SkateSafe
Whether you’re figure skating goal is to compete periodically, or to eventually become a competitor at the Olympic level, the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club wants your experience to be the best it can be! No matter what your objectives, figure skating should be enjoyable! Yes, you will work hard. But the experience should be fun....and as stress free as possible!
In order to accomplish this, everyone involved in your figure skating experience has a responsibility to make your time on the ice a positive one. This includes the rink staff, coaches, board members and skaters. Everyone has a job to do to allow the skater to recognize his or her highest potential. While figure skating is an individual sport, we do share this experience with many others. We all have a responsibility to make sure our fellow skaters, coaches, etc. also have a positive experience. While we focus on our individual goals, we cannot allow that focus to negatively impact the people with whom we share our ice time.
In 2013, the United States Olympic Committee created the SafeSport program to address the following issues:
- Bullying
- Harassment
- Hazing
- Emotional Abuse and Misconduct
- Physical Abuse and Misconduct
- Sexual Abuse and Misconduct
In 2021, U.S. Figure Skating has replaced SafeSport with SafeSkate to identify more specifically with our sport. Each USFS club is required to have a SkateSafe program in place. In line with this requirement, the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club has established a program to address any potential issues.
Your SkateSafe Officer has been certified in SkateSafe training. However, SkateSafe offers online training courses for anyone who would like to take the courses. You can take the courses in one sitting, or stretch out the training over time. There is some exceptional information in the courses, and you are encouraged to visit the SkateSafe or USFSA site for information.
What can you do to make sure that your time in figure skating is a positive one?
1. Be respectful to your coaches, rink staff and fellow skaters. Pay attention when you are on the ice, and yield to the skater in program.
2. Each of us has people with whom we feel the most comfortable. Making friends and fitting in is not easy for everyone. Instead of ignoring or making fun of someone who is having trouble fitting in, reach out to that person to make him or her feel welcome!
3. Coaches have to push skaters to be their best. But be aware of your interactions with your skaters, and make sure that your contact with your students is professional and appropriate. Make certain that your certifications and paperwork are all up to date so that there are no issues at competitions or other USFSA or ISU events. If you have questions, please get in touch with the Coach Compliance contact.
4. When you visit or travel to other rinks, make note of their policies. And respect them! If you have questions about how things work, ASK!
5. Let your friends and family members know how things work at competitions. This includes advising them if admission fees will be collected at competitions and events. It’s not fair to the volunteers who give up hours of their time to have your guests get angry with them because you didn’t tell them that admission would be charged.
6. Think about what you are going to say before you say it. Sometimes when we take a moment to think before we speak, we can avoid saying something to a person that could be considered bullying or harassment. If in doubt, keep quiet and walk away.
7. For rink management, make sure that your staff understands that they need to respectful or privacy in dressing rooms, and making sure that male and female skaters have secure space needed to change their clothing. Maintenance will no doubt be needed during events, but the staff should be respectful of the skaters’ privacy.
8. Respect the personal space of others. In particular, contact between adults and minors. For specific information on how to avoid potentially unpleasant situations, go to the SkateSafe website.
These are just a few points to keep in mind. The Los Angeles Figure Skating Club, United States Figure Skating and SkateSafe all have rules and policy regarding acceptable conduct. We strongly suggest that you get to know these policies to avoid issues and potential violation.
Effective for the membership year 2014 - 2015, all members will be expected to agree to abide by LAFSC, USFSA and SkateSafe policies as part of their renewal.
Effective July 1, 2018, LAFSC is requiring SkateSafe compliance (training and background check) for the following volunteer positions:
- Board members
- Competition registrars
- Hospitality Chair
- Test Chair
- Junior Council Advisor
- Membership Chair
- Locker room monitors
All coaches and judges must also be SkateSafe compliant.
The Los Angeles Figure Skating Club is planning to offer seminars on SkateSafe and Volunteerism. We strongly encourage you to attend, offer your input and help make the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club the best it can be. We all need to work together to make that happen....be part of the solution!
Contact and Policy Information
If you have questions or would like to report a case of misconduct, please do not hesitate to contact the SkateSafe Officer. You may also engage one of the additional contacts below if you need to speak to someone immediately at your LAFSC satellite rink.
SkateSafe Officer
Vicki Busch
Additional Contacts
Gary Correa - winder@pacbell.net
Mike Cruz - cruzmr@aol.com
Hayleigh Holt - hayleighweldin@yahoo.com
Miriam Bradley - mbradley@eastwesticepalace.com
Carrie Phillips - lacmphillips@gmail.com
Information on Policies
www.lafsc.org (Member Handbook)
www.usfsa.org (USFS Member Training - login to Member Site)
www.safesport.org (Safe Sport detailed information. There is also training available for non-members of USFS)