When you enroll in ice skating classes, you can count on two things—you'll be a competent skater by the time the lessons conclude, and you'll fall a number of times while you learn. Falling is simply part of the learning process when you're taking skating lessons, so there's no need to feel bad each time your body hits the ice. It's important to remember, however, that there are a number of ways to keep safe when you inevitably fall during your lessons. Sometimes, you'll be able to contort your body to land on a body part that doesn't cause you as much pain, such as your backside. Otherwise, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Wear Protection

There's no shame in minimizing the risk of fall-related injuries by protecting your body. There are a number of pieces of protective gear that you can consider. Knee pads are a smart choice, given that it's common to slip and fall onto your knees. You may also want to wear elbow pads to protect your elbows from making hard contact with the ice. A helmet is also valuable. If your feet suddenly slip out from under you, it's possible that you'll fall with such force that the back of your head bounces off the ice. If you're self-conscious about some of this safety gear, the pads can easily be worn under baggy clothing.

Make Your Hands Into Fists

A good rule of thumb for when you fall is to automatically ball up your hands into fists. It might be easy to lay sprawled out on the ice with your hands extended, but this position puts you at risk of an injury. When your fingers are stretched out on the ice, another skater could easily skate over them by accident and leave you with a serious injury. By making your hands into fists, your fingers won't be exposed. It's also a good idea to pull your limbs toward your torso as much as you can so that you make yourself a smaller target on the ice.

Get Up Quickly

Try to avoid spending too much time on the ice once you fall. In this position, there's a chance of another skater running over you by accident—remember, other novices in the group may have trouble controlling their direction. Even if you're tired, you should make a point of getting up as quickly as possible. If you're sore or need a breather, move to one of the benches beside the ice, rather than remain sprawled out on it.