Push, roll, turn and stop
Ready when: Stance and balance on grass (b1) and Fall and roll (b3) done.
What you are learning
Making the board go, steer and stop. Push with the back foot, then rest it across the back of the board and glide; lean on the toes or the heels to turn; drag the back foot's sole to stop.
Words on this card Trucks, Push, Slalom, Line
- Trucks
- The metal parts holding the wheels, and the bolts on top of the board that fix them; feet go over the bolts.
- Push
- Pushing along the ground with the back foot, then riding without pushing.
- Slalom
- Riding a zigzag round a line of cones.
- Line
- The path a skater is taking through the park.
Set up
A lane with start and stopping lines; cones.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Front foot just behind the front bolts, pointing forward; push along the ground with the back foot.
- Put the back foot across the back of the board and turn the front foot sideways: glide.
- Lean on the toes to turn one way and the heels to turn the other.
- Take the back foot off and press its sole gently on the ground to stop.
Your part while they practise
Walk beside and push gently at the hips first, then stand at the stopping line.
Step by step
- You push the child gently along the lane, knees bent, feet over the bolts.
- The child pushes alone: front foot just behind the front truck, push with the back foot.
- Set the back foot across the back of the board.
- Turn by pressing the toes or heels.
- Stop by dragging the back foot's sole.
How much: 10 runs 10 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Stop on the line, then slalom
Push, glide and stop as close to the line as you can; then weave the cones.
Who plays: 1 or 2 skaters, taking turns; you judge.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Push off from the start line
- Glide and stop on the stopping line
- Then ride the slalom of 3 cones
- 5 turns each
- Fair play
- A grown-up must stop with the weaker foot.
- Points
- 2 points for stopping with the front wheels on the line; 1 point for stopping within a step of it; 1 point for each cone passed.
- Fouls
- No points for that turn
- Stopping by jumping off without running out
- Riding over a cone
- Starting before the other skater is clear
- Winning
- The most points after 5 turns.
- 10 points for 1 star
- 18 points for 2 stars
- 25 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A short lane.
Stop by jumping off and running out.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child stands still after pushing
Push, then glide
Push, then rest. - the stop skids
Press the foot down slowly
Gently, then harder.
Self-check
Push, roll 5 seconds and stop on the line 5 times; slalom 3 cones.
Stop and get a coach when
Repeated falls on the wrist.
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 pushing, steering, braking.
awiseathlete.com/sports/skateboarding/skateboarding-b4