| Many coaches and parents struggle with teaching kids | | | | of falling. A big reason many adults are scared of |
| to skate. It is a tough skill to teach since when they | | | | snakes is because they don't know much about them. |
| first learn they are scared to fall. They hang onto the | | | | Children who are exposed to snakes in a controlled |
| boards, step instead of glide across the ice, and often | | | | environment, like a zoo, are not likely to develop a fear |
| stand in one place hoping for the nightmare to end. | | | | of snakes. The same is true for skating. Being on a |
| Though these students are confident and easy going | | | | slippery surface that is both very cold and very hard |
| in other situations, wearing poorly fitted skates in a cold | | | | can be very unsettling. When you show them what it |
| arena turns them into whiny and miserable kids. Hopes | | | | is like to fall safely, you take away the fear of the |
| of someday being Olympic figure skaters or NHL | | | | unknown. |
| drafts picks quickly fade. | | | | Once the fear is gone, you get skaters who have fun |
| The answer to this situation seems cruel and off the | | | | on the ice. They are ready to feel the speed of the |
| wall but it does work. Having seen it with class after | | | | blades, to take part in games or keep up with their |
| class of elementary students, I know it works. Children | | | | friends. Soon they can learn specific skills like stopping, |
| quickly become fearless, confident and skilled skaters | | | | gliding or changing directions and have success with |
| in a short amount of time. They step away from the | | | | them. They will become easy to coach and eager |
| boards, build up speed and are no longer scared of | | | | learn. In short, they will skaters. |
| falling. What's the secret? Teach them how to fall. | | | | So how do you teach them to fall? You be patient. |
| When you teach children to fall, two things start to | | | | You tell them to bend their knees use their hands to |
| happen. The first is that they begin to realize that falling | | | | soften the fall. Give them practice falling frontward, |
| is not the end of the world. Being praised for a "good | | | | backward and to the side. Show them what it feels |
| fall" gives them a sense of pride, especially since it is | | | | like to fall or begin to fall. Have them practice falling |
| something they can do. Asking them to score a goal in | | | | from standing still, while they are skating and when |
| hockey may not be doable, but a fall is easy. The | | | | they try to stop. Though it seems like a lot. You'll be |
| embarrassment and stigma that goes with a clumsy | | | | surprised how easy it is and how little time it takes. |
| skater is suddenly gone. | | | | Soon they'll be gliding across the ice with a smile on |
| The second thing that happens is they lose their fear | | | | their face. |