What is it?
Advantages
Disadvantages
Rollerblading gear
Who should participate?
Learning to ride a bike
Guidelines
Glossary of terms

What is it?

Rollerblading, also known as inline skating, is like traditional roller skating with a twist: Instead of four wheels situated in box formation under the skate, the wheels are lined vertically down the center of the skate boot, like the blade of an ice skate. The ankle support offered by the molded plastic boot and the durability of the polyurethane wheels help make rollerblading an ideal activity for kids.

Advantages

Rollerblading is a fun way for kids to get fit. Done regularly at a moderate to high rate of intensity, rollerblading provides a cardiovascular workout, exercises the large muscle groups of the lower body, and burns fat. These health benefits are especially significant now that childhood obesity has become a top public health concern.

As a low-impact exercise, rollerblading is less likely than running to injure joints. Rollerblading challenges the muscles of the outer and inner thigh (adductor and abductor muscle groups), making it an excellent cross-training exercise for children who also ski, or play soccer or tennis. At the same time, having strong adductor and abductor muscles protects the vulnerable knee joint. Learning to skate also can improve a child's balance and self-confidence.

From a creative standpoint, rollerblading is a great way for kids to express themselves. Freestyle skating, for example, features airborne moves and other tricks. For kids who like to go fast, there is speed skating. Inline skating clubs and teams, many of which sponsor freestyle or speed skating competitions, are cropping up all over the country. There are also inline basketball, hockey, and other roller sport leagues.

According to a 1996 survey by the International Inline Skating Association, 35 percent of inline skaters reported that they used skating as a mode of transportation. In this sense, rollerblading, like bicycling, offers children a ticket to freedom.

Disadvantages

Unfortunately, skating injuries are common. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, each year in the United States, about 1 in 25 inline skaters sustains an injury that requires a hospital visit. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that 102,911 injuries resulted from inline skating crashes in 1996. The most common injuries involved the wrist and lower arm. Next were face and chin injuries, followed by fractures.

Typically, injuries result from hazardous road conditions, poor visibility, and fatigue. If your child wears protective gear--a helmet plus knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards--her injury risk is greatly reduced. Almost half of all skaters who get injured were wearing no protective gear whatsoever.

If you are on a budget, another disadvantage to rollerblading is cost. You can buy a pair of $30 inline skates for your child, but the quality will be lacking; your child might have trouble achieving a smooth stride in cheap skates. A pair of good inline skates cost upwards of $100 or more, a considerable investment in growing feet. Before buying used skates, check for cracks in the boots and defects in the liners. Worn wheels, bearings, and other parts can be replaced.

Your purchase doesn't stop at skates, either. Expect to spend another $20 to $50 for the helmet and other protective gear.

Rollerbladinggear

Skates: If your child is interested in roller hockey or speed skating, you can buy inline skates specifically designed for those purposes. Otherwise, you can buy multipurpose skates.

Safety gear: Your child will need a properly fitted helmet; a bicycle helmet will do just fine. Be sure the helmet carries a seal of approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation.

Your child should also wear knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, and skaters' gloves (with extra padding at the palms). Tell your child to wear all his protective gear each time he skates, just as he wears a seat belt in a car.

Who should participate?

Rollerblading is appropriate for kids of all ages. Beginners should be told to stay out of the road. The best places for kids to skate are roller rinks, and parks with paved jogging or bicycle paths.

Learning to Rollerblade

The safest way for kids to learn how to rollerblade is to take lessons from a qualified teacher. The International Inline Skating Association (IISA) maintains a database of its certified instructors throughout North America categorized by state or province. Lessons are also available at rollerskating rinks.

Another way to learn to skate is by watching an instructional video.

If you inline skate, you may feel comfortable giving your child a lesson or two. According to an article in the online publication, Fitness and Speed Skating Times basic skating skills can be taught to kids in four steps:

1. Basic Position. First, have the skater stand up straight with his feet shoulder width apart. Next, have him bend his knees until he can no longer see his toes. Then have him drop his rear end, as though sitting on a chair.
2. Flamingo. The second skill is gliding on one foot, flamingo style. First, have your child try this while standing upright. Then have him try it in the basic position. When in the basic position, it is important to glide with the elevated foot behind the body.
3. Triangle. The next skill in the progression is the push to the side, or the "triangle." Starting in a stationary basic position, the skater extends one leg out to the side. From this position, work on shifting all of the skater's body weight over the bent leg so that the child's nose, knee, and toe are lined up, as though an invisible pole was running through them.
4. McDonald's 'M': Once your child can glide in "triangle" and "flamingo" formation, he is ready to learn recovery. Recovery is the completion of the straight-away stride in which the extended pushing leg is brought back to basic position. Have him imagine that he is drawing the McDonald's "M" behind him. From the triangle, position, he brings his foot around behind him in a semicircle until his leg reaches the flamingo position, at which point he brings his knee forward, steps onto the recovered leg, and begins the push with the other skate. The recovery of the second leg completes the "McDonald's M" shape.

To reinforce skating skills and build confidence on wheels, the IISA has compiled an array of rollerblading games, such as relay races and "The Great Balancing Act."

Guidelines

The following are some safety tips from the International Inline Skating Association:

• Always wear full protective gear.
• Practice basic skills, such as balance and braking on a smooth, flat surface away from traffic.
• Avoid hills until you are ready.
• Always skate under control.
• Remember that you will gain speed quickly, even on a small hill or gradual decline.
• Take a lesson or review an instructional video before you take to the streets or trails.

Glossary of terms

ANSI: American National Standards Institute, which establishes standards for protective equipment; "ANSI-certified" means the gear complies with certain design specifications for safety
ASTM: American Standards for Testing Materials, which establishes standards for protective equipment; "ASTM-certified" means the gear complies with certain design specifications for safety
bearings: Metal balls inside the hub of the wheels crossover: placing one foot in front of the other along a curved path while maintaining skating speed
aggressive: type of skating where the emphasis is on stunts, performed either on street courses or specially built ramps or pipes
black ice: smooth, recently paved street; ideal skating surface
frame: part of a skate that holds the wheels in place; also called the chassis
freestyle: type of inline skating most similar to ice figure skating, also called artistic
half-pipe: U-shaped ramp on which skaters perform a variety of moves
liner: inner boot of a skate that cushions and supports foot and ankle
recreational: casual, non-specialized skating or skates
road rash: scrapes, gashes, or other injuries incurred when falling and sliding on pavement
Snell: A foundation that tests and certifies helmets to a high standard
wheel rotation: flipping or rotating the wheels in order to skate on the less-worn areas; extends the life of the polyurethane wheels