Can someone please explain to me the parctice rules?

[Tessie]

I understand from the USFSA that once a competition has started the skaters can only practice during the official pracitces? I know there is such a thing as over training but to have only 50 minutes or so of practice during the week for each event (long & short) seems unrealistic. :?: Although, if every one is limited then they're all on the same playing field.

Any insight on the rule would be helpful.

Thanks :)

[TreSk8sAZ]

I don't know if this is the case in all competitions, but in many cases there are official practices and unofficial practices. You are allowed to sign up for one official practice per event (long and short being two events). Your music will be played at some point during the practice. During unofficial practices (which I believe there is no limit on) your music will not be played, but you may still practice. Both official and unofficial practices are scheduled through the club running the competition.

Others can feel free to add or correct what I've said, this is just what I've seen, but I don't know about Nationals.

[love2sk8]

I know that in Canada, at least for sectionals, divs and nats, skaters cannot skate on any practices other than the official ones. So yes, skaters only get around 50 mins a day to practice, and run through programs.

At competitions though (just my opinion) its not necessary to skate more than that, cuz all the trainings already done...IMO practice at comp is just to maintain and get a feel for the ice.

[dr.frog]

The USFSA used to have such rules restricting skaters to practicing only on official practice ice once they had registered for Nationals, but last year they changed the policy and started providing only one official practice per day instead of two. Some of the skaters and coaches are none too happy about the change and have either been scrambling to find ice time at other local rinks and transportation to get there (which is an added expense for the skaters) or staying home to train until the last minute, but others are taking it more philosophically. At most international competitions skaters also only get one practice per day so it's something skaters at that level have to get used to.

[Mel On Ice]

is this true? I seem to remember one year Matt Savoie being unhappy with his assigned 6:30am practice, so he hopped on an empty open skate at a neighboring rink at a more comfortable time slot.

[janet]

Where this rule is in effect : You aren't required to attend the official practices. But once you register you CAN"T skate on unofficial ice. So - if you haven't checked in yet you can skate wherever you want.

[Tessie]

Where this rule is in effect : You aren't required to attend the official practices. But once you register you CAN"T skate on unofficial ice. So - if you haven't checked in yet you can skate wherever you want.

Thank you - that makes more sense to me. I imagine that the incentive to practice on the official practice sessions is to put your program in front of the judges a bit.

It also make sense, that at the senior elite level, if you're not ready the week of nationals, you may as well go home.

[singerskates]

The purpose to practice on the official practice is is to get use to the competition rink and ice. Each rink has a different feel and sometimes different dementions. Plus, the condition of the ice can vary from one rink to another. If the ice is soft, you have to push more because you sink into the ice more. If the ice is too hard, it's tough on your knees when landing the jumps and if you get stuck in someone elses rut you may not get out. Figure skaters like ice conditions right in the middle just like Goldie Locks. LOL

singerskates

[jumpstart]

Trust me, if you need more than the time alotted for official practices, you aren't ready.

[Mel On Ice]

The purpose to practice on the official practice is is to get use to the competition rink and ice. Each rink has a different feel and sometimes different dementions. Plus, the condition of the ice can vary from one rink to another. If the ice is soft, you have to push more because you sink into the ice more. If the ice is too hard, it's tough on your knees when landing the jumps and if you get stuck in someone elses rut you may not get out. Figure skaters like ice conditions right in the middle just like Goldie Locks. LOL

singerskates

but many times the official practices are not held in the arena where they will be competing.

[Lenny2]

I believe the rule your are thinking of is the rule relating to official warm up ice, rather than official practice ice. At all qualifying competitions, such as regionals, sectionals, junior nationals, and nationals, the competition must provide a certain period of official warm up ice (usually twenty to thirty minutes) about two hours before the event begins. Competitors are not permitted to practice any more after the official warm up ice has ended, except for the six minute warm up immediately preceding the event. This rule is designed to ensure that no one has an unfair amount of warm up time immediately before the event.

[janet]

I believe the rule your are thinking of is the rule relating to official warm up ice, rather than official practice ice. At all qualifying competitions, such as regionals, sectionals, junior nationals, and nationals, the competition must provide a certain period of official warm up ice (usually twenty to thirty minutes) about two hours before the event begins. Competitors are not permitted to practice any more after the official warm up ice has ended, except for the six minute warm up immediately preceding the event. This rule is designed to ensure that no one has an unfair amount of warm up time immediately before the event.

Not entirely accurate as this is in place in Canada for Qualifying events even where the practice is on one day and the event is the next day. It is also effective for Synchro skating where not even ONE individual on a team can go and skate anywhere else after the team is registered.