Nominations open: October 1, 2026; Deadline to submit: December 31, 2026

The Indiana Council Sportsmanship Award exists to nurture and inspire a culture of sportsmanship throughout our Indiana network of figure skating clubs, emphasizing that high character is valued alongside achievement and deserves recognition. We seek to nurture exemplary behavior that encourages, influences and develops a healthy and positive community for ALL skaters and draws new members to our community and to our sport. 

Award Criteria: 

• skater supports teammates & consistently contributes to a healthy figure skating community culture 

• skater respects competitors, judges, officials, coaches & teammates both on the ice, off the ice & in online social media activity

• skater consistently demonstrates work ethic & utilizes ice time in a way that reflects this mindset, paying attention to other skaters, coaches, lessons

• skater continuously strives to improve & is a regular participant in either competitions, testing or club skating shows

• skater is inclusive of others & welcoming to all (to new skaters, visiting skaters from other clubs, all ages of skaters, competitors, coaches, parents, rink employees)

• skater encourages all teammates and skaters, including those outside their social circle

• skater is a leader on the ice during club sessions, freestyle sessions, competitions, tests and skating shows (examples could include informal or formal mentoring of younger or new skaters, positive and supportive behavior during program run throughs for themselves and others during freestyles or club, virtual testing etiquette and respect for others, sportsmanship at competitions, thanking officials and volunteers, etc...)

• accepts wins and losses with grace and exhibits camaraderie towards competitors

*it is not expected that you will have a response for every award criterion. On the submission/Google form, please indicate N/A for those criteria which you have not witnessed/experienced. The number of criteria for which you submit a response is not the determining factor for this award; rather it is the impact of the information/examples that you share.  

Eligibility:

• USFSA and Indiana club member

• Indiana resident

• youth skater, 18 years of age and under 

NEW! Nominate via our Google form

*Google form submission process is new in 2027 and replaces written letters of recommendation for ease of submission

Nominations: must source from a figure skating coach (does not have to be the skater’s coach; cannot be a relative) and a figure skating club member (cannot be a relative; can source from a member of a figure skating club other than that of the nominee). We ask that a nomination from both a coach and a club member be submitted on behalf of the nominated skater.   

Selection:  Indiana Council will review nominations provided by all clubs and vote on the top submission by evaluation of the criteria and examples provided. 

Award: An “ICFSC Sportsmanship Award Winner” jacket or vest (sleek black jacket with silver embroidery, name placed on the front) will be awarded at the Columbus Invitational skating competition in March 2027 (this is a new venue for our award ceremony in 2027!). 

Recognition: Our award recipient will also be recognized by their respective club at that club’s award ceremony.  At the presentation of the award, segments/examples from the submission/nomination will be read in order to share the ways in which this skater demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship. This is to ensure that the behaviors recognized are shared and heard by others so that others are positively influenced by this role model.