They are being very late about practice groups, which is a PITA. Practice groups seem to be random, not the top skaters. Mathman is right. Practices are great but I dont know if a 5 year old is gonna appreciate what is going on.
Here is why I go to all the practices I can.
1. Let us say practice group 1 is Yu-Na, Ashley, Mao, and three other ladies. Usually one or so dont show up. There is a six minute warm up where they all skate around trying not to hit each other and then their music is played one time in the following order...or so the announcer says...if Yu-Na is a no show, then they still play her music or some music. The announcer will say, First is Yu-Na Kim skating her short program. Next will be Ashley Wagner.
2. The lady whose music is playing usually goes out, takes a set, and her music is started....but she doesnt have to skate her whole program or any part of it....she may not even jump till her music is over and someone else is skating. The lady whose music is playing has the right of way but everyone else is out there practicing at the same time. If you are lucky you are sitting near a coach like Mr. Nicks who likes to sit in the stands somewhere and talk with Ashley and work on things. You can hear the interaction sometimes. You can see who is on and who is not...if you can read faces and body language, it helps....some coaches like to stay in an area the fans cant get too...some dont mind being with the fans and talking with them before and after the practice. It is common for skaters to sign a few autographs after the practice is over, but before the next group. When the last skater's music is done, the announcer will say, Ladies, there are 8 minutes left in this warm-up. When a skater is done with the practice, they go to to center of the ice and take a bow. Some will then sign autographs till the announcer says, Ladies, this practice is over, will you please leave the ice. Then the announcer will launch the next group by saying, "This is the official practice for ladies group B (or 2). Will the following skaters please take the ice for a six minute warmup? Dorthy Hamill, Michelle Kwan, Peggy Flemming, Naomi Nary Nam, and Mirai Nagasu. And it starts again.
http://www.worlds2013.ca/event/pdf/2013CompSchedule_en.pdf
So the little number listed in the coloured sections tells me the warm up group, is group one "the top skaters'? When would the start orders or at least the warm up groups get listed?