SkateUK

SkateUK on-line Have you just started a Skate UK course or are you interesting in seeing what Learning to Skate is all about? Well you can register here and watch great quality video of all ten stages of SkateUK. There is a special introductory fee of £5.00 to view the video and you can continue watching for 8 weeks. Skate UK online will assist all budding skaters in the basic moves of SKATE UK, stepping through each element of each stage in normal and slow motion with narrative to help you understand the requirement for each level.

Benefits of Membership

Membership for twelve months
Access for eight weeks to Skate UK TV
FREE Magazine
10% discount on Skate UK merchandise

Did You Know?

On average 50,000 youngsters each year complete a formal Skate UK Learn to Skate Course.

Awards and incentives are used to motivate skaters to achieve and develop their skills as well as to keep interest high! Skate UK is a feeder programme to all other NISA programmes.

The final, Level 10 of the Skate UK Programme is a transitional stage that serves as a bridge from Skate UK to the Skate UK Improver Programme. It introduces many figure skating skills that are included in the Preliminary level tests. Skaters who complete Stage 7 are well on their way to taking their first NISA test.

Objectives of the Skate UK Programme

• To provide basic skating instruction in a group format
• To introduce skaters to the principles of "Skating"
• To encourage and identify "Talented Skaters" so that they are fast-tracked through the NISA system of training
• To promote all skaters through the NISA system of training in a seamless manner

Goals of the Skate UK Programme

The Skate UK programme:

• is taught by NISA professional coaches
• is assisted by trained Programme Assistants as required
• keeps the ratio of skaters to coach or programme assistant manageable to foster learning and individual attention
• ensures continuous movement - skaters should be moving approximately 75% of the time
• ensures faster progression from one level to the next. Skaters need to move to the next level as soon as they are ready
• teaches fundamental skills - expose skaters to many different skills but require the basics to progress to the next level
• is fun - a vital part of keeping a skater active in the sport is to provide an interesting variety of activities with lots of awards and incentives, upbeat music and enthusiasm

How Many Children on the Ice?

The average number of skaters on the ice during a Skate UK programme is about 60 (this is on a 56M x 26M sized-arena). The exact number will vary depending on a number of variables: size of club, number of professional coaches, amount of ice time. If a Skate UK class is conducted during a public skating session , the number of participating will vary according to the area of ice available.

Who can Teach Skate UK?

Skate UK is taught by NISA professional coaches and assisted, as required, by Programme Assistants who have been trained by the NISA professional coach in the club.
The main role of the NISA professional coach is to:

• prepare fun, challenging and safe lessons for the appropriate age level
• teach skills and teaching progressions
• plan skill circuits, drills, exercises, etc.
• direct the programme
• group and re-group skaters
• train, supervise, assess and evaluate Programme Assistants
• assess skaters
• select music for the programme
• keep efficient records for the programme
• ensure the progress of all skaters
• plan effective ice usage
• organize and lead parent orientation sessions throughout the programme season
• provide advice on skating matters - i.e. equipment, progression to other programmes, etc.
• act as a Skate UK information source / educator for club members and volunteers

Programme Assistants

The Programme Assistant helps deliver the Skate UK programme under the direction of the NISA professional coach. The role of the Programme Assistant will vary from club to club depending upon the number of NISA professional coaches and volunteers involved in the Skate UK programme. Programme Assistants may perform a wide variety of duties including those outlined below: (For a more complete listing refer to the Guide for Training Programme Assistants, contained in the Skate UK Coaches' Manual).

• demonstrate skills and teaching progressions
• supervise practice time
• lead warm-ups and cool-downs under the direction of the coach
• reinforce learned skills (follow-up on coach instruction)
• lead exercises, drills, games, creative expression exercises under coach's direction
• hand out awards and weekly incentives
• take attendance
• assist with circuits

To enquire about Skate Uk courses in Blackpool please call 01253 341707