Parent Code of Conduct

• The Crowfoot Figure Skating Club and Skate Canada is committed to ensuring that all skaters have the opportunity to participate in a safe and welcoming environment that is encouraging and promotes their overall development. Parents have an enormous influence on skaters’ experiences in the sport. The quality of a skater’s experience is determined by their relationships with parents and the manner in which parents conduct themselves in the Skate Canada environment.

  In this code “parents” shall refer to “parents and guardians”. This code applies to all parents who are members of Skate Canada or have children who are members of Skate Canada. Parents shall abide by this code at all times while participating in any Skate Canada club or school, competition, or activity.

  All parents are expected to conduct themselves in a responsible manner consistent with the values of fair play, integrity, open communication and mutual respect
  Parents shall always model positive responsible behaviour and communicate with their son/daughter that they expect them to do the same. Parents will assume the major responsibility for their son/daughter's on ice conduct and attitude. Parents shall at all times treat all individuals and property with dignity, courtesy and respect, including but not limited to skaters, coaches, officials, volunteers, other parents, and all other individuals that are part of the club, skating school, Section or Skate Canada.

  • Parents shall refrain from any behaviour or comments which are profane, insulting, harassing, sexist, racist, abusive, disrespectful or otherwise offensive without hostility or violence.
  • Parents shall emphasize the importance of values like sportsmanship, respect, cooperation, competition and teamwork to their son/daughter offering praise for competing fairly, participation and skill development.
  • Parents shall model and encourage their son/daughter to maintain a healthy balance between skating and life. (e.g., school, other activities, social life, etc.)
  • Parents shall model and encourage balanced, healthy food choices and subscribing to an active and healthy lifestyle.
  • Parents shall ensure their son/daughter is on-time and ready to participate for all on-ice and off-ice sessions.
  • Parents shall set high, but reasonable expectations for their son/daughter’s participation in skating focusing on development and enjoyment for the child.
  • Parents shall instill confidence in their son/daughter’s ability and skill development, always avoiding comparisons with other skaters.
  • Parents shall refrain from coaching their son/daughter in any format while they are participating in training sessions, competitions or club organized events. They will respect the role of the professional coach and refrain from behaviors that would impede the coach’s ability to do their job.
  • Parents shall celebrate the acquisition of skills and goals achieved by their son/daughter.
  • Parents shall maintain a positive environment, and must refrain from negative comments about other skaters, parents, or coaches while in attendance during skating practices or events.
  • Parents, along with the professional coach and the athlete, shall be considered members of a team whose main concern is the child’s overall progress and development. Parents shall respect that the professional coach is responsible and empowered for the on-ice and off-ice development of the athlete. A parent’s role shall be to take a healthy interest in their child’s progress and development and be responsible for the child’s nutrition, rest, adherence to off-ice training regimen set by the coach or other fitness professional, overall health, life-balance, and moral and emotional support.
  • Parents shall ensure their son/daughter wears proper skating clothing and equipment.
  • Parents shall refrain from videoing or recording their skater, or any other skater or coach during on-ice or off-ice sessions.
  • Parents shall never provide alcohol or drugs to minors in a Skate Canada environment.
  • Parents shall never provide or advocate the use of performance enhancing drugs or substances.
  • Parents will respect the club’s “24-Hour Rule" which simply states that when an issue occurs and a parent has a resulting complaint to make or issue to be resolved with either a coach or a member of the board, they are asked to wait 24 hours, then put the issue in writing and submit to the appropriate party. It is very important that all parties involved take the full 24 hours to remove or decrease the emotional element so that the actual issue can be resolved quickly, in a civilized manner, and to everyone's satisfaction
  • Parents shall avoid any conduct, which brings their club, skating school, Section or Skate Canada, into disrepute, including but not limited to abusive use of alcohol, non-medical use of drugs and gambling.
  • Parents shall openly support and uphold this code of conduct policy and take action and steps to ensure other parents follow and uphold this code of conduct policy.
  • Parents shall adhere to the policies, procedures, rules, standards, and ethics of Skate Canada at all times.