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CLUB MATTER

October 2003

Clubs Matter
Get Ready! It's Time to Plan for National Skating Week!

NATIONAL SKATING WEEK CHECKLIST

Now is the time to start preparing for National Skating Week. Use the checklist below to make sure you are on track with planning your activities. By now you should be well on your way in these areas:

  1. Set date and reserve your ice

  2. Recruit coaches/instructor staff

  3. Complete application and mail in to Headquarters

  4. Recruit volunteers

  5. Design printed materials to announce your clinic

  6. Samples will be provided in the promotional packet)

  7. Promote, Promote, Promote!

It may be fall, but January is just around the corner. And that means that we're gearing up for our third annual National Skating Week, set for Jan. 10–18, 2004.

Thanks to all of you who have made our past two years successful and fun. The National Skating Week clinics have allowed U.S. Figure Skating member clubs and Basic Skills programs to reach out to their community and gain new members by introducing the fundamentals of ice skating taught by professionally trained instructors.

More than 250 member clubs nationwide signed up to participate in National Skating Week 2003 and hosted a variety of activities in their local areas, including free skating clinics for the general public. For 2004 we hope to increase the number of participants and provide even better service to clubs in helping them recruit new skaters to the figure skating world.

Feedback From Last Year

Here is what some of the 2003 clinic participants had to say:

  • Because of the "It's Great to Skate" clinics we had eight to 10 more people sign up for the Chevy/U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills program.
  • The coaches were great. Adults and kids had a blast and learned a lot in a short period of time.
  • I got to skate with the hockey players.
  • I had fun and want to learn more.
  • Thank you for providing all of the promotional materials relating to National Skating Week. Throughout the week we signed up 15 new club members. We are thrilled with this increase in our membership and appreciate U.S. Figure Skating's support and guidance in our activities.
  • We used the group lesson environment to let the students show their friends how much fun they had skating.
  • All ages and levels were involved. Prizes were given to everyone who attended, and many of them planned to continue skating.
  • I thought this was an effective way to get people into the facility and interested in skating. I think committing to a season of lessons can be overwhelming to some people. It's the fear of not knowing how to skate. This gives them a chance to try it first to see if they like it.
Other items of note

Once again this year we have invited the U.S. Figure Skating Team Envelope skaters to participate in their local clinics during National Skating Week. Our hope is that the up-and-coming skaters can see the heights they can reach with time and dedication to the sport.

And speaking of team envelope skaters — keep an eye on the U.S. Figure Skating web site for the announcement on who our National Skating Week spokesperson will be for 2004!

Clubs that sent in their clinic application by Sept. 19 will have the clinic listed in the December issue of SKATING magazine. We will also have a list of clinic information on the U.S. Figure Skating web site. Applications for National Skating Week materials went out to all programs and clubs in mid-August.

If you have any questions contact Jenny Plattenberger, club development coordinator, at 719.635.5200 ext. 447 or e-mail her at jennyp@usfsa.org.