Hudson Mohawk Figure Skating Club

Ice Rules – adopted 5‑5‑26

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A – General

1. All skaters must sign in and make payment prior to entering the ice for each individual session that you are skating on.

2. The maximum number of skaters during a freestyle session is at the discretion of the session supervisor.

3. For safety reasons, skaters are discouraged from going beyond the second row of seats in the stands with skates on. Keep your personal belongings out of the general walkway area.

4. Guards need to be worn at all times when not on the ice.

5. Entry onto and exit from the ice surface must be made through specified access points in the barrier.
   • No climbing or jumping over the side of the rink walls to enter or exit.
   • Do not block exits
   • No one may be on the ice until the Zamboni doors are closed.

6. Safe skating will be rigorously enforced. There is to be no reckless skating, no playing "tag", no racing, and no "horseplay." The Session Supervisor is authorized to order any person from the ice for cause.
   • Prohibited Behavior: Kicking, digging holes, scraping or stomping the ice and kicking the boards. Being verbally abusive to other skaters or coaches is prohibited. Deliberately challenging, scaring or intentionally blocking another skater.
   • Skating with headphones, ear buds or similar devices is not permitted. Music on a portable device will need to be approved by the board or session supervisor and if approved will be played at a volume that is low and not disruptive.
   • No more than three people may skate together in a group during a general session of the Learn to Skate or Advanced Sessions.
   • Standing on the ice to talk is not permitted. If a skater wants to carry on a conversation, he or she should move to the barrier or leave the ice. Skaters must keep moving unless receiving instruction from a coach.
   • After a fall, the skater should get up as quickly as possible to avoid injury to or from passing skaters.
   • Look out for other skaters. Always be alert to the movement of skaters and professionals.
   • Skaters should leave the ice in order to make adjustments to skates.
   • No food or drink is allowed on the ice. All beverages must be kept in the player's bench areas. Skaters and professionals must not chew gum on the ice.

7. Skaters have the “right of way” in the following priority:

   1. Skating a program during a lesson

   2. Skater in a lesson

   3. Skating a program outside of a lesson

8. Freestyle sessions are for those figure skaters who are practicing elements of figure skating either with a coach or without.
   • Skaters practicing or having a lesson on skating skills that traverse the short axis of the rink (edges, forward alternating three turns, forward loops, forward twizzles) may be asked by the Session Supervisor to conduct them at the ends of the rink if warranted by the activity on the freestyle session.
   • Skaters practicing or taking a lesson on the skating skills of Waltz Eight, Forward Eight and Backward Eight are requested to use the end strip of the ice. The long axis should be no further out than the large face-off circles.
   • Lessons on school figures may be taken with prior approval of the Session Supervisor. Lesson must be on the end strip of the ice. Cones can be used to mark off the area.

9. Videotaping anyone other than yourself or your own skater (by a family member or coach) is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated unless prior permission is given.

10. For safety reasons, no one is permitted on the ice without skates. No one (including children) is permitted to be carried on the ice without skates.

11. Members and guests should remain in the general area of the ice surface or in the lobby and refrain from wandering through the building. At RPI, please stay on the “Visitor” side of the building.

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B – Guests During Freestyle Sessions

1. Guests are expected to adhere to all rules and regulations of HMFSC and rink protocols. Guests will pay the non-member fee for the session. The guest will provide emergency contact information and sign a waiver of liability.

2. The guest, or the member or professional accompanying the guest, should contact the Session Supervisor or Membership Chairperson before attending the session.

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C – Playing Programs

1. The session supervisor will work out a system to provide each skater with an opportunity to have his/her program played.

2. When skating a program, skaters must wear the designated sash or belt. After finishing, the skater must remove the sash or belt and put it in the designated area.

3. A week before testing or competition, the session supervisor may give priority to those skaters testing or competing.

4. If a skater falls during his or her program, the music may not be restarted. The skater should continue the program. This is good practice for a test or competition.

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All rules, policies and procedures are subject to change. Rules must be reviewed before entering freestyle ice. For further clarification or interpretation of ice rules, contact a member of the Rules and Ice Committee.

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