Children’s Movement Patterns
When we teach children we will often see immature movement patterns, or applications of the
skills. Children exhibit these movement patterns because of their lack of experience and
development. One of the instructor’s/coach’s job is to develop immature movement patterns
towards more mature movement patterns. Again, flatter terrain and slower speeds can reduce
the tendancy to rely on immature movements.
Application to Instruction/Coaching:
In alpine skiing, one of the most obvious examples is how much kids rely on the wedge for
turning and speed control. The wedge is a very strong stance for child’s body type. If a achild
chooses to stay in a wedge while turning, we need to realize that child feels the necessity to ski
that way. Instead of concentrating intensively on performing a christie with every turn, and
probably creating frustration, the instructor or coach should concentrate on furtherdeveloping
skills needed to christie in a wedge turn, setting the student up for success when they feel
comfortable enough to let go of the wedge and ski parallel.
Here are some other immature movements displayed by children. Although these are provided in
reference to Alpine skiing, the reasons for many typical movements or difficulties seen by
children learning to snowboard can be explained in the Why column.
Skill
Movement Pattern
Why
Balancing
Movements
Wide stance and two footed
support of upper body
Some breaking at the waist
And angle at the hip
Lack of strength, provides solid
base of support
Provides blance in body
because head is larger in
Proportion. Also aids strength
And support.
Gross motor skills more
Developed than fine motor skills.
Whole leg offers more strength
And support.
Straight leg braced against
Outside ski.
Rotary
Movements
Whole leg and torso move
together.
Break at waist offers some
Rotary leverage.
Younger children blanace on
The inside leg and turn
Outside ski around it. Older
Children are able to turn
Inside leg separately from
Outside leg.
Edging
Movements
Edge angle gained from
pushing ski away from body.
Whole body moves as a unit,
Opposition of upper and lower
Body not developed.
Additional torque with upper body
Adds strength to rotary
Movements of lower body.
When opposition of left and right
side of body develops, children
will be able to steer inside leg to
compliment the action of the
outside leg.
Gross motor movements create
Edge angle until fine motor
Edge change at the wedge
christie stage may be
accomplished by levering off
the tail of the inside ski,
moving the body inside the
turn or by picking the ski up.
Older children will be able to
change edges by steering
the inside ski independently
of the outside ski.
Pressure
Control
Movements
Pressure contorl is passive
rather than active.
Children will brace against
Outside ski with a straight leg
And hip angulation.
Older children will regulate
Pressure with flexion and/or
Knees and ankle articulation
Develops and knee or ankle are
Able to articulate.
Younger children often lack
opposition of the left and right
sides of the body. Gross edge
change movements become
more refined as they grow.
Older children can move left and
right sides of their body
independently.
Large edge angles created by
Wide stance cause pressure build
up.
Large muscle groups in legs and
hip give strength to deal with
Pressure.
Older children attain
proprioceptive abilities allow them to
deal with it appropriately.
Understanding these characteristic movement patterns of children AND
understanding what the ideal movement pattern is, gives the instructor a framework
to improve the movements of children.