What to Expect:

Group 1 (yellow):
-High level of commitment, dedication, and focus
-Provincial and National level competitions
-Minimum 4 ice times a week, minimum 3 dryland trainings a week
-High intensity training, competition, and coaching
-Full knowledge of handling own equipment and safety rules
-Fully understanding/almost fully understanding competition systems and racing rules -Minimum 58 second pb in the 500m
-Must be 11 years old or older*
-Parents of group 1 skaters must volunteer regularly or hold executive positions

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Group 2 (blue):
-Learning fundamental skating and racing strategies
-Preparing for provincial level competitions while regularly competing at interregional and club level competitions
-Beginning to develop skaters’ own athletic strengths and understanding athletic lifestyle and requirements
-Beginning to learn/understand equipment handling, care, and upkeep
-Minimum of 3 ice sessions a week, minimum of 2 drylands a week
-Minimum of 40 seconds 200m pb (*some exceptions apply)
-Must be 8 years old or older*

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Group 3 (white):

-Honing and practicing basic skating techniques, becoming more comfortable skating -Minimum 2 ice sessions a week, minimum 1 dryland a week
-Beginning to learn and practice track and sport safety effectively
-Preparing to compete at interregional competitions
-Beginning to participate fully in club competitions
-No set minimum skill requirement or personal best time
-Practice is a mix of challenging games/activities and speed skating specific training

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Group 4 (green):

-Beginner group
-Learning basic skating techniques
-Introduction to track etiquette and safety
-No minimum ice or dryland sessions per week
-Not yet competing in official competitions
-Little to no ice experience
-Ice practice is fun, interactive, more games and challenges rather than strict training

• Speed skating is a sport in which a skater races around a track on an ice rink. There are two types of speed skating: Short Track (111m, 100m), and Long Track (400m).

• Port Coquitlam Lightning Speed Skating is a Short Track Speed Skating club. This means that all of our activities and competitions are held inside of a hockey or NHL sized ice rink on a track that is either (depending on the age of your skater) 111m or 100m long. Races can have anywhere from 4-9 people on the track at once, and our on-ice practices can host up to 30 skaters on the ice together. Due to the nature of our sport, we have a few rules that we ask to be followed:

• When first stepping on the ice, please make sure to look both ways to check that there are no skaters actively skating on the track. If there is lots of traffic, please call out to a coach to help you onto the ice safely. (New skaters or younger skaters under the age of 8, please have an adult or coach assist you)

• You MUST close the door behind you when entering the ice. Unless there is somebody who is stepping onto the ice right after you, please close the door completely. Leaving the ice rink door open can be a dangerous safety hazard.

• Hard guards are to be placed somewhere safe, where they cannot be accidentally dropped onto the ice surface.

• Only skate COUNTERCLOCKWISE unless asked differently by a coach.

• When on the ice, ALWAYS look before entering or exiting the skating track from

• the inside circle or outside of the track. This is called ‘shoulder-checking’, similar

• to when driving a car.

• You must make sure that all of your equipment is properly secured. *PoCo will not

• assume any responsibility for missing equipment or injuries from improper safety

• equipment and behaviours.

• Please be considerate when missing practices or being late. Always contact your

• coach to inform them beforehand if possible.

• Bullying, harassment, or assault of any kind within the club will NOT be tolerated

• Come to practice ready to work hard and most importantly, HAVE FUN!