Over time we have found that there have been common questions asked by clubs and their members, we have compiled the most common questions we answer for your reference. Please use this handy online form if you have any question that has not been answered here.
Q. Can hockey players participate in a club carnival or ice show and be insured under Club insurance?
A. The club would have to register with Skate Canada each hockey player (paying the appropriate fees) in order for the hockey players to participate in the ice show-carnival and be protected under the Club insurance policy.
Q. Can a non-Skate Canada club/organization have an event with Skate Canada Skaters participating without an "Application for Eligible Members Permission to Participate in a Non-Sanctioned Event"?
A. The club/organization must submit the "Application for Eligible Members Permission to Participate in a Non-Sanctioned Event" including a list of Skate Canada members and their Skate Canada numbers and club name to the section office for approval by the Section Chair.
Q. Can non-Skate Canada members participate in an Ice Show - Carnival on the ice?
A. When applying for an Event Sanction, if you provide a list of skaters including the non-Skate Canada members, the Skate Canada members will be covered by the club's insurance policy. The non-Skate Canada members will not be covered by the insurance should an accident occur. If a list is not provided and an accident occurs, you will not be insured.
Q. How much money does a club have to hold in its bank account or should hold in their bank account?
A. It would vary by club but it should typically be based on a percentage of expected cash outlays … timing of revenue generation would vary by club as well, but a suggestion would be to ensure at all times that there are adequate funds to cover expenses for the season.
Q. Is it alright for a club to invest money left over at the end of the season?
A. Absolutely permissible to invest remaining funds… income earned from short term investments far exceeds interest that would be earned leaving remaining funds in a bank account. Clubs are not in a business to earn income but rather to ensure adequate coverage of expenses for all the members. Attempt should be made to keep surplus funds to a minimum especially for any club registered as a non-profit organization.
REMINDER: All not-for-profit organizations with over $200,000 in assets must file annual income tax returns with Canada Revenue Agency.
Q. Can a club run a skating program that is not a Skate Canada Program?
A. No. Clubs shall operate only Skate Canada figure skating and skating programs (Article 3 (d) of the Club Constitution template).
Q. How many executive can/should be on a club board?
A. The number of directors can vary substantially between clubs. There are typically six officers on a club board: Executive Board - Chair, Past Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Coach Representative. Smaller clubs may not have any Directors at Large (non-executive Directors) while larger clubs may have six or more.
Q. How do we proceed when a skater is injured on an ice session at the club?
A. Even if the club was not at fault, the Club should file the accident insurance claim form with BFL, the skater has the right to some coverage under the Skate Canada Insurance. BFL will follow up directly with the family once the Club has filed. The Club should document the accident. If any costs are incurred by the Club, the Club should submit the invoices to BFL. The Club should also ensure that all municipal accident reports are filled in and submitted by the arena staff. Contact Jim Stirling at BFL at
stirling@BFLcanada.ca
Q. Can a club run a skating session without a coach on the ice?
A. All Skate Canada clubs and skating schools that offer skating programs must meet the Skate Canada Program Delivery Standards, which includes a minimum of one certified Skate Canada coach instructing skating for all skating program sessions.
Q. Our coach is not available for the Thursday CanSkate session and we cannot find another Skate Canada coach to replace our coach. What do we do?
A. The CanSkate session must be cancelled. All CanSkate sessions must have a minimum of one certified Skate Canada coach instructing skating.
Q. Can a Program Assistant oversee the skaters on a group session when the coach must leave early?
A. No, a certified Skate Canada coach must be on the ice instructing the session and the Program Assistant is under the general supervision of that coach, who is on the ice.
Q. Our coach is not available for the Monday STARSkate session and we cannot find another Skate Canada coach to replace our coach. What do we do?
A. The club may offer practice ice to their members without a coach being present on the ice. The club must ensure that there is a responsible adult, preferably with first aid, supervising the practice ice at all times. The adult must not be on the ice. The ice is for practicing only, as all skating instruction must be done by a certified Skate Canada coach.
Q. Does the club have insurance coverage if a skating session is run without a coach on the ice?
A. As per Jim Stirling of BFL, a club does have insurance coverage; however, an adult 18 years of age or over must be present in order for skaters to take the ice. This is to ensure that the session is conducted in a safe manner and that a responsible adult is present in the event that assistance is required (i.e. call 911 if required for an injury, etc.) Supervising adults are not required to have first aid training themselves.
