Get your scoot on

Before you begin

• The taster session needs at least one scooter. Before the meeting, ask anyone with a scooter to bring theirs in to share with everyone.
• Anyone who’s particularly experienced at scooting could demonstrate parts of the activity.
• Set up your space with a marked course. This could involve turns, a slalom around cones, or even jumps, depending on the level of experience.

Make sure you have a large indoor or outdoor space, with flat ground.

Warm up and stay safe

1. Everyone should sit in a large circle. 
2. The person leading the game should put a scooter, a helmet, a set of knee pads, and a set of elbow pads in the middle of the circle.
3. Someone who’s experienced at using a scooter should show everyone how to put on the helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads. They should then demonstrate how to scoot around the course. They should put everything back in the middle of the circle once they’ve finished.
4. Everyone in the circle should take it in turns to roll a dice. If anyone rolls a six, they should go to the middle of the circle and put on the protective clothing. They should pick up the scooter and scoot out through the gap in the circle where they were sitting.
5. They should scoot around the course, practising their balance and trying out any tricks they know. They should keep scooting until their turn is over.
6. While the person who rolled a six is having their turn, everyone else should take it in turns to roll the dice. 
7. Whenever anyone rolls a six, the person with the scooter should carefully scoot back to the circle, and then take off the protective clothing (once they’ve stopped). The person who’s just rolled the six should put on the protective clothing, and start the course. They should continue until someone else rolls a six to take over.
8. Whenever anyone rolls a number that isn’t a six, they should say something about staying safe when scooting or skating. They might want to think about:

Where to safely scoot or skate (in a park, on the pavement, in the garden, away from traffic). Special clothing to wear (helmet, knee and elbow pads). Checking your equipment is safe to use (is anything too tight or too loose? Is it the right size? Is it damaged?). Using the equipment as it was intended (only one person on a scooter at a time, do up all the straps on protective clothing). Rules about scooting or skating on the road or in public places (adhering to the Green Cross Code, being careful to avoid sticks, stones, speed bumps and potholes, scooting and skating within your ability, following road and path signs). How to fall safely (avoid locking your arms if you put them out in front of you to break a fall, and try to roll into a fall to reduce impact).

Scooting 101

1. Everyone should get into teams with one scooter between them. Ideally, each team will have one member who is experienced at scooting, who can help the others who have less experience.
2. Everyone should take it in turns to put on the protective clothing and demonstrate the following:

Starting safely. Stand with your weaker leg on the deck of the scooter. Push yourself along the ground with your stronger leg a few times to build up momentum. Once you are moving along well and don’t need to push any more, put your other foot on the deck, one foot behind the other. Stay central on the deck and keep the handlebars straight. Stopping safely. It’s best to stop gradually by applying gentle pressure to the brake. This way, you’ll avoid damaging the scooter, and avoid losing your balance and falling off. If your scooter has a foot brake, press it with your back foot. Look out for hazards ahead and don’t travel too fast. Turning. Move at a steady, slower speed, and turn by rotating the handlebars. Try not to twist the handlebars too sharply as this can make you lose balance. Stunts. Members of each team should only attempt tricks and jumps if they have enough room, and are confident and competent.