1. Off the Ice - Make Sure Your Skates Fit and Are Laced Properly After you have paid admission and for skate rental, go to the rink's skate rental counter and get a pair of skates. Make sure your skates fit properly and that you have tied your skates correctly. Don't be afraid to ask someone who works at the rink for help with this.
2. Practice Falling and Getting Up Off the Ice
   Bend your knees and squat into dip position. Fall to the side and lean a bit forward as you fall down. Put your hands in your lap. Turn over on your hands and knees. Take one foot and place it between your hands. Then take the other foot and place it between your hands. Push yourself up and you should be standing.
3. Go to the Rink's Entry Door
   Most indoor ice rinks are surrounded by a soft mat or carpet that makes it possible to walk safely to the ice rink's surface. The mat also protects ice skate blades. If you own your own skates, walk to the ice surface with skate guards on. Remove the skate guards just before you step on to the ice. Do not walk on concrete or wood with your skates on.
   You may find you need some assistance walking to the ice!
4. Get on the Ice and Hold on to the Rail
   Some skaters will be frightened when they step on the slippery ice surface; others will be excited.
5. Move Away From the Rail
   Now, work up some courage. Move just a bit away from the rail. Bend your knees a bit. Don't let your hands and arms swing around.
6. Do a Dip
   In a dip a skater squats down as far as possible. The arms and rear should be level. This is a great exercise to get the knees going. First, practice doing a dip from a standstill. Once you feel comfortable gliding forward on two feet, practice dips while moving.
7. Fall Down on Purpose
   No one wants to fall while ice skating, but if you are going to skate, you are going to fall. So, it is best to practice falling as soon as you get on the ice for the first time. By doing so, you will find you are better prepared and you will be more confident on the ice. How to Fall and Get Up on Figure Skates How to Fall on the Ice Without Getting Hurt
8. Get Back Up
   Get yourself on "all fours" at first. Then, put your hands between your skates and push yourself up. Some skaters will find that their blades will slip and slide as they try to get up. Use the figure skate's toe picks of the blades to keep the skates in one place as you try to pull yourself up.
9. Practice Gliding on Two Feet
   March or step across the ice and then "rest." Glide forward for a short distance on two feet.
10. Learn to Stop
    Push your feet apart and use the flat of the blade to make a bit of snow on the ice and do a snowplow stop.
11. Move Forward
    After mastering falling down and getting up, it is now time to skate forward on the ice. First, march in place. Next, march and move. Now, do short "scooter" steps with one foot at a time. Pretend you are riding a scooter down the street. Arms can be kept in front on "imaginary scooter bars" for balance. Next, do alternating "scooter" steps. Take a step onto the right foot, rest on two feet, and then step onto the left foot. Try pushing from one foot to the other, and skate around the rink.

Remember that ice skating is fun. Enjoy your time at the rink. Smile and laugh. Once you master the basics, play games on the ice or try to spin, skate backwards, glide or one foot, or try to do forward or backward swizzles. Happy Skating!