Level Up Roller Sports

I had the privilege of capturing images of one of the top skaters in NWA. It was fascinating to discover more about his business and the services he provides our community. Introducing Cody Hamshire from Level Up Roller Sports!

Tell us about your business and how it got started.

My business is a traditional skate school.  I established it because no such business existed in the area and I felt with the community's abundant investment in trails, parks, and other recreation that it was a need. At that time, I moved away from doing the training as a side gig and decided to formalize things so that long term I could fill this gap with a wide variety of programs/offerings that were well-suited to the environment here in NWA.

What services do you offer?

At this time, I offer private training classes/lesson for 1-12 people at the three distinct price points for the different class sizes 1-4, 5-8, 9-12.  We also have public classes for skaters that bring their own equipment.  In the next year I intend to expand our services to offer rental skates for events and gatherings as well as doing targeted training events such as corporate team building exercises, and birthday parties.

How do you approach teaching beginners versus more advanced skaters?
For beginner skaters I have a well-established training series that is intended to help virtually all potential skaters learn to skate and feel confident moving, turning, and stopping.  For advanced skaters, we begin with an assessment to see what point in the program they can advance to which requires that they test out of the prior skills first so I make sure they aren't missing foundational skills or stuck with bad habits that will need revisitation.  As well, for highly advanced skaters I have special programs that are intermediate and advanced skating styles which currently includes Slalom Skating, Dance/Jam Skating, Wizard Skating, Speed Skating, and Roller Derby.

How do you assess the progress of your students, and how do you adapt your teaching approach accordingly?
My program uses a concept of skill inheritance so the skills a person can perform ultimately beget the skills they should learn next.  I assess my students by scoring their skill level on all individual skills assigned ,or otherwise tested for, to determine what skills they are candidate to learn next.  Once the candidate skills are identified, the skater can choose which ones they want to take on next ensuring that there is a path for constant growth for a skaters of nearly all skills levels.

What do you enjoy most about teaching skating skills, and why?
I love teaching skating skills for a lot of reasons, but there are two main factors that really contribute to my enjoyment.  First, when you're teaching someone skating skills and developing a confident skater you're potentially helping to create a venue for a life-long healthy habit that will continue to bring the student joy for years to come.  Second, the more immediate gratification comes from seeing the look on a face or hearing the response when someone correctly executes a move for the first time (especially one they never imagined being able to do).

Are there opportunities for group lessons, or do you primarily offer one-on-one instruction?

All lessons are expandable to up to 12 people per trainer and for some additional input 1-on-1 lessons are generally most valuable for students learning advanced techniques or if they are non-customer learning a one-off skill (IE John Smith contacts me to learn how to perform the powerslide specifically, but has no intention of ongoing classes).  For early learning, it's honestly best to schedule a session and invite some friends that would enjoy learning to.  Aside from defraying the cost to multiple people, this creates a scenario where you're building your own private support group which is a huge benefit in a skill-based sport.

What qualifications or certifications do you hold related to teaching skating?

I have 9 years of experience performing skating instruction personally and 4.5 years of helping other skate instructors get certified and open their own skate schools all over the world.  I am certified through the Inline Certification Program International as an Apprentice Examiner which is the second-to-last certification rank in that program.

What are the next steps if I'm interested in signing up?

If someone would like to try out our program the first step is to get in touch in the way that suits them best; contact information and further details can be found on my website at https://www.leveluprollersports.com.