Parent's/Skater's Guide to Competition
Not every skater wants to compete but in the event that a competition is in your future, here is some information that may help:
Types of Competitions: Ability Meets and Age Class Meets
This is the most common type of Short Track competition held at the club level. This type of meet format means that skaters of similar speeds (as determined by the best times submitted with the registration forms) are put into the same races regardless of age or gender. It is important to make sure that you put in an accurate time. This way, the races can be challenging and fun for all skaters regardless of how experienced they are.
In B.C., often the meets are "split" so that skaters aged 11 and under skate in one division and those 12 and over skate in another. The intent is to try to ensure that smaller skaters are not skating with very large older skaters. The ability format is then used within each of these "divisions".
At an ability meet, skaters will usually skate 3-4 races of different distances. Each distance is skated only once. When you arrive, you will get a list of competitors (listed from fastest to slowest) and a list of events. The list of events can be difficult to understand for someone new. Basically, it shows a list of race numbers, the distance to be skated and how many skaters in each race (varies from 4-7 skaters depending on the distance). The events lists are generally in 4 columns - one for each distance that will be skated. You can get a rough idea of which race a skater is in by dividing the competitor list into races (using the information in the events list). All of the races in the first column will be completed first, then the second column distances will be skated. However, the meet organizers will also post race sheets that show the race number and the names of the competitors in each race. Look for these on a wall somewhere in the arena.
Skaters need to keep track of which race they are in and which race number is on the ice. They should report to the "heat box" or marshalling area about 5-6 races in advance. The marshalling area is usually at rinkside where skaters are let onto the ice for each race. Skaters need to arrive at the "heat box" with all of their equipment including their racing number. Most B.C. clubs are now issuing to coaches helmet covers with a racing number on it. Be sure to place the helmet cover securely over the helmet, so it will not fall off during a race.
Sometimes, skaters will draw for their starting positions on the line when they are in the heat box. Other times, the start position will be computer generated.
During the race, skaters will be timed and given a finish position for each race. If they are disqualified, no time will be posted for that event. Therefore, if you are interested in the time, you may want to time your skater on your own. Times will be posted on the wall in the arena - but be patient, the first priority is to get the race sheets posted so skaters know when their next race is. The posting of times is a lower priority.
For the next set of races, the skaters will be "re-seeded" - that is, the organizers will make a new list of competitors from fastest to slowest based on the first race and then assign racers to the next event. In this way, if a skater's best time is inaccurate, he/she ends up with an appropriate group in the second race. If there is an error, or your skater is missing after the re-seeding, contact the coach. If no coach is present, try to locate the Meet Coordinator. Do not approach the referee (as he/she cannot answer this type of question) and try to avoid going to the results office as this type of interruption could lead to further errors or even a delay of the competition.
At the end of the competition, the meet organizers will provide each skater with a "results card" or a ribbon for each race showing the distance and time skated. In addition, they will provide the coach or Meet Registrar with a "protocol" which is a copy of the results for everyone in the competition for every distance.
These are competitions where the skaters are grouped according to their gender and their age. This means that skaters of the same age compete against one another regardless of their speed or experience level. Age class competitions are generally reserved for the higher level competitions such as B.C. Championships or U.S. Nationals.
For both Canada and the U.S. age is determined by the age of the skater as of June 30 prior to the start of the skating season (October to March). The Canadian age classes are as follows:
| Cradles | <= 5 years | Junior | 14-15 years | Masters 3 | 50-59 years |
| PeeWees | 6-7 years | Intermediate | 16-17 years | Masters 4 | 60-69 years |
| Bantams | 8-9 years | Senior | 18+ years | Masters 5 | 70-79 years |
| Midgets | 10-11 years | Masters 1 | 30-39 years | Masters 6 | 80+ years |
| Juvenile | 12-13 years | Masters 2 | 40-49 years |
NOTE: In the U.S. there is only one class for skaters under 10 years - Ponies.
A skater may elect to skate in a more challenging age class (e.g., a Junior may chose to skate as a Senior) but once he/she has skated in that class for any single competition, he/she must continue to skate in that class for the remainder of the skating year.
The format for these meets is different as well. Generally, there are 4-5 distances skated for each age class. Depending on the number of skaters, there may be heats, quarter finals, semi-finals and finals. So, a skater could skate each distance 3-4 times in the course of a weekend. If the competition is an "all points" competition, all skaters will skate heats and finals. The fastest skaters will be in the "A" final and get the most points; the slower skaters will skate in "C" or "D" finals but will also get points. Usually medals are awarded for each distance skated and then an overall champion is named based on who has accumulated the most points over the course of the competition. If the competition is not an "all points" format, a skater who does not qualify for a semi-final or final may skate each distance only once.
In the heats, the skaters are ranked fastest to slowest but since this is more an "elimination" format, the heats are seeded so that the fastest skaters are each in different heats. In general, the skaters are ranked fastest to slowest and the heats are filled with the fastest skater in heat 1, the next in heat 2, the next in heat 3, the next in heat 4, the next in heat 4, the next in heat 3, the next in heat 2, the next in heat 1. In this way, the fastest skaters do not all end up in the same heat and they all have an opportunity to advance to the next round.
It is very important in an age class meet to be aware of how skaters are being selected for the semi-finals and finals. The heat sheets and programs will usually say something like "1 + 2" or "2 + 1". The first example means that the first skater across the finish line in each heat will be advanced to the next round plus the 2 skaters with the next fastest times from all the heats; the second example indicates that the first and second skater across the finish line in each heat will be advanced to the next round plus the next fastest skater from all the heats. This means that while it is only important to skate fast enough in the first couple of rounds of a distance to be first or second, those not in that position are pushed to skate as fast as they can to qualify.
Sometimes Age Class meets will be further sub-divided into "A" and "B" skaters. An "A" skater is generally defined as one who can skate at least two of the standard distances for that age class within 120% of the record for that age class. Depending on the competition, the percentage may vary from 115% to 130% and the record used as the base may be the Provincial record or the National record (see Records and Standards).
Each competition will require that you register and complete an entry form. Peggy Michel is our Meet Registrar. She will provide you with a copy of the meet information sheet and registration form.
You must do three things:
1. Contact Peggy Michel via e-mail and provide her with the following information:
Name of skater
Age of skater (as of June 30)
Best time for 333 metre distance (Midget class and down); for 500 metre distance (Juvenile and up)2. Complete and sign your registration form and TAKE IT WITH YOU to the competition.
3. When you arrive at the competition site, give your Registration Form and the registration fee (usually around $16 CDN for B.C. meets) to Peggy and she will register all of the skaters from our club at one time.
There are a few rules that you should know about:
False starts - a skater can have one false start. A second one will result in disqualification. A false start can be called for: moving after the "Ready" command and before the gun goes off; coming to the line late; having the skate on or cross the line when lining up at the start. If a false start is called after the gun goes off, a second shot will be fired. The referee will then tell the skaters who is being charged with the false start. After any false start, skaters must get back into the "ready" position. The starter will not say "ready" again.
Off-track - touching a skate inside the track markers. If the skater does this but skates back out onto the track at a point prior to where he/she went off the track or if he/she skates an extra lap, there is generally no disqualification.
Impeding - this includes a number of things including blocking a skater, passing and immediately slowing down in front of a skater, pushing or touching another skater.
Charging - this is a passing infraction when a skater tries to pass at the apex (or top) of the corner on the inside.
Cross tracking - this is improperly changing the path you regularly skate in order to prevent another skater from passing you.
Kicking out - this is when a skater pushes his skate forward at the finish line creating a dangerous situation for another skater.
Lack of Equipment or dropping equipment - a skater must come onto the ice wearing all required equipment including the skating number. If any equipment is missing, the skater will not be allowed to skate. If equipment, such as a neckguard or glasses, comes loose or falls off during the race, the skater will not be allowed to continue the race. If a skater removes any equipment before leaving the ice surface after the race, the referee may disqualify the skater.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct - the referee can disqualify a skater from a race or an entire competition for unsportsmanlike conduct which includes spitting on the ice, swearing, arguing with the referee, throwing equipment, hitting the ice/boards/pads in anger.
Track - in some races, there is a mismatch of abilities. If a skater is being "lapped" by another skater (that is, one skater is a full lap ahead of the other), the referee may call "track". In this case, the slower skater is required to move to the outside of the track to let the faster skater go by on the inside. In the event that a slower skater is lapped twice (that is, is now 2 laps behind), the referee can immediately disqualify the slower skater and have them stand in the centre ice area for the remainder of the race.