To: All club members and parents
From: Robbie Wheeler GIFSC Chairman
REF: Changes to Club Ice and GIFSC
Dear members and parents,
In the light of the recent restructuring of our club ice sessions, I thought I would take this opportunity to clarify the approach we are taking, and also the ongoing structure of GIFSC.
CLUB ICE
This one hour session on a Thursday was provided to the club relatively recently in our history after many years of no ice being available for club sessions. As a club we pay for this ice time, but it is gifted to us by the Spectrum; we have no automatic or contractual right to this ice, and therefore it is important that we make full use of what we have to the benefit of all our club members.
Over the last year numbers attending club ice have grown significantly, which is extremely positive for the club, but this has also led to this session becoming almost unmanageable at times, lacking in structure, and being more of a "social" session in nature. In consultation with the coaching staff, and from feedback from a number of members and parents, it is felt that we need to move these sessions on and make them more meaningful for skaters whilst continuing to provide good value for money.
To achieve the above the following changes to club ice have been put in to place:
- all club members have been placed in to a group based upon ability,
- the on ice element of club ice has been re-structured to allow for smaller groups per coach from which more progress can be gained, with activities structured more to the smaller group needs,
- a weekly off ice element of training has been introduced, which is critical to enhancing the skating skills of all members,
- a Club Ice session has been introduced for senior level skaters, who currently do not benefit from any Club Ice, on the first Thursday of every month.
Following a week's trial of the revised format, we received both positive and negative feedback and as a result of this we have reviewed again to try to reflect concerns expressed by parents regarding the amount of ice time available. The amendments that have been made now provide for ice time every week for the majority of Club Ice participants. As a result this should also deal with the issue of siblings being in different ability groups, as they will all be skating every week from 5th Feb.
We have agreed with the coaching team to run the revised format as a trial for 3 months, at which point we will review again.
I would also like to take this opportunity to state that myself and my fellow committee members are all volunteers and parents ourselves. We are not paid employees of the Spectrum, but have stepped forward to find time to run a busy club and organise as many activities and events for our skaters as we can. We welcome any parent who is interested in helping or indeed joining the committee and who is committed to giving of their time voluntarily. We work very closely with the coaching team to try to provide a variety of activities and events including our Open competition every year; however, we do not have influence over Spectrum, Ice rink management, coaching or training ice. We do hold an annual AGM where we do look to report back to members and parents and also use this as a vehicle to discuss any future plans. I would encourage as many of you as possible to take a small amount of time to attend this to share your views with us, as each year we find attendance negligible.
As a final point, I would like to also remind members and parents that we do ask that when you attend club sessions that you uphold the levels of behavior that would be expected of a member of our club. Please be respectful to the coaches during sessions, to other skaters and behave in a manner that is courteous and polite, and focus on what you are being asked to do.
I am always happy to take any queries from members and parents at any time, at the rink or via e-mail robbie@gifsc.com as is any other member of the committee whose details you will find on the website, together with all the information regarding club activities. Please do look at the website as it is the most efficient and effective way we have of communicating with you all. |
