CanSkate Frequently Asked Questions

Suitability of the Program:

How old should my child be before s/he or she starts skating?

Generally, most children are ready to learn to skate between the ages of 3 and 5. If your child is between 3 and 4 and has never skated, the Pre-CanSkate sessions are best suited for them.  CanSkate sessions are designed for skaters aged 5+.  It's important to make sure that the skates fit properly and that skater's ankles are well-supported. Please see our equipment guide for more information about skates, appropriate warm clothing, helmets, and gloves.

My child is interested in hockey or ringette. Is this program geared only to figure skaters?

No. This program provides a solid background for all ice sports. Once your skater has completed Stage 3 they are can register for our Pre-Power group in CanSkate.  Skaters in this group will continue to complete the Stage 4-6 badges but the group will have more of a focus on power skating for Hockey and Ringette.  Sticks and other equipment (pads etc) are not required for this group.

Does my child have to have previous skating experience before signing up for the program?

No. This program is suitable for new skaters as well as those with some experience.  Skaters will be placed in groups based on their skill level and work towards badges that match their skill.

My children have very different levels of skating experience. Can they all register for the same session?

All 6 levels of CanSkate are taught on the same session, so family members with different skating abilities can sign up for the same session and will be placed in different groups.

What is the coach to Student Ratio?

Group sizes range from 6-10 and are taught by a professional coach with one or more assistants.

Is the CanSkate program sufficiently advanced for my skater’s skills?

By the time they complete CanSkate, skaters should have several skating skills, some of which are listed here: fast forward and backward perimeter stroking, forward and backward crosscuts, side stops with speed, turns, basic spins, and jumps.

If I am sure that my skater is too advanced for the CanSkate level, what are his/her options with your club?

Skaters who have passed badge 6 can qualify for ASC's STARSkate figure skating program.  Further information about the STARSkate program can be found by going to New to STARSkate

Is there a power skating program at your club?

ASC has a Hockey/Ringette Skills session on Tuesday nights.  Click here for more details.

>top of page

Placement within the CanSkate Program:

My child has previous experience in another program. How will he/she be placed in the CanSkate program?

All new CanSkate members are assessed by our professional coaches and placed in the appropriate group as needed. A skater who comes from another Skate Canada club should provide their report card and will be placed in the appropriate group, based on the final standing at the other club.

>top of page

Equipment Requirements:

Do I have to buy the skates and helmet or are they available for rent?

All participants must provide their own equipment – CSA approved hockey helmet (for all ASC members until completion of CanSkate Stage 5), skates (figure, hockey, or recreational), gloves.

Does my skater need a helmet if they can already skate?

Yes. For insurance purposes and safety considerations, all skaters must wear a helmet until the completion of CanSkate Stage 5.

If I forget a helmet, are there helmets available that my skater can borrow?

No. All helmets must fit properly to provide adequate protection and ASC cannot provide helmets.

Are the molded skates a good option?

No, because they cannot be “broken in” and are inflexible, they allow the skater less control. Your skater will progress at a slower rate.

How do I buy skates for my child?

There's no such thing as weak ankles, however, there are many skates being sold with weak ankle support! Pay attention to the thickness of the leather in the ankle area. Look for thick leather in this area. They will mold to the feet over time. Your child should be able to wiggle their toes and the heel should fit snuggly. A properly fitted skate is usually one size smaller than your normal shoe size. Avoid wearing thick socks. A thin acrylic blend of sock or stocking allows the skate to have a snug fit that allows the toes to be relaxed in the toe box.

Where can I find information on skate and helmet selection?

Review our Equipment Guidelines Brochure for information. 

>top of page

Registration FAQ:

Do I really need to sign my kid up for three seasons?

No, but your skater will not progress as fast if there are breaks in his or her skating lessons.  The best value is to register for all three seasons at once and receive a discount of 15% on all lesson fees!

I've never registered with ASC before. How do I create an account?

Click on "Login" in the top right corner of the webpage. The right hand side of the page will say "First Time Registering with ASC?”. Fill in the form and follow the instructions for registration.

I registered with ASC years ago, before there was online registration available. How do I register now?

You will need to create a new account. If you have never completed online registration previously, you will be treated as a new member.

Why do I need to complete my registration within a limited time period?

Registration spots for all of our programs are limited. To ensure that your spot is saved during the registration process and that all users have an equal opportunity to register for programs, you must confirm your registration with payment by either credit card or cheque.

I have registered, but I also noticed additional fees added to my invoice. What are these fees?

There is an annual Skate Canada Membership fee, which is valid from Sept. 1, to Aug. 31 Additionally, there is an annual club administration fee paid only once during the season.

I am having troubles registering. Who can I contact for help?

Any inquiries regarding registration can be sent via email to office@ajaxskatingclub.ca and one of our board members will respond within 72 hours. 

Is there a Payment Plan Option? 

A payment plan option is available only when purchasing Fall, Winter and Spring sessions all together. When purchasing all three sessions together, there is a 15% discount on the lesson fees.  Fall payment is due at time of registration, Winter amount due January 2, 2019, and Spring amount due March 26, 2019.  Families can choose to either pay the total lesson fees and admin fees at registration OR provide a cheque or credit card details (with the registration) for the installments. 

Unused credit notes: Previous members with credit notes must contact the club at office@ajaxskatingclub.ca prior to registering, and ask to have the credit applied to their account.  Allow 3 days for a response.

NSF Fees - $20 fee will be charged for NSF cheques.

>top of page

Skate Canada Fee:

I paid a Skate Canada membership fee when my child joined the program. Will I have to pay it again?

The Skate Canada fee is an annual membership and is only valid from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31 of the following year, regardless of when you join the program. The fee is required by Skate Canada and is not retained by the club. This fee is non-refundable.

>top of page

Withdrawing from the program or transferring to another class:

How do I withdraw from a course?

Refunds are granted for medical reasons (accompanied by a doctor's note) or if a family moves far away from Ajax. 

How do I transfer to another CanSkate class?

There is no automated system to do that at this time. Please email office@ajaxskatingclub.ca to request a class day change.

Can I move my child to a different class day for a couple of weeks due to a temporary conflict and then return to the original class day?

No. If there is space available, you can move your skater on a permanent basis, but you cannot move back and forth between class days.

 >top of page

Wait List:

If there are no spaces left in a class, do I have to pay to have my child’s name put on a waitlist?

No.  Skaters can be placed on the waitlist and no payment is required until a spot comes available.

How do I put my child’s name on the waitlist?

If a class if full, instead of a "Register" button beside the session, there will be a "Waitlist" button. When you  click that button, the site will allow you to add a child from your profile to the waitlist. Once a position has become available, you will be notified by email that a position is available. You can then log into the website and either register your child or remove them from the waitlist to allow the next person on the list to take their spot. Once the position is offered, there will be a limited time to complete the registration.

Can I find out where my child’s name is on the waitlist?

If you log into the website and click on "My Account" on the top right hand corner, you can then select "My Waitlist" from the submenu on the left hand side. This list will display each of the programs and children who are on the waitlist for each individual program along with their position on the list.

Will the waitlist be carried forward to the next session?

No. Your skater’s name will be kept on the waiting list, without charge, until the registration deadline for the season. At this time the waitlist will be cleared and names will not be carried forward. 

>top of page

Private lessons:

Can my skater just sign up for private lessons without taking part in any group lessons?

No. We do not offer “private lesson only” CanSkate sessions, but group lesson members have an opportunity to take 10-minute private lessons (at an extra cost) during the cool down portion of the class. Availability is limited. (Note: Although private lessons are available for all stages, we suggest that parents of stage 1 skaters take some time to assess their child’s progress in group lessons before considering the addition of private lessons).

If my child starts to take the supplemental private lessons, who makes the decision that he/she is ready for the next level?

It is your decision to hire a coach to provide private lessons, during group lessons on CanSkate.  Once a child begins to take private lessons, the private coach makes the decision to pass a child and parents should talk directly to that coach to get updates.

Where can I get further information about private lessons?

Contact one of our coaches for information and availabilty here.

>top of page

Parent Roles:

Can I drop my child off for classes and leave the arena?

No. A parent or other responsible adult must be available in Rink 2 during the sessions.

Can I stand on the ice with my child if he/she is uncomfortable?

No. For insurance purposes, only Skate Canada members are allowed on the ice.

>top of page

Missed Classes:

My skater has to miss one of her classes. Can she attend another class to make up for the missed class?

Members are assigned to specific groups on the day for which they registered and cannot attend a class on another day unless they make a permanent move to that class (only possible if there are spaces available).

If we have an extended vacation planned, can I register my child for only part of the lessons or get a refund for the lessons missed?

Participants who go away on extended vacations cannot make up the missed classes on another class day or receive a refund for missed classes. Parents who opt to register for only the latter part of a session must wait until that date to register and cannot request that a space be held for their child.