Practice Times

1. ALWAYS USE THE ASSIGNED DRESSING ROOMS:  It is important for safety reasons to only enter the ice from the doors by the dressing room.  On several days, we have more than one practice in a row.  It is important to check the list as you enter the rink and go to the dressing room assigned to your group.  This will prevent the dressing rooms from being over-crowded and if your coach or someone else wants to talk to your group, you will be in the right place.

2. ALWAYS BE ON TIME:  It is important to be on time for your practice.  If you are late, you miss part of the practice, you may disrupt the practice for other skaters, and you may cause an accident if the coach or other skaters don't see you coming on the ice.

For the Novice Program and the Development Program, you need to be their soon enough before the start of the practice to get all your equipment on.  This usually means at least 15 minutes before.

For the Competitive Program, you should be starting your warm-up at least 30 minutes before the practice.  This means arriving at the rink 40-45 minutes before practice so that you can get all your equipment to the dressing room and be ready to start.

3. DON'T GO ON THE ICE UNTIL A COACH IS ON THE ICE SURFACE AND GIVES THE OKAY.  DO NOT GO ON THE ICE WHEN THE ZAMBONI IS ON THE ICE.

4. ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR COACH AND FOLLOW THE SAFETY RULES.

5. ALWAYS HELP TO PUT OUT THE MATS:  The mats are required for the safety of all skaters.  We need parents to help put mats on the ice before the practice and to help take them off after the practice.  If more than one or two people help, it is much quicker and the skaters lose less ice time.  NO ONE SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ICE WHILE THE ZAMBONI IS IN OPERATION.

6. CHECK THE SPEED SKATE PEI WEBSITE AT WWW.ISN.NET/SPEEDSKATING FOR PRACTICE SCHEDULES.  IF YOU ARE WONDERING ABOUT WEATHER CANCELLATIONS, PHONE THE HOTLINE AT 628-6606



Standard Safety Practices On and Off the Ice

There is a certain amount of risk involved in any sport.  However, these risks can be minimized by adherence to general and specific safety practices.  In order to ensure the safest possible environment for skaters, coaches, and volunteers, Speed Skate PEI has established a set of Standard Safety Practices.  It is expected that all skaters, coaches, volunteers, and parents will support and adhere to these practices.  These practices will be reviewed on a regular basis by the Speed Skate PEI Executive and updated as required.

1.  No skater is allowed on the ice during practice or competition without the appropriate safety gear.  As dictated by the regulations of the sport, this includes at a minimum an appropriate helmet (hockey helmets, bicycle helmets, roller-blading helmets, or specially designed speed skating helmets are acceptable) worn correctly, a bib-style neckguard of appropriate cut-resistant material (kevlar or ballistic nylon), cut-resistant and water-resistant gloves (no knit or fold-back gloves), knee protection, and soccer-style shin-guards.  Additional safety gear that is recommended but not required includes eye protection, elbow pads (particularly for young skaters), mouthguard, and cut proof calf protectors.  All eyewear must be held on securely with a strap.  Long-sleeve clothing must be worn at all times and skin covered.

2.  Skaters (children, parents, or assistants) can not enter the ice surface until the Zamboni is completely off the ice and a coach has given permission to enter the ice surface.  In essence, this means that unless a coach is present and on the ice for the Development and Novice Groups, no skater is to enter the ice surface.  Skaters are only to enter the ice from the side of the dressing rooms through the player's bench doors.

3.  No skaters are to skate at elevated speeds on the track unless the appropriate mat protection is in place.  Mats are only required to be in place for the Novice Group if they are racing.  Single board mats extending from the blue line to half way around the end boards are required for the Development Practices.  For Competitive Practices, padding is required from at least 6 ft past the blue line to at least two-thirds of the distance around the end boards.  There must be double padding from the blue line to the start of the corner on the boards.   In all cases, the velcro must be in place and the mats held up by bungee cords or other appropriate means.

4.  No skating on the track (at any speed) is allowed while mats are being put up or taken down.

5.  Parents should not walk on the ice with street shoes as it puts dirt on the track that can jeopardize the safety of the skaters.  If walking on the ice is necessary, please stay on the perimeter of the ice surface (i.e., as close to the boards/mats as possible).  Avoid walking "across" the ice surface iwth mats  during set-up; please carry mats along the boards.  Even a small piece of dirt can ruin the edge of a skate and (for competitive skaters) end their practice!

6.  The Coaches have control of the ice surface and dictate when skaters are allowed on the track or on the ice surface.  They may have a skater temporarily or permanently leave the ice surface during a practice if their behaviour is interfering with the practice or jeopardizing the safety of other skaters. This includes rough horse play, dangerous skating on the track, or skating around in center ice when instructed not to, swearing or cursing, gesticulating rudely or angrily or being uncooperative with coaches. 

7.  Skaters are not to lean on the rink boards while other skaters are on the track nor are they to cross the track.  In general, water bottles should be kept at center ice to minimize crossing the track.

8.  Skaters may not exit or enter the ice surface while skaters are on the track and then only with permission of the coach.  In general, leaving and entering the ice surface during practice is not encouraged.  Skaters must be on time for practice as entering the ice during practice can create situations where skaters may collide and interrupt practice.

9.  Coaches are responsible for monitoring the number and speed of skaters on the track.  They are responsible for ensuring that the number and range of speed of skaters on the track at any time respects the safety of the skaters.

10.  A first aid kit should be available at all times during practices or competitions.  In case of emergency, a parent is requested to phone 911 at the direction of a coach on the ice surface.

11.  Parents are requested not to leave children under the age of 12 unattended at the rink unless they have notified the coach and/or identified another parent to take responsibility for the skater in case of injury.