MFSC Membership Programs

Marquette Figure Skating Club offers 2 different membership programs and 3 types of memberships:

Learn to Skate - Basic Skills Membership
Full Club Membership (Home-Club Member Status)
Junior Club Membership

Learn to Skate - Basic Skills Program

A small group lesson designed for the beginning skater. The objective is to teach correct technique in the basic fundamentals of skating so the skater may progress to more individualized areas of figure skating or hockey. Participating skaters are registered with U.S. Figure Skating (the governing body of figure skating in the United States) as a basic skills member and receive an official USFS Membership Card, USFS Basic Skills Record Book, General Sports Accident Insurance, Official USFS Basic Skills Logo Patch, Year Patch denoting membership year, badges earned, MFSC Newsletter (via email), competition participation opportunity, eligibility for ice show, eligibility for MFSC transition program, recognition at the annual awards banquet and membership in the MFSC as a basic skills member.

MFSC generally offers a 10 week fall and winter semester on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6:30-7:20pm. Fall Semester classes run October to mid December, and winter semester classes run January to mid March. Skaters ages 4 to adult are eligible to participate. Each 50 minutes class period consists of 25 minutes of lesson time and 25 minutes of practice time. A skater may have a choice of 1 or 2 nights of lessons. Class ratio is 3-5 skaters per/class, per/instructor. Classes are held at Lakeview Arena (Marquette) during fall and winter, and a spring or summer session is held at the Berry Events Center on the campus of Northern Michigan University. Classes are taught by a highly qualified coaching staff which has been recognized by the Professional Skater Association as an Excellence on Ice through Quality Coaching Facility.

Junior Club Membership

A Junior Club Membership is available to Basic Skills skaters who have finished, or are nearly finished with the 8 basic levels in the learn to skate program. The Junior Club Membership is an opportunity for individuals to participate in activities similar to Full Club Members. This membership offers a transition time from Basic Skills to Full Club, allowing skaters time to evaluate their continued interest. A skater can register as a Junior Club member for a period of one year only. During this period, skaters can continue to participate in Basic Skills sessions and in addition, they can purchase skating sessions during regularly scheduled club ice. During these sessions skaters may take private lessons with the coach of their choice. Not all sessions may be appropriate. Consult with your coach about which session is right for you.

Full Club Membership

The full Club Membership offers it's members registration in the U.S. Figure Skating Association (the governing body of figure skating in the United Skates), subscription to Skating Magazine (published by U.S. Figure Skating), the opportunity to test and compete (at U.S. Figure Skating Sanctioned events), eligibility for ice show participation and exhibitions, all test award badges-gold medals-certificates-plaques-trophies earned during the season, voting privileges within the MFSC for skaters 12 years of age and older, newsletters published by the MFSC, the opportunity to purchase club ice, and 2 jump harnesses and video taping privileges (at the discretion of the skater coach).

Club ice is provided for purchase Sunday through Thursday, from the middle of September through the middle of March. Sessions available are General (used for free skate, dance, free dance, or moves), Dance (used exclusively for dance), Free Skate (used for free skate, free dance, or moves), Moves in the Field (used exclusively for moves), Technique & Power (a session that includes coaching where the emphasis is on technique and endurance), and Transition (a session for beginning or lower level skaters - no higher that preliminary free skate). All levels of skaters may sign up for all sessions with the exception of the transition session (refer to the registration form for levels). Individual coaching lessons may be reserved on the General, Dance, Free Skate, and Moves by contacting the coach of your choice. Group Technique and Power is the only session where the cost of coaching is included. Sessions are purchased at the beginning of the season at full price or at the halfway point in the season for half price. Sessions may not be pro-rated during the season, with the exception of the transition session. Full club and Junior club members are eligible to purchase club ice.

Transition Session

This is a session designed with the less experienced skater in mind. The skater may be no higher than Preliminary Free Skate to purchase this session. It provides an opportunity to take a private lesson, so the skater may work toward competitions, exhibitions, and national testing in a less intimidating environment. The session is 35-40 minutes in length and meets Sunday or Monday night in Marquette or Wednesday afternoon in Negaunee, Mid-September through Mid-March. When you purchase this session, you are just purchasing ice. You may contact the coach of your choice (refer to the meet the coaches section of this website) to arrange for a private lesson. Lesson fees are paid directly to the coach of your choice. This is the only session that ice fees may be pro-rated during the season, so the skater may join anytime during the season. Basic skills, full club and junior club members are eligible to purchase the transition session.