When Should My Figure Skater Join a Figure Skating Club?

Today’s question comes from reader Maria. She writes:

When do you have to (or rather when does it make sense) to join a figure skating club – at what level? Is it when you start using their club ice time? At what level does that start? I understand that the price of ice is lower if you are a club member, and I have heard about some parties/fun events held by a local club. Also, once your kid finishes the skating school (through Freestyle 4 at our rink), the kid needs to be a member of the club to participate in competitions, is that right?

Are there any other benefits, in particular are there any benefits (besides parties) for a kid who is still a beginner and in the skating school?

This is a great question, Maria.

The short answer: join a figure skating club when your skater’s private coach tells you to do so.

The long answer: you should join the club when it makes sense to do so.

Your local figure skating club offers some benefits to its members: when you pay your membership fees, a portion will go to USFS and a portion will remain with the club. They’ll handle registering you with USFS as a member. The figure skating club might require that you, the adult, register with the club, along with your skater member. Readers, correct me if I’m wrong, but most figure skating clubs require an adult member in addition to the skater member so the adults can run for the figure skating club board and vote in club elections.

Club Ice: You’re likely to receive a club member’s rate on club ice and preferential treatment when contracting for ice. In other words, members pay less and are more likely to skate when ice time is limited. If your skater isn’t on the ice that much, this probably won’t affect you in a big way. If you’re struggling to get your skater on the ice in the middle of hockey season, you’ll want to be a member of a club and maybe even a second club.

Club Events: Figure skating club members can attend club parties and events. End-of-the-year picnics, winter sledding parties, and selling cookie dough for the club fundraiser are all club events. The good news is that member skaters can join in the fun. The O.K. news is that it’s a club and you’ll probably be expected to volunteer at the club’s competition or sell concessions at the rink’s hockey games.

USFSA Sanctioned Events: You’re right: after Learn to Skate, figure skaters who want to compete in US Figure Skating sanctioned competitions, test in USFS sessions, or appear in USFS sanctioned exhibitions will need to be members of USFS. That doesn’t necessarily mean your skater needs to belong to a club, though. Your skater can be an individual USFS member (more later).

Skating Magazine One USFSA member per family will receive Skating Magazine in the mail. This is USFSA’s official magazine and it covers national- and international-level skaters and competitions, adults in skating, synchronized skating, club news, and young skater profiles.

Basic Skills Participants: US Figure Skating considers Basic Skills participants Basic Skills members. These skaters and their families don’t have to join a club, but they can. If a Basic Skills member wants to compete in a Basic Skills competition, that’s just fine. No USFS membership beyond participating in Learn to Skate and having the permission of the skating director is needed.

Introductory Memberships: USFS offers introductory memberships for families who are just trying club membership on for size. Introductory members pay a lesser fee for their first year of membership in the club and USFSA, but receive all the benefits of full membership.

Individual Memberships: Sometimes people don’t want to join a club. That’s fine. USFS will accept you as an individual member through its online application. Individual members receive a rulebook and a pin (first year). They can attend USFSA sanctioned events, but possibly not club events, like a barbeque or an exhibition. They’re not going to receive club member treatment or club member rates when contracting for ice, either. The good news: you’ll never have to sell a magazine subscription or a tin of mixed nuts.

Collegiate Memberships: We all know college students barely have enough money to pay for their ramen noodles and peanut butter. USFS has a four-year deal for them. If they sign up through a club, they’ll pay a lesser membership fee, but receive all the membership benefits. It’s a one-time deal, though, and lasts for four consecutive years.

When did we join a club? Ice Girl and I joined a club when it became clear that she needed club ice to work on her programs. She was still in Basic Skills, but had a private coach. Ice Coach told me when to request the membership forms and that’s what I did. I think it’s best for the coach to lead the family in this decision about when to join a club. However, it’s also a good idea to think of your own wallet. If your skater is in Learn to Skate and isn’t skating enough to make the club member ice rate attractive, you can hold off joining the club for a while. Explain to your skater’s coach that you’re watching your skating budget and see what she advises you to do.

From reader and commenter Lynne (who’s got my back – thanks!) The only thing I can think of to add is that the USFS membership year goes from July 1 through June 30. The clubs in my area do not pro-rate membership if you join mid-year. You can be a member of more than one club, but you can only represent one club when competing. At our rink, only members can contract ice, and the walk-on rate for members is less than for non-members. Also, club members usually pay a lower fee for club sponsored test sessions.

So, parents, did I make any mistakes? Did I forget something really important? Please help me fill in the gaps in the comments. When did you join a club? Do you belong to two clubs? Why? Is anyone out there an individual member? Why did you make this choice?

Thank you, Maria, for sending me this (and several other questions). I really appreciate your help and input! If you’re reading this and you’re looking for some answers, please e-mail me! If you have a sticky dilemma and you’re not sure what to do, I’d love to hear about it and send it to my Advisory Board for their advice. They’re a sharp group, that Advisory Board. Do you have an idea for a post you’d like to read? Better yet: do you want to write a post? Awesome! E-mail me at icemom.diane@gmail.com

Photo credits:
Picnic: oddsock on Flickr.com Creative Commons
Naval Academy ice rink: rpongsaj on Flickr.com Creative Commons
Santa Ramen – Dinner: VirtualErn on Flickr.com Creative Commons
All That Was Left: LarimdaME on Flickr.com Creative Commons

Lynne

Good job covering the information Diane.

The only thing I can think of to add is that the USFS membership year goes from July 1 through June 30. The clubs in my area do not pro-rate membership if you join mid-year. You can be a member of more than one club, but you can only represent one club when competing. At our rink, only members can contract ice, and the walk-on rate for members is less than for non-members. Also, club members usually pay a lower fee for club sponsored test sessions.
http://icemom.net Ice Mom

Very good catches, Lynne! Let me put those up in the post. They need to be there!
niuiceprincess

I joined our club when my coach and I started to work on tests, since you need to be a member of one (or be USFS individual member) to attend a test session when you are ready.

I do like receiving Skating magazine, it is good reading. I especially like the “Where are they now” where they profile what former national/world champions and competitors are up to.
Elamodeo

When my daughter's friends around the rink were going to parties given by the local club and inviting her to go with them I decided it was time for us to join. She is beginning Freestyle 1.
Silver Blades

Being an adult skater who is a huge tightwad I go through the “should I join a club or remain an individual member” thing each year. There are pros and cons to joining a club which change depending upon the club. All clubs let you contract ice and walk on to a session for a lower rate. Other perks, club member music is played first non member music gets bumped to the end of the line which sometimes means not played at all. Club members are first in line for testing slots. Club members get to skate in club show. Club cons; membership fee may be more expensive than the savings from contracting ice (this is the one that trips me up each year): you have to put in mandatory volunteer hours which can mean anything from selling stuff to manning the music booth to mailing out newsletters. You might have to supply food for various club functions (which may not be optiontal). You might be required to buy club jackets, pants, etc.

I have heard of some interesting perks such as renting the rink for $20 if the ice is not booked which is totally cool. The whole rink to yourself for an hour for $20!! Also, discounts for test sessions and discounts for club competitions.

It all comes down to the following questions:
1) how much time should you be on the ice each week?
2) Are there cheaper alternatives available that work for the type of skating done such as public sessions?
3) Do you need to run music to practice a program?
4) Do you want to be more integrated into the local skating community?
5) Are there cool perks available only to club members that appeal to you?
6) Does your kid want to skate in the show?

As an individual member I get a rule book and Skating magazine. I can skate on all local club ice (some clubs don't allow this). I've never had a problem with my music being bumped but I do tend to do my program run throughs toward the end of the sessions. I get to test and compete. I'm a bit of a loaner so I don't have an overwhelming need to be part of a club anyway. Although my friend who is more socialable joined one of the local clubs to be more linked in to the community.
Silver Blades

It is probably not prorated because USFSA doesn't prorate either. I had to pay full price for my membership in June so that I could test and then I had to renew in July at the same cost.
Season452

As Ice mom says you do not have to join a club. However, there are benefits to joining a club. For example, access to club ice time which is usually not as busy as regular freeskate ice time, reduced rates for test sessions, voting right regrading club decision making, ability to participate in club events and the club end of season banquet and some clubs also offer scholarships for college and for skating expenses.

You do not need to join a club or get an individual membership through USFSA until your skater is ready to test prepreliminary level or above. When your skater is at the prepreliminary level or above they will have to take a test during the scheduled club testing sessions when you are prepared to skate or compete at the prepreliminary level or above. You may also need to get a club membership if your skater is going to join a skating team (high school skating team or synchronized skating team).

If you are still only taking group lessons than you do not need to join a figure skating club because the group lessons provide a USFSA basic skills membership to allow you to participate in basic skills competitions and the group skating instructor performs the skating skills test that allow your skater to pass from one level to the next. I hope this helps, Season
Maria

Could you please clarify a little about the last paragraph: my daughter takes group lessons, and is a “USFS basic skills member” (I think we paid like $12 for that). Does this mean that she can participate _only_ in basic skills competitions? But she needs to be either a club member or an individual (but “full”) USFS member to participate in USFS sanctioned competitions other than basic skills competitions? Even though they may have events for beginners, where the required elements are elements from the basic skills program?
Silver Blades

To test or compete in regular club competitions even at No Test level you have to be a member of USFSA. Basic skills membership only covers basic skills clases and basic skills competitions.
Maria

I see. Thank you very much! My daughter LOVES to compete (well, to perform, really, as she doesn't care about competing much yet, but she likes to be the only one on the ice with everybody watching her ) So I guess our decision might be based on which competitions will be available next year…
Season

You should be able to participate in other USFSA sanctioned competitions that offer basic skills events. You would not be able to participate in any events at the competition that require a USFSA test to be passed. For example, if an event says in the required elements section of the competition annoucement says that the skater must have passed prepreliminary freeskate or moves-in-the-field test to participate in this event, then your skater would not be able to participate in that type of event. If there are no test requirements other than passing a basic skill level test than your skater would be able to participate. I hope this clarifies my post. Season
Season

You should be able to participate in other USFSA sanctioned competitions that offer basic skills events. You would not be able to participate in any events at the competition that require a USFSA test to be passed. For example, if an event says in the required elements section of the competition annoucement says that the skater must have passed prepreliminary freeskate or moves-in-the-field test to participate in this event, then your skater would not be able to participate in that type of event. If there are no test requirements other than passing a basic skill level test than your skater would be able to participate. I hope this clarifies my post. Season