For parents of children aged 6-9 in Nordiq Canada's Jackrabbit cross-country skiing program, 2026-27 season. Covers ages and stages, what children learn, the enrolment kit, registration, award stickers, recommended practice, parent responsibilities and what comes next (Track Attack).
Jackrabbits is for children aged 6 to 9. It is the second level of Nordiq Canada's Skill Development Program, in the "FUNdamentals" stage of athlete development.
The levels are:
Note that a sample registration form in Nordiq Canada's Programmer's Guidebook describes Jackrabbits as ages 4 to 9; the guidebook's program description and Nordiq Canada's website both say 6 to 9.
Sources: https://nordiqcanada.ca/athlete-hub/youth-programs/ and Skills Development Programmer's Guidebook (December 2019).
Jackrabbits aims to develop fundamental movement skills: running, jumping, catching, kicking, throwing, swinging and hitting as building blocks for any sport. For skiing these are summarized as Agility, Balance and Coordination (the ABCs), because without balance a skier cannot properly glide in classic or skating.
Children also learn fundamental sport skills (body position or athletic stance, weight shift, and balance and glide) and the basics of both classic and skating cross-country ski styles. Nordiq Canada says the goals are good ski technique habits, speed, fun and fitness, and building a lasting interest in the sport.
Sources: https://nordiqcanada.ca/athlete-hub/youth-programs/ and Skills Development Programmer's Guidebook (December 2019).
Nordiq Canada's Jackrabbit materials are:
Sources: https://nordiqcanada.ca/athlete-hub/youth-programs/ and Skills Development Programmer's Guidebook (December 2019).
Under Nordiq Canada's policy, each child in the Skill Development Program (Bunnyrabbit, Jackrabbit and Track Attack) must:
The registration steps in the guidebook:
The guidebook asks clubs to complete registration early in the fall, so children can ideally receive their kit at registration or at the first practice.
Source: Skills Development Programmer's Guidebook (December 2019).
Jackrabbits earn Technique Award stickers for Levels 1 to 4, one for each skill level they master as they progress through the program. Nordiq Canada says most children complete one level per season. Each sticker goes over the matching "Technique Award #X" circle in the child's Jackrabbit booklet, which is meant to be a comprehensive record of the young skier's career and kept at home.
They can also earn Program Award stickers for achievement in specific areas, for example "Skiing Often" (see the next question below). The most-used stickers include Technique Awards 1 and 2, Skiing Often 3, and Sprint Green and Blue.
Source: Skills Development Programmer's Guidebook (December 2019).
"Skiing Often" is a Jackrabbit program award sticker (the Richard Webber award) that encourages play-time on snow, including frequent use of a ski playground, in addition to regular club practice sessions. It builds the balance, agility, fitness and rhythm that make up good technique.
There are five levels, earned through ski outings beyond the regular Jackrabbit club practices:
A skier can earn one sticker per year, except in the final year, when a bonus sticker can be earned.
Source: Skills Development Programmer's Guidebook (December 2019). Nordiq Canada's guidebook points to its website for complete information on Jackrabbit awards.
Nordiq Canada's Programmer's Guidebook says children need this much supervised club practice and extra play-time on skis, early on, to acquire the fundamental movement and sport skills by the end of the Learning to Train stage:
| Age | Club practice sessions | Extra play-time on skis |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 16 on snow; 2 per week | minimum 2 times a week over 3 months = 24 |
| 7 | 16 on snow; 2 per week | minimum 2 times a week over 3 months = 24 |
| 8 | 30 on snow; 2 per week | minimum 3 times a week over 3 months = 30 |
| 9 | 30 on snow; 2 per week | minimum 3 times a week over 3 months = 30 |
(For comparison, age 5 is 8 on-snow sessions at 1 per week and a minimum of 1 extra outing a week over 3 months = 12.)
Source: Skills Development Programmer's Guidebook (December 2019).
Nordiq Canada's Programmer's Guidebook says parents are responsible for:
Parents can also help by coaching, programming, grooming and track setting, registration, fundraising, ski swaps and special events. The guidebook tells programs to hold a parent meeting at the start of the season covering the program goals, the season outline, equipment requirements, clothing requirements and parents' responsibilities. The guidebook itself does not give a specific equipment list or a temperature cut-off.
Source: Skills Development Programmer's Guidebook (December 2019), https://nordiqcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/Programmers-Guidebook-copy.pdf
Nordiq Canada says the coaching training matched to the Jackrabbit level is the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) "Community Coaching" course, with content specific to the needs of 6 to 9 year olds. The level below, Bunnyrabbits (ages 4 to 5), uses "Introduction to Community Coaching". Nordiq Canada's Programmer's Guidebook also notes that parents can support the program by becoming coaches or assistant coaches themselves.
Source: Nordiq Canada Skills Development Programmer's Guidebook (December 2019).
Track Attack is the third level of Nordiq Canada's Skill Development Program, for children in the "Learning to Train" stage, aged 10 to 12. Nordiq Canada says it helps children become technically competent cross-country skiers and explore a wide range of ski activities. Coaches at this level take the NCCP "Competition Coaching - Introduction" training.
Track Attack participants receive a Nordiq Canada Swix neck warmer as their enrolment kit, rather than the toque given to Jackrabbits. (One line of Nordiq Canada's 2019 Programmer's Guidebook gives Track Attack as ages 9 to 12; the guidebook's own program description says 10 to 12.)
Sources: https://nordiqcanada.ca/athlete-hub/youth-programs/ and Skills Development Programmer's Guidebook (December 2019).