Ice Etiquette

by Amy Entwistle, January 20, 2006

1. Know where skaters are likely to jump
   Avoid standing, spinning or teaching in the lutz corners or near the boards where edge jumps will take place. For right handed skaters, this is to the left of the main entrance and, similarly, in a zone down by the coaches office, near the blue line.
   
2. Look out for the people who aren't looking out for you (and give them extra space)
   Some circumstances when someone might not be looking out for you:
   • Programs:  Complicated choreography and fatigue make it more difficult to avoid collisions. Learn to listen to the music and know which music goes with which skater. After some time, it's also possible to learn some of the patterns in others' programs, e.g. a straight line diagonal footwork sequence goes with the boom/boom/boom part of the music, etc.
   • Lessons:  Skaters are often looking at their coach when they would otherwise be looking around the ice. Attention is divided.
   • Dance or Pairs:  It is much more difficult for skaters to stop or change directions quickly when skating in pairs. Again, attention is divided.
   • Spins:  You can't see a thing when you're spinning. Never skate close to a spinning skater, even if your music is playing (see next point about right-of-way). Always give spinners enough space to change positions into a camel spin (e.g. don't skate close to a scratch spin because it may not be a scratch spin anymore when you get there).
   • Bad Day or Generally Clueless:  Or -- any other distraction where a skater isn't actively looking around at traffic flow on the ice. These phenomena span all ages and abilities.
   
   
3. Right of way goes to the skater who doesn't see the potential for a collision
   We all try to give way to skaters performing programs or taking lessons, but safety is the most important factor. Just because your music is playing doesn't give you the right to put anyone in danger. This is a bit of a non-traditional way of thinking about "right of way" but it's really important. It's not uncommon to see younger skaters following their program pattern directly into (or very near) someone else's camel spin because they believe they have the "right-of-way." Or, equally unsafe, more advanced skaters sometimes barrel through a program when there are too many little ones who are unable to get out of the way. Adjustments have to be made in the name of safety.
   
4. Communicate with and teach inexperienced skaters
   If someone is in your way, simply asking them to move is the quickest, safest and friendliest way to make space on the ice. Younger or inexperienced skaters often don't know they are in the way. If an advanced skater tells them, for example, what jump they're working on and what direction they'll be coming from, the inexperienced skater will (a) get out of the way and (b) learn a bit about traffic flow. This is much more effective than scaring the living daylights out of someone (young or old). Everyone has responsibility for making the ice a safe space. Friendly advice is usually very well received.
   
5. Chit-chat in safe spaces
   Good options include - off the ice, in the hockey boxes, or near the CD player. Avoid skater-parent conversations near the lobby end of the rink. A skater (on the ice) talking with a parent (who is sitting on one of the benches) -- ssentially makes that entire end of the ice unsafe for jumping, particularly for advanced skaters. There is a very high likelihood that the kid will start skating away (in an unpredictable direction) while still looking at the parent. There is very high potential for collision in this circumstance. Good traffic flow can be facilitated by parents/fans as well as skaters.
   
6. Don't try to run or hide
   Trying to "outrun" a faster skater won't help you get out of the way. Skate in a direction other than their path of travel. And, hiding doesn't work. Trying to stay out of the way by only skating at the end of the rink or near a corner is not effective. The most "out of the way" place on the ice is on the red dot smack in the center. Skating only at one end along the hockey lines or in the corner makes it difficult for others to jump, dance or do MIF patterns. If the skater is advanced enough to skate the session, then they're advanced enough to skate on the entire surface.
   
7. Use the harness with consideration
   Excessive use of the harness can be problematic. Congestion is created at the other end of the ice, effectively doubling the number of skaters in that area. Moving to the boards in between "passes" helps maintain better traffic flow.

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