yourself that you're not a skater, so I'm guessing that you don't really know what to look for as far as the finer points of technique. If this little girl is teaching herself things, or if she's being "rushed" along by her coach, she may well be doing these things wrong!

Case in point: we have a little girl at my rink who's in, I think, Basic 6 or 7. I taught her last year in Basic 5, when she proudly informed me that her private coach was teaching her sit spins and camel spins (both of which are far beyond Basic 5). Meanwhile, I hemmed and hawed about passing this kid's backward crossovers. She's small for her age, and she and her coach's other students would look impressive to someone who doesn't know skating, but they're all going to be in big trouble when it comes time to do moves-in-the-field (U.S. equivalent of skills tests) because none of them can stroke or do crossovers properly.

Also (ok, I lied, I have a third point ) crossovers and waltz jumps at six y.o. are not that out of the ordinary. I've known and taught dozens of kids who can do that at six. It's not something skating people are usually particularly impressed by, unless it's a situation where they've gotten there after putting on skates for the first time three months ago. As a skater, I'd be impressed by a six-year-old doing three or four different single jumps. But, as a coach, I don't let kids that age impress me too much; the sport is just too uncertain.

As a teenager, I skated with a little girl who went from ISI at age seven to competing USFSA Juvenile with four or five double jumps at age nine. By age ten, she had quit. We had another little girl training at our rink one summer (her coach was teaching at our rink and brought some students) who was five and landing cheated axels. She had quit within two years too.

I guess the bottom line is to enjoy what your child is doing and try not to worry about her rinkmates. Things will intensify soon enough. It sounds like she's a born performer- which is good because that can't be taught- and would enjoy competing or doing shows. Her coach should know how to go about it in your area (I'm in the U.S. so I can't really tell you).

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Shae-Lynn and Victor: We knew you were champions, and on 3/28/03 the whole WORLD found out! Thank you for twelve wonderful years!

I have a 6 year old who has her jumps but axle, and her sit/camel spin.Her goal is to have a clean axle by her 7th birthday,7 months from now.
I have no idea if she will keep skating or not.I keep trying to get her to do other stuff but cant tear her away lol
She has plenty of time to compete but I do think early is good.
We have two boy skaters here, same level.One started at age 8, one not till 12. Both are great skaters, have doubles ect.But the now 14 year old boy just doesnt have the time in competing that the other skater does and it shows. He gets more nervous, falls more in comps ect.Exibitions he does better than the other boy.
Good luck !!

At public skating, yesterday, my daughter was playing follow the leader and she knows that I cannot do backward crossovers. This has inspired her to try harder. She did it! First counter clockwise and then in figure 8. Her reaction was, "I sure do go fast this way!".
Now, backward crossovers aren't such a big thing anymore. Even I am learning to do them!

I think the focus for kids on under 10 should be about having fun..no matter what any of the competition experiences need to be really positive because there is always something that the kids have done that is really good. Too many times I have seen parents and coaches focus on what went wrong as opposed to what was really nice. Age is a funny thing, my daughter's friend had her axel at 6, doubles by 9 and quit and 10.. it wasn't 'fun' anymore.. my daughter had axel at 8/9, doubles (some cheated) by 11 and quit at 12 (although she says 'retired' to pursue another sport more seriously) .. again she didn't think it was as much 'fun' anymore.. yet another friend didn't start figure skating till 10, had all her doubles by 14 and now at 15 has a couple of triples and she loves her sport and has been noticed by the sporting body. Perhaps by focusing on the more 'fun' aspect when kids are little they will be more likely to stay involved in the sport?

Yup, but not just for those who are 10 and under but even for those who are elite Competitive Senior World ranked skaters, "Just Have Fun" is what I've said to people like Jeffery Buttle, Joannie Rochette and many others.

No mater what the level skating should be fun for the skater. If not, why do it. Why pay into something if you can't get something out of it for yourself.

So to all skaters out there, young beginners, adult beginners to elite competitive and seasoned Masters Adult skaters/Gold Adult Level (Canada),

"JUST HAVE FUN!!!"

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"It's not age that determines but the heart." "Skating is not just a sport for the young but it's a passion for the soul of the young at heart." Brigitte Laskowski

I am a nomadic adult skater who is a member of Windsor FSC (Skate Windsor) WOS SC again since Sept. 1st, 2008.

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