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Origins And Growth Of In-Line Skating
Pros & Cons Of In-Line Skating
What Is "Aggressive" Skating?
How Early Can My Child Begin In-Line Skating?
How Can I Help My Child Get Started?
What Equipment Do I Need To Buy?
Where Should My Child Skate?
How Safe Is In-Line Skating?

According to the National Sporting Good Association (NSGA), 13.1 million people participated in in-line skating in 2006. The International In-Line Skating Association puts the number higher, at almost 30 million; half of them under the age of 14. Inline skating was the fastest-growing sport in the 90's. Half of all inline skaters were under the age of 18.

Pros:

• Good aerobic exercise. Inline skating burns more calories than bicycle riding and almost as many as jogging

• Good form of cross-training for other sports.

• Causes less impact on joints. Compared to running, inline skating causes less than 50 percent of the impact shock to joints.

• Offers younger children a way to get around

• Equal opportunity. According to the NGSA, about half of inline skaters are female.

• A lifetime sport for the whole family. In-line skating is a sport you can enjoy along with your child and participation can last a lifetime.

• Low cost: Entry level skates now cost less than $20 per pair, a 10-fold decrease in the past decade (although MomsTeam recommends against buying cheap skates)

Cons:

• Injuries. The good news is that, by getting proper instruction and using safety gear, the injury risk is actually quite low.

• Shortage of safe places to skate. The shortage is especially acute for "aggressive" skaters, although the construction of skate parks has seen explosive growth in recent years.

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Related Articles

What To Look For In An In-Line Skate
In-Line Skating: A Primer For Parents
Buying Equipment For Aggressive Skating
International Inline Skating Association Rules Of The Road
Consumer Product Safety Commission Warning To In-Line Skaters
Recommendations By The American Academy of Pediatrics Regarding In-Line Skating
In-Line Skating Instruction: Where to Get It
Getting Involved In "Extreme Sports": Advice From Parents Of Top Extreme Athletes

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