FAQ
In which skating class should I enroll myself or my child?
Mayfield Figure Skating Club is proud to provide skating classes for all interests, ages and abilities. Please see our Programs section of the website for more detailed information.
What clothing is best for skating classes?
Clothing should keep skaters warm but not restrict their ability to move. Typically the more active a skater is, the less they need to wear. As a general rule, layers work better than bulk: fleece for insulation and nylon for moisture resistance is a perfect combination. Hoodies are not allowed as the hood may impair a skaters line of sight. Bulky snow suits are often a problem because they make it too difficult for skaters to get up after a fall. Jeans are not a good choice: the cotton in the jeans absorbs and holds moisture. Cold and wet is uncomfortable.
For Pre-CanSkate and CanSkate, as the arena is cold, skaters should dress in layered clothing that allows for movement. Gloves or mittens are mandatory in all Pre-CanSkate, and CanSkate classes. Waterproof pants (especially for younger children) are an excellent choice, due to the skaters spending a lot of time learning how to fall down and get up!
Pre-StarSkate and StarSkaters should wear fitted clothing such as shirts, jackets and leggings. Baggy clothing is discouraged.
What should I look for when I buy skates?
Modern skates provide firm support around the ankles. To accomplish this, the skate manufacturer installs stiff leather inserts between the outer and inner layers of the boot. Old skates may lack this stiffness; in used skates, it may be broken down from use or abuse. Please see a list below of things to watch out for when buying skates:
With the skates laced up snugly, the ankles should be straight so that the skate becomes a natural extension of the leg. If the skater’s ankles lean inward or outward, the skater will have difficulty balancing (particularly on one foot).
Molded plastic skates are not a good choice. They provide a lot of support but they cannot be ‘broken in’. This prevents the boot from flexing properly to allow the skater the required range of motion. The plastic skates with buckles instead of laces may be convenient but they often come loose leaving the skater with no support whatsoever.
Skates should fit more snugly than regular shoes, particularly around the heel. A properly fitting skate should have no more than 1/2 inch of space at the toe. The skater should be able to wiggle toes inside the boot, but the heel should not move at all in the skate. The ball of the foot should come just ahead of the point where the sole starts to cut in for the arch. This ensures the proper positioning of the arch and is extremely important. The front opening of the boot should be sufficiently wide to pull the laces tight. The tongue should be sufficiently wide so that it will stay in place; the tongue should also be well padded to prevent laces from cutting into the foot.
Skates that are too small will be very uncomfortable for skaters and their feet will tend to get cold very quickly in too-small skates. Skates that are too big do not provide sufficient ankle support and may even cause blisters due to rubbing inside the boot.
Skates should be worn with one pair of thin socks. Thick or extra socks may appear to fill up the space in a skate that is too big. However, as soon as the skater tries to exert pressure against the boot, the extra thickness compresses and the skate doesn’t provide the needed support. Never buy skates that are too big so they will last another season.
Skates should be laced fairly loosely over the toe and front of the foot, but snugly over the ankles. Laces should be hooked securely with sufficient tension to permit one finger down the back of the boot. Laces should be long enough to be tied in a double bow and tucked in. Laces should never be wrapped around the top of the skate.
A new pair of skates must be sharpened before they are used. An unsharpened skate has a flat surface on the bottom of the blade. It will easily slide sideways when the skater tries to push. The sharpening stone grinds a concave contour which produces the two ‘edges’ that dig into the ice.
When should my skates be sharpened?
The rule of thumb for skate sharpening is to sharpen after every 30 to 50 hours of ice time. Use these hours as a rough guideline: need for skate sharpening can be greatly affected by use and care.
Continuous use of guards will keep skates sharper longer.
Walking across a concrete floor is fatal for your sharpening.
Failing to wipe blades dry and/or storing skates with plastic guards on can result in rust forming on the bottom of the blades, which will cause slippage.
A good test for sharpness is to scrape a thumb nail across (not along!) the blade. If the blade takes fine shavings, it is sharp; if the blade does not, maybe it’s time to get the skates sharpened. Be sure to check both the inside and outside edges of the blade. Inside edges often get more wear than outside. For assessments and competitions, consider a sharpening a week or two before the big day. Not the day before!
Does my child have to wear a helmet?
As per Skate Canada’s helmet regulations for CanSkate programs, skaters must have a CSA approved hockey helmet. All CanSkate and Adult CanSkate participants up to and including Stage Five (5) must wear a CSA approved hockey helmet while on the ice. This policy is enforced during all skating activities including competitions, family skate days or any other special on ice activities throughout the season for this level of skater.
Although optional, helmets with cages / face guards are highly recommended for young skaters and beginning skaters of all ages. View the Skate Canada Helmet Use Policy document.
Please note that skaters who do not have a proper fitting CSA approved hockey helmet will NOT be allowed on the ice.
What kind of helmet should I buy?
Here are a few things to think about when shopping for a helmet:
Hockey helmets are the best for skaters. As stated above, CSA approved hockey helmets are mandatory for all CanSkate participants up to and including Stage 5. Hockey helmets provide excellent protection for the sides as well as the back of the head and are designed to withstand the frequent bumps that are part of hockey. A hockey helmet fitted with a visor or cage also protects the skater’s face from the ice and anything else that poses a threat.
Ski or skateboard helmets are not permitted. These helmets protect the sides and back of the head, but cannot be fitted with a visor or cage to protect the face.
Bicycle helmets are strictly prohibited on the ice as they do not provide the necessary protection needed for skating. Bicycle helmets are designed to absorb a single high-impact collision rather than the many little falls that happen in skating, and do not provide adequate protection for the back and sides of the head.
A poor-fitting helmet can shift on impact and make a possible injury worse.
How are groups organized?
Based on the information you as the parent or skater provide at registration, skaters are grouped by badge or ability level. Fitting new skaters into groups is done by coaches at the beginning of the first session. Some adjustments in the first few weeks are to be expected. Often skaters who excel will be moved up to a higher group where they will be more challenged. Likewise, skaters who fall behind may be moved to a group where they will fit and feel better about their skating.
My child is faster than the others in his or her group, so why isn’t he or she moved up into the next group?
This situation usually occurs because, even though the child is performing well at some skills (eg forward skating), they have not yet sufficiently mastered other skills (backward skating, stopping, etc). Failure to learn all of the skills at any stage will catch up and cause problems at the next level. Aside from the motivational factor, one child being faster than the others in the group should not impede learning. Coaches normally work on several badge levels in the same lesson. Coaches review skills from previous stages, refine skills at the present stage, and introduce skills at the next stage.
What happens if my child has to miss a skating class?
If a CanSkater will be missing a class, please email our office mayfieldfsc@gmail.com so we can inform the coach. Due to registration constraints, MFSC is unable to provide make-up classes.
StarSkaters must notify the office if they will not be able to attend a scheduled class. We will not provide make-up classes. As a courtesy, the sooner you know you’ll be away, the sooner you should notify us.
What happens at the end of CanSkate?
After completing the CanSkate program (Stage 6), skaters will have all of the recreational skating skills to pave the way for a lifetime of enjoyment on ice. Skaters who choose to continue can move on to other Skate Canada programs. Mayfield Figure Skating Club offers StarSkate (the figure skating test program).
Do I need to pay the Skate Canada membership and Safe Sport fee?
Yes, all participants require a current Skate Canada membership. Their registration year runs September 1st to August 31st of the following year. There are no family rates. Fees are for individual skaters. This fee is paid once per registration cycle. There is no prorated membership fee for skaters registering later in the season. All participants are also required to pay the annual Safe Sport fee. If you paid the Skate Canada membership fee and Safe Sport fees for the fall session, you would not repay these for the winter or spring sessions. Only pay once, September to August. For the 2024/2025 skating season, these membership fees total $61.65.
Will you hold a spot for me?
Classes tend to fill up. Completed online registration forms and payment are required in order to secure a spot in our classes.
Can my skater use an ice skating assist (pusher) or skateez skating aids during lessons or other club programming?
No, these aids are not permitted on the ice during any of our programs. We believe in teaching skaters to learn to skate without these aids. From our experience these can promote poor skating technique, create safety hazards and significantly delay skaters progress.
Do you have skates/helmets available to borrow or rent during lesson times?
No, skaters are responsible for providing their own equipment. We recommend purchasing skates from United Cycle or Professional Skate Services as they sell good quality equipment and their staff are well trained on how to fit the equipment they sell. They tend to have a good selection of new and quality used skates.
Available in the MFSC Office, we have a selection of gently used equipment for sale. Please ask if you would like to know what we have in stock.
Will you have another session after this one?
We offer 3 sessions per year, Fall (September-December), Winter (January-March) and Spring (April-June).
Depending on the year, we may of may-not be offering summer programming.
Who will be coaching my skater?
Skate Canada professional coaches and MFSC Program Assistants are the experts that will be working with your skater. All coaches are registered with Skate Canada, in good standing, hold a valid First Aid certificate and a police clearance check. MFSC Program Assistants are MFSC StarSkaters who have been classroom and on-ice trained specifically to work with all levels of CanSkaters. Many of the Program Assistants have been volunteering with MFSC for several years.
What happens if my child gets hurt on the ice?
A first aid kit is available in the Coach’s Room. All MFSC coaches are fully qualified in First Aid and it is a requirement to keep their first aid up to date. Before leaving the Arena it is mandatory that an incident report is filled out and signed. Your child’s coach has access to these forms.
Please remember that all skaters twelve years of age and younger MUST have a parent/guardian present at the rink.
Do I have to stay at the rink while my child is in a MFSC class?
All skaters twelve years old or younger, regardless of the program they have registered for MUST have a parent/guardian present in the building while they are participating in a MFSC class. MFSC has the right to refuse any skater (twelve years old or younger) from entering onto the ice or participating in an off-ice class if a parent/guardian is not present in the building.
Is it okay for CanSkaters or StarSkaters to go onto MFSC Ice if a Coach is not Present?
No. Skaters are NEVER allowed onto the ice surface unless a MFSC Coach is present and has given permission for the skater(s) to go onto the ice. If a Coach or MFSC Board Member finds out that skaters are on MFSC ice without a coach’s permission, the skater will be removed from their registered program and a refund will not be issued.
Who will be coaching my skater?
Skate Canada professional coaches and MFSC Program Assistants are the experts that will be working with your skater. All coaches are registered with Skate Canada, in good standing, hold a valid First Aid certificate and a police clearance check. MFSC Program Assistants are MFSC StarSkaters who have been classroom and on-ice trained specifically to work with all levels of CanSkaters. Many of the Program Assistants have been volunteering with MFSC for several years.
What clothing is best for skating classes?
Clothing should keep skaters warm but not restrict their ability to move. Typically the more active a skater is, the less they need to wear. As a general rule, layers work better than bulk: fleece for insulation and nylon for moisture resistance is a perfect combination. Hoodies are not allowed as the hood may impair a skaters line of sight. Bulky snow suits are often a problem because they make it too difficult for skaters to get up after a fall. Jeans are not a good choice: the cotton in the jeans absorbs and holds moisture. Cold and wet is uncomfortable.
For CanSkate and PreCanSkate, as the arena is cold, skaters should dress in layered clothing that allows for movement. Gloves or mittens are mandatory in all PreCanSkate, and CanSkate classes. Waterproof pants (especially for younger children) are an excellent choice, due to the skaters spending a lot of time learning how to fall down and get up!
Advanced CanSkate and StarSkaters should wear fitted clothing such as shirts, jackets and leggings. Baggy clothing is discouraged.
What should I look for when I buy skates?
Modern skates provide firm support around the ankles. To accomplish this, the skate manufacturer installs stiff leather inserts between the outer and inner layers of the boot. Old skates may lack this stiffness; in used skates, it may be broken down from use or abuse. Please see a list below of things to watch out for when buying skates:
With the skates laced up snugly, the ankles should be straight so that the skate becomes a natural extension of the leg. If the skater’s ankles lean inward or outward, the skater will have difficulty balancing (particularly on one foot).
Molded plastic skates are not a good choice. They provide a lot of support but they cannot be ‘broken in’. This prevents the boot from flexing properly to allow the skater the required range of motion. The plastic skates with buckles instead of laces may be convenient but they often come loose leaving the skater with no support whatsoever.
Skates should fit more snugly than regular shoes, particularly around the heel. A properly fitting skate should have no more than 1/2 inch of space at the toe. The skater should be able to wiggle toes inside the boot, but the heel should not move at all in the skate. The ball of the foot should come just ahead of the point where the sole starts to cut in for the arch. This ensures the proper positioning of the arch and is extremely important. The front opening of the boot should be sufficiently wide to pull the laces tight. The tongue should be sufficiently wide so that it will stay in place; the tongue should also be well padded to prevent laces from cutting into the foot.
Skates that are too small will be very uncomfortable for skaters and their feet will tend to get cold very quickly in too-small skates. Skates that are too big do not provide sufficient ankle support and may even cause blisters due to rubbing inside the boot.
Skates should be worn with one pair of thin socks. Thick or extra socks may appear to fill up the space in a skate that is too big. However, as soon as the skater tries to exert pressure against the boot, the extra thickness compresses and the skate doesn’t provide the needed support. Never buy skates that are too big so they will last another season.
Skates should be laced fairly loosely over the toe and front of the foot, but snugly over the ankles. Laces should be hooked securely with sufficient tension to permit one finger down the back of the boot. Laces should be long enough to be tied in a double bow and tucked in. Laces should never be wrapped around the top of the skate.
A new pair of skates must be sharpened before they are used. An unsharpened skate has a flat surface on the bottom of the blade. It will easily slide sideways when the skater tries to push. The sharpening stone grinds a concave contour which produces the two ‘edges’ that dig into the ice.
When should my skates be sharpened?
The rule of thumb for skate sharpening is to sharpen after every 30 to 50 hours of ice time. Use these hours as a rough guideline: need for skate sharpening can be greatly affected by use and care.
Continuous use of guards will keep skates sharper longer.
Walking across a concrete floor is fatal for your sharpening.
Failing to wipe blades dry and/or storing skates with plastic guards on can result in rust forming on the bottom of the blades, which will cause slippage.
A good test for sharpness is to scrape a thumb nail across (not along!) the blade. If the blade takes fine shavings, it is sharp; if the blade does not, maybe it’s time to get the skates sharpened. Be sure to check both the inside and outside edges of the blade. Inside edges often get more wear than outside. For assessments and competitions, consider a sharpening a week or two before the big day. Not the day before!
Does my child have to wear a helmet?
As per Skate Canada’s helmet regulations for CanSkate programs, skaters must have a CSA approved hockey helmet. All CanSkate and Adult CanSkate participants up to and including Stage Five (5) must wear a CSA approved hockey helmet while on the ice. This policy is enforced during all skating activities including competitions, family skate days or any other special on ice activities throughout the season for this level of skater.
Although optional, helmets with cages / face guards are highly recommended for young skaters and beginning skaters of all ages. View the Skate Canada Helmet Use Policy document.
Please note that skaters who do not have a proper fitting CSA approved hockey helmet will NOT be allowed on the ice.
What kind of helmet should I buy?
Here are a few things to think about when shopping for a helmet:
Hockey helmets are the best for skaters. As stated above, CSA approved hockey helmets are mandatory for all CanSkate participants up to and including Stage 5. Hockey helmets provide excellent protection for the sides as well as the back of the head and are designed to withstand the frequent bumps that are part of hockey. A hockey helmet fitted with a visor or cage also protects the skater’s face from the ice and anything else that poses a threat.
Ski or skateboard helmets are not permitted. These helmets protect the sides and back of the head, but cannot be fitted with a visor or cage to protect the face.
Bicycle helmets are strictly prohibited on the ice as they do not provide the necessary protection needed for skating. Bicycle helmets are designed to absorb a single high-impact collision rather than the many little falls that happen in skating, and do not provide adequate protection for the back and sides of the head.
A poor-fitting helmet can shift on impact and make a possible injury worse.
Can my skater use an ice skating assist (pusher) or skateez skating aids during lessons or other club programming?
No, these aids are not permitted on the ice during any of our programs. We believe in teaching skaters to learn to skate without these aids. From our experience these can promote poor skating technique, create safety hazards and significantly delay skaters progress.
Do you have skates/helmets available to borrow or rent during lesson times?
No, skaters are responsible for providing their own equipment. We recommend purchasing skates from United Cycle or Professional Skate Services as they sell good quality equipment and their staff are well trained on how to fit the equipment they sell. They tend to have a good selection of new and quality used skates.
How are groups organized?
Based on the information you as the parent or skater provide at registration, skaters are grouped by badge or ability level. Fitting new skaters into groups is done by coaches at the beginning of the first session. Some adjustments in the first few weeks are to be expected. Often skaters who excel will be moved up to a higher group where they will be more challenged. Likewise, skaters who fall behind may be moved to a group where they will fit and feel better about their skating.
My child is faster than the others in his or her group, so why isn’t he or she moved up into the next group?
This situation usually occurs because, even though the child is performing well at some skills (eg forward skating), they have not yet sufficiently mastered other skills (backward skating, stopping, etc). Failure to learn all of the skills at any stage will catch up and cause problems at the next level. Aside from the motivational factor, one child being faster than the others in the group should not impede learning. Coaches normally work on several badge levels in the same lesson. Coaches review skills from previous stages, refine skills at the present stage, and introduce skills at the next stage.
In which skating class should I enroll myself or my child?
Mayfield Figure Skating Club is proud to provide skating classes for all interests, ages and abilities. Please see our Programs section of the website for more detailed information.
What happens if my child has to miss a skating class?
If a CanSkater will be missing a class, please email our office mayfieldfsc@gmail.com so we can inform the coach. Due to registration constraints, MFSC is unable to provide make-up classes.
StarSkaters must notify the office if they will not be able to attend a scheduled class. We will not provide make-up classes. As a courtesy, the sooner you know you’ll be away, the sooner you should notify us.
What happens at the end of CanSkate?
After completing the CanSkate program (Stage 6), skaters will have all of the recreational skating skills to pave the way for a lifetime of enjoyment on ice. Skaters who choose to continue can move on to other Skate Canada programs. Mayfield Figure Skating Club offers StarSkate (the figure skating test program).
Will you have another session after this one?
We offer 3 sessions per year, Fall (September-December), Winter (January-March) and Spring (April-May). We do not offer any programming over the summer months at this time.
What happens if my child gets hurt on the ice?
A first aid kit is available in the Coach’s Room. All MFSC Coaches are fully qualified in First Aid and it is a requirement to keep their first aid up to date. Before leaving the Arena it is mandatory that an incident report is filled out and signed. Your child’s coach has access to these forms. If MFSC is not aware that an injury has occurred and incident report was not filled in, a parent/guardian cannot contact us after the fact for insurance information as we will have no record of the incident.
Please remember that all skaters twelve years of age and younger MUST have a parent/guardian present at the rink.
Do I have to stay at the rink while my child is in a MFSC class?
All skaters twelve years old or younger, regardless of the program they have registered for MUST have a parent/guardian present in the building while they are participating in a MFSC class. MFSC has the right to refuse any skater (twelve years old or younger) from entering onto the ice or participating in an off-ice class if a parent/guardian is not present in the building.
Is it okay for CanSkaters or StarSkaters to go onto MFSC Ice if a Coach is not Present?
No. Skaters are NEVER allowed onto the ice surface unless a MFSC Coach is present and has given permission for the skater(s) to go onto the ice. If a Coach or MFSC Board Member finds out that skaters are on MFSC ice without a coach’s permission, the skater will be removed from their registered program and a refund will not be issued.
How are groups organized?
Based on the information you as the parent or skater provide at registration, skaters are grouped by badge or ability level. Fitting new skaters into groups is done by coaches at the beginning of the first session. Some adjustments in the first few weeks are to be expected. Often skaters who excel will be moved up to a higher group where they will be more challenged. Likewise, skaters who fall behind may be moved to a group where they will fit and feel better about their skating.
Do I need to pay the Skate Canada membership and Safe Sport fee?
Yes, all participants require a current Skate Canada membership. The registration year runs September 1st to August 31st of the following year. There are no family rates. Fees are for individual skaters. This fee is paid once per registration cycle. There is no prorated membership fee for skaters registering later in the season. All participants are also required to pay the annual Safe Sport fee. If you paid the Skate Canada membership fee and Safe Sport fees for the fall session, you would not repay these for the winter or spring sessions. Only pay once, September to August.
“One piece of advice that I would give to any young athlete or performer is remember to thank your mom.”
Meryl Davis
