National Teams: Athlete Selection
The National Team
To be named to the National Team a skater must finish in the top five at the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships: in Senior Singles, Pair and Dance disciplines. Skaters may be added at the discretion of the International Committee. These skaters may be considered to represent Canada at international competitions.
Junior National Team
The Junior National Team is made up of athletes that placed in the top five in Singles, Pair and Dance at the BMO Junior Canadian Championships.
As of the 2010/2011 season only the National Team will be named.
BMO Sectional Skating Championships
These are the qualifying competitions for BMO Skate Canada Eastern and Western Challenge competitions that are held annually in each of the 13 Sections (Ontario is divided into four Sections). Skaters from the Juvenile to Senior levels may compete. Single skaters must be members of the Section in which they compete but Pair, Fours and Ice Dance teams may represent the Section of one of the team members.
Novice and Junior
The top four placements (top eight in Quebec) in Pre-Novice, Novice and Junior advance to one of the two BMO Skate Canada Challenge competitions.
Senior
The top four placements (top eight in Quebec) in Senior advance to the BMO Canadian Championships.
BMO Skate Canada Challenge Competitions
These competitions qualify athletes for the BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals and BMO Canadian Championships. These competitions are held annually in each of the two Skate Canada Divisions: Eastern and Western.
Novice
The top third or top eight (whichever is greater) and any athlete granted a bye in Pre-Novice and Novice advance to the BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals. Should there be eight or fewer entries at either of the BMO Skate Canada Eastern or Western Challenge, skaters/teams in these competitions advance automatically to the BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals.
Junior
The top half or top 10 (whichever is greater) and any athletes granted a bye advance to the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships. Should there be 10 or fewer entries at either of the BMO Skate Canada Eastern or Western Challenge, skaters/teams in these competitions advance automatically to the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals
Held each year in a different Canadian city, this competition concludes the qualifying process for Juvenile, Pre-Novice and Novice skaters/teams competing in Singles, Pair and Ice Dance. Many skaters/teams are considered for international assignments based on their performance at this event. It is also following this event that Novice and Pre-Novice athletes are selected for the National Development Team.
BMO Canadian Championships
Canada's national championships or "Canadians" are also held each year in a different Canadian city. Competition takes place in Singles, Pair, and Ice Dance at the Junior and Senior levels and Fours at the Senior level only. The previous year's top three finishers at Canadians in the Senior category are eligible for automatic entry into the BMO Canadian Championships. At the conclusion of "Canadians", the teams that will represent Canada at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, the ISU Four Continents and the ISU World Junior Championships are selected.
The Senior National Synchronized Team
The Senior National Synchronized Team is made up of athletes that placed in the top three at the BMO Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships.
These skaters will be considered for international competitions throughout the season, most notably the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships.
The Junior National Synchronized Team
The Junior National Synchronized Team is made up of the athletes that place in the top three at the Winterfest competition, the qualifier for the World Challenge Cup for Juniors.
Byes
The granting of a bye permits a skater to pass to the next level of competition without competing at a prerequisite level. Byes may be granted through Sectional or Challenge level of competition. Byes are classified as: (1) Automatic when granted to all skaters or teams in a given situation (e.g. the competitors who placed first, second and third in a particular event), (2) Individual when granted to a particular skater for medical or international assignment reasons.
* Effective the 2010/2011 season, the Junior National Team will no longer be selected as per our new competition structure and focus on long-term athlete development. For additional information, please contact Skate Canada's Director, High Performance Mike Slipchuk (mslipchuk@skatecanada.ca)
