Club Ice Policies, Rules and Etiquette

Club Ice Policies

All sessions are limited to 15 skaters per session while COVID-19 restrictions are in effect (pre/post COVID-19 limit is 22), and junior (under age 18) skaters must be ISI Freestyle 2 or higher in order to subscribe. For skaters under 18, a parent must also be a current member of SCNV in order to contract Club Ice. Parents should join as a Subsequent Family member at a discounted rate.

N.B. Skaters enrolled in any on-ice session will be Full members during the time of their enrollment and will receive priority for test sessions and free badges during their enrollment.

Questions? Please contact clubice@scnv.org for assistance.

Enrollment Priority

Subscriptions are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. The date payment is received by online payment (via Entryeeze, or cash/check payable to “SCNV” to Club Ice Chair), determines priority for subscription requests. If the session is full at the time of your subscription request, your payment will be refunded and you’ll be placed on a waiting list.

Contractual Obligation

By signing up for an SCNV Club Ice session, you are contracting to pay for that session in its entirety. There will be no refunds except in cases of extraordinary circumstances approved by the Board. This contractual obligation applies to the purchase of ice for all SCNV freestyles. Failure to pay ice fees will result in the loss of all ice, test, and competition privileges and may result in loss of SCNV and U.S. Figure Skating membership. If you wish to try out a Club Ice session before making the commitment to subscribe, please note that members may pick-up Club freestyle sessions at a cost of $18.00 per session, space permitting.

General Information

SCNV offers its members Club Ice prime-time Sunday mornings and Monday evenings with a limited number of skaters per session. Club Ice fees are based on the rate charged to SCNV by Fairfax Ice Arena. Club Ice may not be resold but may be transferable with permission of the SCNV Board of Directors. Skaters will receive a reserved space on Club Ice in the order subscribed.

Pick-up Policy

SCNV Full Members (already enrolled for club ice) have priority for pick-up on any less than fully subscribed Club Ice session as well as slots made available because of absences on fully subscribed Club Ice sessions. Other SCNV Members may pick up any session with empty slots. All skaters wishing to pick-up a session must check in with the session monitor before taking the ice.

Guest Policy

Non-SCNV members may skate on a Club Ice freestyle session, as a guest, up to three (3) times per season. Guests are permitted to skate if SCNV members contracting or picking up the session do not fill all available slots.

Coaching Policy

Only coaches who are compliant with U.S. Figure Skating may teach on Club Ice (i.e. Safesport certification). Members should not assume their coach is approved for Club Ice; skaters should confirm with their coach before subscribing. Coaches must check-in with the monitor before taking the ice for the first time each season.

Cancellation Policy

If Fairfax Ice Arena is closed for inclement weather, mechanical failure, or other circumstances, Club Ice sessions are canceled and SCNV will attempt to reschedule. SCNV will refund fees for Club Ice sessions cancelled and not rescheduled.

Wait List

Wait lists for full Club Ice sessions will open 15 minutes before the first session of the day. Please see the session monitor to determine availability. Any open spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis according to the priority established in the Pick-up Policy (Full Members, Associate Members, and then non-members).

Club Ice Rules and Etiquette

Coaches

All coaches teaching on SCNV sessions:

  • Must be compliant according to U.S. Figure Skating (i.e. Safesport certification)
  • Are expected to enforce the rules for skating sessions listed on the following pages with their students and report any inappropriate behavior or violation of the rules to the session monitor.

Club Ice Monitors

Club ice monitors shall enforce the rules listed on the following pages. Skaters violating these rules must be instructed to comply with these rules or leave the ice. Skaters who violate the rules and endanger the safety of other skaters on the session must be reported to the SCNV Board of Directors.

The SCNV skating rules and regulations stated on the following pages must be followed. Failure to do so may result in suspension of ice, test, and competition privileges, and loss of club membership.

General

  • Guests (non-SCNV members) may skate on Club Ice no more than 3 times in the same season. All guests must check in and pay the monitor before skating.
  • The fundamental rules of courtesy and good sportsmanship apply at all times.
  • Skaters may be on the ice only during sessions for which they have paid or with monitor approval as a make-up for a missed session.
  • Session monitors have the authority to discipline anyone not observing these skating session rules.
  • SCNV is not responsible for injuries sustained on ice or at the rink during club-related activities, including Club Ice.

Club Ice Rules

The following rules apply to all skaters (members of SCNV and guests) skating on SCNV ice time. All skaters and observers (when applicable) must:

  • Make every effort to avoid collisions with other skaters. Skaters must use caution and be aware of other skaters at all times.
  • Not exhibit hostile or threatening behavior towards other skaters, including deliberately skating close to another skater.
  • Not use hostile or impolite language to other skaters or observers. This includes no cursing, yelling, or threatening.
  • Dress appropriately: skating dresses, tops and skating skirts, or tops and leggings. No thongs, bathing suits, or other attire inappropriate for athletic competition.
  • Leave the ice as soon as the monitor calls for clearing of the ice or when the Zamboni comes out. This is for safety and insurance reasons.
  • Not get on the ice before their session begins and must leave the ice when their session has ended.
  • Not damage rink property, including no kicking of the ice.
  • Not sit on rink boards. This is a hazard to other skaters and defaces the barrier.
  • Not eat, drink, chew gum, or smoke while on the ice. However, a skater may place bottled water with a cap on the boards.
  • Not monopolize one section of the ice, i.e., the center or corners.
  • Refrain from lengthy visits with other skaters on the ice. Socializing should be done off the ice.
  • Not interrupt a coach who is teaching a private lesson to another skater.
  • Not group skate with or without music (except coach led classes).
  • Not Pairs skate (below the Novice level) without prior Board approval. The limit is two (2) pairs per session and priority will be given to mixed pairs. Pairs skating above the Novice level is not allowed on Club Ice.
  • Give all music CDs to the monitor at the beginning of the session. The order of play and the playing of skaters’ CDs more than twice will be at the monitor’s discretion.
  • Skaters may choose to perform sections of their program, but each section will be considered a full run-thru with respect to the music queue.
  • NOTE: Skaters “picking up” will have their music played, if time permits, after subscribing members have had their CDs played once.
  • Per COVID-19 protocols, monitor may refuse to handle CDs, smartphones, media drives, etc for music. Monitor may request CDs to be disinfected rinkside prior to handling/operating in music box.

Freestyle Session Etiquette

General Courtesy

Respect the rights of other skaters and coaches and be aware of who is around you. If you are a less-experienced skater, please be extra careful to stay aware of other skaters and to look ahead of where you are skating to see what others are doing or are about to do. If you are an experienced skater, please be patient with the less-experienced skaters.
Remember – you were new to freestyles at one time, too. Please be understanding if someone gets in your way

Right of Way

The skater doing a program run-through to music has the right of way. Please stay aware of which skater is doing his or her program and do your best to stay clear of his or her pattern. The program skater must wear the designated (orange) belt to ensure other skaters are aware of who is performing his or her program. Get to know other skaters’ programs, especially if you skate with them often, and it will be much easier to avoid their pattern.

Lutz Corners & Spins

Because of the nature of the Lutz jump, it is most commonly performed in the 10:00 (near overhead harness) and 4:00 (near off ice room) corners of the rink. These corners are informally called the “Lutz Corners.” Avoid long-term practice activities in these corners, and try to be especially aware of your surroundings when you are in them. Remember that the approach to a Lutz is long and blind. The skater doing the Lutz is not likely to see you.

Generally speaking, spins should be practiced at center ice unless placed as part of a program/program section run-through. The center hockey circle is also often put to use for practicing axels and double axels. Be especially aware and considerate of all who are attempting to use this area of the rink.

Dangerous Moves

When practicing elements like camel spins and back spirals be aware of the danger your exposed blade poses to other skaters. Once you start the element it will be hard to see, so take a good look at your expected “space” before you start the element, and abort it if it looks like you could cause a problem.

Don’t Stand Around

KEEP MOVING! Refrain from standing around and visiting on the ice. It is especially important not to stop in the middle of the ice or any of the jumping corners. This wastes expensive ice and presents an additional hazard for other skaters to avoid. If you must talk to another skater or your coach, move to the barrier. If you fall, get up as quickly as possible.

Clockwise Skaters

While most skaters jump and spin in a counterclockwise direction, please be aware of skaters who jump/spin in the opposite direction.