Skating & Hockey
Kids and youth programs come with free parking included during the time of the sessions.
Encourage your child's love of skating with these physical literacy-based programs. Beginning at age 3, our progressive and staged program will build a great foundation for fundamental skating skills, providing pathways into hockey, ringette, figure skating, or speed skating. Or, skaters can progress through our skating programs to give them the skills and confidence to be active for life.
For little sports stars who don't want the pressure of community hockey, our Kids Hockey program is a fun and positive, and cost effective recreational program where they'll learn hockey skills and scrimmage. Skaters wanting to learn figure skating in a non competitive environment will love our Star Skate Program.
Tots Skate Programs
First timer? Help your child discover skating. With a parent, kids will learn how to balance, fall down and get up, walk forwards and backwards while having fun and playing games. Parents who are not confident on skates may wear shoes on the ice until skaters can move around on their own. To preserve ice cleanliness, they must be clean, indoor shoes.
For kids who can fall down and get up, balance, and skate forwards all by themselves, this level is for kids who do not need a parent’s help or have passed Icetots. With the help of one of our fun instructors, skaters will take the next steps and learn how to glide on one foot, skate forwards and backwards with glide, and stop with balance.
For speedy skaters under 6, prepare for Kids Skate by skating faster, stronger and performing more challenging skills through age-appropriate circuit and game
Kids Skate Program
For kids ages 6+. Level progress in this order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
New skaters or those moving on from Tots Skate will enjoy this introductory lesson. Grouped according to ability, they will learn how to move forwards, backwards, stop, turn and glide with balance.
For Kids Skate 1 graduates, skaters will improve existing skills and learn new ones like t-pushes, bubbles and skating with more speed.
Have you passed Kids Skate 2? Emphasis in this level is backwards skating and stopping. Skaters will also learn how to turn from forwards to backwards and slide on a curve.
Kids will learn how to do more advanced skills like crossovers, c-cuts, 3-turns, and edge control. This level is for those who have passed Kids Skate 3 or equivalent.
Crossovers and 3-turns are the focus, but skaters will also improve their edge control and balance.
This is where skaters will learn backwards crossovers, mohawk turns, 3-jumps, and will improve skills learned in the previous level.
The focus in this level is on edge control, and learning how to connect steps and turns.
This final level has skaters doing tricky skills like shoot the duck, waltzing turns, and figure eight crossovers.
Hockey and Power Skating
Please note: Power Skating is for skaters with basic skating skills. If your skater is new to Hockey or Ringette, please register them in a Kids Skate program.
Does your child have the have the fundamental skating skills and is itching to play hockey? This class will provide your child with the opportunity to learn the basics of hockey in a fun environment. We will focus on skills such as passing, shooting, and puck handling, while reinforcing correct stick placement and posture. This program is also suitable for kids in Timbits, lower tier Novice, and House League players.
Does your child have the have the fundamental skating skills and is itching to play hockey? This class will provide your child with the opportunity to learn the basics of hockey in a fun and lower cost environment.
We will focus on skills such as passing, shooting, and puck handling, and continuing to improve skating skills in alignment with our Kids Skate programs and lessons.
STARSkate
Formerly Rec Figure Skating
Skills Test Achievement Recognition | Partnering with SKATE WEST Skating School, this nationally recognized program offers the opportunity for all skaters to develop figure skating skills. Unique in Canada, this program teaches figure skating in a group or private-lesson atmosphere in a progressive and sequential manner. Skaters will have the opportunity to take Skate Canada tests through a nationally standardized testing system.
Skaters can skip Kids Skate 5-8 and leap right into figure skating. In group lesson format, kids will learn fundamental skills leading to step sequences, jumps, spins, and artistry.
Skaters will further their figure skating skills in group or private lesson format, learn ice dances, and create free skate programs. In addition to skating skills, kids will gain important life skills such as goal-setting, self-discipline, confidence, time management, healthy lifestyle and coping strategies for success and failure.
Adaptive Ice Skating Programs
We offer safe, inclusive ice skating lessons tailored to children with physical, cognitive or developmental challenges. Skating Instructors and volunteers will help skaters build balance, body awareness and control adapted to skaters pace and goals in a welcoming space emphasizing fun, socialization and physical activity without pressure.
This program is designed to introduce children with disabilities to ice skating. Each week, skaters will work one-on-one with an instructor, learning fundamental movement skills of ice skating. Instructors will adapt activities for their participant, creating an environment conducive to meeting the personal learning and developmental needs of each individual. All participants will be assisted through the session to achieving their own personal best.
Open only to children with disabilities ages 6+ requiring 1:1 coaching.
*Please note, these lessons take place in the Olympic Oval, which is an exciting and bustling facility. There may be loud noises, music, whistles etc. There is also a tunnel with stairs to access the ice.
To register, please contact Skating Programs directly to complete the programs intake process. Email: skate@ucalgary.ca
Open only to skaters ages 6+ requiring a low ratio adaptive program. Children will participate in our circuit-based session in an environment that is conducive to their learning and development. Each group will consist of a small group of Instructors, skaters and volunteers assist them in working towards their own personal best skater.
*Please note, these lessons take place in the Olympic Oval, which is an exciting and bustling facility. There may be loud noises, music, whistles etc. There is also a tunnel with stairs to access the ice.
To register, please contact Skating Programs directly to complete the programs intake process. Email: skate@ucalgary.ca