Inline Skating Crossovers Around a Cone Circle

Students learn crossovers on inline skates, with a helmet and full pads: the outside foot crosses in front of the inside foot to turn without losing speed. They progress from standing crossovers to rolling ones and review them on video.

How to play

1. Mark three cone circles 8 m across; skate counterclockwise, leaning into the circle (3 min).
2. Standing crossover with a partner for support: lift the outside foot and set it down in front of the inside foot, both directions (5 min).
3. Slow side steps along the circle line, crossing the outside foot over (5 min).
4. Rolling crossovers at low speed: two crossovers and a glide each quarter circle; switch direction after 4 minutes (8 min).
5. A partner records 10 seconds on a tablet, and the pair checks for shoulders turned in, bent knees and all wheels on the ground (4 min).

Rules

• Helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads on at all times.
• No more than five skaters per circle, all going the same direction.
• Pass only on the outside, calling "On your left" or "Passing".
• The person filming stays outside the circle, 6 feet from the cones.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: analyzes the video and gives feedback to pairs.
• Hearing impairment: the direction change is signaled by raising a cone.
• Fear of falling: practices along a fence with a partner alongside holding their forearm.

Learning goals

• Perform crossovers on a curve while keeping balance.
• Understand leaning into the turn.
• Analyze one's own technique from video.

Equipment for a class of 25

• inline skates: 15
• helmets: 15
• knee pads: 15
• elbow pads: 15
• wrist guards: 15
• cones: 24
• tablets or phones: 3

Teacher tip

If the school has no skates or pads, borrow them from a local skating club, the city recreation department or another school, or let students bring their own with a signed parent permission form. Get parent permission for filming beforehand and delete the videos at the end of the session.

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