2024-2025 Competitive Season Plan

Going forward, our competitive is going to follow the NQS (national qualifying series) schedule. Skaters who quality and want to do NQS can do that, and skaters who are non-qualifying (Aspire, Well-Balanced and Excel skaters) can do the non-qualifying events.

This will prepare all athletes for when “In Season” should be so that they are used to it if they ever switch NQS. The level of competition will be elevated for the non-qual skaters, they will compete with a wider variety of skaters from across the U.S. and it will also give more camaraderie to these events if a group of skaters attends, and it will help keep these events more cost effective for everyone too.

At this time, the 2025-2026 NQS competitions have not been released yet, but they will take place July-Late Sept of 2025.

Off Season Oct 2024

Off season is when skaters cross train by focusing on another sport, pass any tests, work on skating skills and learn any new elements, start choreography and making decisions about the next season’s programs.

*Off Season Oct 2024- during this time we will be selecting music, starting choreography, and this year a lot of skaters will just keep building up their skating.

Pre-Season Nov-March 2024

Pre-Season this is where we build up to our “in season” time frame. Skaters are doing floor workout that build strength, finalize programs, working on the consistency of their new elements and really improving their skating skills and the speed of their spins.

*Pre-Season 2024-2025- We have a long pre-season this year to ensure everyone is ready. Things coming up in the pre-season:

-Nov 2024-Burnsville Competition (only if the skater is ready)

-Dec 2024- Holiday Show

-Jan/Feb 2025- We will go somewhere and do a competition to debut programs. I am not sure where yet.

-March 2025- Some skaters may be ready to compete again

In-Season April-Sept 2025

In Season this is where we are competing a lot, wanting to see good execution at competitions and the more high-intensity phase of our skating year.

*In Season 2025- In Season is when skaters are actively competing so we plan our workouts accordingly and make sure the programs are trained each day before moving on to anything else.

-Late April 2025- Spring Ice Show

-May 2025- Roseville Competition for any skater that is ready

-June-Sept 2025- All of this will be determined by the NQS schedule once it is released. I will let you know as soon as it comes out, but it may not happen until this Sept or Oct. US Figure Skating releases these dates so we wait on them. We will aim to have everyone compete about one time per month.

*6-8 Weeks Before any In Season Competition, skaters will be evaluated either by myself, a tech controller or another coach on the quality and consistency of their elements. If skaters are hitting a certain percentage, then they can compete at the level they are intending to compete. If they are not hitting the consistency markers, then skaters will need to move down one level for competition season, or they will be asked to delay competing. This will also help skaters stay on track during the pre-season and help ensure skaters are ready to compete.

Post Season Oct 2025

Post Season This is when we are in recovery mode. Skaters may take some time off, cross train by playing another sport, skate to pass tests, work on skating skills and new elements, and this is a good time for skaters to experiment with new music too. Skaters should also start working to get new skates and blades during this time!

Other Things to Plan for in a Competitive Season

Aug-Oct- Figure out your next pieces of music. It takes about a month to get the music back from the music editor, and if you have any specific licensing needs, this may take extra time (90 days for a special request license). Understand most choreographers don’t want to start choreographing unless the music is completely done.

Oct-Nov- start working on getting new skates. Plan for this to take anywhere from 4-8 weeks depending upon what type of skates and blades you need.

Oct-Feb- Begin working with your dress designer to get your dress designed, sewn, embellished and finished in time before in season. Plan for something to go wrong, so give yourself extra time no matter what the designer says.

6-8 Weeks Before You Compete- Skaters will be evaluated to ensure they are ready to compete at the level they intend to. This may be done earlier depending upon the deadline for the competition.

6 Weeks Before a Competition- Plan to be in town. Skaters should be skating as consistent of a skating schedule as possible. This really only gives you about 5 weeks to truly prep for a competition since the week of the competition, your schedule will most likely be scaled back.

2-3 Weeks Before A Competition- Get your skates sharpened

Traveling Competitions- Depending upon how far away the competition is, plan to travel two days before you compete. The first day you will just travel, the second day you will practice at the rink you are going to compete at, and then on third day you will compete.

After a Big Competition- Depending upon what is coming up for you, you may want to take a day or two off. It’ll just depend upon what is going with your skating and the schedule.

After your Last “In Season” Competition- take 1-2 weeks off, 3 weeks for Novice or higher

More Info About Competing

  • Make sure you are adhering to your season plan as you gear up for competing again!

  • Be a good communicator with your coach if you need to be gone~ this can directly affect if you are able to be ready to compete or not or if you can peak for the competition.

  • We really need to watch this year that we are putting athletes in a position of success for competing:

    • Skaters cannot be gone for four weeks prior for local competitions or 6-8 weeks prior for traveling competitions.

    • You have to build momentum and have your training at the right level to compete. Only Basic Skill competitors can get away with practicing their program ten times and being ready to compete.

    • Breaking the momentum also consists of: doing stuff that makes your skater sore or tired so they can’t practice well leading up to competition, missing your regular on and off ice ice training times (they add up) or throwing off other routines that you have (i.e. not sleeping right, skipping meals, etc.)

    • This does not mean stay home and do nothing leading up to a competition, please still do fun things and things that fill up your skater’s emotional tank. However, be strategic. Maybe see a movie and wait to go rock climbing until after the competition. Have friends come over the weekend before you compete and not the night before you compete, etc.