Geared Up in Two Minutes: Helmet, Knee Pads and Wrist Guards

A skating warm-up that turns putting on gear into a fast, orderly routine checked by a partner. It ends with first weight shifts and a slow glide.

How to play

1. Demo: helmet two fingers above the eyebrows, straps in a V under the ears, one finger under the chin strap (2 min).
2. Seated, everyone puts on skates and gear in this order: wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads, helmet (3 min).
3. Partner check: the helmet should tug down when you open your mouth and stay put when you shake your head (2 min).
4. Standing still: bend the knees, shift weight from skate to skate and do duck steps in place (2 min).
5. Slow glide around the edge with hands on knees (1 min).

Rules

• No skating without all four pieces of gear.
• Skates go on while sitting on the floor or a bench.
• If you finish early, help someone; don't start skating.
• The glide is slow and in one direction.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: a picture card shows the order and the teacher points to each step.
• Students with a wrist or ankle injury: don't skate; they act as helmet inspectors with a checklist.
• Students who are afraid to skate: stand next to a wall or wall bars during the weight shifts.

Learning goals

• Put on each piece of gear correctly and independently.
• Check someone else's helmet fit.
• Find the basic skating stance with bent knees.

Equipment for a class of 25

• inline skates: 28
• helmets: 28
• knee pads: 28
• elbow pads: 28
• wrist guards: 28

Teacher tip

If you don't have enough skates, ask students to bring their own and run two shifts. The usual mistake is a helmet tipped back with the forehead exposed: fix it before anyone stands up.

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