Whether you are a skilled skater or someone who wishes to get back into the sport; whether you are male or female, an adult or youth - Midland Figure Skating Club’s Synchronized Skating Program is for you!

What is Synchronized Skating?
Synchronized skating is a team sport in which 8-20 skaters perform a choreographed routine to music. It is characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. Elements in synchronized skating include blocks, circles, wheels, lines, and intersections.

Synchronized teams can compete in 15 different levels according to the age and skill level of the team members. Here in Midland, we form teams appropriate to the numbers of interested (and qualified) skaters – both at youth and adult levels. Our 2009-10 youth team is called “Nexus” (meaning connection or center – they truly are the center of our club!), skating at the Beginner level. Our 2009-10 adult team is called “Turning Points”, skating at the Open Adult level. (Their original name was Precision Patriots back in the late 70s.)

Our program also works closely with our Basics Skills Learn-to-skate group to help expose beginning skaters to team skating.

Our program goals are to:
* Develop teams of all levels and ages – both competitive and recreational
* Foster good sportsmanship and positive attitudes
* Encourage skaters to further develop their individual skating skills while learning team skills

The Midland Figure Skating Club has been active in the sport of team skating ever since its beginnings – participating in the first official team skating competition in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1976. Since then the Club has been represented over 2 dozen times at the National level by its adult synchronized skating team and several times at its Sectional level by its youth teams.

When does our competitive season begin?
Our competitive season begins with the start of school in the Fall and runs through the end of February. Each team performs in the Club’s Christmas Exhibition and competes in various Synchronized skating competitions from December through February. Additional perfomances, such as during Spirit Hockey games, are also scheduled as appropriate.

Try-it-you’ll-like-it Sessions
We generally offer skill-building sessions and clinics during the spring and summer to allow interested skaters to give Synchro Skating a try. Teams are formed during the late summer.

Contact information
If you are interested in skating on one of our teams or want to help with our synchronized skating program, please contact:

Hedi Allis, program director hallis@charter.net
 

Synchronized Skating Team Levels
Beginner 1, 2 or 3: A team of 8-16 skaters. No skater may have passed higher than preliminary in any discipline, and the majority of the team must be no test.

Preliminary: A team of 8-16 skaters. Skaters must be under 12, with the majority of the team under 10.

Pre-juvenile: A team of 8-12 skaters. The majority of the team must be under 12.

Open Juvenile: A team of 8-12 skaters. The majority of the team must be under 19. All skaters must have passed the pre-preliminary moves in the field test.

Juvenile: A team of 12-20 skaters. Skaters must be under 13 and have passed the preliminary moves in the field test.

Intermediate: A team of 12-20 skaters. Skaters must be under 18 and have passed the pre juvenile moves in the field test.

Novice: A team of 12-20 skaters. Skaters must be under 16 and have passed the juvenile moves in the field test.

Open Junior: A team or 12-20 skaters. Skaters must be at least 12 years old and the majority under 19. All skaters must have passed the preliminary moves in the field test.

Junior: A team of 12-16 skaters. Skaters must be at least 12 years old and under 19. All skaters must have passed the intermediate moves in the field test.

Senior: A team of 16 skaters. Skaters must be at least 14 years old and have passed the novice moves in the field test.

Open Collegiate: A team of 8-16 skaters. Skaters must be enrolled in a college or degree program as either part-time or full-time students.

Collegiate: A team of 12-20 skaters. Skaters must be enrolled in a college or degree program as full-time students and have passed the juvenile moves in the field test.

Open Adult: A team or 8-12 skaters. The majority of the team must be 19 years or older.

Masters: A team or 12-20 skaters. All skaters must be 25 years or older, with the majority of the team 35 years or older.

Adult: A team or 12-20 skaters. All skaters must be 21 years or older, with the majority of the team 25 years or older. All skaters must have passed at least one of the following tests: preliminary moves in the field, adult bronze moves in the field, preliminary figure or preliminary dance.