Fall and roll
Ready when: nothing; do this before Push, roll, turn and stop (b4).
What you are learning
Three safe ways to fall: stepping off and running out, sliding on the knee pads, and rolling onto the side with the chin tucked. Every skater falls; one who falls well gets up and skates again.
Words on this card Run out, Rail
- Run out
- Stepping off the board and running to stop safely.
- Rail
- A metal bar and a block edge to ride along; sliding on the board itself, or grinding on the trucks.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Walk quickly, step off an imaginary board and keep running a few steps: a run-out.
- Drop onto both knee pads and slide forward a little, leaning back slightly.
- Squat, tuck the chin to the chest and roll onto the side and shoulder.
Your part while they practise
Show the position first; do this card before the first ride, then once a week.
Step by step
- Step off and run out.
- Drop onto the knee pads and slide, leaning back a little.
- Squat and roll onto the side or shoulder with the chin tucked.
How much: 5 of each 8 min a session 1 day a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Fall relay
You call a fall; the child does it and stands up fast; count the good falls.
Who plays: 1 or 2 children; you call.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The child starts walking across the mat
- Call "run out", "knees" or "roll"
- The child does that fall and stands up
- 9 calls
- Fair play
- Call slowly for a younger child.
- Points
- 1 point for the right fall; 1 more point for standing up with no hands on the ground in front.
- Fouls
- No points for that call
- A stiff arm put out to catch the fall
- The head hits first or the chin is not tucked
- No knee pads on
- Winning
- Beat your best from 9 calls.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 13 points for 2 stars
- 18 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
From the knees.
From walking, later from slow rolling.
What you will see, and what to say
- a stiff arm goes out
Roll, do not catch with arms
Arms in, roll. - the head leads
Tuck your chin
Look at your tummy.
Self-check
5 run-outs, 5 knee slides and 5 rolls without a stiff arm.
Stop and get a coach when
Wrist pain.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains safe falling.
awiseathlete.com/sports/skateboarding/skateboarding-b3