PRIVATE SESSION ETIQUETTE POLICY

This document is designed to ensure that Cockburn Ice Arena continues to provide a safe training environment for skaters, parents, coaches, spectators, and employees. Please respect the Code of Conduct, rules, and etiquette guidelines below.

Code of Conduct

1. Skaters, parents and coaches are required to observe, support and comply with all Cockburn Ice Arena (CIA) policies and procedures during the course of their engagement with CIA.
2. All skaters should act with courtesy on the ice and give way in accordance to the priority rules stated below.
3. Skaters, parents and coaches must treat others with respect, at all times. Disrespect to other skaters, parents, coaches and CIA staff is unacceptable and may result in suspension of membership and/or termination of contract for services.
4. All skaters are to be treated equally, regardless of age or ability on the ice.
5. CIA has a no tolerance policy toward intimidation, swearing (in any language), yelling, abuse (physical, emotional or verbal), poor attitude or bullying of any kind by skaters, parents and/or coaches. Complaints will be investigated and may result in suspension of membership and/or termination of contract for services.
6. Filming of skaters during a private training session is strictly prohibited except by coaches for training purposes where permission has been given by the parent or skater (if over 18). This is a Child Protection issue, and any breech will result in suspension of membership and/or termination of contract for services and if applicable, reporting to authorities.

General Rules

1. Barrier doors must be closed at all times during private sessions. If you enter or exit the rink for any reason, please close the barrier door behind you.
2. Skaters and coaches are not permitted on the ice at the same time as the Zamboni. Skaters and coaches must leave the ice immediately when the rear barrier doors open and the Zamboni is about to cut the ice. This rule is for the safety of the skaters and coaches as drivers’ vision of skaters on the ice is limited. Barrier doors MUST be closed during an ice cut, please make sure they are.
3. Family/Friends of skaters are asked to view their skater/s from the café and not to watch from the Grandstand as they can be a distraction to skaters on the ice, leading to safety concerns.
4. Family/friends should not approach the barrier/music box/skaters during a private training session unless there is an emergency. Skaters should leave the ice to talk to family/friends.
5. Avoid being stationary on the ice as it is a safety issue. Coaches should give instruction to skaters at the barrier. Skaters wishing to talk to other skaters for more than a minute or two should do so off the ice. Do not waste your private training time or the time of others.
6. Do not practise in the same spot on the ice for extended periods of time and avoid practising spins in the jumping corners.
7. Even with the best skaters on the ice, all working together to avoid accidents, collisions may occur at times. Falls are commonplace in a training session. It’s important to know what to do in the case of a more serious incident.
   If a skater falls, they need to get up as quickly as possible for the safety of themselves and others. Sitting/lying on the ice for prolonged periods is prohibited.
   If a skater is unable to get up after a fall due to injury, they are to indicate that they require help immediately. If a skater is unconscious, immediately call for the first aid first responder at the rink. This will be one of the Managers or Supervisors. Do not move the skater off the ice if they are unable to get up as you may cause a spinal injury. Coaches are not to move the skater and MUST call for the Rink First Aid First Responder. The first aid first responder must facilitate this process with a spinal injury stretcher or medical attendants.
8. Be aware of skaters with limited skating ability on the ice as they may be unable to get out of the way of other skaters quickly. Regardless of right of way, more advanced skaters must make sure to avoid collisions with less accomplished skaters. Please note that young children may lack the self-awareness that older skaters do on the ice. Please be patient with them.

Priority and Right of Way

1. A skater in a lesson with a coach who is practising their program with their music on has the first right of way. This skater must be wearing a high vis vest to make this clear to other skaters.
2. A skater who is practising their program with their music on, but is not in a lesson with their coach, has the second right of way. This skater must be wearing a high vis vest to make this clear to other skaters.
3. A skater who is in a lesson with their coach has the third right of way. This skater must clearly indicate that they are in a lesson by wearing a green arm band that is visible to other skaters and coaches.
4. Regardless of ‘priority and right of way’, a skater/coach should never skate through another skater’s way, push another skater out of their way or speak disrespectfully/raise their voice to another skater. Every effort should be made to calmly educate the skater who has made a mistake, if they are unaware of their violation. If the behaviour continues, please report to rink management.

Music

1. Skaters practising and not in a lesson are permitted to play the music for each of their programs once per session during busy sessions (afternoons, evenings and Saturday morning). Programs played during a lesson with a coach do not count toward this quota. If the morning session is busy due to upcoming competitions, this rule also applies. Please use common sense and be courteous to other skaters and their need to run their programs.
2. A maximum of two skaters should be queued at the music box at any one time. Coaches in lessons have priority to play music.

Ability and Private Sessions

1. The early afternoon sessions are mixed sessions that include skaters from the lowest to the highest levels. Experienced skaters must be aware of skaters with limited skating ability on the ice as they may be unable to get out of the way of other skaters quickly. Regardless of right of way, more advanced skaters must make sure to avoid collisions with less accomplished skaters. Please note that young children may lack the self-awareness that older skaters have on the ice. Please be patient with them.
2. The second session of the day is for more experienced skaters. Skaters who participate in these sessions are faster and practising higher level elements and inexperienced or younger skaters should avoid these sessions for their own safety.

Group Lessons and Synchro Skaters

1. Synchro skaters practising are to have no more than three skaters in formation. If the session is busy, please limit this to two persons maximum. Please be aware that during a very busy session, skaters practising formations should use common sense and limit this practise in regard to their own safety, and the safety of others.
2. Skaters should not skate in ‘packs’ as it is very dangerous. The practise is also intimidating to other skaters. Pack skating is defined as three or more individual skaters in formation or quick succession. Coaches with group lessons should send the skaters in duos.

Coaches

1. Coaches must spot for their skaters who may be unable to view a clear way on the ice. This applies to younger students or to skaters practising skating movements such as rotating lifts or slides, backward spirals, Charlotte spirals, backward Beillmann position spirals or backward 135° spirals.
2. All coaches have the responsibility to work as a team to protect the physical and emotional wellbeing of all skaters (not just their own students).
3. If a coach spots a potential risk to any skater they should act immediately to alert the skaters by calling out loud enough to be heard.
4. If a coach is alerted to an injured skater who is unable to get themselves up off the ice, the must not move the skater off the ice as you may cause a spinal injury. Coaches MUST call for the Rink First Aid First Responder. The first aid first responder must facilitate this process with a spinal injury stretcher or medical attendants.
5. If a coach views any behaviour on the ice by skaters or other coaches which could be detrimental to a skater’s physical or emotional wellbeing, they must report this to rink management.

Unacceptable Behaviour

1. Cockburn Ice Arena has a no tolerance policy toward any bullying, harassment, intimidation, slander/libel, common assault (this includes threats), violence or sexual assault by coaches, skaters or parents. Reports of any of these will result in an investigation that may lead to suspension or permanent ban from the premises. Cockburn Ice Arena will direct any serious reports made to the Police.
2. Further escalation may be made to the relevant skater’s association or if applicable to a coach, the Australian Professional Skaters Association for further action that may result in disciplinary action and/or expulsion from that association.
3. Reports found to be false or defamatory for the purposes of manipulation of the prospects of a fellow skater, coach or family will also be reported to the relevant associations and authorities.

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