Our ice skating lessons are available to people of all ages and abilities. They’re based on the Skate UK Learn to Skate programme. They begin with the Ice Tots programme, which is made up of four levels. For older kids and adults, there’s the Basic Skills programme, which comprises eight separate levels of achievement. Like Ice Tots, it begins with the very basics of ice skating, but moves up gradually to more complex moves.
As well as the foundations of ice skating and the ability to skate itself, Everyone Active also offers opportunities to add an artistic element to your ice skating skillset. These take the form of Free Skating and Ice Dancing Lessons, each of which offers Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of attainment.
Ice Tots Ice Skating Lessons
Designed for children aged under five, the Ice Tots programme is taught on a parent and toddler basis, so you will need to be with your child at all times. Each level introduces some more challenging skills as your child progresses through the scheme. Only once they are able to complete all the skills required in that level will they move on to the next one.
Level 1
The first level concentrates on the very basics of ice skating. It gets your child used to wearing skates and moving about in them – both on and off the ice. In order to progress to the next level, your child must be able to sit and stand in skates, as well as walk forwards 10 steps in skates – both off the ice. They must also be able to march on the spot and do a little man on the spot (both on the ice).
Level 2
The second level is purely ice-based. Now they’re more comfortable on the ice and wearing skates, things get turned up; a notch. To move up a level, your child must be able to march forward 10 steps, sit and stand on the ice with help, as well as march around on the spot in both directions. Finally, they should be able to march forwards 10 steps and do a two-foot glide on their skates.
Level 3
The third level takes things up a gear again. In order to progress to the fourth and final level of the Ice Tots programme, your child should be able to march forwards and do a Little Man, as well as march backwards for five steps. They should also be able to sit and stand on the ice independently, as well as march forwards and do the ‘head, shoulders, knees and toes’ while gliding.
Level 4
This final stage of the Ice Tots programme is designed to prepare your child to take on the next level – the basic Skills scheme. Therefore, in order to pass, kids are expected to be able to march the full width of the rink and march half the length of the rink before turning and coming back the way they came. They should also be able to march forwards and do three forward lemons, as well as a two-foot jump from a still Little Man position.
Basic Skills Programme Ice Skating lessons
The Basic Skills scheme is open to anyone aged five and up and it’s here you’ll learn the basics of ice skating and become a proficient skater. It’s split into eight separate levels, starting at complete beginner status, going all the way up to completing some fairly complex moves at level eight.
Level 1
To begin with, you’ll start with the very basics. You’ll be getting comfortable in the skates and used to being on the ice. In order to pass this first level, you must demonstrate that you are able to sit down and stand up, march forwards across the ice and do a forward two-footed glide. You must also be able to do a skate and dip (or a ‘Little Man’) and be able to turn around on the spot.
Level 2
As we reach the second level, things start to get a little trickier. To move up to level three, you must be able to complete the following skills: a backwards march across the ice, some forward swizzles and a forward two-footed glide on a curve (both left and right). You must also be able to demonstrate a two-footed turn on the spot (both forwards to backwards and backwards to forwards), as well as a snowplough or T-Stop.
Level 3
Once we reach the third level, things start to get a little more technical. In order to pass this level, you must show that you can do forward stroking, showing the correct use of the blade as you do so, as well as doing a moving two-footed turn (both backwards to forwards and forwards to backwards). You must also be able to demonstrate backwards swizzles, a back two-foot glide and a forward one-footed glide (on both left and right feet).
Level 4
With things starting to get a little more serious, at level four, there’s a greater focus on speed and skill on the skates. In order to progress to level five, you must be able to demonstrate that you can do forward continuous chasses around a circle (both left and right), backwards stroking, as well as a basic forward slalom. You must also be able to turn in a circle on both the inside and outside edges of your skate blade while going forwards
Level 5
We’re now in the second half of the programme and you’ll be becoming a competent skater. With this, you’ll be asked to try some slightly trickier skills in order to progress to the next level. These include backwards inside and outside edge circles on both feet, backward continuous chasses around a circle – both clockwise and anti-clockwise – and forward crossovers (both clockwise and anti-clockwise). You must also be able to demonstrate three forward outside turns (both to the left and right) from a standstill.
Level 6
In order to progress to the penultimate level of the Basic Skills scheme, you must first be able to master these skills. For starters, there are three forward inside turns from a standstill – on both left and right feet. Next, there are backward outside edges step to forward outside edge on a circle. Thirdly, you must demonstrate clockwise and anti-clockwise backward crossover, as well as a backward two-footed slalom. Lastly, you must show the ability to do a two-footed spin for a minimum of two revolutions.
Level 7
The penultimate level of ice skating lessons in the Basic Skills programme involves some even more complicated moves. In order to move up to the final level, you must be able to demonstrate a forward inside open Mohawk on both left and right feet, as well as backward crossovers to landing position glide. You must also display the ability to do continuous forward movement in a straight line on both your inside and outside edges and do basic forward cross rolls.
Level 8
In order to complete the Basic Skills ice skating lessons programme, you must be able to demonstrate the ability to do three continuous turns around a circle, on both your left and right feet and either the inside or outside edge of your skate. You must also be able to complete the following step sequence: three turns, followed by a Mohawk, cross rolls, twizzles and toe steps. Furthermore, you must also forward inside single Twizzle and finally complete a one-footed spin for a minimum of two revolutions.
Skate UK Star – Free Skating Lessons
Skate UK STAR is a programme of basic skills that relates to Free Skating. These are the fundamentals of this discipline. Once you have completed this programme, you’ll have enough basic knowledge of Free Skating to be able to progress up to the British Ice Skating National Test Structure.
Bronze
At the bronze level, kids will learn to do forwards and backwards crossovers in a figure of eight, as well as a forward outside spiral on a curve – on both their left and right feet. They’ll also try spinning on one foot for a minimum of four revolutions, with the option of adding in an entry and exit move. They’ll also learn the Waltz Jump from 4-5 back crossovers and have to hold a landing for a count of three. Finally, they’ll also learn how to do a bunny hop into drag.
Silver
Moving up a stage, at the silver level, kids will learn how to do a single salchow, as well as do a one-footed spin for a minimum of four revolutions with an entry from backwards crossovers, stepping into a forward outside edge, with a landing position exit. They’ll also give backwards spirals on a curve (on both left and right feet) a go, as well as backwards crossovers around a circle into an extended landing position for the count of three on both left and right feet. To move up to the Gold award, you’ll also have to demonstrate a teapot on either foot going forwards or backwards.
Gold
In order to achieve the Gold award, you must be able to demonstrate a backwards outside one foot spin (for the minimum of one revolution) and a single toe loop with the correct take-off. You must also be able to complete this spiral sequence: a forward outside spiral, a forward outside three turn, two backwards crossovers and a back inside spiral both clockwise and anti-clockwise. Spirals must be held for three seconds.
You must also be able to complete this step sequence, with three turns, Mohawks, chasses, crossrolls and toesteps. These can be done on any edge, forward or backwards. Finally, you must also be able to complete a combination a skating movements that includes turns, jumps and spins in a short routine, with or without music (max 1min. 30sec.).
Skate UK Star – Ice Dance Lessons
The Skate UK STAR is a programme that teaches some of the basic, fundamental skills required for anyone wishing to take up ice dancing. Once you’ve completed this programme, you’ll have a good knowledge of the basic fundamentals of ice dance and be able to progress up to the British Ice Skating National Test Structure.
Bronze
This is where you begin learning to dance on the ice. In completing this level, you will learn how to do forward open and closed chasses continuously round a circle, on both left and right feet. You’ll also try a left forward outside Mohawk, cross in front onto left back inside and step forwards to right forward inside three times on both left and right feet. Thirdly, you’ll learn how to do forward progressive runs, as well as two consecutive left forward outside three turns followed by a sustained outside edge with the free leg extended for a count of three. Finally, you’ll also learn a forward spiral on both inside and outside edges.
Silver
In order to attain the Silver grade, you must learn to do the following: forward progressive runs in a figure of eight, backward open chasses (three on each foot) in a serpentine sequence) and backward progressive runs in a figure of eight.
You must also learn a seven step dance sequence including right forward inside open Mohawk, right back outside run, right back outside cross in front left back inside, step forwards to right forward inside edge. This must be repeated twice. You must also complete four inside single twizzles, on both left and right feet for a minimum of four in a row.
Gold
Finally, in order to pass the Gold grade and be able to move on to the next stage, you must be able to demonstrate basic backwards crossrolls, a solo novice Foxtrot with music, as well as forward inside double twiddles on both left and right feet. You also need to show a forward run, a forward slip chasses (three times) in a figure of eight. To cap it all off, you must complete the following nine-step dance sequence, repeating it twice: left forward outside progressive run, left forward outside closed chasses, left forward outside progressive run, left forward outside open Mohawk, step behind to a left back inside edge.