Safety First, Fun Always
New inline skaters are excited but also nervous about falling backward. As the coaches, our first day needs to validate students’ fears while immediately giving them control through proper technique. The coaches should maintain an air of calm authority—strict about safety rules and technique, but warm and enthusiastic about the sport.
Here is an approach we used to apply, including a fun icebreaker talk. Here you go.
The Flow of the First Session
Welcome & Icebreaker Talk (10 min): Set the tone. (See example below).
Gear Check & "The Ready Stance" (10 min): The most serious, crucial part.
Safety Falling & Standing Up Drill (15 min): Address the fear of falling head-on.
Movement Fundamentals: "The V-Push" (10 min): Start moving slowly.
"Welcome, everyone! Give yourselves a huge clap for being brave enough to try inline skating. That takes real courage. I’m Coach Moon and this is Coach Sun.
We are so excited to teach you how to fly on wheels.
Now, I'm going to tell you a secret: Every single coach here—and every pro skater you see on TV—has fallen hundreds of times. Falling is part of learning. But the goal of today is not to prevent you from falling; it's to teach you how to fall safely, and more importantly, how not to fall backward.
Rule #1: Be a Statue, Not a Rocket
Look at me. We're going to use two images to keep you safe: The Statue and The Rocket.
The Statue: A statue stands strong, right? No matter what the weather, it's steady. When you're on skates, your Ready Stance is your statue:
Knees bent. (Bend your knees right now and feel the power!)
Shins over your toes.
Back straight but leaning slightly forward.
If you feel wobbly, what do you do? Bend the knees and make the Statue. This is your safety shield.
The Rocket: What does a rocket do when it's taking off? It leans back a little, right? But if you lean backward on skates, you become a rocket that's about to crash. Your brain will tell you to stand up straight when you feel wobbly, but that’s the worst thing you can do!
The Golden Rule: If you feel like you are falling, bend your knees more and lean forward! You can always catch yourself on your hands or knees, but you never want to fall backward onto your tailbone.
So, for the rest of the day, when a coach says 'Show me your Statue!', what do you do? (Wait for them to respond or demonstrate bending their knees). And when you feel like you're falling, which way do you lean? Forward!
Rule #2: Gear Up is Power Up
"Before we even think about moving, let's talk about our gear. This isn't just safety equipment; it's your super armor.
Helmet: Protects your amazing brain.
Wrist Guards: The first thing you'll put down when you fall. These are your shock absorbers.
Elbow/Knee Pads: These let you practice falling safely without getting scraped.
The Strict Part: If your helmet is unbuckled, or if you take your wrist guards off, you are sitting down immediately. No exceptions. This is the one rule we are Statues about!
Let’s get our super armor on and learn how to master the Statue!"
Immediate Drills to Build Confidence
After the above practice, transition to these activities to immediately address students’ fear of falling backward:
A. The Safety Squat & Fall Drill (Crucial!)
The Setup: Have students stand on skates next to a wall, fence, or partner, holding on lightly.
The Drill (Standing Still): Coach says, "Show me the Statue!" The students bend their knees and lean slightly forward.
The Controlled Fall: The coach now says, "Safe Fall!" They practice kneeling down onto their knee pads (first) and then placing their hands/wrist guards (second) on the ground in front of them. They practice doing this until it's automatic. This teaches the body's natural "catch" mechanism to go forward.
B. Standing Up Drill
The Challenge: Getting up is often the hardest part for newbies.
The Technique: Get them onto one knee (like a marriage proposal). Then, place both hands on the other knee, push off the ground, and smoothly roll up to the Statue Stance without standing straight up.
