Challenge Games

Games are a great way to get skaters to focus. A good game is one in which everyone can participate fairly and evenly regardless of level, the rules are fair and uniformly applied and the goal is clear. When everyone competes together the focus shifts to the process rather than the outcome. There is a 'winner' but everyone is really a winner because everyone's performance improves through the effort. Below are some games I have used successfully. Spin Race This game is rather labour intensive to set up but it is worth it. (In the examples below I have used information from different games.) Goal: Improve spins but could be adapted to focus on any skill How long does it take to complete?: Up to 1/2 hour per day over about 3-4 weeks How many can play?: As many as you like Level: All levels can compete together What You Will Need:      1 Bulletin board (18" x 24")      1 Map with a route marked out. For example, Cross Canada, Mandalay to Mecca, Athens to Turin.      1 Pin for each skater with his name taped to it.      1 Key to Distances between cities      1 Duotang with record sheets and a pen attached      1 Posted Rules How To Play: The Cross Canada Spin Race is a contest designed to encourage everyone to practice SPINS! Everyone from Intermediate to Competitive can compete against each other because it’s not judged on how well you do your spins, but on how much you practice them. In fact, everyone is a winner because with all that practice everyone’s spins are sure to improve! The race from St. John’s in the east to Victoria, British Columbia in the west is approximately 6,500 kilometres. Each full 5 minutes you spend practicing spins is worth 100 kilometres. At the end of each session, enter the number of minutes you spent spinning (in 5 minute units) in the log book. A pin with your name on it will be moved daily along the race route according to the number of minutes you have spent spinning. You will enter your own minutes in the log book on the honour system- please be sure you understand the rules and that you enter your minutes accurately. You will notice that some pins have pink tags and some have blue tags. Skaters with blue tags skate 3 sessions a week or less. Skaters with pink tags skate 4 sessions a week or more. There will be 2 winners- the first blue tag person to reach Victoria and the first pink tag person.  The winner of each category will receive a special prize. All competitors will receive a special commemorative certificate. The race is over when the majority of skaters have crossed the finish line.

Spin Race Bulletin Board

Cross Canada Map

Mandalay to Mecca map

Duotang Folder used to hold record sheets

Link to pdf. file of Daily Record Sheet Link to pdf. file of Total Kilometres Record Sheet Link to pdf. file of Key to Distances Between Cities

Participant Sticker

Participant Certificate

Tips I bring the bulletin board out every day so skaters can see their progress but because I do this race with my own skaters and not the whole rink I place it far off to the side so the other skaters are not distracted by it. If you find the game is moving too slowly have a 'Triple Your Spin Kilometres' Week. Each 5 minutes is worth 300 kilometres instead of 100. I have used prizes like a T-shirt with Spin Race Winner on it, a chamois, blade covers and other little items from the skating store. Do spins in a group format especially with the Juniors so they can get their time in but with proper supervision. The Christmas Game Goal: Knowledge of skills, proficiency in performing skills under a little pressure. I find this game particularly useful for introducing CPC language and skills How long does it take to complete?: 1/2 hour to an hour depending on the number of participants How many can play?: As many as you like Level: All levels can compete together. Skaters compete individually but it could be adapted for teams. What You Will Need: 1 Present bag with lots of small gifts from the dollar store such as gel pens, candy, special stickers,    hair clips etc. 1 Gift bag for each level of skills. The number of bags depends on the number of levels playing. Six    bags should cover from working on a loop jump to working on double lutz combination. 20-30 tags for each bag with different skills written on them appropriate to that level. Some should be     well known, others should be fairly new ones. Write the name of a skill on one side and the     number of the bag it comes from on the other. This is important as the tags will get mixed up and     labeling them makes it much easier to set up for the next game.

Tag to write skill on

Level 6 Gift Bag with names of participants on it

Some examples of skills for different levels:

Level 6 LSp (A Creative Movement Exercise) 2F Hip twist circle Double Double combo FCSp BI Counters One Foot Twist

Level  1 FO Cross Rolls 1W with Set Up Ina Bauer BO Open Mohawk Forward Lunge BI Spiral Spiralling Curve T Stop

Level 4 1Lo+1Lo+C SSp Figure 8 Stroking with BO Edge FO Bracket 1Lz with Set Up FI3, BI Mohawk Pattern Russian Stroking 1A

How To Play: Skaters have already been divided by skill level and a gift bag number assigned. Place the bags at the side of the ice. Skaters draw a skill from their own bag one at a time and them demonstrate that skill. The performer should not receive help from the other skaters in figuring out what the skill is, however, very often I will have all skaters perform the skills but will be watching the person who's turn it is the most. This helps keep skaters warmed up and focused and provides them with a little experience in doing the skill so they are ready if they draw that tag the next time. If the skill is done correctly then the skater places her tag in her 'Yes' pile. If it is not done correctly it goes back in the bag. When a skater has done 5 skills (or whatever number you decide) correctly she gets to chose a gift from the present bag.  Know Your Turns (or Edges) Goal: Knowledge of turns or edges. How long does it take to complete?: 1/2 hour to an hour depending on the number of participants How many can play?: As many as you like Level: Junior What You Will Need: 1 Marker- draw a chart like the one below at the side of the ice:

How To Play: Call out one of the turns at random for the first skater. With no help from the others, the skater must perform the turn. For this game it is not important the quality of the turn but rather, knowing which turn is which. If they attempt the correct turn, successfully or not, then they get a check mark in their box. Do the same for each skater, skating one turn only then start again with the first skater. Make sure you call out the turns randomly, otherwise the skater will just be copying the one in front of him. Give as many turns as necessary to complete the chart. The game is over when each skater has completed all his check marks. Pig Races Goal: 100% Effort How long does it take to complete?: Approximately 15 minutes from set up to finish. Could be used in a Stroking class How many can play?: At least 1 skater per team to as many as you like within reason. Usually played with 2 to 3 teams. Any more could make it difficult to give 100% effort if the skaters perceive that they are crowded across the width of the ice. . Level: Could be any level or a combination of levels as long as the teams are divided up evenly. What You Will Need:      A long piece of fast exciting music- accelerating drums would be great!      A set of three small, cute, stuffed animals- one set for each team      A marker to draw the start line      Whistle

How To Play: Teams line up at one end of the ice behind the start line. The stuffed Pigs or Rabbits are placed at the far end of the ice. Start the music. When the whistle blows the first skater in each team races to the end of the ice doing the designated step (3 turn power steps, mohawk power steps, Russian Stroking, One Foot Slalom etc. Do one foot going down, the other foot coming back.) Do not allow skaters to just race down the ice. The idea is to get skaters to gain power by skating properly. Skaters should never be provided with opportunities to skate incorrectly. No introductory steps are allowed. The whistle will blow for skaters who do not do the designated stroking and that skater will have to return to the closest end and start again properly. The game must be run fairly for all. Skaters can be reminded that if they do not do the designated stroking, the only person being cheated is themselves as the goal of the game is to learn to gain power by skating correctly. In a game in which there is one skater in each team the skater picks up a pig and brings it back with him and places it down at the end of the ice at the original end. As soon as he does, he can go and get the next pig and so on. Once all the pigs are retrieved the game is over.

In games with more players per team, each skater retrieves one pig each and then they can continue the game by bringing the pigs back to their original end and so on as long as you like. The game is over when the all the pigs are brought to their final destination according to the rules you have laid out. The number of trips will depend on how many skaters there are and how much time you have. Add On Skaters have been doing this game for ages! Goal: Increase creativity, range of skills, enthusiasm, courage How long does it take to complete?: Depends on the number of skaters, type of game and number of games played but set aside at least 10-15 minutes. How many can play?: 2 or more but best with no more than 3 or 4 players so skaters keep active and have a chance to try all the variations. Level: Any level but skaters need to be evenly matched in skill What You Will Need: No extra tools necessary How To Play: There are a few versions of this game but the same rules apply. One skater does one thing. The next skater has to do that thing plus add something else after it. Then the next skater does the two things and adds one more and so on. The game is over according to the rules you have set out. Spin Add On: For example- Camel                          Camel, Sit                          Camel, Sit, Layback                          Camel, Sit, Layback, Back Camel                          Camel, Sit, Layback, Back Camel, Front Sit                     .    ..and so on. Skaters must drop out of the game if they can't complete the entire spin. The game is over when no player can complete the entire spin. Set a rule about how many revolutions each postition must be. Jump Add On: For example- Axel                          Axel, loop                          Axel, loop, 1/2 loop                          Axel, loop, 1/2 loop, double Sal                          Axel, loop, 1/2 loop, double Sal, falling leaf                          Axel, loop, 1/2 loop, double Sal, falling leaf, Split jump                          ...and so on Skaters must drop out of the game if they can't complete the entire sequence. The game is over when no player can complete the entire sequence. Set a rule about quality. Field Move Add On: For Example: FO Spiral                          FO Spiral, (FO3), BI Spiral                          FO Spiral, (FO3), BI Spiral, I Ina Bauer                          FO Spiral, (FO3), BI Spiral, I Ina Bauer, (2 x F Crosscuts) O Spread Eagle                          FO Spiral, (FO3), BI Spiral, I Ina Bauer, (2 x F Crosscuts) O Spread Eagle, BO Pivot                           ...and so on Skaters must drop out of the game if they can't complete the entire sequence. The game is over when no player can complete the entire sequence. Set clear standards for quality. Create-A-Solo A variation of Add-On Goal: Increase creativity, remember steps How long does it take to complete?: Depends on the number of skaters and their level. One typical game for 4 players at a high level might take 15 minutes. How many can play?: 2 or more but best with no more than 3 or 4 players so skaters keep active and have a chance to try the solo frequently enough to remember it. Level: Any level but skaters need to be evenly matched in skill What You Will Need: One piece of music per game. How To Play: One skater does one thing. The next skater has to do that thing plus add something else after it. Then the next skater does the two things and adds one more and so on. Try defining the type of movement beforehand. Not playing the music first tends to bring the focus onto the movement but another variation is to play the music first. In general, the less experienced the players are the more direction they may need. For them you can call out the categories of moves to do. For example: Opening position Opening position, introductory movement Opening position, introductory movement, skate to a jump   Opening position, introductory movement, skate to a jump, do a spin ...and so on adding either a jump, spin, field move or connecting step until you determine that the skaters can no longer effectively remember the solo. At that point have the next skater(s) add concluding moves and a finishing position then play the music and everyone skates 'the solo' to that music. During the choreographic process have each skater perform the same solo but start at different places on the ice. That way, when the music is played the skaters are less likely to run into each other. Abacus Goal: improve consistency How long does it take to complete?: usually can be done in 15 or 20 minutes. It depends how many skills are used. How many can play?: Best with one so the skater doesn't get cold waiting but could be done with 2 alternating. Level: Any level What You Will Need: An Abacus or a marker How To Play: the skater has 10 tries for each skill- could be a jump or jump combination or a spin. Each time the skater completes the skill, one bead on the abacus is moved over or a mark made on the ice with the marker. See how many beads the skater can get out of 10.         Dare, Double Dare, Triple Dare Goal: get skaters to try skills they are afraid of or don't like How long does it take to complete?: Just a few minutes each time but could last over several weeks. How many can play?: one but can be played simultaneously with as many skaters as you like. Level: Any level What You Will Need:      Lots of poker chips or other markers.      A bag or box for each skill How To Play: every time the skater tries the skill whether they do it or not, they get a chip added to their box. When the player has accumulated (for example) 100 chips, he gets a small prize. Of course the real prize is that the skill is likely to improve through repetition.     _________________________________________________________________________________________________ The opinions expressed on these pages are those of Cheryl Richardson, author of, Skating Ahead of the Curve. Every effort has been made to properly credit sources for other materials. You may link to my pages but please do not reprint or otherwise distribute without my permission.                                          Seminars                                 Contact                                  Site Index