(Updated 06/05/2010)

The primary service the Eden Prairie Figure Skating Club provides is to buy ice time from the Eden Prairie Community Center (EPCC) and then sell that ice to its members. This section explains the contract periods, types of skate sessions, leveling of skate sessions, how to contract for sessions, how to buy-in on those sessions if not contracted, exchanging missed sessions

Number of Ice Contracts Per Year

There are four ice contracts per year. They are determined based on EPCC ice seasons and rates. The contracts are referred to as the following:

1. Fall Contract (typically 7-8 weeks in Sept & Oct)
2. Winter Contract (typically 15 weeks Nov – Feb)
3. Spring Contract (typically 15 weeks Mar – mid June)
4. Summer Contract (typically 15 weeks mid June – Aug)

Types of Skate Sessions

The types and number of sessions offered to EPFSC members for purchase varies depending upon the needs of the current club members as determined by the Board of Directors. They may include, but are not limited to:

• Freestyle: Skaters practice jumps, spins, programs and other moves. Coaches typically arrange private lessons with their skaters during a portion of a freestyle session.
• Spin: Skaters practice and are given small group instruction on their spins. Skaters are grouped according to ability. Typically offered during Summer Contract only.
• Edge: Skaters practice edge sequences and patterns to develop precision, speed and endurance. Excellent preparation for USFS Moves tests. Typically offered during Summer Contract only.
• Junior Club: Junior Club members participate in a small group lesson once a week for 30 minutes. We strive for a 6:1 skater-to-coach ratio at these sessions to ensure individualized attention for each skater.

Skate Session Leveling

Many skate sessions are restricted for usage according to USFS skate levels. Skaters are only eligible to skate on leveled sessions according to the last USFS freestyle test passed. Those sessions indicated as "Open" freestyles are open to any level skater, regardless of testing. Leveling may change with each contract. Examples of leveling:

• PreJuv+ (session available to Pre-Juvenile freestyle level skaters and above)
• Beginner-Pre (session available to beginner thru Preliminary freestyle level skaters)
• For adult skaters, the following leveling equivalents will apply for sessions:
• Adult PreBronze = PrePreAdult Bronze = Pre
• Adult Silver = PreJuvAdult Gold = Juv/Int

If you have not taken any USFS judged skating test, you may only skate on Open or Beginner freestyles. If you are unsure about your level, please ask another EPFSC parent.

The freestyle test level must be passed by the contract deadline date in order to contract for the ice. If during a contract period a skater passes the next freestyle test, they may then "exchange" for or "buy –in" to a higher level freestyle for the remainder of the contract.

Leveling is for the safety of the skaters and a strict adherence to the contract leveling will be enforced. Ultimately it is the skater's responsibility to be aware of their own testing level and the levels of the skate sessions. If a skater (whether on their own or through a coach's instruction) chooses to violate leveling requirements and skates on a freestyle session that is outside their level, the following consequences will apply:

1. For the first violation, the skater will be issued a verbal warning and fined $30 on their next bill.
2. For the second violation and each violation beyond, the skater will be contacted by an EPFSC Board member and from this date of notification they must refrain from skating EPFSC ice for a period of one week, without privilege of exchanging or exchanging any ice lost.

Ice Contracts

Several weeks before the start of an upcoming contract, each skater receives a billing statement in the skaters file. Instructions and deadlines for contract completion are posted on the website. Each skater will also receive a statement with the remaining balance due from the previous contract. Any balance due on the previous contract must be paid in full before a skater is allowed to buy ice on the next contract session. A skater's EPFSC & USFS membership must also be up to date to process a contract. This is true whether contracting or buying in for the upcoming contract.

Each skater and their parents should consult with their coach as to the recommended amount of skating time for their level and on which sessions the coach will provide private lessons. Verify that all sessions selected for the contract are the appropriate level for your skater. When contracting for a particular skate session, you sign up for all weeks of the contract.

The completed contract and a check payable to EPFSC for at least 50% of the upcoming contract ice cost must be postmarked by the deadline indicated in the contract mailing. All contracts postmarked by the deadline are processed based on the EPFSC seniority of the skater. All contracts postmarked after the late date are processed on a first come first served basis. Returning a contract on time increases your chances of getting your preferred sessions. For the EPFSC Board to determine total ice needs for a given contract, prompt return of the contracts is necessary. If the contract is postmarked later than the due date, a late fee of $25 will be added to the skater's account.

Confirmations of your contract will be placed in your Club Room file just prior to or shortly after the new contract begins. If there were any difficulties in processing your contract, the EPFSC Contract / Billing Manager will contact you directly before the beginning of the contract.

Any remaining balance on your new contract will be due mid-contract for winter, spring and summer contracts and at the end of the contract period for the fall contract. The mid-contract due date will be included in the initial mailing, confirmation statements and reminders will be posted in the Club Room.

It is important to keep your ice contracts paid according to EPFSC policies. Delinquent balances place you in "poor standing" with the club. This precludes you from getting necessary EPFSC Board members' signatures on forms for competitions and testing. It may also affect your seniority status.

All skaters must contract for at least one session per contract with the exception of alumni and adult members. If you do not contract for at least one session, one will be assigned to you, you will be billed for it and you may skate it.

Contract Changes

Dropping Sessions

Once a contract has started, a session may be exchanged but NOT dropped for refund or credit. This is because EPFSC has committed to purchase ice based on member contracts.

Adding Sessions

Once a contract has started, a skater may add a session at the contract price, but the session cost for the ENTIRE contract will be charged (no pro rata charging). A skater may also opt to buy-in for the remaining sessions of the contract at our EPFSC member buy-in rate. If a new member starts mid-contract, they will be charged pro rata for the number of sessions remaining in the contract.

Injury Credit

If a skater is injured and cannot skate for a period of time for their contracted sessions, they can provide a doctor's note indicating the period of time they cannot skate to the Contract/Billing manager. They will be issued a credit on their bill for the missed sessions to be used towards future ice contracts.

Skate Session "Buy-In"s

If you do not contract for a particular session and wish to "buy-in," a skater may do so, provided that there is room on that session according to the specified limit (typically 22).

• The cost for buy-ins is generally $3.00 more for EPFSC Home Club members than the contract cost for the session. 
• Buy-in cost for EPFSC Associate members and USFS/Non-member skaters is $6.00 more than the contract cost for the session. 

For example: If a freestyle session is $9.00 for a contracted session, buy-in cost would be $12.00 for Home Club members and $15.00 for Associate members and Non-member skaters.

The priority for Buy-in spots on any ice session is given as follows:

1. EPFSC Home Club Members
2. EPFSC Associate Members & Alumni Members
3. Non-Members (but still members of USFS).  Note that a skater that is a member of another club but is not either a home club member or associate member of the EPFSC may only buy-in three times in a calendar year. At that point they need to join EPFSC as an Associate member.
4. Junior Club Guest Skaters.  A non-USFS/EPFSC member may try our Junior Club program ONCE for the contract session rate. EPFSC members have priority usage of the ice. A Junior Club Guest Skater may only skate if there is room on the session. The parent or legal guardian must read and sign the permission and liability waiver form for their skater. Copies of this form are included in a section of the monitor book. 
5. Non-USFS Guest Skaters are not allowed on any other EPFSC session.

Within each priority category listed above, skaters are allowed on the session on a first-come-first-serve basis. Once the session has begun, those skaters on the ice cannot be removed for another skater arriving late, regardless of their membership status. If the rink monitor determines there is room for a buy-in skater, they will be recorded on the monitor sheet and "buy-in" will be marked by the skater's name. EPFSC Members will be billed for their buy-ins on upcoming statements; non-members must write a check payable to EPFSC prior to skating the session and leave it with the rink monitor.

You may mark your buy-in for a future session in the monitor book in advance provided the monitor sheets for that session have already been placed in the Rink Monitor Book. Be aware that, even if you do not show up for that session, you will be billed for it if your name is still down on the sheet.

Skate Session "Exchanges"

Exchanging skate sessions for those missed is a convenience provided by EPFSC that is not provided by most figure skating clubs. It was established as a means to recover some of the costs associated with missed ice sessions by trading them for other sessions. The policy IS NOT intended as a means to recover 100% of all ice missed during a contract.

An EPFSC member may trade one session for another session, within a 3 week window:

1. The full Mon-Fri preceding the week of the session missed
2. The Mon-Fri of the week missed, and
3. The full Mon-Fri after the week of the missed session.

If any of the individual 3 weeks involved has 3 or more Monday-Friday dates with no EPFSC ice available, then the skater may exchange into the following or previous full week.

For example: If the in the table above, there was no ice for the 20th – 22nd, the skater could exchange the 14th session for the 25th – 30th week also. If there was no EPFSC ice the week of the 4th, the skater could exchange the 14th session for the 28th of the previous month through the 2nd also. However, if there was no EPFSC ice for just Monday, the 18th, then the exchange dates in the table above would still apply.

There are no exchanges for Junior Club sessions missed.

Sessions, of course, must be the appropriate level for the skater and there must be room on the session. Exchanges into sessions by EPFSC members have priority over buy-ins for non-EPFSC members, as listed above.

It is the skater's responsibility to thoroughly and appropriately record session exchange information. The rink monitor and the Buy-In/Exchange Coordinator are not responsible for following up on those skaters not properly documented. If all information is not recorded on the monitor sheet, the skater will be billed for the ice time.

Miscellaneous Contract Charges (Credits)

Other charges which may appear on a billing statement include, but are not limited to:

• Fees for Exhibition Ice, if you register to participate
• Late contract fee
• Ice Session Buy-in Fees
• Rink Monitor Buyout Fee
• Rink Monitor Duty credit
• Fundraising Buyout Fee

Beginning Summer Contract 2010 (June 2010) the Board approved the following Contracting/Rate Policy for Ice Contracts.

Skaters are required to contract two sessions per week, for each week of a Contract. (See EPFSC Policy A – Ice Contract for the definition of a Contract). Junior Club, Collegiate, Associate and Adult members are exempt from this requirement.

• Junior Club will be billed at $14.00 per session. 
• Skaters contracting for up to and including two sessions per week will be billed at $16.00 per 60 minute session ($12.00 per 45 minute session). 
• Skaters contracting for three or more sessions per week will be billed at $13.25 per 60 minute session ($10.00 per 45 minute session).

In calculating the "sessions per week", Junior Club will be counted as one session. The rate for Junior Club will be at $14.00 per session, regardless of how many sessions are contracted per week.