Tot 1  |  Tot 2  |  Tot 3  |  Tot 4  |  Pre Alpha

Tot 1

Pre School Beginner Who Has Never Skated

Proper Way To Fall In a standing position, stretch hands and arms higher than eyelevel so you can see them. (Not so high that the pupil would tent to fall backwards.) Tuck chin to keep head forward. Bend knees and continue the falling down action as you would sit on a chair. Continue gently until skater falls on one cheek (bottom, that is), keeping the hands in position and off the ice.

Proper Way to Get Up Facing the instructor, get in the position of a puppy dog on hands and knees. Put one foot between hands, and then bring second foot between hands, keeping weight balanced on center of both feet. Rise, slowly, looking at the instructor, until skater is in proper standing position. Remain still for five seconds. Repeat falling and getting up two more times.

Marching in Standing Position With arms in front as in holding handlebars of a bicycle, lift alternate feet three times, remain still in proper position for five seconds. Repeat for a total of three times.

Marching While Moving March, counting 1, 2, 3; and then glide on two feet (feet parallel and comfortably apart but no farther out than hips). Repeat five times.

Tot 2

Two-Foot Jump In Place While standing still with hands in handlebar position, bend knees, jump up, land, bend knees to almost teapot position, then stand up straight again. Repeat for a total of three times.

Forward Swizzle Standing Still Standing in proper position, put heels together forming a wide "V" position, then move toes together until touching. Repeat for a total of three times. Skater should remain stationary.

Single Swizzle Same as above, forming lemons, footballs, bubbles, etc. With heels together, feet forming a wide "V" position with weight on the heels, and knees bent. Slowly push toes outward using inside edges to form swizzle in forward motion, pull toes together until touching. Steps in between are required. Repeat three times.

Beginning Two-Foot Glide Must be performed for a distance at least equal to the skater's height on two feet after taking only three steps.

Tot 3

Push and Glide Stroking From standing position (as described previously) bend both knees, push and glide on one foot. Sufficient length of glide equals one foot. Repeat for a total of six times, alternating feet, with a glide in between on two feet.

Preparation for Snowplow Stop From standing position (as previously described) with knees bent, use one foot on the inside edge and scrape to the side, creating snow. Bring foot back to starting position and repeat three times. Alternate to other foot and repeat three times.

Dip Push three times only, glide on two feet. Arms extended forward, bend knees to lower hips until slightly higher than the knees. Hold position for a count of five.

Forward Swizzle Same as the Single Swizzle in Tot 2 except two-foot glide in between swizzles is to be for a distance of at least one foot. Maneuver is to be done three times.

Tot 4

T-Position and Push (Right & Left) Push from the inside edge of the back foot and glide on the forward foot in a straight line for a distance of at least the skater's height. Repeat on the other foot from standing still position.

Backward Swizzle (Also #5 in the Pre-Alpha test). A backward swizzle must be performed for a distance at least equal to one foot in three in-and-out movements.

Two-Foot or One-Foot Snowplow Stop (Also #4 in the Alpha test). A complete stop must be made in good balance using the inside edge of either or both skates for the skidding or stopping action. The skater must remain in that position for a count of three.

Backward Wiggle From standing position, feet comfortably apart (no farther out than hips) with weight on the balls of the feet, arms in handlebar position, knee bent, wiggle hips quickly. Skater must travel backward for at least ten feet.

Tot Testing Suggestions

Testing may be facilitated (in view of the age level of this group) by group maneuvers in the form of games to encourage the tot to participate more freely.

Pre-Alpha Test

Two-Foot Glide Must be performed for a distance at least equal to the skater’s height on two feet after taking only three steps.

One-Foot Glide Must be performed for a distance at least equal to the skater's height on each foot after taking only three steps.

a. Right Foot
b. Left Foot

Forward Swizzle A forward swizzle must be performed for a distance at least equal to the skater's height in three in-and-out movements.

Backward Wiggle Must be performed for a distance at least equal to the skater's height in four zigzag movements.

Backward Swizzle A backward swizzle must be performed for a distance at least equal to the skater's height with three in-and-out movements.

 

 

 

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