Skating Club of Hingham - Club Policies/Rules and Regulations, Notes
Reviewed and revised July 2010

General Rules
These rules are applicable for all Skating Club of Hingham ice sessions.

1. Skaters and parents are advised that any abuse of the rules and regulations of The Skating Club of Hingham may result in the skater being excused from the ice for a period of time to be determined by the Board of Directors.
2. Courtesy is expected at all times on the ice. There will be no profanity of any type or ice kicking. Discourteous comments regarding any skaters, professionals or parents will not be tolerated. Any person aware of a violation should submit a written complaint to the Board of Directors.
3. No food is allowed on the ice. For safety reasons, there will be no eating, gum chewing or any other activity that could cause a choking problem. Water only will be allowed at rink side as long as skaters are courteous, use discretion, and drink at the barriers. Soft drinks and juices are prohibited due to the possibility of “staining” the ice. The drinking of hot drinks by coaches is the only exception to this policy with the stipulation that the cup be covered and kept by the boards.
4. No items of any sort that could end up on the ice surface should be worn or brought on the ice. Beads, hair accessories, coins or any other item lying free on the ice can pose a serious safety risk. Clothing and hair accessory items should be well secured to the skater; money and other items should e left safely away from the boards and ice.
5. Skaters/members may not sit or congregate in the team bench area or penalty box. Neither should skaters sit or tie their skates in the gates to these areas.
6. Skaters or professionals should not sit on the barriers at any time. The safety issues associated with skate blades dangling off the ice necessitates strict enforcement of this rule. Coaches may coach from off the ice if their feet are cold.
7. For safety reasons, the Ice Monitor and the Board of Directors have the authority to remove a skater from the ice if their behavior or ability places the skater or other skaters at risk, regardless of level.
8. Ice Holds – It is the responsibility of the skaters to be on time for sessions in order for the Ice Monitor to be allowed enough time for checking in skaters, organizing the tapes to be played, and informing walk-on skaters of their status for the session. In the event that a skater is late for their session: a) Ice will NOT be held for more than five (5) minutes after the start of the session. On occasion, skaters may be late due to other commitments, traffic, etc. Any skater who will be more than five (5) minutes late on a particular day must call the club office to have their ice held or it may be sold as a club walk-on. b) Permanent Holds: If you know that you will regularly be late because of other commitments, please contact the Ice Coordinator to place a “Permanent Hold” on the ice. Ice on “Permanent Hold” status will be held for no longer than ten (10) minutes. In exchange for this courtesy, it is expected that the skater will notify the club office on days that he or she will not be using their ice. The “Permanent Hold” courtesy is granted at the discretion of the club and will be revoked if a skater fails to notify the club of their absence on three or more occasions during the skating season.

Freestyle Rules

1. “Right of Way” will be given to the skater doing his or her program. Skaters “on harness” also have the right of way over session skaters but not over the skater doing their program.
2. A skater who has already started entry to a jump should be given the right of way. NOTE: This does not mean that if a skater is spinning or doing footwork that hey have to defer to the jumper. This means if one person is skating and not in a specific move and sees another entering a jump, the skater starting the jump should have the right of way as a matter of safety.
3. Programs will be played in freestyle order of the day. Skaters who wave off their tape will be placed in freestyle order for the second playing of tapes.
4. Each skater is personally responsible for checking in with the Ice Monitor for each and every session skated. If skaters do not check in for a session, the ice will be sold.
5. Skaters should check with their professional to see if they are “on lesson”. After a tape is played for the lesson, it will be placed at that particular sequence, not in freestyle order. If the tape is not used during the lesson, it is held out of the rotation.
6. All walk-on tapes are placed at the end of the rotation, unless they are held out for lesson.
7. Skaters should refrain from talking or standing in groups in the corners or middle of the ice. Skaters should generally keep moving when they are on the ice. If they need a break, they should leave the ice.
8. Before moving away from the barrier or when stepping onto the ice surface, the skater should make sure he or she is not in the path of another skater. “Heads Up” at all times.
9. All skaters are expected to get up immediately after a fall unless stunned or injured.

Walk-on Rules

1. All walk-on skaters must be members of the USFS. Non-members must produce their USFS membership card upon the monitor's request.
   
2. On fully contracted sessions, walk-on skaters will be required to wait 5 minutes before taking the ice.
3. The order of preference for walk-on skaters is as follows: a) Senior members ; b) Junior Members; c) Alumni/Adult members; d) Collegiate members; e) Associate club members; f) Non-club USFS skaters
4. All skaters MUST sign THEIR OWN NAME to the walk-on sheet.

Walk-on Payment

1. All walk-on skaters must sign in with the ice monitor and pay the monitor before going onto the ice.
2. Payment for walk-ons are made to the Skating Club of Hingham, payable by check only.
   
3. Senior members and members who have contracted the minimum number of sessions for the current skating season may use points for walk-ons.

Notes from the Rink:  These helpful hints have been compiled by members and pros. They are "unwritten rules" and are noted here so that all may have an enjoyable skating experience on and off the ice!

1. Tissue Issue - Please refrain from throwing used tissues into the barrel on the hockey bench side of the rink. This barrel is not for trash and frequent misses make the cleaning task an unpleasant one!
2. Lobby/Locker Room - We are allowed to use this room each day through the courtesy of the owners of Bavis Rink. Please refrain from eating and drinking messy things in the designated areas. Please help to keep the rink neat so that we may have the continued pleasure of using it.
3. Corners - Many skaters set up their jumps in the comers of the rink. Please be aware of this when you are practicing and please allow them "the right of way" when they are doing their programs.
4. Center of the Rink - Most skaters programs are patterned so that they are frequently passing through the middle of the ice surface when doing their programs. Please be aware of this and do not practice entirely in the center of the rink. Try to vary your practice areas.
   
   Remember NO ONE has dibs on any spot in the rink!!
   
   
5. Equal Ice - Remember that all skaters have paid the same price to be skating for the session. However, please be aware of others around you, and please try to be cognizant of someone doing their program or having a lesson. Programs have the right of way!