Rink Guards 

1. Rink guards are the authority on the ice during public sessions. 
2. Only rink guards and instructors are allowed to play music. 
3. Skaters may only enter the ice when authorized staff begin the session. 

Not Allowed on the Ice 

1. Shoes. 
2. Hockey sticks or pucks. 
3. Carrying persons or articles on the ice, including cell phones. 

Skating 

1. Skaters will skate at their own risk. 
2. Racing, hazardous skating, horseplay or rough play is prohibited. 
3. Always skate counterclockwise unless otherwise directed. 
4. Only Mount Vernon Rec Center owned skating aids officially made for on ice usage are allowed. 
5. Playing with the snow is not permitted. 
6. Avoid skating across traffic and/or cutting in front of other skaters. 
7. Don’t block the flow of traffic while on the ice. 
8. No more than two skaters may join hands while skating (no human chains). 
9. Team benches are available for quick breaks or skate retying. Spectators can enjoy the action from designated viewing areas. 
10. No jumping/tricks that endanger others, this includes both figure and hockey skaters. 
11. All figure skating will be in the coned off center of the ice. 
12. Figure skating/ice dancing routines are not permitted during public sessions. 
13. Skaters must leave the ice promptly at the end of a session. 
14. The jump harness is reserved for freestyle sessions. 
15. Do not lay on the ice, kick/gouge the ice, or slap/kick the sides of the rink. 

 
Facility 

1. Uncovered skate blades are only permissible in the warming room and the ice. Blade guards are required everywhere else, including bleachers. 
2. Please remain off the boards — no sitting or jumping over them. 
3. No food or drink on the ice. 
4. Smoking, alcohol and controlled substances are strictly prohibited. Intoxicated people will be removed from the center immediately. 
5. For everyone’s safety and security, videotaping anyone other than your own skater is strictly prohibited. 

1. Skate at your own risk. 
2. Check in at the Front Desk before every session and register with the monitor when one is present. It is the responsibility of the skater to make payment for each skate session either by skating pass or pick-up session payment. Bridging half of one session and half of another session is not permitted. Two sessions must be paid for. 
3. While on the ice, the right-of-way goes to: 
   • The skater who is performing their program. 
   • The skater using the harness for jumps. 
   • Basic Skills skaters in lessons must give way to Freestyle skaters. 
4. Only Fairfax County Park Authority Authorized instructors are allowed to teach during the session. 
5. Must be at Freeskate I level to skate on a Freestyle Session unless under the direct supervision of a coach or with approval from the Skating Director. 
6. Using obscene language will not be tolerated. Intimidating staff, other skaters, parents, and/or coaches either on the ice surface or in the public areas will not be tolerated.  

Prohibited Behaviors 

1. Deliberately challenging, scaring or intentionally blocking other skaters. 
2. Verbal abuse of other skaters or coaches. 
3. Laying on the ice, kicking or gouging the ice, or slapping/kicking the sides of the rink. 
4. Prolonged chatting on the ice. 
5. For everyone’s safety and security, videotaping anyone other than your own skater is strictly prohibited.  

Music and Practice Etiquette 

1. Music Log: Skaters who would like to play program music must add their name(s) to the music log to ensure fair rotation. 
2. Lesson Priority: Skaters in a lesson may have priority to play their music out of sequence, for a maximum of two lessons before returning to the rotation. 

Freestyle Session Guidelines 

1. Treat all skaters, coaches, monitors, and staff with kindness, courtesy, and respect. Yelling, screaming or negative reactions or comments directed to any skater or coach on the ice surface or in any public area of the facility or grounds will not be tolerated.  
2. React with maturity when faced with inappropriate behavior by other skaters, parents, or professionals. Emotionally charged behavior will not yield productive results. Be the best example to those around you. Should problems arise with another individual, bring only the facts to the attention of the Skating Director.   
3. Speak positive terms of what your coaching relationship means to you individually. Never discuss what a coach can do or cannot do for another skater. This action is considered solicitation and could result in sanctions being taken against your coach, regardless of your intent.  
4. Spreading hearsay and rumors among skaters, parents and professionals is inappropriate and destructive to our program and the skating community. 

Right-of-Way and Priority on Ice 

1. Skaters wearing the high-visibility belt and performing their routine or to their music have the right-of-way. 
2. If multiple skaters are waiting to practice their routines, the belt must be returned to its storage location. 
3. Skaters actively skating a dance pattern in sequence have priority over those warming up or practicing individual steps. 
4. Teams and partnered skaters have the right-of-way when executing set dance patterns. For safety, other skaters should yield and give space to teams performing lifts. 

Session Flow and Traffic Control 

1. Follow the designated flow of traffic for each dance pattern, generally counterclockwise. 
2. Be mindful of others and avoid stopping in high-traffic areas, such as corners or the center of the rink. 
3. Coaches should conduct lessons without obstructing other skaters or impeding the session flow. 
4. Spins should take place in the middle of the ice unless being performed as part of a routine or program. 

Safety and Conduct 

1. Be respectful of others and maintain awareness of your surroundings. 
2. No standing in groups on the ice. Move to the boards if you need to talk or take a break. 
3. Backwards spirals or lifts may not be done during busy sessions (25 or more skaters). 
4. Only figure skating or dance blades are permitted (no rental or hockey skates). 
5. Report any injuries or ice hazards to rink staff immediately.  

Behavior 

1. Deliberately challenging, scaring or intentionally blocking other skaters is prohibited. 
2. Verbal abuse of other skaters or coaches is prohibited. 
3. Do not engage in prolonged chatting on the ice. 
4. For everyone’s safety and security, videotaping anyone other than your own skater is strictly prohibited.  

Music and Practice Etiquette 

1. Music Log: Skaters who would like to play program music must add their name(s) to the music log to ensure fair rotation. 
2. Lesson Priority: Skaters in a lesson may have priority to play their music out of sequence, for a maximum of two lessons before returning to the rotation. 
3. Music Identification: Skaters playing their music should wear a high-visibility belt to help others recognize that they are skating their routine. 
4. Only one piece of music should be played at a time — speakers are not allowed. 
5. Partnering and Team Considerations: Both partnered and solo ice dancers are welcome. 
6. Teams should communicate their planned patterns to avoid collisions.  

Coaching and Lesson Guidelines 

1. Private lessons are allowed but should not interfere with the session flow. 
2. Coaching should be conducted from the boards whenever possible. 
3. Coaches should be mindful of teams and partnered skaters working on lifts or set patterns. 

1. Children 7 years of age and older are required to use the locker room/restroom of their gender. A gender neutral/family changing room is available. 
2. Limit use of gender neutral/family changing room to no more than 20 minutes. 
3. Food, drinks, glass containers or breakable objects are not permitted in the locker rooms. 
4. No loitering. 
5. Do not leave personal belongings on benches or in the changing stalls. Use lockers for storage. 
6. The locker room will remain open 15 minutes after posted building hours for showering and dressing. 
7. To maintain a safe and sanitary facility, please shave at home. If you must shave here, be careful, considerate of others, and dispose of razors in the trash.