Ice Skating: Special Olympics Sports Skills Instructional Program.

One of seven booklets on Special Olympics Sports Skills Instructional Programs, this guide presents teaching suggestions for ice skating coaches working with mentally retarded persons. An overview section introduces the sport and considers ideas for effective teaching. Goals, objectives, and benefits are considered along with information on clothing and equipment needed. A dryland training program is described, followed by a review of warmup lessons. Sports skill assessments and teaching methods are presented in three skill levels for recovery, walking, skating, turning, stopping, figure skating, and speed skating. Additional sections focus on competiton (rules, scoring, judging, suggested free style routines), sportsmanship, safety, modifications and adaptations, and recordkeeping. (CL)