National Ice Skating Association

National Ice Skating Association
NISA
Sport Ice skating
Formation date 1879
Affiliation International Skating Union
Headquarters National Ice Centre, Nottingham.
Official website
www.iceskating.org.uk

The National Ice Skating Association is a British organisation that is responsible for the development of ice skating careers. It is known as the biggest ice-skating company in the UK. == History == On Saturday 1 February 1879 a number of prominent men of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire met in the Guildhall, Cambridge, to set up the National Skating Association with the aim of regulating the sport of fen skating. A Cambridge journalist, James Drake Digby, had thought that the Fen speed skaters were worthy of national recognition and he was also concerned that betting was leading to malpractice. He thought that skating needed a national organisation to control it, like the Jockey Club. The founding committee included several landowners, a vicar, a fellow of Trinity College, a magistrate, two Members of Parliament, the mayor of Cambridge, the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, the president of Cambridge University Skating Club, and Neville Goodman, a fellow of Peterhouse College.[1]

The newly-formed National Skating Association held their first one-and-a-half-mile British professional championship at Thorney in December 1879. There was a field of 32, including former champions Turkey Smart and Tom Watkinson. Fish Smart beat Knocker Carter in the final. His reward was a badge, a sash and a cash prize, given as an annual salary in instalments in order to encourage the champion to "keep himself temperate".[1] The NSA also established an amateur championship, which was held for the first time at Welsh Harp, London, in January 1880, and won by Frederick Norman, a farmer’s son from Willingham. The professionals were labourers who skated for cash prizes; the amateurs were gentlemen who skated for trophies.[1]

In 1892 the NSA aided in the foundation of the International Skating Union (ISU). The NSA hosted the first international ice skating competition in Britain in Birmingham in 1899 and has hosted all events in the UK since in various locations.

In 1894 the National Skating Association decided to move their headquarters from Cambridge to London, from where they concentrated on figure skaters and rinkmen. Their new base, the National Skating Palace, is now better known as the London Palladium.

Until 1990, when an independent society was formed, the NSA was also the UK's governing body of roller skating. As a consequence of the segmentation, the NSA became the NISA (National Ice Skating Association), the headquarters of which are now based at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.

Contents

Assessment

Complying to the purpose of the organisation, the NISA levels are used by instructors to grade learners of ice skating in the UK. There are various levels of student grades, as well as instructor grades.

Skate UK

These levels are generally taught in group classes, and are assessed by the instructors of these classes. The levels are as follows[2]:

Skate UK Star Levels (formerly known as Passport)

These levels may be attempted once the SkateUK levels have been passed. Skate UK Star levels may be taken in any or all of singles skating (free), ice dancing, speed skating or synchronized team skating, although you must complete a level in a given discipline before moving onto the next level in that discipline. These levels as also assessed by the instructor, but will be expected to be of a higher standard than the same moves in the SkateUK system. The levels are as follows:

Singles Skating

  1. Forward spiral on either foot with flow
  2. Bunny hop into a forward drag
  3. One foot pivot on either foot
  4. Three jump (Waltz jump)
  1. Backward spiral on either foot
  2. One foot spin (min 2 revs)
  3. Teapot on either foot (forwards or backwards)
  4. Single salchow jump
  1. Backward outside one-foot spin (min 1 revolution)
  2. One foot spin (with correct entry and exit, min 4 revs)
  3. Single toe-loop jump
  4. Combination of skating movements, turns, jumps and spins in a short routine with or without music (max 1:30)

Ice Dancing

  1. Forward open chasses / crossed (closed) chasses continuously on a circle (min 3) (L&R)
  2. LFO closed mohawk, cross in front onto a LBI. Step forward to RFI (x3) (L&R)
  3. Forward progressive runs (CW & CCW)
  4. Two consecutive LFO 3-turns followed by LFO sustained outside edge with free leg extended for a count of 3 (L&R)
  1. Forward progressive runs in a figure of eight (in Killian hold with a partner/coach optional)
  2. Backward open chasses (x3 on each foot) in a serpentine sequence
  3. Backward progressive runs in a figure of eight
  4. A 7 step dance sequence as follows: RFI open mohawk, RBO run, RBO cross in front LBI, Step forwards RFI, Repeat twice
  1. Forward run, Forward slip chasse (x3) (in figure of eight)
  2. Backward open chasses in a serpentine sequence (x3 on each foot) waltz hold with partner/coach optional
  3. Solo Novice Foxtrot with music. Correct pattern and 60% in time
  4. A 9 step dance sequence: LFO progressive run, LFO closed chasse, LFO progressive run, LFO open mohawk, LBI

Synchronized Team Skating

  1. Forward line skated half the length of the rink in shoulder hold using alternating left & right progressive runs.
  2. Forward two spoke Pin Wheel, in shoulder hold, using open chassé steps for a minimum of three revolutions
  3. Forward circle of at least three revolutions in handhold facing inwards
  4. Forward Intersections with three pass-throughs using at least half the length of the rink and open chassé steps.
  1. Back line skated half the length of the rink in shoulder hold using a combination of chassés and progressive runs.
  2. Two spoke Pin Wheel, half the group skate forwards and half backwards, for a minimum of three revolutions, using back chassés and in shoulder hold.
  3. Backward circle of at least three revolutions using back chassés and or crossovers, shoulder hold and facing inwards.
  4. Forward Open Block with front line in shoulder hold and back line also in shoulder hold but additionally the end skater placing their free hand on the shoulder of the skater directly in front. The group to skate forward progressive runs alternating left and right.
  1. Forward Line in shoulder hold turning to back line into elbow hold. Steps may be a combination of chassés, progressive runs and back crossovers. This movement to be performed using the full length of the rink.
  2. Backwards two spoke Pin Wheel of at least three revolutions using back chassés and/or crossovers, and elbow to elbow hold.
  3. Forward Closed Block in shoulder hold and using chassé and progressive runs. Skaters must use two axes and the full length and width of the rink.
  4. Backward Intersections with three pass-throughs using at least half the length of the rink and a combination of back chassés and crossovers

Speed Skating

  1. Gliding on the bends - Gliding around the full bend in basic skating position with skates running parallel
  2. Basic Cornering - Demonstrate some evidence of crossovers in bends
  3. In Basic position Slalom - complete two footed slalom course between ten blocks approx 1 metre apart, keeping both blades on ice
  4. Straights, leg push - In a basic skating position full length of straight glide on left foot, continuous push with right foot. Ensure transfer of body weight and well balance, then on other leg
  5. Weight Transfer - Demonstrate the weight transfer, changing from right leg to left leg, this is to be done keeping both feet on the ice. Weight transfer must be smooth and rhythmical. Body stays in basic skating position. Nose, knee and toe of gliding leg must be in a straight line.
  6. Start - Hold start position, Skate parallel and 45° to the start line, feet shoulder width apart, Knees bent at 90°, leading arm in front and bent at elbow, trailing arm loosely extended and behind body, weight on back leg, head up and looking forward. Do a running start up to the first block.
  1. Straights roll the edge - Extend right leg, glide on left, demonstrate transfer of body weight, (nose, knee, toe in line). Then on the other leg
  2. Corner Push - Glide on left skate: push with right foot around full length of bend, demonstrate good leg extension
  3. Right foot Slalom - Glide on right between slalom course between ten blocks approx 1 metre apart, in the basic skating position. Then same on left
  4. Glide in straight line - Glide on right foot in basic position left leg off the ice, full straight in a straight line. Then on the left
  5. Crossover on Bends - Demonstrate good boy position, left hip over left skate, full left leg push and extension, smooth and rhythmical
  6. Start Procedure - fully understanding of starting procedure; go through half lap starting line to finish line
  1. Glide on right leg full corner - left leg held inside, not pointing out
  2. Glide on left leg full corner - right leg held outside but not pointing out
  3. Basic Position Arm Swing on Corners - Demonstrate relaxed arm swing whilst skating in the basic position, swing arm in a forwards and backwards direction, do not swing arms any higher than shoulder, arms must not be stiff but smooth and rhythmical
  4. Pivot on Apex Block Right Leg - Skate around corner, pivot around apex block, don't put hand on ice, keep legs at 90°, looking inside the track and keep shoulders square
  5. Relay Change;
  6. Receiving - Match the other skater's speed; time the change not too early or late. Pushing - Demonstrate a good push, strong, straight and not pulling back the other skater.
  7. Time Trial - Skate a bronze Medal Test Time in 333m
  8. Time Trial - Skate a bronze Medal Test Time in 500m

Judged Levels

These levels go from 1 to 10 and are assessed by at least one NISA qualified judge. Skaters must show proof that they have completed the Skate UK programme before being allowed to apply for the judged levels. Each test costs at least £18 to enter (2011 prices) - rising as the level of the test rises. There are different tests at each level as follows - skaters may do whichever ones they wish. Skaters do not need to complete all of these tests before moving up to the next level, but cannot skip levels in any given area (i.e. must do Level 1 field moves before doing level 2 field moves, but Level 1 Elements is not required to do Level 2 field moves).

Field Moves

Elements

Free Program

Compulsory Dance

It is not always clear which of the official tunes are needed for each dance, so these are shown in brackets where different to the dance name. Coaches will have copies of the official tunes which must be used for tests. Step patterns for many of the dances may be found Ice-Dance.com or CoffeeSkate

Variations

Original Dance

FreeDance

Events

A calendar of events that the NISA will host and organise can be found here. The ISU Junior Grand Prix of ice skating will be held in Britain, by the NISA, from the 15th to the 19th of October 2008.

References

  1. ^ a b c DL Bird 1979 Our Skating Heritage. London.
  2. ^ This is what appears on the Record of Achievement given to ice skaters.

External links