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Ice
Skating Training Facilities
Hosted by
San Diego Figure Skating Communications sdfsc-enews.org |
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Summary Report -
Developing New Ice Skating Facilities
The construction of ice skating facilities started as outdoor rinks with a warming hut and sometimes included rest rooms. Over the years the modern ice skating rink has gradually added many amenities that make the experience much more enjoyable for the skaters and spectators of all ages. Climate, demographics, and regional economic conditions will cause real estate values and construction prices to vary across the United States. These factors affect plans to fund and operate sports/ recreational facilities. An ice rink can start with a simple seasonal outdoor natural ice rink and progress to adding a refrigeration system and Zamboni to extend the skating season. Adding a roof and enclosing the building is a logical step towards operating the facility on a year round basis. The following are three concepts that can serve as the basis for a stand alone ice skating facility or in combination in a sports/recreational community center:
A major problem of any sports/recreational facility is filling the dead time when young athletes are in school. Some athletes reside in a community that has a positive attitude towards being flexibly in scheduling classes to allow the athletes to train during these under utilized week day periods by providing credit physical education school credit. In other communities the athletes may participate in home schooling or attending Charter Schools that encourage the development of students in programs that support students with a major emphasis in athletic and performing arts programs while earning academic units towards admission in college and universities. Before and After School Age Child Care (SACC) and preschool Child Care Hosting of licensed before and after school plus summer childcare camps. These camps are fee-based with scholarships available to eligible families Programs are available to students who are 5-12 years old. Registration is with individual providers. Many young skaters lack a parent being present while they are at the rink. A program for these kids can be organized along the line of the before and after school child care programs offered by the YMCA, Salvation Army’s Ray and Joan Kroc Center, public schools or other community groups such as Boys & Girls Clubs. First Aid and Health Care Providers Even a facility with only one ice surface must train its employees on how to administer first aid to athletes and spectators as a first responder who has completed a course that provides training in pre-hospital care. Every public middle and high school has a trained nurse on duty. School nurses provide acute care for injuries and illnesses, care for chronic health conditions under the supervision of a physician, conduct screening for health problems, and maintain up-to-date health and immunization records. School nurses do not diagnose or treat illness; they refer children for appropriate medical care. Combining multiple ice surfaces and a charter school adds more student athletes, teachers, and parents during the day Monday through Friday. Having certified health care providers present on the grounds would be very desirable when medical emergencies occur. Services that could be provided would include urgent medical care - (i.e. green stick fractures, and broken bones, lacerations, head injuries, concussions), general medical care - (i.e. sore throat, cough, muscle strains, bruises), occupational medicine, x- ray's, lab's, vision screening, alcohol and drug testing, flu shots, school and sports physicals. Physical Therapy Having a sports medicine and urgent medical care facility adjacent to a large sports and recreational complex would be very desirable, especially for accidents occurring after hours or when an athlete's primary doctor isn't available. Rink Ownership Models There must be a strong leader or charismatic individual who can serve as a lightning rod to attract a core group of individuals to form a Local Organizing Committee (LOC). It is essential that a such a group will be formed and galvanize a community skating organizations/clubs, YMCA, Rotarians, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, School Board, Park and Recreational Commission, and elected officials - city council, mayor, and/or city manager to support financing a community ice skating/recreational complex. Examples of privately owned/operated and publicly financed/managed ice skating rinks have been combined with other sports to offer athletic and recreational activities for all ages and interests in communities across Canada and the USA. Community Owned and Operated Recreation Complexes with an Ice Rink Community owned ice rinks are more common in colder climates than in hot, southwestern states where privately funded and operated rinks are the prevailing model. Park and Recreation owned and operated community rinks are common in cold winter climates. • Britannia
Community Center – 1661 Napier St., 604-718-5800
• Kerrisdale Community Center – 5670 East Blvd., 604-257-8121 • Killarney Community Center – 6260 Killarney St., 604-718-8200 • Kitsilano Community Center – 2690 Larch St., 604-257-6983 • Riley Park Community Center – 50 East 30th Ave., 604-257-8545 • Sunset Community Center – 390 East 51st Ave., 604-718-6517 Skating available year round. • Trout Lake Community Center – 3350 Victoria Dr., 604-257-8182 • West End Community Center – 870 Denman St., 604-257-8339 Church Owned and Operated Community Centers The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in San Diego, Ca is a 12.4-acre community center with programs supporting family, education, recreation, and cultural arts that was made possible by a generous gift by the late philanthropist Mrs. Joan Kroc. The late philanthropist Joan Kroc donated $87 million to The Salvation Army in 1998: $47 million was designated to build and equip the facility and $40 million was placed into an endowment to subsidize the Center’s operating budget. The Salvation Army Kroc Center is located in Rolando at 6845 University Avenue. The location was selected for its accessibility to families and seniors. The facility is open to members and the general public and serves residents of East San Diego, La Mesa and Lemon Grove with a variety of quality programs for individuals of all ages. The facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, soccer fields, basketball courts, ice rink, gym (including a rock climbing wall, and a skate boarding rink), 600-seat performing arts theater, academic after school studies support (including a library and computer room), weight training, and community meeting rooms. Joan Kroc left The Salvation Army $1.5 billion for the development of 25 to 30 Kroc Center’s across the Country. She designed the gift so that communities wishing to pursue building a Kroc Center must raise half of the money needed for the project, to establish an internal community support structure. There are presently 29 Kroc Centers in different stages of development. Many of the facilities will likely include an ice skating rink. Resources:
The
following internet
links have been
gleaned from personal communications
combined with information from public institutions and athletic organizations/ associations that have a web presence with information concerning team and individual sports programs: All
materials are copy protected.
The limited use of the materials for education purposes is allowed providing credit is given for the source of the materials.
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