Code of Conduct

The Club Code of Conduct is in place to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all members: skaters, coaches, volunteers, and parents/guardians, and require members to conduct themselves as noted below. This Code of Conduct is meant to complement the Skate Canada Code of Ethics and the Parent/Guardian Education Resource Guide (linked below).

Skaters

• Impairment: Skaters must be fit to participate safely. Any skater who is impaired by alcohol, drugs, medication, or other substances will be required to leave the ice immediately. Coaches or Club representatives may remove any skater whose ability to skate safely is in question.
• Electronic Devices in Changing Rooms: For privacy and safety reasons, the use of cell phones, cameras, video devices or any recording-capable device is strictly prohibited in all changing rooms. Devices must remain stored away while in the changing room. No photography, video recording, livestreaming or audio recording is permitted at any time.
• Skaters are expected to be alert to what is happening on the ice and not distracted by or engaged with spectators in the stands.
• The doors to the ice surface are to remain closed during the session; this supports safe and well flowing sessions. If a skater has to leave the ice on an exceptional basis they must advise their coach.
• Skaters are expected to get up promptly after a fall in order to keep pathways clear for other skaters.
• Skaters must not skate against the flow of jump passes (i.e. straight up from the goalie crease or out of the corners) but rather make their way to the edge of the ice surface and skate along the boards.
• Spins should generally be done in the centre of the ice surface, between the blue lines.
• When practicing routines, skaters must learn to maneuver around other skaters and still complete jumps, spins and footwork successfully, much the same as skaters do during competition practices/warm-ups.
• The skater whose music is playing has the right of way. Calling out “Excuse me!” will alert other skaters to make way. Following that, skaters in lessons have priority over those not currently being instructed.
• Sitting or leaning on the boards is not permitted.
• Food, drink, and gum are not permitted on the ice. Water bottles are acceptable but must be left at the boards. Glass bottles are prohibited.
• Skaters must clear the ice promptly at the end of each session.
• Foul language, yelling, aggressive behaviour and body language, including kicking holes or hitting the ice, is prohibited and will result in loss of Club privileges. Coaches will reprimand this behavior as follows:
  1. First offence on a session – verbal warning
  2. Second offence on a session – skater will be told to leave the ice for remainder of the session and the parent(s) will be advised
  3. After two instances of being told to leave a session, skating privileges will be suspended. The Code of Conduct must be reviewed by the skater and a plan for respectful return agreed upon by the skater, parent, coach, and Executive Director.
  4. After returning to the ice, if the skater continues to demonstrate disrespectful behavior skating privileges will be revoked.
• Skate bags are to be kept in the assigned change rooms. Lobby space is limited at Canterbury and must be kept clear in case of any emergency and for other user groups arriving.
• Senior skaters must act as role models at all times.

Parents/guardians

• Spectators, including parents, watching from the stands must refrain from conversing with or offering directions to skaters on the ice. This includes interrupting skaters during their training session, calling them off the ice, communicating from the stands, or otherwise distracting skaters. This is for the safety of all skaters as frequent opening of the door/exiting of skaters is distracting for both skaters and coaches. Skaters who are distracted by a spectator are not focused on the on-ice traffic and pose a safety risk. If a skater needs more direction, the coach should be consulted after the session, and a plan developed to help the skater become more independent.
• Parents are asked to refrain from comparing skaters, including their skater with others, and to support positivity and encouragement across all members. More information of the expectations of parents is detailed in Skate Canada’s Long-Term Development (LTD) In Sport & Physical Activity Parent/Guardian Education Resource Guide.
• In alignment with insurance requirements, only registered Skate Canada members are permitted on the ice/at ice level, except in a medical emergency.