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Bird Ice Arena
102 Oxbow Trail
Athens, Ohio 45701 

Skating Programs

Bird Ice Arena is temporarily closed due to unexpected facility equipment issues. All Learn To Skate and Learn To Play Hockey programming for Fall 2024 has been cancelled.

Recreational Skate Sessions

View the Bird Arena Ice Schedule for recreational skate times.

Rec Skate ice times are open skating sessions available to all experience levels and ages.

Helmets, skating aids, and rental skates (additional $5 fee) will be available at the Front Desk. For more information or accommodations, call 740.593.4623 or email campus.recreation@ohio.edu. 

Before attending, please review the Rec Skate Policies and Procedures.

Bird Arena Rec Skate Policies and Procedures:

Ice skating is for fun and enjoyment for everyone. Skating can be enjoyed in many ways. Regardless of your skill level, there are elements of risk in ice skating. Use good judgement, show courtesy to others, and anticipate dangerous situations before they arise. The following rules are basic elements of safety and courtesy:

  • Participants must pay or check in at the Front Desk prior to skating.
  • All participants must sign a waiver before entering the ice.
  • Bird Arena staff will be on the ice as ‘Skate Guards’ if participants need any assistance.
  • Helmets are strongly recommended for all participants. Please request a helmet at the Front Desk free of charge.
  • No rough housing or playing tag, chase, or “crack-the-whip”.
  • No metal, plastic, hard hair accessories or jewelry permitted while skating.
  • Long pants, layers, and gloves are recommended while on the ice.
  • No sticks, pucks, or balls.
  • No banging/hitting the glass at any time.
  • Children 17 years or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
  • No weaving around other skaters or the cones.
  • No excessive roughness, speed skating, or skating against the designated skating pattern.
  • No one is allowed on the ice without skates.
  • No intentional sliding or diving on the ice.
  • No kicking or chipping of the ice or dasher boards.
  • No more than 2 people may skate together (no chains)
  • Do not sit or lean over the boards.
  • Skaters are not permitted in the team bench areas or penalty box.
  • Ice skates are not allowed in bleachers or spaces without rubber flooring.
  • No carrying children at any time on the ice.
  • No personal items such as headphones, handbags, phones, cameras, etc. on the ice.
  • All exits and doors must remain clear at all times.
  • No food or drink, tobacco, or alcohol products are permitted on the ice or inside the facility at any time.
  • Please skate in counter clockwise motion unless otherwise instructed by Bird Arena staff.
  • Report any dangerous situations or behavior to Bird Arena staff immediately.
  • Skaters participating in open skate are doing so at their own risk.
  • Younger and inexperienced skaters should skate near the boards.
  • Use of profanity or obscene gestures is strictly prohibited.
  • No personal music is to be played inside the facility.
  • All ice surface doors must remain closed during resurfacing.
  • No chairs or learn to skate devices allowed on the ice.
  • Bird Arena reserves the right to stop any behavior or actions considered to be unsafe. You may be asked to sit out for a certain amount of time and/or leave the ice.
  • Bird Arena/Campus Recreation is not responsible for lost, damaged, or missing items. All skaters & spectators must act responsibility while on the ice and in the rink- Disruptive behavior may result in dismissal from the program without reimbursement.

There are elements of risk that good judgement and personal awareness can help reduce. You are ultimately responsible for your personal safety. Use caution, and skate in control. Respect other skaters. It is part of your responsibility to avoid other skaters and hazards. Failure to use good judgment, to skate responsibly, or to follow the rules will result in the loss of skating privileges.

Learn to Skate

Learn To Skate is back! Learn To Skate USA curriculum will be used for Snowplow Sam levels 1-4, Basic levels 1-6, and JR Blades/Free Skate. Skating sessions are designed to teach the basics of figure skating or recreational skating.

Learn more about different levels

There will not be any Learn To Skate sessions for the Fall 2024 semester. Please check back for Spring program and registration information! 

Freestyle Skate Sessions

Freestyle ice time is for scheduled private one-on-one lessons & independent skilled skating. Freestyle sessions allow skaters extra practice time to fine-tune their skills. Skaters can work independently on various skills or receive a scheduled private lesson by an outside instructor.

Skaters below the level of Basic 4 must be in a lesson with an instructor to skate during Freestyle ice times.

View the Bird Arena Ice Schedule for Freestyle skate times.

Before attending, please review the Freestyle Policies and Procedures.

Freestyle Policies and Procedures:

Freestyle ice time is for scheduled private one-on-one lessons and independent skilled skating. Freestyle sessions allow experienced skaters extra practice time to fine-tune their skills. Skaters can work independently on various skills or receive a scheduled private lesson from an outside instructor.

Skaters below the level of Learn-to-Skate USA’s Basic 4 must be in a lesson with an instructor in order to skate during Freestyle ice time. Skaters below Basic 4 level, who are not engaged in a lesson with a private coach, may be asked to leave the ice, but are welcome to attend our rec skates. We reserve the right to require skaters to show acceptable documentation demonstrating that they meet or exceed Learn-to-Skate USA’s Basic 4 level.

Rules and Responsibilities

All skaters must fill out a current assumption of risk form at the front desk before skating.

1. All Freestyle ice time must be purchased at the front desk PRIOR to the session. 

2. Ice monitors reserve the right to ask SKATERS OR PARENTS to leave the rink in relation to disciplinary issues should they see fit.

3. NO group skating/groups of more than 3. This includes synchronized skating groups & teams of 3+.

4. Parents/guardians are legally liable and responsible for their children while using Freestyle ice. 

5. NO headphones/earbuds of any kind permitted.

6. Children under 12 are not permitted on the ice without a coach (Unless approved by coaching staff or the child is above the skill level of Basic 4) 

7. Only ice monitors will play music. If you wish to play music, it must: 

  • Be related to a program/number
  • Be already cut, appropriate, and approved by staff
  • Emailed to skating@ohio.edu PRIOR to the session. 

Personal Conduct

1. Skaters shall not skate in such a manner, nor do anything else, that might endanger themselves or any other skater. More experienced skaters must ensure that they do not threaten the safety of less experienced skaters on the ice. Less experienced skaters should stay to the edges of the ice, unless in a private lesson, to ensure more experienced skaters are able to practice jumps and spins safely.

2. Skaters and visitors are to act courteously towards other skaters, employees, and visitors. Any verbal threats, cursing, or other inappropriate behavior will be reported to management. Anyone deemed by the Ice Monitor on duty to have violated this rule shall have their behavior documented and, depending on the nature and severity of the incident, may be given a warning and an opportunity to improve their behavior. Violation of this rule may result in loss of Freestyle privileges.

3. Skaters should be ready to work. Socializing should be done off ice or in a hockey box where those socializing are not in the way of others who are skating. If any skaters or patrons are causing a disruption to other participants, then the Ice Monitor will address the concerns and may remove the patron/skater from the facility.

4. Sitting or climbing over the boards is prohibited.

5. Skaters and others shall not obstruct the entrances to and from the ice surfaces. Skaters should look both ways when entering and re-entering the ice from the entrances or from positions along the barrier.

6. Skaters and others should not interrupt a private lesson in progress. However, private instructors may not claim, or block off a section of ice, and should recognize that all skaters need access to the entire ice surface. Recognizing the flow of skaters and avoiding skating patterns of others is the responsibility of the private instructor to ensure skater safety.

7. All skaters participating in a Freestyle session must observe the ice and general safety rules by watching out for those around them, anticipating where jumpers will land, and not loitering in the jump corners. “Jump corners” refers to the corners of the rink in, or around the faceoff circle, which is marked in the ice surface. Skaters must become familiar with and not interfere with jump patterns.

8. Skaters should be observant and watch out for fallen participants. If a skater falls and an injury occurs where a skater may not be able to get up due to injury, the Ice Monitor will attend to the fallen skater and provide assistance.

9. When the jump harness is in use, skaters must remember that the skater in the jump harness cannot get out of the way quickly. Cones must be utilized when the jump harness is in use to properly mark the skater’s path. The skater using the jump harness is the only one who can use the cones during this time.

10. Both hockey and figure skaters are allowed on the ice during freestyle. However, no hockey nets or pucks are permitted.

11. Stationary props are not considered loose objects when being utilized as part of a figure skating routine and may only be on the ice during the routine. Skaters must check with the ice monitor before using stationary props. The prop must be returned to an office location when not being used.

12. Loose objects used for instructional purposes such as cones, buckets, or other similar items are not permitted on the ice during ice hockey skating instruction.

The Ice Monitor has discretion to interpret and enforce all applicable policies and rules as they deem appropriate.

Freestyle Skate prices are listed on the Fees and Memberships page. Skaters must purchase Freestyle access passes in addition to private lesson fees. Bird Arena staff will be located at the ice to monitor Freestyle times and music. For more information or accommodations, call 740.593.4623 or email campus.recreation@ohio.edu.

Private Skate Lessons

Private lessons must be coordinated by external instructors. Instructors who are interested in providing Private Lessons at Bird Arena can find more information by contacting skating@ohio.edu. For more information or accommodations, call 740.593.4623 or email skating@ohio.edu.

Skaters looking for a private lesson must coordinate lesson times and payment with an outside coach/instructor. Bird Arena will keep an active list of instructors and contact information for interested participants. Payments for private lessons must be completed directly with your coach/instructor. The 15 minute Freestyle ice time entry fees will be paid at the Front Desk with Bird Ice Arena Staff.

Example: If you have a 15 minute private ice lesson with an outside instructor, you will pay the 15 minute Freestyle entry fee at the Front Desk and will also pay your instructor directly for the lesson.

Synchronized Skating

Bird Ice Arena is the proud home for the Synchronized Skating Club team. For more information about the Synchronized Skating Club, please email OhioSynchro@ohio.edu.