.T.A.R.S. (Standardized Testing of Ath- leticism to Recognize Skaters) is en- tering its third year nationwide with
exciting new additions to the program con- tent and the involvement of some top names in skating. S.T.A.R.S. is a one-day, off-ice testing
event that was developed by the U.S. Figure Skating Athlete High Performance Depart- ment and U.S. Figure Skating’s Sports Science and Medicine Committee to provide a stan- dardized approach to help our skaters devel- op into great and safe athletes. The goals of S.T.A.R.S. include helping skaters train their athletic skills before attempting advanced elements on the ice, helping them stay resis- tant to injury. Athletes sign up online for the combine
city and date of their choice. The day of the combine, athletes participate in 15 rigorous (and fun) off-ice tests focusing on measuring their athletic abilities in three main areas:
1) Agility/Balance/Coordination; 2) Strength and Power; 3) Flexibility. The day of the test- ing, the participants receive a raw score from each test that can be compared to their peers by skating level and gender. At the end of the combine season (July–August, 2013), participants will be able to log in online and find out how their scores matched up against other athletes in their age and gender groups nationwide. Top athletes are recognized in SKATING magazine and at oth- er events throughout the year. In addition to partici-
pating in the off-ice testing, a new feature for the 2013 S.T.A.R.S. season will be an interactive seminar for the athletes, parents and coach- es: “Training, Overtraining and Recovery,” which will help explain why these
athletic skills are important to developing a top athlete on the ice and avoiding fatigue and injury related to overtraining. Athlete High Performance Manager Naama Kellman will again anchor the ad- ministration of the S.T.A.R.S. combines from U.S. Figure Skating Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo.
2006 Olympic silver medalist ice dancer
Tanith Belbin and two-time U.S. champion pairs skater Rockne Brubaker are excited to be part of S.T.A.R.S. 2013.
Have Tanith or Rockne come see YOU at S.T.A.R.S.
• Registration opens March 1, 2013, online at www. STARScombine.org.
• The first three S.T.A.R.S. locations to reach 100 registered athletes will receive a visit from one of our celebrity athletes, Tanith Belbin or Rockne Brubaker, who will assist with the seminar and have extra time for questions as well as photo and autograph opportunities.
18 FEBRUARY 2013
• The athletes of the top cities will be featured in an issue of SKATING magazine.
• The top 10 coaches with the most registered athletes will receive an exercise prize package, including useful and fun equipment to use with their students.