Method and apparatus for learning skating

Abstract

A skating practice assembly is disclosed that includes a rope, a center marker coupled to the rope proximate the center of the rope, and two handles coupled to the rope, one on each side of the center marker. Each of the handles has an opening extending through it, with the rope extending through each opening so as to couple the handles to the rope. The handles are fastened to the rope such that the distance between the handles, when the rope is extended, corresponds to the arm-length of the skater. Instruction is provided to the skater while the skater is holding the rope such that the rope extends between two fingers on each hand of the skater, the first handle contacting two fingers of one hand of the skater and the second handle contacting the two fingers on the other hand of the skater such that, when the skater's arms are outstretched, the rope becomes taut. As the skater skates, holding the skating practice assembly in the proper position assures that the skater is maintaining the proper posture. Over time, skating with the skating practice assembly in the correct position maintains the skater's body in the correct alignment, developing muscle memory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a rope;   a center marker coupled to the rope proximate the center of the rope;   a first handle having an opening extending therethrough, the rope extending through the opening in the first handle so as to couple the first handle to the rope on one side of the center marker, the coupling of the first handle to the rope fastening the first handle to the rope such that the first handle can be unfastened and moved along the rope; and   a second handle having an opening extending therethrough, the rope extending through the opening in the second handle so as to couple the second handle to the rope on the other side of the center marker, the coupling of the second handle to the rope fastening the second handle to the rope such that the second handle can be unfastened and moved along the rope, the coupling of the first handle and the second handle to the rope providing sufficient tension when fastened such that the rope can be made taut between the first handle and the second handle.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the center marker has an opening extending therethrough, the rope extending through the opening so as to couple the center marker to the rope, the center marker further comprising an alignment indicator. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the alignment indicator indicates a direction parallel to the centerline of the opening that extends through the center marker. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the alignment indicator indicates a direction perpendicular to the centerline of the opening that extends through the center marker. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the first handle and the second handle are slidably coupled to the rope using a coupling mechanism selected from the group consisting of a reduced-diameter coupling mechanism, a screw and tensioning plate coupling mechanism, a knot coupling mechanism, a loop coupling system or a spring-tensioned core-lock. 
     
     
         6 . A device comprising:
 a rope;   a center marker coupled to the rope proximate the center of the rope, the center marker having an opening that extends therethrough, the rope extending through the opening in the center marker so as to couple the center marker to the rope proximate the center of the rope;   a first spring-tensioned cord-lock handle having an opening extending therethrough, the rope extending through the opening in the first spring-tensioned cord-lock handle so as to couple the first spring-tensioned cord-lock handle to the rope on one side of the center marker; and   a second spring-tensioned cord-lock handle having an opening extending therethrough, the rope extending through the opening in the second spring-tensioned cord-lock handle so as to couple the second spring-tensioned cord-lock handle to the rope on the other side of the center marker.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the center marker comprises an alignment indicator. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the alignment indicator indicates a direction parallel to the centerline of the opening that extends through the center marker. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the alignment indicator indicates a direction perpendicular to the centerline of the opening that extends through the center marker. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the alignment indicator comprises a horizontal-indicating shape and a vertical-indicating shape. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the horizontal-indicating shape comprises a horizontal line and the vertical-indicating shape comprises a vertical line. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the horizontal-indicating shape and the vertical-indicating shape comprise a raised surface that has a color that is different from the color of the exterior of the center marker. 
     
     
         13 . A method for instructing skating comprising:
 providing a skating practice assembly to a skater, the skating practice assembly including a rope, a center marker coupled to the rope proximate the center of the rope, a first handle coupled to the rope on one side of the center marker and a second handle coupled to the rope on the other side of the center marker;   fastening the first handle and the second handle to the rope such that the distance between the first handle and the second handle, when the rope is extended, corresponds to the arm-length of the skater; and   providing instruction to the skater while the skater is holding the rope such that the rope extends between two fingers on each hand of the skater, the first handle contacting two fingers of one hand of the skater and the second handle contacting the two fingers on the other hand of the skater such that, when the skater's arms are outstretched, the rope becomes taut.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the center marker has an opening that extends therethrough, the rope extending through the opening in the center marker so as to couple the center marker to the rope proximate the center of the rope, and further wherein the center marker comprises an alignment indicator that indicates a direction parallel to the centerline of the opening that extends through the center marker. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the alignment indicator indicates a direction perpendicular to the centerline of the opening that extends through the center marker. 
     
     
         16 . A method for learning to skate comprising:
 extending a skating practice assembly that includes a rope, a center marker, a first handle and a second handle, between two fingers of one hand and two fingers of the other hand, such that the first handle contacts two fingers of one hand and the second handle contacts the two fingers on the other hand and the rope becomes taut; and   holding the skating practice assembly in front of the skater so that an alignment indicator is aligned horizontally while performing skating maneuvers.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the center marker has an opening that extends therethrough, the rope extending through the opening in the center marker so as to couple the center marker to the rope proximate the center of the rope, and further wherein alignment indicator indicates a direction parallel to the centerline of the opening that extends through the center marker. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the first handle and the second handle can be fastened to the rope and can be unfastened from the rope for repositioning the first handle and the second handle along the rope. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first handle comprises a first spring-tensioned cord-lock handle having an opening extending therethrough, the rope extending through the opening in the first spring-tensioned cord-lock handle so as to couple the first spring-tensioned cord-lock handle to the rope on one side of the center marker, and further wherein the second handle comprises a second spring-tensioned cord-lock handle having an opening extending therethrough, the rope extending through the opening in the second spring-tensioned cord-lock handle so as to couple the second spring-tensioned cord-lock handle to the rope on the other side of the center marker. 
     
     
         20 . A method for instructing skating comprising:
 providing a skating practice assembly to a skater, the skating practice assembly including a rope, a center marker coupled to the rope proximate the center of the rope, a first handle coupled to the rope on one side of the center marker and a second handle coupled to the rope on the other side of the center marker;   fastening the first handle and the second handle to the rope such that the distance between the first handle and the second handle, when the rope is extended, corresponds to the arm-length of the skater; and   providing instruction to the skater while the skater is holding the rope such that the rope extends between two fingers on each hand of the skater, the center marker contacting two fingers of one hand of the skater and the first and second handles contacting two fingers on the other hand of the skater such that, when the skater's arms are outstretched, the rope becomes taut.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the instruction comprises instruction relating to a spin. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein fastening the first handle and the second handle to the rope further comprises positioning the first handle and the second handle such that distance between the first handle and the second handle, when the rope is extended, provides the proper forward-skating alignment of the skater.