Skater and Parent Etiquette

The Skater’s Role:

• It is the skater’s responsibility to make the most of the resources put before them. The best way to do this is to adhere to the necessary basic rules of courtesy during all on-ice activities. It is the responsibility of every skater to show respect for all other skaters, their parents, the volunteers, the coaches and all officials

The Parents’ Role:

• It is your responsibility to show an active interest in your skater’s progress, to provide encouragement and to empathize when times are tough. Remember that you will play a leading role in shaping your skater’s attitudes; how they cope with success and failure, how they relate to other skaters, parents and officials and how they react to criticism. Are you setting a good example?
• Help your skater to establish his / her own skating goals; do not impose your own goals.
• Parents should never attempt to become the coach. The Coach is the professional – allow them to do their job.
• Above all, remember that your skater wanted to skate for fun and fitness. Celebrate their accomplishments and comfort and encourage them when they have a bad day.

The Coach’s Role:

• It is the Coach’s responsibility to teach and develop the skater’s technical ability
• The Coach will also act as a Role Model and will play an important role in shaping the skater’s attitudes towards skating, sportsmanship, discipline and work ethic. This will last long into their working, adult lives. 

The Club’s Role:

• It is the Club’s role to provide programming as well as opportunities for testing and competing.
• With the exception of the Professional Coaches, the people who manage our Club are all volunteers.
• In order to keep the Club financially sound, it is also necessary for the Club’s Executive to come up with innovative methods of fundraising. This offsets the shortfall from Registration fees.

Parent Code of Conduct

Skate Canada Parent Code of Conduct

Skate Canada is committed to ensuring that all skaters have the opportunity to participate in a safe and welcoming
environment that is encouraging and promotes their overall development. Parents have an enormous influence on skaters’
experiences in the sport. The quality of a skater’s experience is determined by their relationships with parents and the
manner in which parents conduct themselves in the Skate Canada environment.

In this code “parents” shall refer to “parents and guardians”. This code applies to all parents who are members of Skate
Canada or have children who are members of Skate Canada. Parents shall abide by this code at all times while participating
in any Skate Canada club or school, competition, or activity.

All parents are expected to conduct themselves in a responsible manner consistent with the values of fair play, integrity,
open communication and mutual respect

Parents shall always model positive responsible behaviour and communicate with their son/daughter that they expect them
to do the same. Parents will assume the major responsibility for their son/daughter’s on ice conduct and attitude.

Parents shall at all times treat all individuals and property with dignity, courtesy and respect, including but not limited to
skaters, coaches, officials, volunteers, other parents, and all other individuals that are part of the club, skating school,
Section or Skate Canada.

 Parents shall refrain from any behaviour or comments which are profane, insulting, harassing, sexist, racist,
abusive, disrespectful or otherwise offensive without hostility or violence.

 Parents shall emphasize the importance of values like sportsmanship, respect, cooperation, competition and
teamwork to their son/daughter offering praise for competing fairly, participation and skill development.

 Parents shall model and encourage their son/daughter to maintain a healthy balance between skating and life. (e.g.,
school, other activities, social life, etc.)

 Parents shall model and encourage balanced, healthy food choices and subscribing to an active and healthy
lifestyle.

 Parents shall set high, but reasonable expectations for their son/daughter’s participation in skating focusing on
development and enjoyment for the child.

 Parents shall instill confidence in their son/daughter’s ability and skill development, always avoiding comparisons
with other skaters.

 Parents shall celebrate the acquisition of skills and goals achieved by their son/daughter.

 Parents, along with the professional coach and the athlete, shall be considered members of a team whose main
concern is the child’s overall progress and development. Parents shall respect that the professional coach is
responsible and empowered for the on‐ice and off‐ice development of the athlete. A parent’s role shall be to take a
healthy interest in their child’s progress and development and be responsible for the child’s nutrition, rest,
adherence to off‐ice training regimen set by the coach or other fitness professional, overall health, life‐balance, and
moral and emotional support.

 Parents shall ensure their son/daughter wears proper skating clothing and equipment.

 Parents shall never provide alcohol or drugs to minors in a Skate Canada environment.

 Parents shall never provide or advocate the use of performance enhancing drugs or substances.

 Parents shall avoid any conduct, which brings their club, skating school, Section or Skate Canada, into disrepute,
including but not limited to abusive use of alcohol, non‐medical use of drugs and gambling.

 Parents shall openly support and uphold this code of conduct policy and take action and steps to ensure other
parents follow and uphold this code of conduct policy.

Parents shall adhere to the policies, procedures, rules, standards, and ethics of Skate Canada at all times.