2016-2017 Handbook
WELCOME TO THE
LONDON SPEED SKATING CLUB
HOME OF THE LIGHTNING
Contents
People .................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Code of Conduct .................................................................................................................................................. 4
LSSC Club meetings ........................................................................................................................................... 5
Regular Season Ice Time ................................................................................................................................... 5
Ice Cancellations .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Skating Groups ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
Equipment Requirements ................................................................................................................................... 8
Where to Find Equipment ................................................................................................................................... 8
Skate Maintenance .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Speed Skating Meets ........................................................................................................................................ 10
People
2016-2017 Executive
President
Murray Ebel
Pas President
Kent Cunnington
Vice President
Vacant
Treasurer
Jason Fisher
Registrar
Nicole van Lierop
Secretary
Vacant
Coaches Representative
Dan Curtis
Fundraising
Susan Scollie
2016-2017 Coaches
Dan Curtis, Jonas Jasinskas, Penny Hilliker, Elizabeth Cunnington
2016-2017 Coaching Assistants
Daniel Trudell, Paul Devlin, Nathan Desjardins
2016-2017 Volunteers
Equipment Manager
Meet Registrar
Chad Yeo
Marion Williamson
Meet Coordinator
Kendra Lindsay
We are an “All Volunteer” organization. We ask that parents take on various tasks during the year, including
helping on a weekly basis with setting up and taking down pads and equipment at practice, learning to officiate
at meets, and fundraising for the club. If you are interested in working as part of the club organization, talk to
anyone on the Executive.
We would ask all members of the LSSC to bear the volunteer status of executive and coaches in mind when
communicating with them, seeking assistance with matters or addressing any questions or concerns regarding
events on or off the ice. We are busy parents just like you.
Code of Conduct (Excerpt from LSSC Bylaws)
3.04 Memberships Code of Conduct
Along with adhering to the Ontario Speed Skating Association and Speed Skating Canada Code of Conduct as
well as participating facilities’ Code of Conduct, the following Code of Conduct articulates the norms of
behaviour that are expected of all members of the London Speed Skating Club Members including all parents
and guardians. It is not the intent of this Policy to try to dictate what an individual’s lifestyle should be. The
guidelines are designed to ensure that all concerned conduct themselves in a manner that protects the
reputations and well-being of the Association. Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action being invoked
in accordance with the process outlined.
All LSSC members shall:
 Refrain from words, actions and behaviors – in any medium – that demonstrate disrespect or poses a
threat for others. This includes but not limited to electronic communications and social media.
 Contribute to a club and competition environment where all members are safe from emotional, physical,
verbal, and sexual abuse.
 Contribute to a club and competition environment where discrimination on the basis of race, religion,
sex, age, mental or physical ability, socio-economic beliefs, or any other grounds is not tolerated.
LSSC members attending meets and events:
 No one under the legal drinking age shall consume alcoholic beverages or be in a place in which only
alcoholic beverages are served unless accompanied by the parent or guardian of the person in
question. No one is to provide alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age.
 No one is, knowingly, to use any banned or illegal substance, provide to others a banned or illegal
substance or encourage the use of banned or illegal substances.
 All persons covered by this Code must observe any specific noise regulations of any public
establishment and "quiet hours" rules of any private establishment in which they are staying.
 Except in extenuating or emergency circumstances, coaches and managers shall not share a room with
an athlete. Should there be any circumstances that require an adult to share a room with an athlete, an
effort must be made to secure verbal consent of the parents or guardians of any minors.
Violations of the LSSC Code of Conduct
With respect to any contemplated disciplinary action, the person or persons involved may make written
representations to the Board not later than 15 days following receipt of notification by the Board that such
action is being considered. The Board shall render its decision not later than 30 days following receipt of such
written representations or following any verbal representations to the Board, if requested.
In any case where compensation for damage to property is required, restoration of privileges will not take place
until restitution has occurred.
In cases where disciplinary action is being contemplated by the Board, the person and, in the case of a minor,
the parents or guardian also, will be notified that disciplinary action is contemplated.
End of excerpt.
LSSC Club meetings
The Annual General Meeting is held at the conclusion of the skating season. All associate members of the
London Speed Skating Club and adult skaters are encouraged to attend. The AGM addresses club finances,
upcoming season planning, executive elections, and affords all members an opportunity to provide their input
on club affairs. In addition, we will hold Parent and Member meetings a few times per year as needed.
Regular Season Ice Time
Skaters should arrive at the arena in time to be laced up, have safety equipment on and ready to go on the ice
in advance of their session.
Parents of minors are required to stay with their children at the arena, or leave another adult in charge. If you
leave the arena, please let the coach know who is responsible for your child in your absence. If you are unable
to stay, please ensure there is an adult responsible for your child who has their Health Card.
Parents should help put the mats on the ice if your child’s practice is the first of the evening. If your child’s
practice is the last one for the day, help take the mats off the ice. We often have less than 10 minutes to install
or remove pads following/after other groups’ ice times.
Ice Cancellations
Advance notice of ice cancellations will be provided by email to the club’s email distribution list. If you are not
receiving emails from the club, please notify the Club Registrar. In the event of inclement weather, we will
endeavor to let you know of practice cancellations 2 to 3 hours prior to start of skating for the evening.
Skating Groups
The Coaching Staff assesses skaters and will recommend which group they should be placed in, and when
changes are suitable to groupings with which skaters practice. This is done in consultation with the parents.
The coaches are also guided by the objective of creating a fun community for all skaters. Sometimes during
the season a skater will make a sudden step forward in his or her skill.
The following is a high-level description of our skating sessions. Bear in mind that over the course of a season
skaters may advance considerably in their skill level, coaches may recommend additional or alternate session
enrollment.
1 session/week
Typical of skaters new to the sport or looking to add to a basic level of physical activity. While young skaters 510 or 11 years of age are on ice 7-7:50 pm on either Tuesday or Thursday, older youth and adults typically
elect to skate 8-8:50 on Tuesdays or 5-5:50 on Thursdays.
The session will consist of instruction appropriate to the age of the skater. It may include warm-up, skill
progression, laps, relays, games (younger kids) and a cool-down period.
Adult Skaters
Skate 9-9:50 pm on Tuesdays, however experienced adult skaters and those looking to compete at the
Masters level may elect to skate additional sessions. This should be planned in consultation with our senior
skating coach.
2 sessions/week
Typical of skaters new to the sport and younger skaters (6-12 years of age) who are interested in preparation
for occasional competition at the regional level. Younger skaters are on ice 7-7:50 pm on Tuesday &
Thursday. For younger skaters, some participation with peer group and exposure to the technical skills
highlighted in the 7-7:50 sessions is still highly recommended.
Skaters 12+, and younger skaters who demonstrate sufficient maturity, endurance & skill, may skate 1 or both
hours during the 8-8:50pm & 9-9:50pm Tuesday session and/or the 5-5:50pm & 6-6:50pm Thursday sessions.
The on-ice instruction will consist of warm-up, skill progression, laps, relays, and a cool-down period
appropriate for competition.
3 sessions/week
Typical of skaters interested in preparation for regular competition at the regional or provincial level. Skaters
must demonstrate sufficient maturity, endurance and skill to skate 3 sessions/week. For younger skaters,
some participation with peer group and exposure to the technical skills highlighted in the 7-7:50 sessions is still
highly recommended.
Skaters 12+, and younger skaters who demonstrate sufficient maturity, endurance & skill, may skate 1 or more
sessions during the 8-8:50 & 9-9:50pm. Tuesday sessions and 5-5:50pm & 6-6:50pm Thursday sessions.
The on-ice instruction will consist of warm-up, skill progression, laps, relays, and a cool-down period
appropriate for competition.
4 sessions/week
This program is targeted at competitive skaters interested in advancing their skill level to compete at a high
level in regional or provincial series meets on a regular basis. Skating is 8-9:50pm on Tuesdays and: 5-6:50pm
on Thursdays.
Additional info
Promotion of some group and solo dryland (off-ice) training will occur at all levels. Summer/fall training
opportunities are often held in August and September prior to regular season and may include some ice time (if
available – additional fees may apply.). This will be of particular importance to those interested in/planning to
compete in early season meets.
Remember that speed skating is harder than it looks. Try to avoid sideline coaching – talk to your coaches,
promote off-ice general physical fitness, and focus on a volunteer role with our club. Your skater will keep
getting better the more they skate.
Equipment Requirements
Item
Required for practices
Required for meets
Helmet
Any CSA-approved helmet, including hockey, ski, or
bike helmet. Helmets should be properly fitted with
snug chinstrap and head size adjustment, and 1-2
finger space above the eyebrow.
A speed skating helmet is required. These
can be purchased from the club or often at
the meets from Shoie Creations. The
equipment table typically opens prior to the
meet.
Not required.
Required. Purchase one of these from our
club president prior to your first meet. The
unique skater number will be registered with
OSSA.
Recommended.
Required, must have head strap. Available at
safety stores (Mark’s) or at meets.
Yellow
helmet
cover with
skater
number
Safety
glasses
Neck guard
Gloves
Elbow pads
Knee pad
Hard shin
guards
Racing suit
Cut-proof
undersuit
Cutproof
ankle
Hard skate
guards
A cut-proof bib-style neck guard is required. These
are available where hockey equipment is sold or at
meets.
Cut resistant (leather, Kevlar, or similar) are required.
Hockey gloves / leather ski gloves are ok.
Recommended.
Required.
Required.
Not required.
Not required.
Same.
Same, however, speed skating safety gloves
are usually available to purchase at meets.
Highly recommended.
Required. May be built in to suit.
Required. May be installed in shin pocket of
suit.
Not required.
Required only if skater qualifies to race in the
Provincial series.
Required. Cutproof ankle protector or cutproof socks.
Same
Required when walking off ice.
Required when walking off ice.
Where to Find Equipment
Skate Rentals: The Club has speed skates for rent. Rental fees are $150.00 for the season. If the skates are
outgrown mid-season, please contact our Equipment Manager. Please take good care of our skates.
General Equipment: There are a number of online sources for speed acting gear, including Shoie Creations
(Cambridge) at www.shoeicreations.com, Red River Speed Inc (Winnipeg) at www.redriverspeed.com, and Il
Peleton (Ottawa) at http://www.ilpeloton.com. In addition, Paul Shoebridge of Shoie Creations is often present
at regional series meets in southwestern Ontario during the skating season.
Skate Maintenance
Skate guards should be worn to protect the blades when walking in them “off ice”, even when on proper rink
cushion flooring. Your edges provide smoother gliding when they are clear of nicks, gum, slush and dirt. Also,
a sound, even edge is safer, lasts longer and is easier to sharpen.
Guard especially against rust by drying them off after every skating session. Use the soft soakers at the end of
every skating session/night, and replace the hard guard only once they have fully dried. Pull laces tight and
close Velcro straps to help protect against damage and wear to these elements of the boot.
Please note: when putting skate guards on or taking them off, skaters only do so when wearing cutproof gloves. Parents, please be sure to reinforce this message with your skaters.
At home, hang all your skate equipment out to dry at room temperature, including your skates, hard guards,
soft guards and drying towel. Repack your equipment bag only after all elements are completely dry.
Skate sharpening is typically required every 8 to 12 skating sessions, but will vary depending upon skater skill
and size. Nonetheless, it is recommended that blades be checked before each session to ensure that they
have no significant nicks and are suitably sharp.
We will hold a skate sharpening workshop in the fall, and have all of the necessary equipment at the club. Ask
a coach, a member of the executive, or a teen skater for help. You don’t have to learn to sharpen yourself right
away or if you would rather not. Just ask for help.
Please Note: never take the skates to a sporting good store for sharpeing.
Our skates and blades are reviewed and refurbished each summer. If you buy your own skates, you may want
to pursue annual maintenance.
Speed Skating Meets
Speed skating meets bring clubs together for a full day of racing, complete with warmups, heats, finals, and a
medal ceremony at the end of the one-day or two-day meet. There are two levels of racing in Ontario: Regional
Series and Provincial Series. Our club often hosts a Regional meet in early December.
The London Speed Skating Club is part of the Western Region of the Ontario Speed Skating Club. We
compete in Western Region meets with clubs from Hamilton, Milton, Oakville, Cambridge, Kitchener-Waterloo,
and Golden Horseshoe. If under-registered, London skaters may also register to be waitlisted at meets hosted
by clubs from other regions.
Regional Series meets:
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Open to any skater who is registered as “competitive” with their club.
Competition is mixed gender.
Ability-based – skaters are grouped in Flights of 16 skaters (or fewer) based on seed times.
Some segmentation of skaters by age occurs. 6 to 10 year olds; 11 to 13; and 14 and older.
Non-provincial series skaters have priority, however if the meet is under-registered, provincial series
skaters may register.
Select meets, including the London Regional Series meet, are open to Special Olympics skaters.
Provincial meets:
 Open to skaters who have achieved qualifying times as set out in the OSSA technical bulletin, for their
age and gender.
 Qualification is based on previous season’s rankings, and invitations are extended to groups of skaters
of varying numbers in each age and gender class.
 Competition is gender-segmented.
 Competition is age-segmented. Only skaters 11-22 years of age are eligible.
 At mid-season, further invitations are extended to top Regional Series qualifying skaters.
Registration:
Meet Registration Forms are available on the OSSA website: http:/ontariospeedskating.ca/. Registration forms
and meet announcements will also be emailed to club members. Completed registration forms and payment
must be submitted to the club’s Meet Registrar by the deadline provided (typically the Tuesday 1.5 weeks
preceding the meet for which you are registering). Late registration and on-site registration are not
allowed.
Before a skater can register for your first meet, they will need an assigned racer number/helmet cover. These
helmet covers are available to purchase for $10 from the club president. You will need the helmet cover
number and a qualifying time at either the 400m or 500m distance when you register for your first meet. Once
a skater has participated in an OSSA-sanctioned meet, their 400 m times from prior meets will be used for race
placement.
Food, entertainment, and other survival tips
Food availability and lineups vary between arena facilities, and depending upon time of day. It’s a good idea to
bring lots of snacks, lunch and water. You, your skater and your pocketbook will appreciate it!
We strongly encourage healthy snacking and eating at all times for developing athletes, but especially at
meets. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and sources of protein are vital to helping skaters perform. Hot dogs,
high sugar-content power drinks and chocolate bars are no substitute for a healthy diet.
Out of respect for those who may have food allergies, care should be taken with eggs, nuts and foods
containing nut products. While we often share food among families at the meet, particularly fruits and
vegetables, we would nonetheless ask you to consult with another child’s parents before offering to do so.
Skaters and their parents will want things to do in between their races. Kids from one club will usually gather
and hang out together, which helps them to have a fun day.
Some clubs have restrictions/prohibitions on bringing electronic devices to meets, or when they can be used.
We don’t have a rule like that, but it is important to promote team spirit and comraderie. There is much to be
learned from the ‘bird’s-eye’ view of watching other skaters perform. Finally, if skaters are hunched over a
tablet until just before they skate, they will not be properly warmed up, stretched or mentally engaged. Books,
small board games, and cheering on team mates are great ways to occupy time.
A meet can be a long day… our rink has moulded chairs but some have metal or wooden benches. Our arena
also has a large, heated common area with seating. Other facilities may not be so generous in the facilities
available. It can be a good idea to bring soft things to sit on, and blankets with which to keep warm.
A lot of water gets put on the ice to maintain a smooth surface all day. If your skater falls, he or she may get
wet. Bring a hair dryer for drying out wet stuff if you can. If you can’t, usually you can borrow one. Dyson Blade
hand dryers in some washroom do a great job in a pinch! A change of layers for skaters, if possible, is a good
idea. The temperature varies from rink to rink and through the day. Layer yourself up.
Be sure arrive at meets with all your equipment. Skates should be sharpened prior to a meet. We usually bring
a sharpening kit to the meets for use during the day. If you forget something, please ask a coach or other
parent before buying something, as we will endeavour to send along a spare kit of safety equipment to each
meet.
Understanding the schedule
The day will be organized by “Flights” or racing group. Each flight is labelled by a call sign, such as “Alpha” and
“Bravo.” The Alphas are the first racers to skate. They will be sorted into subgroups by qualifying seed times
within the previously mentioned rough age groupings.
Heats first, followed by finals.
A-D means there
are four subgroups
in the Alpha group.
On the arena scoreboard, they
cannot show letters, so the “A”
group of “Alpha” is shown as “11” for their first race of the day,
which is within Series 1. The next
race (Alpha-B) is “1-2”.
Tables of the schedule for the day will be posted throughout the arena as handouts and affixed to walls in
conspicuous locations. Across meets, there will be different numbers of flights depending on how many racers
are registered for the meet overall, so your skater may not be in the same flight one meet to the next. Coaches
are provided with the skater placement list typically 2-3 days before a meet. The letter groupings help you to
plan when you and/or your skater needs to be down at rink level and ready to go.
During waits between races the skaters take off their skates and helmets, put on something cozy, and head up
to the bleachers to watch races. Letting them wear sneakers rather than winter boots will help their socks to
not get too sweaty.
The changes in / out of skates means you have to anticipate when they need to be brought back down and
geared back up. You will need to go down well in advance of your race to get to rink level and ready.
Hanging out with other families who know what they are doing is very helpful to know when to do this.
The super finals later in the meet feature larger groups of skaters(6-8 per race) than the shorter distances, so
the pace will change and you will have to re-adjust how long in advance to go down.
Once the skater is ready (skates on, etc) they wait with the other skaters in their group. The “clerk of the
course” will assemble each group, make sure everyone is there, and have them wait in a staging area.
Parents are not allowed in the staging area. If a skater does not have all the required gear when they go
on the ice, they will be disqualified – check your skater before they go out to the staging area before every
race. It’s a 8 point check: (helmet, glasses, neck, gloves, knee, shin, Kevlar, skates).
Acceptable equipment is also checked at warmup time at the start of day, which is a good chance to have
problems identified without it ending in a disqualification. They can wear a warmup jacket to the staging area
and remove it to race. Volunteers will bring the jackets and hard skate guards to the exit door after each race.
The skaters are lined up in their groups of usually 5 or less, in an area of the rink that is set up as a “heat box”.
There is usually one group on the ice while the next 4 or 5 groups await their turn in the heat box.
Zamboni time is called a “flood”. These breaks are 15 to 20 minutes. There is a longer lunch break which is
often held later than noon.
Enjoy the day!!!! Ask for help if you need it!!!
If for any reason you are unable to attend a meet, please advise our meet registrar as soon as possible.
There is no refund of meet entry fees if the skater does not attend.