diff mins

Posted on by sk8geek

Here I have compared the current (version 4.10) WFTDA Minimum Skills Requirements to the previous version.

In the main the list below gives additional skills. I have omitted items that are unchanged or where the new document simply explains at length the details of the skill. An example of such is T-Stops. In the old document no definition was given, the new details which wheels should be used.

Where a skill has changed materially I include it with the change highlighted. An example being the speed requirement is now 27 laps in 5 minutes, not 25. Where a skill is no longer included I have listed it struck out; some falls for instance.

It should also be noted that the skills have changed from a requirement to being “strongly recommended”  or “recommended” at some levels of play. I would imagine that most, if not all, teams will continue to consider them a requirement before play.

Basic Skating Skills

Skating Posture

  • Demonstrates stability, with centre of gravity down and forward
  • Demonstrates ability to skate low with bent, flexible knees

Stride

  • Shifts weight completely from foot to foot without stumbling

Crossovers

  • Performs reverse crossovers, crossing over the right foot to the outside of the track

Speed and endurance

  • Skates at least 25 27 laps around regulation track within five minutes
  • Accelerates from a standstill to complete one lap within 13 seconds

Stops

  • Skater must come to a complete stop from a brisk pace within 4 seconds, using proper form and without losing balance

Other skating skills

  • Performs one-foot glides with each foot for the length of the track turn and straightaway with good balance
  • In low stance with one foot completely off the floor, able to balance weight over the other foot for at least 5 seconds
  • Maintains speed sufficient to complete the glide and does not flail limbs
  • Performs smooth, quick lateral cuts, crossing the track at least three four times on each straightaway and twice at least three times on each track turn
  • Backwards skating within track boundaries. Maintains moderate pace skating backward around the entire track

Recovery Tactics

Knee taps

  • Performs each knee tap without coming to a complete stop
  • Taps a single knee without breaking normal skating stride
  • Performs two consecutive single knee taps in stride, with low recovery

Double knee slides

  • Knees do not make contact with ground at exact same time
  • Returns to active skating within two three seconds
  • Recovers without using hands to get up
  • Momentum used to initiate the slide is continued into the recovery to normal skating motion

Figure 4/Baseball Slide

180 Degree Turn Single Knee Fall

Four point fall

Balance and Agility

Standing and stepping from a standstill, maintaining control of wheels (not rolling)

  • Grapevine
  • Shuffle
  • Quick steps
  • Ability to balance on each foot from a stationary position at least 30 seconds

Hopping

  • Hops over an object at least 3 6 inches in height without touching the object or losing balance, while skating at a moderate pace
  • Jumps with both feet simultaneously, but does not have to land with both feet simultaneously
  • Hops laterally at least 18 inches from a brick forward speed

Weaving

  • Manoeuvres through 10 cones, each no more than six 5 feet apart (not to exceed 50 feet), placed through the straightaways and track turns, in less than 6 seconds

Transitions

  • Turns 180 degrees without breaking stride, maintaining a moderate pace
  • Turns clockwise and counter-clockwise from front to back
  • Turns clockwise and counter-clockwise from back to front
  • Turns 360 degrees without breaking stride, from a moderate pace. Using two 180 degree turns in a row, without breaking stride, is acceptable

Pack Skills and Interactions

Whips

  • Taking and providing hip, belt and clothing whips

Weaving and moving around obstacles

  • Demonstrates weaving through a single-file line of skaters, each an arm’s length apart, at a moderate pace

Unexpected obstacles

  • Testing all skaters in a pack of at least four other 4-10 moving at a moderate pace. All skaters demonstrate the ability to perform safe knee taps and slides at unexpected times in the pack. Pack skaters must avoid the downed skater(s) without going out of bounds, falling over them or causing unnecessary hazard

Leaning

Bumping

Blocking

Positional blocking and leaning

  • Demonstrate ability to plough stop in a pack without tripping other skaters in the pack
  • Demonstrate ability to use plough stop to slow another skater