Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1517832
USICERINKS.COM MARCH.APRIL.2024 / 53 GREAT FOR ALL AGES: TIC TAC TOE The instructor will draw a tic tac toe board on the ice. Participants will line up in two teams, representing x's and o's. Line up two rows of cones between the tic tac toe board and the teams. One skater from each team will go through the cones while performing a skill applicable to their level (marches, swizzles, slaloms, power pulls). Each skater will mark their x or o with a toy or object (such as gloves), then go back through the cones to their teammate. The next two players go until one team achieves three in a row. ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS Break into two teams. Teams line up on opposite sides of each other. On "go," the first two participants will skate toward each other, stopping when they meet in the middle. If stopping is a challenge, the two lines can be parallel to each other. The two participants will challenge each other to a quick round of rock paper scissors. The winner of the round will proceed forward on their path to the other side, the loser steps off the path and returns to the end of their line. The next player in line is up, skating to meet their opponent where they will compete again in rock paper scissors. The first team to have a player make it to the finish wins. This can be tailored to all levels: on a circle using forward pumps or crossovers, moving backward while incorporating two-foot turns, or using different stopping skills depending on skater ability. BEST SUITED FOR SNOWPLOW SAM 1 THROUGH BASIC 1: SNOWPLOW SAM SAYS The instructor will take on the role of Snowplow Sam, giving the skaters instructions of actions to complete (e.g., "Snowplow Sam says do six backward wiggles" or "Snowplow Sam says do a one-foot glide for three seconds.") Skaters should follow the instructor commands only if it is prefaced with the phrase "Snowplow Sam says." Instructors can tailor the commands to match the level of the skater, making the elements more difficult or giving multiple commands quickly back-to-back. Snowplow Sam says is great for building listening skills and can be used as an overall recap of skills. HUNGRY HIPPOS The instructor will place toys in the middle of the class area and set each skater up equal distance away from the toys. Each skater will have a hula hoop placed on the ground as their home base. On "Go," skaters will move to the middle of the circle to collect a toy before quickly bringing it back to their station and dropping it in the center of their hula hoop. This will continue until no toys are left. The skater who collects the most toys is the winner. FREE SKATE AND MORE ADVANCED SKATERS: BLOB GAME One skater will be "it." This skater will try and tag the other skaters in the class. If a skater is tagged, they will form a group of two, holding hands while they skate. This continues until they have formed a group of four. They then split into two groups of two. This continues until all skaters have been tagged. It is recommended that skaters keep both feet on the ice while playing this game, using swizzles, pumps, slaloms, etc. FOUR CORNERS This is a variation of freeze tag. One participant will be "it." If they tag another player, that skater must stay frozen in place until another player comes and un-tags them by performing a spin in front of them. The four corners of the arena or class space are safe zones. If a player goes to the safe zone, they cannot be tagged. The skater who is "it" can get players off the safe zone by performing a spin in front of them. All players at the wall must leave if the tagger does this and cannot return to that corner. J k The skater that collects the most toys in their hula hoop is declared the winner of Hungry Hippos. k LEFT: Instructors learn and share ideas during a workshop at the Seattle Kraken's practice facility. RIGHT: Young skaters play the Blob Game.