Inline Skating Program FAQ

Accidents/First Aid

Please treat any accident needing medical attention as you would in a regular physical education class. Our instructors have first aid training, but students and parents usually prefer familiar school resources.

Class Size

Alien In-Line provides equipment for up to 30 students per class, except for Kindergarten, which has a 25-student limit. With advance notice, we may accommodate classes over 30 students, depending on equipment availability.

Double classes of up to 60 students can be booked with two instructors and two sets of equipment, based on gym size and availability. These must be scheduled in advance and are not allowed for Kindergarten.

We can also handle large classes or events with more than 60 students if booked early enough to secure equipment and instructors.

For non-instructional skating, like free skate or open skate, check out our Family Skate Nights.

Equipment Storage

We require a secure, lockable storage area for our equipment throughout your program. Most physical education storage rooms work well.

Equipment Theft

We will invoice your school for significant equipment loss due to participant theft during your program. However, you won’t be liable for break-ins or losses outside program hours if you take reasonable precautions, like locking the storage room and limiting access to staff or supervised individuals.

Fire Alarms and Drills

Please try to avoid scheduling fire drills while we are at your school. If a fire alarm goes off unexpectedly, our instructors will help your staff supervise a quick, safe evacuation. Share any special fire drill or evacuation procedures with us before the program begins.

Gym/Facility Preparation

Please keep your gymnasium clear of tables, chairs, desks, and other potential hazards. Ensure the gym floor is clean and dry before each instructional day. If the gym is used for lunch, clean and dry the floor before our first afternoon class.

Scheduling

Please provide a class timetable with the following details:

• • Day of the week
  • Start and end times
  • Grade level
  • Number of students
  • Teacher name
  • Lunch, recess, and transition times

We have extensive experience creating efficient inline skating schedules. Contact us for help planning a smooth program!

We recommend 1-hour class periods but can teach sessions as short as 55 minutes. Remember that any additional class time over 55 minutes is pure skating time, as the gear-up and gear-down periods remain the same regardless of class length.

If possible, schedule older students between younger classes (K-3) and have them assist younger students with skates and equipment.

School Staff / Class Management

A school staff member must be present throughout our program. Most school boards require us to stop instruction if no staff member is present.

Although serious discipline issues are rare, we rely on your staff to handle them. Students always behave better when their regular teachers are there.

Student behavior affects class conduct and program efficiency. Classes that listen, follow directions, and gear up quickly will enjoy more skate time.

Skates for Teachers

We encourage your staff to join the activity on skates if they’d like. The program includes some adult-sized equipment, and we can provide extra or larger skates and protective gear at no cost upon request. Please include your teacher skate request in writing when submitting your program timetable, so we can include the gear with the equipment delivery.

Equipment Size and Quantity

A normal range of skate sizes are provided based on our experience with classes at your grade levels. Sizes are labelled in US Men’s sizing only. To convert to Women’s, add 1 size (i.e. Men’s 3 = Women’s 4). If your skate needs fall outside of the equipment specified for your grade range, please contact our Operations Manager at least 10 days prior to your program.

• • Grade K-6
    • 40 certified multi-impact helmets (various sizes XS-XL)
    • 30 sets of protective equipment per size, sizes XS-S-M
    • 60 pairs of floor-friendly adjustable inline skates
      • Sizes from US Child’s 11 to US Men’s 10
  • Grade 7-12
    • 40 certified multi-impact helmets (various sizes XS-XL)
    • 30 sets of protective equipment per size, sizes S-M-L
    • 55 pairs of floor-friendly Rollerblade inline skates
      • Sizes from US Men’s 2 to US Men’s 14
  • Family Skate Night
    • If your school already has an Alien In-Line Program at the time of the Family Night Skate, a second fleet of equipment will be delivered. If your school does not have Alien In-Line instruction at the time of the Family Night Skate, two fleets of equipment will be delivered.  The total amount of equipment in either case will be:
    • 80 certified multi-impact helmets (various sizes XS-XL)
    • 60 sets of protective equipment per size, sizes XS-S-M-L
    • 120 pairs of floor-friendly Rollerblade inline skates, sizes from US Child’s 11 to US Men’s 14

Helmets are intended as a supplement for students who do not have their own.  All students are strongly encouraged to bring their own certified helmet.

Additional equipment is available on request, subject to availability.

Extra-Large Skates up to US Men’s 17 are available on request.

Payment

A 10% deposit is required to confirm program dates. You will receive an invoice for balance due prior to your program’s first day. All program fees are payable in full upon completion of program unless alternative arrangements have been made in writing. Please contact our Accounts Receivable department if alternative arrangements are required. All payments should be mailed to the Alien In-Line office address below.

4627 17 Ave. NW

Calgary, AB, T3B 0P2

Volunteer Helpers

Volunteer helpers like parents or older students can enhance your experience and maximize your investment in our program. They typically assist with putting on and taking off skates and protective gear, but they can help in other ways too. Helpers can significantly reduce gear-up and gear-down time, giving each class, especially grades K-3, more skating time.

Gym Strip

Students don’t have to change into gym strip for our program, but it helps things run smoothly and makes gearing up easier. Most students change quickly, and it rarely cuts into their skating time.

Protective Gear Policy

Alien In-Line enforces a strict protective gear policy. Everyone on skates — students, staff, substitutes, and volunteers — must wear a helmet, kneepads, elbow pads, and wrist guards at all times.

Socks

All participants must wear socks while using our skates. Ensure students wear or bring socks to class. Many elementary classes walk to the gym in socks, leaving shoes in the classroom to save time and reduce clutter. If your school follows this practice, remind students not to run inside, as floors may be slippery.

Protective Gear Cleaning

We wash Alien In-Line protective gear between schools or more often if needed. We store gear bins open to let them breathe.

Helmets

We strongly recommend that students bring their own certified helmets to reduce the risk of spreading head lice through shared headwear.

Students with bicycles or inline skates should already own a helmet. This program is a great opportunity to remind parents without helmets that buying a properly fitting CSA-approved helmet is a valuable investment for their child’s safety.

We provide breathable medical-grade bouffant caps (hairnets) to wear under helmets for added protection. Our helmets are disinfected between classes with an eco-friendly solution called EFASCIDE and are annually disassembled for hand washing.

While we can supply certified multi-impact helmets for up to 30 students, bringing personal certified cycling, skateboard, or skating helmets saves time and ensures proper fit.

Please note that not all helmets—like football, motorcycle, or climbing helmets—are suitable for inline skating. Our instructors will assess and approve appropriate helmets.

Students Using Their Own Equipment: Skates & Protective Gear

Students may bring their own equipment if your school allows it, but be aware it might not be as “floor-friendly” as ours. We are not responsible for any damage caused by non-Alien In-Line skates.

Students’ skates must have soft urethane wheels; hard plastic wheels are unsafe indoors and may damage the gym floor. Their skates also need a non-marking, soft rubber heel brake — hard plastic brakes can damage the floor.

Protective gear from home should be suitable for inline skating, floor-friendly, and offer the same protection level as Alien In-Line gear.

Our instructor will decide if the gear is suitable.

Non-Participants / Non-Skaters

We hope all students participate, but we understand some may choose not to. For safety, please keep non-skating students and other non-skating personnel out of the gym during our program. Only the responsible faculty member, appropriate observers, and volunteer helpers should be present.

Parent Observers

We welcome parents to observe the Alien In-Line program while we are at your school. You don’t need to inform us of their expected dates and times.