Youth
Learn to skate (better)
At IJCE you can learn to skate. The (young) children learn this on the outdoor 30x60 meter track, oalso known as the 'small track' and the advanced youth are taught on speed skates on the 400 meter track, also known as the 'long track'.
Fun is paramount at IJCE. Those who have fun on the ice like to come back. Those who are on the ice more often learn to skate better. On the small track we make this happen with a lot of games and by giving instructions to, for example, imitate animals. Did you know, for example, that a monkey has a great skating posture? For young children it is more fun to cross the track like a monkey than to be told to ‘squat’ more and skate to the other side.
The groups on the small course are divided by level:
Penguins: not so fast, a bit wobbly on the ice
Walruses: faster than a penguin but still a bit slow and coarse in its movements
Seals: faster than the walrus and a lot more agile.
Polar Foxes: snooping for pray, agile and learning to ride corners.
IJsberen: Powerful, agile, and the fastest on the ice.
Further reading: First time on the small track.
From learning to training
After the polar bears, the children go to the long track. There they continue to learn how to skate more balanced and faster straight ahead and turn corners properly. In addition, the lessons slowly turn into workouts: in addition to technique, it is also about strength and endurance. We use the latest methods of the KNSB. The progress is recorded on an official KNSB skils passport.
The groups on the long track are initially divided by age, agility and friendships. They can be described broadly by:
- Pupil groups (up to about 12 years)
- Mixed groups pupils/juniors (10 to 14 years)
- Juniors (from 13 years old)
There are several groups per age category. The accents are slightly different for each group. The group division is based on skating technique and ambition. In this way, children with similar interests and similar level end up in the right group.
All youth of IJCE train at the same hours. Training sessions are on Saturday mornings and Monday evenings. For the exact times, see our training timetable.
Competition racing
You learn to skate not only by training but also by joining the competitions (single distances, marathons etc.). There are competitions for all age groups and for every level. You can measure your progress in skating with yourself and with others. But above all, it is great social group activity. For the little ones there is the small track competition and the more advanced take part in training and inter-club competitions and marathons.
For many IJCE youth and their parents, the course of events around matches and tournaments is a true maze. What competitions are there? Where can I find it? How do I sign up? Do I need a license? We have tried to list everything on this page. Hopefully you will find your way through the maze. If you still can't figure it out, check with your trainer or a teammate who also competes.
Fun activities
In addition to training and competitions, we also organize a large number of activities for the youth. You can find out more about this on our activities page.
Introduction lessons
IJCE regularly organizes a welcome lesson for new youth members on the ice hockey rink of the IJssportcentrum Eindhoven. New youth members are invited, together with their parents, to come and get acquainted with the training and the possibilities of skating at IJCE. More information? Click here.