What’s your favorite sport? Ours is a no brainer: roller-skating! Skating keeps kids active, lets families play together, and encourages individual skill. But skating itself isn’t the only way to get active on your wheels. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, and we’re celebrating with a closer look at our favorite skating sports.
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, kids need 60+ minutes of physical fitness each day to stay at peak health. Staying active develops muscles, decreases the chance of illness and disease, and even encourages brain function. Studies show that kids who stay active even have better behavior. So get off the couch, put down the smartphone, and let’s get moving!
Speed Skating
Do you have a need for speed? Then speed skating is the sport for you! Olympic speed skaters often train on inline skates during the summer months. Speed skating is essentially a skate race, pitting each skater’s speed and agility against that of their opponents.
Roller Hockey
There are two types of roller hockey: inline hockey and hardball hockey. As you probably guessed, inline hockey is played on inline skates. Played indoors with a puck and modified body checking rules, inline hockey is a contact sport with similar rules to ice hockey. Hardball hockey is played on quad skates and uses a ball instead of a puck.
Roller Derby
A contact sport that’s all about speed and skill, roller derby matches consist of two teams. Each team designates one player– a “jammer”–whose job it is to lap the other team. Other team members block the opposing team’s jammer and assist their own. Roller derby is a female-dominated sport, but male and coed teams have popped up across the country in recent years.
Jam Skating
Do you like to move to the groove? Jam skating combines dance and roller skates, giving skaters the challenge of staying on beat (and off their butts) as they freestyle skate or master dance choreography. Jam skating is typically a solo sport, but experienced teams may also dance together.
Ready to roll? There’s plenty of room to practice your sport of choice at Skate World! To learn how to get involved in roller sports, call our Lakeland skating center.
