For my new motor skill I chose inline skating. Inline skating requires the
             acquisition of motor, coordination, planning and balance skills, but it is
             a sport that can be practiced just about anywhere. I chose to dedicate
             about 1 to 2 hours per day to mastering this sport.
             As I practiced, I considered what I had read in three different
             articles about motor learning. Higgins (1991) wrote about levels of skill
             and how we use one skill to build on another one, and how we can use
             problem solving in the acquisition of motor skills. In 1972, Gentile wrote
             about steps to follow when learning a new motor skill, including the need
             to periodically consolidate skills. In 1998, Gentile wrote about specific
             instructional techniques that can be used to teach new motor skills.
             Typically I learn new sports fairly easily, but I struggled a little
             more with inline skating. Perhaps it is harder than it looks, but I also
             found throughout the process that I was distracted by pain in my feet. I
             have flat feet, and I think inline skating puts some stress on that
             The first step to learning inline skating is actually to master
             stopping. Being able to stop efficiently and well. That keeps not only me
             safe but the people around me safe, whether they are also on skates, on a
             bike, or walking. Of course you have to be moving to stop, and I was
             surprised at how awkward I felt on the skates at first. Higgins (1991)
             described skill as "an individual's ability to consistently achieve a
             goal(s) under a wide variety of conditions." I thought that roller-skating
             I had done as a child would help me with inline skating more than it did.
             I managed to glide forward, barely lifting my feet. I was stiff-legged and
             my arms did not move smoothly. I stopped by rolling off into the grass and
             After about an hour I had a minimal level of skill. I could
             confidently skate forward, lifting my fee...