Preparing For Test Day

•    When a Test Day is approaching and a coach feels that her skater has mastered the skills necessary to pass a test she will arrange with the Club Test Chairman to schedule your child for the next available testing day.

•    You should arrive at the designated arena at least one hour before the test is scheduled to start as tests often run early.

•    Skaters must be dressed appropriately for tests- skating dresses, beige tights and neat hair. Make sure your skates and laces are clean and neat.

•    Skaters may wear a sweater and gloves for warm-up but these should be removed for the test. Hair MUST be tidy; pull it back if it is long.

•    Girls customarily wear some makeup- blush and lipstick and usually have some kind of decoration in their hair but this is not necessary.

•    Skates should be properly sharpened and clean with neat laces. Do not arrive on the day of the test with freshly sharpened skates. If your child’s skates need to be sharpened it is a good idea to do this a few sessions beforehand; skaters need a few times on them to get used to the sharpening. Skates can be cleaned with white shoe polish or white shoe dye.

•    There will be a short warm up before each set of tests. Certain tests require skaters to practice both directions and/or both feet of certain skills but only one will be chosen for the test. If this is the case the draw for direction or foot will take place just before the warm-up.

•    Skaters are assessed one at a time by an Evaluator on a Pass-Retry basis. The results of each test are recorded on a summary sheet that must be signed by the Evaluator before the results can be announced. Once this has been done, (about 15-45 minutes after the test) the Test Chairman will hand out the results (usually with the Evaluator’s comments) to each skater and/or their coach. Test results are final.

•    Skaters who receive a Retry may try their test again on the next test day. Unless the skater provides a doctor’s certificate should he register for a test and then not take it the test will be recorded as a Retry and the entry fee will not be refunded.

•    Evaluators are trained volunteers. They are not paid because they must remain amateurs according to ISU (International Skating Union) rules.