Our Mission Statement

We are a fun and dynamic community where everyone can realize personal goals in a safe, structured sporting environment while experiencing the love of skating fast. 

Our Vision

Nurture strong athletes, good people and a healthy community.

Our Values

 Fun 

• We develop our programs around the principle of fun in accordance with the Long Term Athlete Development model. 
• We share our passion for speed skating with the community by offering a wide variety of programs and hosting meets and special events. 
• We respect and encourage everyone’s efforts so that our members enjoy their time invested in the club. 
• We create a space where athletes develop internal motivation instead of external expectations to succeed. 
• We celebrate success in all forms: through club awards, progress stamps, personal bests, games and club special events 

Community 

• We believe that our members are part of an interconnected community of friends, family and teammates. 
• We provide a space for families to join our club together. Many intergenerational families support the operations of our club. 
• We commit to supporting one another through good sportsperson principles and Safe Sport adherence. 
• We value the efforts of our volunteers that keep the club running smoothly. 
• We believe that our club legacy comes from generations of skaters and families giving back to the Cobras community. 
• We encourage adolescent skaters to be assistant coaches and certify as FUNdamental Leaders through the National Coaching Certification Program. 
• We encourage those who have moved away from their athletic pathway to pursue a new path in coaching, officiating, fundraising, event hosting, equipment maintenance, governance or leadership. 
• We serve Waterloo Region by offering the opportunity for safe participation in sport at any age or ability. 

Inclusion 

• We have a diverse membership of all ages, identities and abilities, including skaters, board members, volunteers, parents and Life Members. 
• We adopt a welcoming attitude in our leadership.
• We do not permit discrimination or maltreatment in attitudes, behaviours or practices. 
• We commit to financial accessibility and keep program fees affordable as a non-profit organization. 
• We adopt the person-first approach. Our interactions are friendly and accommodating to encourage participation for varying needs 

 Development

• We facilitate life-long participation in sport by programming age-appropriate training activities in accordance with the Long Term Athlete Development model and Speed Skating Canada’s First and Fast Strides learn-to-speed-skate skills matrix. 
• We have training groups that reflect the abilities of our skaters to promote meaningful participation for all, including a strong Active for Life group that promotes health and wellness in the community. 
• We focus our programs on skill development, including physical literacy, mental literacy, advanced technical skills, and elite athlete habits. 
• We believe that essential life skills such as leadership, resilience and discipline, as well as social and psychological well being are developed and maintained through participation in our club. 
• We embed mental health and mental performance training into our programs. 
• We promote lifelong learning with opportunities to volunteer in new roles as officials, board members, coaches and equipment managers.

Excellence

•  We adhere to Own The Podium’s Culture of Excellence* model, where person factors and performance factors are considered as equally important elements in achieving outcomes. 
• We achieve organizational excellence with a strong model of governance and a growth mindset, as well as clear policies and procedures that are frequently reviewed and updated. 
• We give our skaters the tools to set and achieve their personal goals, whether they are recreational or competitive.
• We are committed to helping all of our skaters realize their full potential and be proud of their accomplishments. 
• We plan our training groups and structure our programs with intention based on current research in the sport science landscape. 
• We stay at the forefront of innovation in speed skating and sport by actively encouraging professional development through coaching or officiating, and provide financial support for these endeavours. 
• We invest in equipment, racing suits, skates, classroom time and tools to ensure our skaters are set up for safety and success. 
• We offer training for Performance Pathway athletes and guide them in their competitive development pathway towards provincial and national competitive experiences.