Enrollment in Competition-Development curriculum is now ready and will be offered starting in May 2016. The information covered in the Coaching Association of Canada's 6 Multi-Sport modules will be required knowledge for sport specific modules. Coaches interested in pursuing certification in the Competition-Development context should pursue training for these 6 modules or ensure that the learning outcomes have been addressed through a University degree or other forms of formal training. For more information on the transition to the Competition-Development Context please write to coach@speedskating.ca - Age minimum: 16 - Professional Development (PD) points : 30 PD points every 5 years

This workshop is intended for individuals who are working with athletes participating in provincial and national competitions and who wish to assume the role of lead instructor. Delivered in two parts (Part A and Part B), this in- class and on-ice workshop will include: introduction to biomechanics and basic race tactics, basic seasonal training programs and designing practice plans, as well as further exploration of the development of basic mental skills, sport nutrition, and equipment. - Age minimum: 16 - Duration: Part A&B 2 days (32hrs) - Professional Development (PD) points: 20 PD points every 5 years - Certification: To be granted certification status, a coach must complete training in Parts A and B, portfolio work, and an on-ice evaluatuion. Learn more about Introduction to Competition

This workshop is intended for individuals who are working with athletes participating in local and regional competitions and who wish to assume the role of lead instructor. Delivered in two parts (Part A and Part B), this in- class and on-ice workshop will provide coaches with foundational knowledge of speed skating technique, equipment, and practice planning. Coaches will learn to design and lead an introductory speed skating program focused on skill development and fundamental movement skills. - Age minimum: 16 - Duration: Part A&B 2 days (25hrs) - Professional Development (PD) points: 10 PD points every 5 years. - Certification: To be granted certification status, a coach must complete training in Parts A and B, portfolio work, and an on-ice evaluation. Learn more about FUNdamentals Coach

The National Coaching Institute Advanced Coaching Diploma is the pinnacle of a coaches’ education in the National Coaching Certification Program. NCI coaches are recognized as being among the most qualified coaches and leaders of athletes and sport programs provincially, nationally and internationally. The Diploma consists of four core themes; Coaching Leadership, Coaching Effectiveness, Performance Planning, and Training and Competition Readiness. Speed Skating Canada will complement this training with sport specific technical and tactical training and by providing opportunities for applied coaching and mentorship. With the transition to a new NCI program for the 2011-2012 season Speed Skating Canada is still finalizing its own program offering and curriculum. -Minimum age: 16 years old Learn more about the NCI Advanced Coaching Diploma. . Contact Speed Skating Canada for specific information about Speed Skating specific training at coach@speedskating.ca

This workshop is intended for active skaters and parents looking to work as assistant coaches for introductory speed skating programs. Attendees will be equipped with the necessary tools to work with a small group of skaters teaching basic skating skills in a safe, fun, and welcoming environment. - Age minimum: 14 - Duration: 1 day (8.5hrs) - Certification: It is not possible for a coach to receive certification within this context. Upon successful completion of this course, coaches will receive recognition as having been trained as a FUNdamentals Leader. Learn more about FUNdamentals Leader

Variety of events is important for the racing development of the skaters. A 500m SuperFinal and Relays offered early in the season will align with the skaters’ fitness levels and will challenge the skaters with different race scenarios.

The 200m is a medal event at Canada East where skaters race the preliminary rounds as pursuits and the final in packs. Provincial Series skaters race this event to prepare for Canada East and to establish seed times. The short nature of this event emphasizes development of the skater’s reaction time off the start line, their ability to accelerate, and their ability to achieve top-speed.

To add a new question go to app settings and press "Manage Questions" button.At the Provincial A Championships, the 11-14 year old skaters race in their 1 year age categories for selection purposes, but it is recognized that this does not always provide for meaningful racing groups. The Provincial Series meets are set up to encourage the best racing possible, that means mixing some age classes to create groups of more comparable ability. It would not be fair to count the points earned at the Provincial Series meets because skaters who are in lower groups would automatically be ranked behind skaters in their age class who were in higher groups but they would not have an opportunity to directly challenge them for points. Additionally, the Provincial Series meets should be used as opportunities for the skaters to develop their racing skills and try new strategies in advance of the Provincial A Championships. They should not feel as though a mistake in one of the regular-season races will disadvantage them at the end of the year.

Set distances need to be established at the meets to ensure skaters race common ranking distances and to prepare skaters for progression in the sport (longer distances, different events). For the 2017-18 season, only Division 1 and 2 of Group 3 are scheduled to race the 400m ranking distance because the 400m has been very challenging for the newest and youngest racers. Club feedback has indicated the desire to offer skaters more racing variety. This Technical Bulletin is addressing that desire by giving the Meet Coordinator, Meet Recorder, and Chief Referee the flexibility to select additional events based on the ages, numbers, and abilities of the skaters who register for a particular meet. The goal is that skaters leave the event satisfied they were challenged within their abilities and are encouraged to participate at future events.

The 2017-18 Short Track Technical Bulletin allows for more movement between Regional and Provincial Series and East – Central –West regions. With this increased flexibility, provisions need to be in place to accommodate more skaters while still keeping registration numbers at a manageable level. A prioritized list of registrations is required to provide the meet organizers with a methodology to accept or decline registrations should registrations be excessive. During the 2016-17 season, only one Regional meet had in excess of 150 skaters. During the 2015-16 season, no Regional meets were in excess of 150 skaters.

In March 2017, OSSA solicited clubs for feedback about their Masters skaters to plan for their racing and training needs. With only 4 clubs responding and minimal commonality, few changes have been made to the Masters racing pathway. Masters should have their own racing categories. Masters should race as separate genders. During the 2016-2017 season, 6 women and 28 men of diverse abilities raced in a short track event. At this time, such numbers do not support gender-separate racing categories. OSSA provides a variety of racing opportunities for Master skaters across the province. A separate group for Masters skaters may be made at the discretion of the Provincial Registrar and Chief Referee if there are sufficient registrations at the Pre-Season Meets and at any Regional Series meet. Proficient Master skaters have the opportunity to race in the Provincial Series should they have the minimum time standards and fall within the number quota for the Open category. The Master Provincial Championships is scheduled with another event (Provincial Series #3 in 2018) because there are insufficient numbers of competitors to warrant a stand- alone event. The system currently in place to award points was established in 2014-15 after consultation with the Masters community. It was determined this method would be the most fair with mixed age and mixed gender racing and it would encourage skaters to race to the best of their ability.

The Short Track Ranking List is a tool maintained by OSSA and it is used for sorting skaters into Divisions at meets and for sorting skaters into the Provincial or Regional Racing Series. The Ranking List is published online in the interests of transparency and accuracy. This allows OSSA members to make sure that the list is accurate. Errors do occur on occasion as the list is maintained by manual entry. The Ranking List is not intended to be used as a tool to track skaters’ personal bests over all distances raced during a season. OSSA recognizes that skaters strive to establish personal best times but it is the responsibility of clubs to maintain their own complete personal best lists and celebrate achievements as they choose.

OSSA will not be dictating when families are allowed to leave an event. Families who have registered and paid to attend an event can leave the event when they choose. However, they are responsible for notifying their club coach – who in turn will notify the meet organizers and officials – well in advance to ensure there is minimal disruption to the racing schedule. Clubs should encourage their skaters to stay for the entire competition and the awards ceremony to support their peers when possible.

The certification requirements align with the officials’ certification development pathway. The officials’ certification requirements listed in the 2017-2018 Technical Bulletin are the least demanding than they have been in years to accommodate the volunteer challenges encountered by clubs across the province. In the recent past, there was misinformation about the pathway requirements to achieve Level 1 certification. The steps required to achieve Level 1 certification have not changed and the pathway is clearly outlined on the Officials page of the OSSA website. The development pathway is established by Speed Skating Canada.

For several seasons, clubs have been asking that the year-end Championships offer more innovative events and have fewer standard races which do not promote fun or friendship. The Technical Committee has responded by establishing set distances per age category that count towards an individual Championship placement. The host club now has the flexibility to establish the other events (adding more individual events or offering other events) based on the number, ages, and genders of the registered skaters.

Invitations into the Provincial Series have increased from 148 to 156 for the 2017-18 season to encourage more participation: 4 girls and 4 boys. Further explanation about the Provincial Series invitations can be found in Appendix D of the Technical Bulletin. Participating in a speed skating meet is exciting and confusing for first-time competitors. Their first exposure to a meet should not be at a Provincial Championships (youth or adult). There are safety and scheduling (time) concerns that need to be considered. The same applies for a skater who has not raced since the previous season.

The conditions for recognizing Provincial Records were established many years ago to align with Age Class Records recognized by Speed Skating Canada. Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) guidelines do not support the maintenance of records for children and youth and, as such, Speed Skating Canada no longer maintains national records for children and youth. With the ever-evolving racing pathway, OSSA has responded by evolving its competitive structure and is no longer able to consistently provide racing events in formats that adhere to the established criteria for setting records. Beginning in the 2017-18 season, Provincial Records will no longer be maintained.

The agenda listed in the bulleting is the Proposed Agenda. Attempts were made to offer an agenda that minimized wait time between events and minimize moving the track between mass and Olympic Style events. The host club has the flexibility to adjust the agenda if necessary. The final agenda should be communicated to competitors well in advance of the competition.

Provincial medals are only distributed to the Top 3 Overall places at the end of competition. If two finals are held for age class, then results from both finals will count towards the overall placement.

The Long Track Results list was introduced during the 2014-2015 season primarily to assist the host club with verification of seed times. This task requires a substantial amount of time and OSSA has little to no need for such a list. In the event the Provincial Championships do not occur and 500m Olympic Style times are needed for Team Ontario selection, the Technical Committee will review the best times from the age-eligible registered skaters using www.speedskatingresults.com.

The Ontario Provincial Long Track Championships should be scheduled in Ontario for multiple reasons: facility usage demonstrates to OSSA funding partners and stakeholders the need for an Ontario-based oval, it provides development opportunity for coaches, athletes, and officials close to home, it provides visibility of the sport within Ontario, and it reduces the financial and logistical challenges for Ontario skaters. In recent years, results from an out-of-province back-up meet were to be used in the event the Provincial Championships were not held. Feedback received from families and coaches confirmed that this was prohibitive (especially for skaters in Central and Western Ontario). Along with the ever-changing long track racing formats, this was no longer a fair option. In the 2016-2017 Long Track bulletin, the 500m Olympic Style distance was identified as the selection distance because it was a distance skated by all skaters eligible for the Canadian Age Class Long Track Championships and it was a regular distance at events across the country and New York state. This allows families to secure back-up ranking times at a number of events and they have the flexibility of working around their family’s schedule.