THIS IS HOW WE WORK IN TTK’S SYNCHRONIZED SKATING TEAMS

Choosing skaters for the competition and show configurations

The team’s coach (or coaches) choose the team’s participating configuration for competitions and shows. The coach makes their decision based on the skater’s (current) skating skills, training motivation, and training activity. The decision of the configuration is done 1-2 weeks before the competition or other performance. In the pre-juvenile and juvenile teams’, the aim is to organize at least one competition performance for everyone, while in the national teams it’s aimed to organize at least one show performance for everyone.

Mandatory training time

Mandatory training time refers to the time period in which the skater is obligated to participate in all of the team’s training sessions in order to keep their place in the competition or show configuration.

Mandatory training time before competitions:

?Pre-juvenile and juvenile teams’ 1 week before the competition (at the latest from the previous Saturday)

?Novice and junior teams 2 weeks before the competition (so that the mandatory training time includes two full weekends)

Before shows’, the national teams’ mandatory training time lasts one week.

Participation in competitions may not be affected by an absence, for which the reason is 1) health-related, 2) a school exam or similar thing, that can’t be executed in another time despite trying or 3) a serious sudden situation in the skater’s family (an accident, etc.). These exceptional situations should be negotiated about early on, with a coach and a parent.

Absences from training and notifying about absences

A skater’s development in a sport depends on practice. In a team sport, the whole team’s progress depends on how the individuals develop and how much the team can practice together. The aim in trainings is to have everyone present at the same time as often as possible. This is very important. Possible absences affect the planning and execution of the training sessions. Absences are notified of primarily in the team’s Jopox “Locker room”. Sudden absences (on the same or next day) are notified of to the team’s responsible coach on WhatsApp or with a text message as early as possible before the start of training.

Being late to trainings

Ice practice starts at the time marked on the schedule. In coaching, punctuality and respect for the training situation are paid attention to. When late, the skater must inform the coach upon arrival before they can begin training. If the delay is known of in advance, it must also be notified of in advance.

Concentration in trainings

Focused training is in a key position in all series. Good concentration in trainings helps the skater develop. It’s good to focus on doing your own thing instead of chatting with a friend, although outside of trainings it’s of course nice to chat. If the coach has reminded the skater about focusing in trainings several times, the coach will ask them to discuss on the side. If the problem continues, the coach will be in contact with home.

Warm-up

Warming up is an important part of training. During it, the body and mind are prepared for exercise. It also helps prevent injuries. All teams have instructions from the coach for the warm-up. The pre-juvenile teams start warming up 30, other teams 40 minutes before the start of ice practice.

Cooling off

A 30 minute cool off is done independently if the training session has ended with an ice practice.

Holidays

The synchronized skater’s training breaks take place mainly in the spring and summer months. A short break is also arranged around Christmas time, the length and timing of which depends on the competition calendar for the year. Holiday times are informed to the skaters’ families as soon as possible when they’re known. In families’ holiday and travel planning, possible holidays and trips are asked to be placed on skaters’ training breaks. Extra (while training is in progress) holidays are not suitable for synchronized skating as they interfere with the team’s unified training as well as slow down the development of an individual skater.

Training materials

For off-ice practice, a skater needs good running shoes, leggings, and a well-fitting shirt. Proper running shoes are also used while warming up and cooling off! Other training materials needed are a jump rope, spinner, or a balancer. The juvenile, advanced novice, and junior teams’ also need an exercise rubber band as well as two tennis or fascia balls.

The team’s skating clothes and gloves are needed for ice practice. (Materials are listed separately for each team) Each skater must have their own water bottle with them in all trainings and tie their hair nicely so that it doesn’t have to be fixed during trainings. For safety reasons, hanging jewelry isn’t used in trainings.

Seasonal commitment to the sport and your own team

The teams’ season is the time between spring shows’ so that the season ends with the show. The team is committed to for the entire season (for a calendar year). The team’s activities and budget are planned right at the beginning of the season according to the number of skaters at that time. If a skater quits in the middle of the season, they are bound by pre-agreed customs for payments. This is done so that the expenses for the families of continuing skaters don’t rise unreasonably for a reason beyond their control. Commitment should be taken into account when starting in a team.