Skate School

Skate School at the Acord Ice Center is a comprehensive Ice Skating lesson Program. It is exciting, rewarding, safe and fun! Whether your goal is to achieve Olympic fame or simply enjoy the recreational benefits of ice skating, the Skate School program is for YOU.

Skate School Flyer 2009 (PDF)

For more Info please contact:
Nancy Smith, Program Coordinator
801-966-0223 ext 4022 or Email

The objectives of the program are:

To teach the correct techniques and the fundamental basic elements of ice skating
To develop a finer degree of coordination and balance
To promote physical fitness
To enable all to achieve the skills necessary to skate for fun for the rest of your life
Or to move into the USFSA advanced testing and/or competitive levels

What is the USFSA?

The USFSA (United States Figure Skating Association) is the national governing body for ice skating in the United States. The USFSA is responsible for selecting the teams that represent the United States in the Olympic Winter Games, the World Championships, and other major national and international figure skating events. It is also the role of the USFSA to introduce people of all ages to the sport of ice skating.

Getting Started in Skate School

Dress for warmth by layering clothes. This will also give you the ability to remove layers if you become too warm. It may feel cold when you first enter the arena, but you warm up quickly as you begin to skate.
Remember to bring gloves and a hat. Comfort and the ability to move freely are important.
We suggest close fitting but not tight pants. Sweat pants, leggings, or warm pants are ideal.
Your feet will feel best if you wear one pair of lightweight socks or tights.

But What About the Skates?

The boot should provide a snug fit. If the boot is too big it will not provide the necessary support. If the boot is too small, OUCH. You will experience great discomfort. In general figure skates should be about the same as the shoe size for feet size 1 and above and about 1/2 size larger than shoe size for feet below size 1. If there is any doubt please utilize the skate fitting mat at the Ice Center skate rental counter.

*Please keep in mind that most skates are made of leather and they are stiff. Most children are not used to having something like this on their feet. Combine that with the snug fit mentioned above and they often perceive a proper fitting skate as being too tight or too small. Skates must be snug in order to provide proper support. This is something they must get used to.

The Acord Ice Center provides rental skates at the rate of $1 per class time. You may pay each time you come or you may purchase a punch card for $5 each session. This keeps you from having to make sure you have a dollar each time you come.

Most participants will rent skates at first. Many decide they want their own skates by their second or third session in the program.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled class time to rent and/or put on skates.

How Long Are the Classes?

The Acord Ice Center offers 6 lessons per session.
The skating season starts in September with semester one. There are generally six semesters throughout the year.
Classes are 45 minutes long.
Skate School classes are available for all ages and ability levels.
Classes meet once or twice per week on your choice of Tuesday evening and/or Saturday morning class times.
The cost for each 6 class session is $35 if paid early. Otherwise the fee is $45.
At the end of each session skaters are tested on the skills they have learned. If you pass the test you can register for the next Skill level. If you need more instruction we recommend taking the same skill level over.
It is a good idea for skaters to come to public skating practice the skills they have been taught in their Skate School lessons. Because of this each skater is given a discount card which provides admission to any public skating session for only $1.00. This includes skate rental.

How Large Are the Classes?

Classes consist of 5 -12 students depending on the skating level. The maximum number of students at the youngest beginning levels is 8. The maximum at the older, more advanced levels is 12. It may be necessary to cancel or combine classes depending on enrollment numbers.

Who teaches the classes?

All Skate School classes are taught by qualified instructors. Most instructors are registered with USFSA, and have skated in national and regional competitions.
Occasionally you may have a substitute teacher. We apologize for the inconvenience. All substitute teachers are qualified instructors.

What can ice skating do for me?

Skating is an excellent way to help people of all ages to improve their coordination and balance, develop and strengthen muscles, and provide a great cardiovascular workout. The Skate School program is an exciting way to begin a lifetime of fun! Thanks for your participation.

Skate School Curriculum

Tots I (4 - 5 year olds)

A. Sit and stand up with skates on
B. Sit and stand up on ice
C. March in place
D. March forward
E. March, then glide on two feet
F. Dip in place

Tots II (4 - 5 year olds)
A. March, followed by a long glide
B. Dip, while moving
C. Backward wiggles, 4-6 in a row
D. Forward two foot swizzles, 4-6 in a row
E. Rocking horse - one forward, one backward swizzle action
F. Two foot hop in place

Tots III (4 - 5 year olds)
A. Forward skating, 8-10 steps
B. Forward one-foot glide, right and left
C. Forward swizzles, 4-6 in a row
D. Backward swizzles, 4-6 in a row
E. Forward snowplow stop
F. Curves

Skate I (Ages 6 and up)
A. Sit on the ice and stand up
B. March forward across the ice
C. Forward two foot glide
D. Dip
E. Forward swizzles, 6-8 in a row
F. Backward wiggles, 6-8 in a row
G. Snowplow stop
H. Rocking horse, 2-3 in a row
I. Two-foot hop in place.

Skate II (Ages 6 and up)
A. Forward one-foot glides, right and left
B. Backward two-foot glide
C. Backward swizzles, 6-8 in a row
D. Two-foot, from forward to backwards in place
E. Moving snowplow stop
F. Forward alternating 1/2 swizzles pumps in a straight line (slalom like pattern)

Skate III (Ages 6 and up)
A. Forward stroking, showing correct use of blade
B. Forward 1/2 swizzle pumps, on a circle
C. Moving forward to backward two-foot turn, clockwise and counter-clockwise
D. Backward one-foot glides, right and left
E. Forward slalom
F. Two-foot spin, up to two revolutions

Skate IV (Ages 6 and up)
A. Forward outside edge on a circle, right and left
B. Forward inside edge on a circle
C. Forward crossovers, clockwise and counter-clockwise
D. Forward outside three-turn, right and left, from a stand still position
E. Backward 1/2 swizzle pumps on a circle, clockwise and counter-clockwise
F. Backward stroking
G. Backward snowplow stop, right and left.

Skate V (Ages 6 and up)
A. Backward outside edge on a circle, right and left
B. Backward inside edge on a circle, right and left
C. Backward crossovers, clockwise and counter-clockwise
D. Beginning one-foot spin, up to 3 revolutions, optional entry and free foot position; Hockey stop
F. Slide toe hop, both directions

Skate VI (Ages 6 and up)
A. Forward inside three-turn, right and left, from a standstill position
B. Moving backward to forward two-foot turn on a circle, clockwise and counter-clockwise
C. T-stop, right or left
D. Bunny hop
E. Forward arabesque/spiral on a straight line, right or left
F. Forward lunge, right or left

Skate VII (Ages 6 and up)
A. Forward inside open Mohawk from a standstill position;
B. Backward outside edge to forward outside edge transition on a circle, right and left
C. Ballet jump, right or left
D. Backward crossovers to a backward outside edge glide (landing position), clockwise and counter-clockwise
E. Forward inside pivots, right or left

Skate VIII (Ages 6 and up)
A. Moving forward outside three-turn on a circle, right and left
B. Moving forward inside three-turn on a circle, right and left
C. Combination move: Forward crossovers (2) into forward inside Mohawk, cross behind, step into crossover (1) and step to forward inside edge - repeat 3 times, clockwise and counter-clockwise
D. One foot upright spin, optional entry and free foot position
E. Waltz jump
F. Mazurka, right or left

Adult Beginning
A. Falling and recovery
B. Forward strides and glides
C. Forward swizzles, 4-6 in a row
D. Backward skating
E. Backward swizzles, 4-6 in a row
F. Forward one-foot glides, one time skater's height, right and left
G. Two-foot turns, in place
H. Snowplow stops, right or left
I. Forward curves on two feet
J. Forward 1/2 swizzle pumps on a circle, clockwise and counter-clockwise
K. Forward Chasses on a circle, both directions

Adult Advanced
A. Forward stroking
B. Backward 1/2 swizzle pumps on a circle, clockwise and counter-clockwise
C. Moving two-foot turns on a curve, clockwise and counter-clockwise
D. Forward edge on a circle, outside and inside, clockwise and counter-clockwise
E. Forward crossovers, clockwise and counter-clockwise F. Backward one-foot glide, right or left
G. Backward snowplow stop, right or left
H. Forward pivot, one direction only

Adult Advanced II
A. Backward edge on a circle, outside and inside, clockwise and counter-clockwise
B. Backward crossovers, clockwise and counter-clockwise
C. Inside Mohawk, right to left or left to right
D. Basic forward outside and forward inside consecutive edge, 4-6
E. Forward progressives, clockwise and counter-clockwise
F. Footwork sequence, beginning with two-foot swizzle to a forward progressive, followed by a forward Chasse, ending with a two-foot side lunge around in a small circle
G. Beginning two-foot spin

Freeskate I
A. Advanced forward stroking
B. Basic forward outside and forward inside consecutive edges, 4-6
C. Advanced back outside 3-turns, clockwise and counter-clockwise
D. Scratch-spin from back cross-overs, minimum 3 revolutions
E. Waltz-jump, from 2-3 back cross-overs
F. Half-flip.

Freeskate II
A. Basic back outside and back inside consecutive edges, 4-6
B. Forward outside and forward inside spirals, clockwise and counter-clockwise
C. Continuous forward progressive Chasse sequence, clockwise and counter-clockwise
D. Waltz threes
E. Beginning back-spin, two turns
F. Waltz jump, side toe hop, waltz jump sequence
G. Toe loop

Hockey 1/2 and 3/4
A. Skaters Will be taught the fundamentals of hockey skating. Hockey 1/2 focuses on beginning skating skills. Hockey 3/4 will teach more advanced skating, turning and hockey stop.