Clubs Promote Important Message: Be Nice on the Ice

Several years ago, coaches at EPIC Fort Collins Figure Skating in Fort Collins Colo., saw a need for skaters to be taught "how" to handle themselves safely on the ice. Coaches initiated and designed a workshop called "Be Nice on the Ice" and club members are still participating in this annual workshop today.

"The purpose of the workshop is to educate skaters at all levels on the safety issues and expectations of courtesy between skaters," EPIC Skating Coach Heidi DeLio Thibert said. "It is conducted by the coaches and is designed to educate the skaters of all levels about proper behavior, courtesy and safety on the ice and in the lobby."

The month of October was named National Anti-Bullying Month and EPIC is just one of many figure skating programs and clubs presenting workshops and programs designed to make skating a "happy, fun and safe activity" where every skater can feel safe on and off the ice.

What makes the EPIC workshop successful?

"The older skaters demonstrate the jump patterns, spin areas etc. The fact that all skaters must attend and all the coaches support the workshop by helping to teach it gets the total of rink participants to take ownership in the success of the program," Thibert said.

At the East Alton Skating Academy in East Alton, Ill., Skating Director Kathryn McKeon- Hicks helped initiate a "Junior Club" this past summer with the sole purpose of encouraging friendship among their skaters.

"The skaters elected a board amongst themselves with my direction and hold their own meetings," McKeon- Hicks said. "They plan events to get all of the skaters together about once per month. Having the Junior Club board plan the events ensures that no club skaters get left out and they have a say in some aspects of what is going on with their skating and their club."

McKeon-Hicks designed the club because she wanted to see skaters become more involved with the skating club.

"Quite a bit of responsibility falls on the parents of a skating club and I was trying to figure out a way to get the skaters involved," McKeon-Hicks said. "I wanted to encourage the older skaters to be examples for the younger skaters and get everyone involved."

Both EPIC and East Alton skaters enjoy participating in their programs, and not only do they learn acceptable on ice behavior, but also have a safe environment to go to where friendships and fun can grow.

"I learned a lot at Be Nice on the Ice," pre- juvenile skater Alisa Matsuura said. "It made me feel good to know how to do things right when I went to skate free sessions. It was fun to be with my friends and learn together."

Britta Mathiowetz, a senior EPIC skater, likes the workshop because it defines policies.

"Every rink has different policies and procedures and it's nice to know exactly what the rink's (policies) are," Mathiowetz said. "Also it's good to have the yearly refresher on the topics covered on Be Nice on the Ice. Frequently throughout the year there are issues on sessions with music, players or traffic patterns that are easily resolved by reviewing the Be Nice curriculum."

In addition to the rink workshop, the Fort Collins Figure Skating Club also promotes friendship and sportsmanship with a Leadership, Sportsmanship and a Be Nice on the Ice Award for no test through pre-juvenile skaters at their annual banquet, according to club president Jennifer Stewart.

"We hope that by reinforcing positive behaviors among our skaters that the value paced on those positive behaviors comes through in a strong and clear message to the skaters from all the adults in the rink and club," Stewart said.

McKeon-Hicks believes it is the parental support, skaters' participation and coaches involvement that make these programs successful. "We are all brought here because of the skaters," McKeon Hicks said. "Skating can be dramatic at times but it is important through all that to remember why we are in it as skaters, coaches and parents, for the skaters and their well being."