Why Sign up for CanSkate?

CANSKATE IS THE LEARN TO SKATE PROGRAM WHICH ALL OTHERS ARE MEASURED AGAINST.

CanSkate offers the best curriculum in Canada. Our flagship learn-to-skate program has taught millions of Canadians to reach their recreational and competitive goals on the ice.

The CanSkate program is geared to beginners of all ages…children, adults, newcomers to Canada and athletes with a disability (AWAD). Whether you are looking to improve basic skating skills for figure skating,  hockey, ringette or speed skating, or  wish to skate for recreation, fitness or fun, CanSkate will get you there.

Conducted in a fun, friendly environment, the CanSkate program showcases a comprehensive series of balance, control and agility skills, using a nationally-tested and proven curriculum that supports skater success in developing stronger basic skills on the ice.

Millions of Canadians, including World and Olympic figure skating champions and National Hockey League stars, have taken their first steps on the ice with the CanSkate program. Offered at clubs and skating schools across Canada and delivered by NCCP coaches, CanSkate will help you realize your skating goals.

What is CanSkate?

CanSkate is a dynamic learn-to-skate program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. Based on Sport Canada’s long term athlete development (LTAD) principles, CanSkate centers on physical literacy and the fundamental skills needed to take part in any ice sport or to skate as a recreational activity.

Who’s it for?

For beginners of all ages, children or adults, as well as for those wishing to improve their basic skills whether their focus be for figure skating, hockey, speed skating or just skating for fun.

Who teaches it?

NCCP-trained professional coaches, assisted by trained program assistants.

What will you learn?

A complete series of balance, control and agility skills taught in six stages of learning that pertain to hockey, ringette, speed skating and figure skating as well as general recreational skating. CanSkate uses nationally-tested and proven curriculum and delivery methods that guarantee skater success in developing stronger basic skills and developing them faster.

What can you expect?

Action, movement and fun! Lessons are given in a group format with a coach-to-student ratio of a maximum 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches make sessions active using teaching aids, upbeat music and a wide variety of activities that create a motivational environment and promote learning. Badges, ribbons and other incentives are used to benchmark skaters’ progress and reward effort and participation.

How do you sign up?

Find a Skate Canada BC/YK Section club near you to register for an upcoming Canskate Program.

Updates for Coaches & Clubs

After a year of being officially launched, the new CanSkate program is gearing up for another exciting season.

Feedback on the new program has been very positive.  Skaters love the action, music and fun, parents love the continuous movement and remarkable improvement of their children and coaches love the effectiveness and efficiency of the session formats and circuits.  The sessions basically run themselves with the tools provided and skaters are guaranteed to learn to skate.

Here are some of the new tools that will be available to help coaches and clubs deliver an even better CanSkate program:

CanSkate brochure (Found under "Resources" at the bottom of the page)

Use these full-colour, 3-panel brochures during registration days, club open houses, ice shows or other community activities to help promote your club’s CanSkate program

An electronic version will be available for download with space to add your club’s contact information, registration periods, etc.  NOTE: We ask that if you use the e-version that you print it in colour

Hard copies will also be available for purchase from Skate Canada’s online store

New CanSkate Skills Tips videos  - For coaches

A series of 16 video clips providing technical tips for teaching some of the new and/or revised skills in the CanSkate curriculum.

CanSkate Element Event package revisions – COMING SOON

Based on feedback received some revisions have been made to the technical requirements and standards. Once materials are finalized they will be posted in the Info Centre under CanSkate.

CanSkate Program Support

We know that many clubs are fully operational while some clubs are just getting started, and so we want to offer as much support as we can to help clubs get up and running, or to reinforce what is being done, in order to offer the best program possible.  We need to know in which areas clubs still need more information, resources or training so we can go back and develop the tools required.  We would also like to collect any feedback as well as any success stories clubs wish to share.

To this end, we will be continuing the national club support program this season in which we have CanSkate Resource Team members and national office staff reaching out to clubs across the country.  We have a list of clubs that have asked for support whom we will be servicing, as well as a random selection of clubs in each section.  In addition, clubs may approach CanSkate Resource Team members on their own or their section office should they wish to arrange their own support visit or conference call. The list of CanSkate Resource Team members and their contact information can be found in the Info Centre under Programs/CanSkate.

Watch for more updates on the CanSkate program in Skate Canada email campaigns over the skating season.