STAR 1-5 Program

STARSkate offers opportunities for skaters of all ages to develop fundamental figure skating skills in the areas of ice dance, skating skills, free skate and interpretive skating. Unique in Canada, this program teaches figure skating skills in a group and/or private lesson format in a progressive and sequential manner and includes specifically designed awards and incentives. Skaters have the opportunity to take Skate Canada Tests through a nationally standardized testing system. Skaters who have mastered figure skating skills in STARSkate may also choose to pursue synchronized skating or pairs skating.

The STAR 1-5 program will introduce skaters to the sport of figure skating and its disciplines:

Freeskate, Skills, Dance and Synchronized Skating (optional)

Main Focus of Each Discipline

Skills

The main focus in the STAR 1-5 Skills discipline will be the development of edge and turn technique using “figure form”.

- Narrow Stance

- Arms close to the body

- Free foot held close to skating leg

- Highlights balance point on blade

- Requires solid control fro balance, flow (strong core)

- focus on edge quality vs. presentation

Stroking exercises will also be introduced to enhance power and rhythm. Skaters will also be introduced to a variety of field moves to help develop balance, flexibility and strength.

Dance

The dance development at this level will focus on the execution and comprehension of dance technique with skaters learning the dance steps before the dance patterns. Skaters will be encouraged to master timing and pattern execution before introducing partnering technique by using “shadowing” for their assessments.

Shadow dance is the term used when a skater skates the full pattern of the dance with another skater, coach or PA using a “shadow” formation.

Freeskate

STAR 1-5 freeskate development will concentrate on jump and spin technique, along with the development of programs using program components as the focus.

The assessment criteria will follow the same guidelines as the criteria used in events at the STAR 1-5 level and higher to bring awareness to technical requirements of our sport.

Example: Basic Spin Position Definitions

The STAR 1 - 5 testing will take place during regularly scheduled ice times and be assessed by your skater's coaches.

Why Coach Assessed Tests?

Assessment in the STAR 1 -5 program will be performed by the coach who is teaching the skater the discipline that is being assessed. There are many reasons why coaches will be assessing their skaters:

- Clears the pathway for development by removing time and logistic barriers. Skaters will have access to assessment opportunities as they are ready and their development progresses. Without the demands of readiness following a pre-set test day calendar, the skaters are free to move through the program at their own rate without obstacles. STAR 1-4 assessments are designed to be available to the skaters on their regular session and during their normal time slot, thus allowing the assessments to be convenient and free of additional ice or travel costs.

- Opens up equal opportunity to all skaters regardless of location in Canada. Being able to use the club coach to perform assessments enables all skaters in every region of Canada to have the opportunity to be assessed when ready. This eliminates the geographical advantage or disadvantage due toavailability of officials. During the “Learn to Train” stage of development, the ability to move through the program when ready is a critical component of maximizing skill progression in this “golden age of learning”.

- Allows coaches to be 100% accountable for skater development. Coaches will have total command over skater development from CanSkate to double jumps. This opportunity is advantageous in ensuring skater development quality is consistently monitored, nurtured and encouraged.

- Costs to the skater is reduced. The STAR 1-4 assessments can be taken at any time during the year on the session they are skating. STAR 5 assessments for the pattern dances and freeskate programs, must be skated on clear ice. This can be done on a session that has been cleared (Freeskate program or dance pattern), or can be scheduled on a separate session.

For the level:

- Every skater will go through early, moderate and advanced stages of development for each skill and area of technique. The STAR 1-5 program allows skaters to be rewarded for being on the pathway of development at each stage. A STAR 1 skater will be at the early stages of development in all areas, therefore the assessment standards will reflect an “early stage” performance. The new assessment standards will reflect a satisfactory or good performance “for the level” regardless of the stage of development

STAR 1- 5 Content Format

	SKILLS	FREESKATE		DANCE
STAR 1	Edges, Turns, Field Move, Stroking	Elements		STAR 1: Elements
STAR 2	Edges, Turns	Elements	Program: STAR 2 Event requirements	STAR 2a: Dutch Waltz STAR 2b: Canasta Tango
STAR 3	Field Move, Stroking	Elements	Program: STAR 3 Event requirements	STAR 3a: Baby Blues STAR 3b: Elements
STAR 4	Edges, Turns	Elements	Program: STAR 4 Event requirements	STAR 4a: Swing Dance STAR 4b: Fiesta Tango
STAR 5	Field Move, Stroking	Elements	Program: STAR 5 event requirements	STAR 5a: Willow Waltz (M & F) STAR 5b: Elements
	5 assessments	5 assessments	4 assessments	9 assessments
	Total of 23 assessments (spanning LEARN TO TRAIN: Stage 6 to double jumps)

In all areas of development, skaters will be introduced to simple and then more difficult concepts throughout their progression. Many elements will be repeated to allow coaches to introduce technique, develop the technique and finally master the technique needed for solid development.

Overview STAR 1-5 Test Content
	SKILLS	FREESKATE		DANCE
	Elements	Elements	Program	Elements/Pattern Dance
STAR 1	Fwd edges Fwd 3-turns FI-MoH turn sequence STAR 1 stroking (basic) Fwd spiral circles Choice of Field Move: (Fwd 1 ft sit glide, inside spread eagle or Ina Bauer)	Waltz jump Single salchow Single toe loop Fwd upright spin Bwd upright spin	No program	Fwd progressives Fwd chasses Fwd swing rolls Fwd slide chasses Fwd outside cross rolls
STAR 2	Bwd edges Bwd 3 turns Fwd circle on circle 2ft to 1 foot multi turns FO turn sequence	Single salchow Single loop Single flip Waltz/toe loop combo Fwd sit spin Change foot upright spin Fwd camel spin	STAR 2 Program	STAR 2a: Dutch Waltz STAR 2b: Canasta Tango
STAR 3	STAR 3 stroking (power) Fwd spiral circles Choice of Field Move: (Bwd 1 ft sit glide, spread eagle, Y-spiral or Ina Bauer)	Single flip Single lutz Single loop/loop combination Bwd upright spin Bwd sit spin Fwd camel/sit spin	STAR 3 Program	STAR 3a: Baby Blues STAR 3b: Bwd progressives Bwd chasses Bwd swing rolls Fwd inside open mohawk x-roll/x-behind Fwd 3-turn/BO edge
STAR 4	Fwd brackets Bwd brackets Fwd double threes Bwd circle on circle Fwd change of edge	Single lutz jump Single axel Single flip/toe loop combo Single loop/loop combo Bwd camel spin Change foot sit spin Flying camel or sit spin Fwd combination spin (change of foot optional)	STAR 4 Program *MUST attempt axel	STAR 4a: Swing Dance STAR 4b: Fiesta Tango
STAR 5	STAR 5 Stroking 1 (quick edges) STAR 5 Stroking 2 (bwd slalom) Spiral Sequence	Single axel Any double jump (2S – 2Lz) Single lutz/Toe Loop combo Spin in 1 position with any variation Sit or camel spin (entry optional) Combination spin (change of foot optional)	STAR 5 Program *MUST land axel at < or better	STAR 5a: Willow Waltz (M & F) STAR 5b: LFO open Mohawk Double knee bend Fwd progressive/swing roll Bwd progressive/swing roll Tenfox progressive LFO x-behind chasse Bwd rolls Fwd x-roll/3-turn Fwd x-rolls