What are emerging sports?
An emerging sport is a sport that is newer in schools or is growing quickly in the world. These four are easy to start, need little space and can be done alone or in a group. They also train balance, strength, stamina and thinking.
Before you start any of them: warm up for 5 to 10 minutes, wear the right gear and tell an adult where you are.
Roller skating: push and glide
Skates have wheels, so the skill is balance and pushing.
- Ready stance: knees bent, back straight, head up, arms a little forward and out.
- Push: turn one skate out to the side and push the floor. Do not push backwards.
- Glide: bring the skates together, point them straight and roll on both.
- Stop: a heel brake or a T-stop (drag one skate behind) slows you down. Learn to stop before you learn to go fast.
Safety: helmet, wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads. Skate on a smooth, dry, flat place, away from traffic.
Climbing: three points of contact
Indoor sport climbing uses a wall with coloured holds. The safest way to move is three points of contact: two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot, stay on the wall while the fourth limb moves.
- Legs first: the legs are strong. Push up with them and keep the arms fairly straight so they do not tire.
- Hips close to the wall: this keeps your weight over your feet.
- Look and plan: choose the next hold before you let go.
- Safety: a harness and rope with a trained partner (belayer), a helmet outdoors, and soft mats for low bouldering. Climb down in control.
Orienteering: map, compass and controls
Orienteering is finding places in the right order with a map and a compass. The places are controls (flags). You punch or mark each control to prove you were there.
- Map: colours and signs show paths, water, trees and hills. Turn the map so that it matches the ground in front of you.
- Compass: the needle always points to magnetic north. Use it to turn the map and to walk in a straight direction.
- Route choice: the shortest line is not always the fastest. A path may be quicker than a thick forest.
- Safety: go in pairs or tell the organiser your start time, carry a whistle, drink water, and agree a time to return.
Rope skipping: turn and hop
Rope skipping needs only a rope. It is a very good exercise for the heart and for coordination.
- Rope length: stand on the middle; the handles should reach your armpits.
- Turn from the wrists, not the whole arm. Keep the elbows close to the body.
- Hop low: jump only a few centimetres and land softly on the balls of the feet with knees slightly bent.
- Count and rest: start with 20 to 30 jumps, rest, repeat. Later try one foot, double-unders or a partner rope.
Safety: skip on a flat, soft surface (a mat or grass), with good shoes.
What do all four train?
| Sport | Main skill | Fitness part |
|---|---|---|
| Roller skating | Balance, pushing | Leg strength, stamina |
| Climbing | Planning, grip | Strength, flexibility |
| Orienteering | Map reading, decisions | Endurance, thinking |
| Rope skipping | Rhythm, timing | Heart health, coordination |
Try it: do 30 rope skips at home, count them, rest, and do 30 more. Or draw a map of your street, mark three controls and let a friend find them.
Key formulas and definitions
- Skating: ready stance, then PUSH out to the side, then GLIDE on two skates.
- Climbing: 3 points of contact, 1 limb moves.
- Orienteering: orient the map to the compass, choose a route, find each control in order.
- Rope skipping: turn from the wrists, hop low, land softly.
- Rope length: handles reach the armpits when you stand on the middle.
Worked examples
1. A beginner skater keeps falling backwards when pushing. What should she change?
She is likely standing upright and pushing backwards. She should bend her knees, lean slightly forward, turn the pushing skate out to the side, then glide on two skates.
2. A climber has both hands on holds and one foot on a hold. Can she move the other foot? Can she also move a hand at the same time?
Yes, she can move the free foot, because three points stay on the wall (two hands and one foot). No, she cannot move a hand at the same time, because only two points would remain.
3. In orienteering the compass needle points toward the top of the map. What does that tell you?
The needle points to north. If the top of the map is also north, the map is oriented correctly. If not, turn the map until its north lines meet the needle.
4. Meera does 30 skips in 20 seconds. How many skips per minute is that?
20 seconds is one third of a minute, so a minute is 3 times 20 seconds. 30 x 3 = 90 skips per minute.
Common mistakes
- Skating stiff and upright. Bent knees give balance.
- Pulling with the arms all the time in climbing. Use the legs to push up.
- Holding the map any way round. Always turn it to match north.
- Jumping very high and landing on the heels in rope skipping. Hop low and land on the toes.