Test Day Information

Testing is a very important part of a skater’s development; it is a measure of their progression. It allows skaters to see the results of the hard work they put into their practice.

 There are two types of Test Days: High Test Days and STAR Test Days.

 In both instances your coach(es) will determine when your child is ready to test and will advise you and your skater when a test has been submitted to be tested.

STAR Tests

  • STAR 1-5 Dance and FreeSkate tests and STAR 6-Gold Skills tests
  • Done in your skater’s regular lesson time
  • Assessed by your coach as per the Skate Canada STAR Test Guidelines
    • The skater’s proficiency is assessed against a standard using a word scale (Gold, Silver or Bronze) identifying skills preformed well and those needing further development
  • Parents will be informed of the test by the coach prior to the Test Day
  • Skaters can wear regular skating attire or choose to wear competition attire

Fees:

  • $12 Skate Canada fee to be paid to Foothills Skating Club (prior to test)
  • Coaching fee: regular lesson fee (minimum of 1 lesson depending on time needed), included in monthly bill

High Test Days

  • Star 6 to Gold Dance, Artistic and FreeSkate tests
  • Various days and locations throughout the year
  • Many clubs participate
  • Evaluated by a Skate Canada Evaluator, volunteers trained by Skate Canada who freely give their time
    • The skater’s proficiency is assessed against a standard using a word scale (Excellent, Good, Satisfactory or Needs Improvement) identifying skills preformed well and those needing further development
  • Parents will be informed of the tests submitted by their coach prior to the Test Day
  • Skaters must wear competition attire
  • Skaters need to arrive a minimum of 45 minutes prior to their scheduled test time

Fees:

  • Determined by Host Club based on Skate Canada fee and running cost
  • Coaching fee: individual for each coach, included in monthly bill
    • Coach meals, mileage and hotel may be included and split between the skaters for out of town test days

Skaters will receive Test Sheets for all tests completed (pass or retry), these sheets should be stored in a safe place in case they need to be referenced in the future.

Dance Tests

The Discipline of Dance teaches timing, musicality, rhythm, interpretation and structure, as well as, basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison. Dancers skate with partners and sometimes by themselves to various musical rhythms, including waltz, tango and blues. Each compulsory Dance has a series of steps that must be skated in a specific pattern. Dancers progress through the different test levels and can skate the Dance tests in any order within each level. A skater must pass a specified number of the test Dances at one level before proceeding to the next.

Skills Tests

Skating Skills are exercises containing edges, turns and field movements designed to expand on the fundamental movements for skaters of all levels. The basic components of all disciplines of figure skating are contained in the program. Edge quality, control, power and speed are basic skating fundamentals that are mastered in the skating area.

FreeSkate Tests

Each FreeSkate test is divided into two parts: Elements in Isolation and Free Program. The Elements in Isolation consist of jump and spin elements, field movements and/or step sequences and in the higher levels stroking exercises. The Free Program is a program of a specified length skated to music of the skater’s choice; this is the same program they would use to compete.

Artistic Tests

The objective of the Artistic program is to encourage and develop skaters’ creativity, expression, musicality, movement, interpretation of music, as well as the use of space, rhythm, line and style. The program provides skaters with the opportunity to explore the performance aspect of skating without focusing on technical elements.

STAR 1 – Gold Overview