Ice Dance Training Session Etiquette

Ice dance training sessions are figure skating practice sessions where competitive ice dancers and figure skaters working on compulsory ice dance tests or on free dance skate and train. These sessions are very different than social ice dance sessions or freestyles. There are certain guidelines figure skaters must follow when they skate and practice on ice dance training sessions. This article lists some of those guidelines.

Everyone on the session must watch out for the skater or skaters who are skating free dance or short dance programs or compulsory dances to music. Skaters skating to music have the right of way.

Ice dance training sessions can be very dangerous since compulsory ice dances, free dance elements such as dance lifts and dance spins, and step sequences and twizzles are practiced in all different directions. Skaters practicing on ice dance training sessions should try to be courteous and try hard not to run into other skaters.

Many ice rinks hold combined freestyle/dance sessions, Ice dancers must understand that free skaters may not understand the layout of compulsory ice dances, and should be tolerant when skaters get in their way by accident.

No stopping, sitting, or standing on the ice is permitted. If skaters needs to rest, they must go as close to the rail as possible or step off the ice.

Only coaches approved by an arena or club are allowed to teach on ice dance training sessions.

Ice dance training sessions are meant for serious figure skating training, so playing or socializing is not permitted on these sessions.

Skating with electronic music devices and headphones is not permitted on ice dance training sessions.

Skaters skating on an ice dance training session usually have compulsory ice dances, short dance programs, or free dance programs to practice that are set to music. Skaters put their music CDs or iPods in "line" and music is played on a rotational basis. Usually after music is played once, solo ice dancers or ice dance teams must put their music to the end of the line so that they can practice skating to music again. Ice dancers must understand that music will be played again only if time permits.

Think of an ice dance training session as if it was a busy street with lots of traffic. Be aware of what is going on around you at all times when you practice on ice dance training sessions. Don't stand in the middle and talk.

Proper figure skating clothes must be worn on ice dance training sessions.

Skaters must exit the ice immediately after an ice dance training session ends.