An animation of a science beaker with a bubbling green liquid appears on screen with a title that reads "Sports Lab."

Now Nykeem appears on screen sitting in the middle of a row of empty blue bleachers in an indoor stadium. Nykeem is in his thirties, has shaved black hair, is clean-shaven, and wears a red sweatshirt.

Nykeem says HEY, EVERYONE!
WELCOME TO SPORTS LAB -
WHERE SPORTS AND SCIENCE
WRITE THE BOOK ON FUN.

(Theme music plays)

The opening sequence begins.

Two light blue doors with a title that reads "Sports Lab" open where thousands of sports equipment encircles a classroom skeleton. The animated balls fly throughout the white room stopping at scenes of people playing different sports.

First Nykeem kicking a soccer ball, then a boy on a skateboard, then a tennis ball, then a hockey goalie, and lastly of a group of kids and Nykeem who break on a tennis court and say SPORTS LAB!

All the sports equipment turns into different colours and funnel into a science beaker with green liquid with a label that reads "Sports Lab."

(music plays)

Nykeem appears on screen walking on bleachers in a natatorium.

Nykeem walks through glass doors into an ice skating rink and says MY NAME'S NYKEEM,
AND TODAY, A SPORT
THAT'S A MEETING PLACE
BETWEEN GRACE, PRECISION,
AND YOUR FAVOURITE SONG -
I GIVE YOU FIGURE SKATING.

(music plays)
(Fanfare)
(Cheering)

In the white room, the science beaker with green liquid bursts with colours and balls and a title emerges that reads "Figure Skating."

Back in the bowling alley, a caption reads "Hamilton Skating Club, Hamilton, Ontario." and Nykeem says FIGURE SKATING IS AS BEAUTIFUL
AS IT IS CHALLENGING.
IT'S A ROLLERCOASTER
RIDE WITH A TWIST......AT EVERY TURN.

Now Dr. Heather appears on screen with a caption that reads "Dr. Heather, Sports Scientist." She has straight, dark brown hair in a ponytail and wears a red shirt. She stands at a white desk with books and science supplies around her.

Dr. Heather says RIGHT, NYKEEM!
FIGURE SKATING
IS DANCING ON ICE.
AND SINCE ICE HAS LESS
FRICTION THAN THE GROUND,
THIS TYPE OF DANCING
IS SMOOTH AND GRACEFUL.

Back at the skating rink, Nykeem says KEEP YOUR SKATES SHARP.
SPORTS LAB IS GOING FOR
THE PERFECT......TEN!
(Cheering)

Now Giuliana appears on screen with a caption that reads "Giuliana." Giuliana has long, dark brown hair pulled in a tight ponytail and wears a pink leotard.

Giuliana says HI, I'M GIULIANA.
I'M 11 YEARS OLD,
AND I'VE BEEN SKATING
FOR FIVE YEARS.

Clips of Giuliana figure skating appear on screen.

Giuliana says WHEN MY BROTHER WAS LITTLE,
HE WENT INTO
A LEARN-TO-SKATE PROGRAM.
AND I SAID TO MY MOM,
'I WANNA SKATE! I WANNA SKATE!'
I LOVE SKATING
BECAUSE I CAN FEEL FREE.
I CAN DO JUMPS, SPINS,
AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
OUT ON THE ICE,
I FEEL I CAN DO ANYTHING.

Giuliana skates up to Nykeem on the skating rink. Giuliana wears a black hat with a red pom-pom and a black jacket.

Nykeem says HEY, GIULIANA,
WELCOME TO SPORTS LAB.

GIULIANA SAYS HI, NYKEEM.

NYKEEM SAYS OKAY, SO TELL ME -
WHAT IS FIGURE SKATING?

GIULIANA SAYS WELL, WHAT FIGURE SKATING IS
IS YOU HAVE A ROUTINE,
AND IN THAT ROUTINE,
YOU HAVE JUMPS,
SPINS, AND TWIRLS...

NYKEEM SAYS SO I'D LOVE TO KNOW -
HOW DOES A FIGURE SKATING
ROUTINE COME TOGETHER?

GIULIANA SAYS MOST OF THE TIME
YOUR COACHES WILL PUT
IT TOGETHER FOR YOU,
BUT I GET INPUT ON IT,
AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN
WHEN I GET INPUT ON IT.
SO I WATCH FIGURE SKATING
ON TV ALL THE TIME.

NYKEEM SAYS AND ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS
IS THE COSTUMES.

GIULIANA SAYS I LOVE THE COSTUMES TOO.
WE GET TO GO
TO A DRESS-MAKER,
AND I GET TO PLAY
DRESS-UP A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

NYKEEM SAYS OKAY, GIULIANA,
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE LEARN
ABOUT THE HISTORY
OF FIGURE SKATING?

GIULIANA SAYS THAT WOULD BE
A LOT OF FUN.

NYKEEM SAYS THEN LET'S SPIN
INTO THE STORY OF......FIGURE SKATING.
(Fanfare)
(Cheering)

Back in the lab, a book opens and a title flies out that reads "History of Figure Skating."

Nykeem says THERE'S EVIDENCE
OF SKATING IN RUSSIA
AS EARLY AS 3000 BCE
IN THE FORM OF SKATES
MADE OF ANIMAL BONES!
THE SPORT DIDN'T
TRULY BECOME POPULAR
UNTIL THE 14TH CENTURY
WHEN THE DUTCH ADDED
BLADES MADE OF STEEL
TO THEIR SKATES.
THAT MADE GLIDING MUCH EASIER.
AND THE ANIMALS MUCH HAPPIER.
IN THE LATE 1800S,
AN AMERICAN
NAMED JACKSON HAINES
WAS THE FIRST
TO INTRODUCE DANCE
AND BALLET TO SKATING.
HE WON THE FIRST SKATING
CHAMPIONSHIPS OF AMERICA
IN 1864.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE!
FIGURE SKATING'S FIRST
OLYMPIC APPEARANCE
WAS AT THE 1908 SUMMER GAMES.
LUCKILY IT'S NO LONGER
A SUMMER EVENT,
OR ELSE WE'D BE ALL WET.

Back on the skating rink, NYKEEM SAYS ALL RIGHT, GIULIANA,
WHAT DID YOU THINK?

GIULIANA SAYS THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

NYKEEM SAYS SHOULD WE GO
FOR A SKATE?

GIULIANA SAYS SURE!

NYKEEM SAYS (WHISPERS) I'M GOING
TO GO GET MY SKATES.

Nykeem and Giuliana appear on screen practicing figure skating doing twirls and twists on the ice.

(LAUGHS)

After they?re done skating, Nykeem and Giuliana walk off the rink and sit down.

NYKEEM SAYS WHEW! THANKS FOR
SHOWING ME THE ROPES.

GIULIANA SAYS YOU'RE WELCOME.

NYKEEM SAYS IS THERE ANYTHING
YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT?

GIULIANA SAYS WELL, WHEN YOU
DO A DOUBLE JUMP
YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR
ARMS CLOSE TO YOUR BODY.
WHY IS THAT?

NYKEEM SAYS HM, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
LET'S THROW IT TO THE LAB.
ARE YOU THERE, DOC?

Nykeem looks at his watch and Dr. Heather appears on screen.

Back in the sports lab, Dr. Heather says EXCITING QUESTION!
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S AT PLAY,
WE'LL NEED A PRO.
SO ONE IS SKATING YOUR WAY.

Back on the rink, NYKEEM SAYS OKAY, FOLLOW ME.
(Fanfare)

Back in the lab, the science beaker with green liquid appears on screen with a label that reads "Pop Quiz." The bottle swirls and flies over to the blackboard with a question.

Nykeem says LOOK OUT! POP QUIZ...
THE SHARP POINTS
AT THE FRONT OF THE BLADE?
A) FOR BETTER STOPPING.
B) FOR CLEANING TEETH.
OR C) FOR BETTER JUMPING.

A skeleton with a red cap says THE ANSWER IS C!

Nykeem says FOR BETTER JUMPING.
THE PICK HELPS
THE SKATER GRIP THE ICE
SO THEY CAN ACHIEVE
MORE VELOCITY
ON THEIR JUMPS.

(music plays)

Back in the lab, out of the science beaker launches white foam that turns into a slate that reads "Meet the Pro."

Bryce appears on screen with a caption that reads "Bryce." Bryce has short, dark brown hair, and has a dark beard, and wears a black jacket.

Bryce says HI, I'M BRYCE, AND
I'VE BEEN SKATING FOR 26 YEARS.
I GOT INTO SKATING BECAUSE
MY BROTHER AND SISTER SKATED,
AND IT LOOKED AWESOME.

Clips of Bryce skating appear on screen.

BRYCE SAYS I LOVE THE CHALLENGE
OF FIGURE SKATING -
JUMPING, SPINNING,
ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S SO MUCH FUN.

Now Nykeem and Giuliana skate over to Bryce spinning on the ice with a blue jacket.

Nykeem says HEY, BRYCE!

BRYCE SAYS HEY, GUYS.

NYKEEM SAYS THIS IS GIULIANA.

GIULIANA SAYS HI.

BRYCE SAYS NICE TO MEET YOU.

NYKEEM SAYS HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

BRYCE SAYS IT TAKES
LOTS OF PRACTICE.

NYKEEM SAYS I'M NEW TO FIGURE SKATES.
CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME ADVICE?

BRYCE SAYS DEFINITELY.
THE MAJOR THING ABOUT
FIGURE SKATES ARE THE TOE PICKS.
YOU WANT TO KEEP
YOUR HEAD UP,
AND YOUR NOSE BEHIND YOUR TOES
SO THAT YOUR BALANCE IS
IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR FEET.
AND YOU'VE GOT
TO BEND YOUR ANKLES.

NYKEEM SAYS OKAY BRYCE,
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
WHEN YOU'RE GETTING
READY FOR TAKE-OFF,
WHAT'S GOING
THROUGH YOUR MIND?
ARE YOU WORRIED
ABOUT LANDING,
OR ARE YOU NERVOUS
ABOUT FALLING?

BRYCE SAYS WELL, WE TRAIN SO HARD
SO THAT WE ALMOST HAVE NOTHING
GOING THROUGH OUR MIND -
JUST ONE SIMPLE KEY WORD.

NYKEEM SAYS IS IT LUNCH?

BRYCE SAYS (CHUCKLES) NO!
SOMETHING LIKE
'SQUEEZE TIGHT',
OR 'LAND STRONG'.

NYKEEM SAYS GIULIANA, WHY DON'T YOU
TELL BRYCE WHAT WE NEED?

GIULIANA SAYS COULD YOU SHOW US A DOUBLE?

BRYCE SAYS I CAN.
I'M GONNA SHOW
YOU A DOUBLE TOE.
I'M GONNA USE
THESE FANCY TOE PICKS,
GO OUT, PLANT MY TOE,
SPIN TWICE IN THE AIR,
AND LAND ON ONE FOOT
WITHOUT EVEN TRYING.
YOU GUYS,
GIVE ME SOME SPACE?

NYKEEM SAYS OKAY, COME OVER HERE.

Bryce starts skating and says OKAY, HERE WE GO!

Bryce jumps, spins, and lands on the ice with one leg.

NYKEEM SAYS SEE HOW HE KEEPS HIS
ARMS IN LIKE THAT?
LAB, ARE YOU
READING THIS?

Nykeem looks at his watch and back in the lab Dr. Heather says HEY, TEAM!
AS IT TURNS OUT,
BRYCE'S FORM CAN BE EXPLAINED
BY SOMETHING CALLED
THE CONSERVATION
OF ANGULAR MOMENTUM.
HERE, I'LL EXPLAIN.
MOMENTUM IS HOW STRONG
A MOVING THING IS;
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
IS HOW STRONG
A SPINNING THING IS.
IT'S THE MOMENTUM
OF A SPINNING OBJECT.
EVERYTHING FROM A SPINNING TOP
TO A ROTATING PLANET
HAS ANGULAR MOMENTUM.
THE BIGGER IT IS,
AND THE FASTER IT MOVES,
THE MORE ANGULAR MOMENTUM.
BRYCE'S ANGULAR MOMENTUM
COMES FROM
THE LIFT HE GENERATES
DURING HIS JUMP.
BY USING THE PICK
ON HIS SKATES
AND AN UPWARD
FORCE FROM THE ICE,
HE SOARS,
SPINNING INTO THE AIR.
ONCE HE'S IN THE AIR,
HE'S GENERATED
ALL THE ANGULAR
MOMENTUM THAT HE CAN.
HE NEEDS TO MAXIMIZE
WHAT HE'S GOT
IN ORDER TO GET ALL THE WAY
AROUND TWO TIMES.
BY KEEPING HIS ARMS
CLOSE TO HIS CHEST,
HE'S ABLE TO
LIMIT THE FACTORS
THAT CAN SLOW HIS MOMENTUM.
HE CONSERVES IT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED
THE CONSERVATION
OF ANGULAR MOMENTUM.
THE CLOSER AN OBJECT STAYS
TO THE CENTRE OF A SPIN,
THE EASIER IT IS
TO CONSERVE MOMENTUM.
IF BRYCE STUCK OUT HIS ARMS,
HE'D LOSE SPEED IN THE AIR.
SO IF YOU NEED
SPEED IN YOUR SPIN,
KEEP YOUR ARMS
CLOSE TO YOUR CHEST.

Back on the rink, NYKEEM SAYS ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
SO, KEEPING
YOUR ARMS TIGHT
MEANS MORE
ANGULAR MOMENTUM.
GIULIANA, YOU READY
TO JUMP INTO ACTION?

GIULIANA SAYS YEP! I'M GOING TO
DO A DOUBLE LOOP.
SO CAN YOU GUYS
GIVE ME SOME ROOM?

BRYCE SAYS SURE, JUMP BIG!

Giuliana starts to skate and jumps and spins.

BRYCE SAYS WOO!

Nykeem says I CAN SEE
THE ANGULAR MOMENTUM!
GOOD JOB ON KEEPING
YOUR ARMS NICE AND TIGHT!

(music plays)
(Fanfare)
(Cheering)

Back in the lab, the green liquid in the science beaker spills and then dries up to reveal a title that reads "Fun Fact."

Nykeem appears on screen and says ONE OF MY FAVOURITE
PARTS OF SKATING
IS GLIDING ON THE ICE
WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE.
BUT WHY DO WE
GLIDE SO EASILY?
RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN
THAT IT'S BECAUSE
THE TIPPY-TOP LAYER OF ICE
IS MADE UP OF MOLECULES
THAT MOVE FASTER
THAN THE ONES DEEP
WITHIN THE ICE.
THE LAYER ISN'T WATER,
BUT IT'S NOT QUITE ICE EITHER.
THAT LAYER REDUCES FRICTION -
THE FORCE THAT SLOWS
DOWN THE MOVEMENT
OF SLIDING OBJECTS.
BECAUSE OF THAT LAYER,
WE CAN GLIDE ACROSS A RINK
WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD.
THAT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD.
EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT.

Back on the rink, NYKEEM SAYS GIULIANA, THANKS TO YOU
WE WITNESSED SOME WONDERFUL
FIGURE SKATING ACTION.
I ONLY HAVE
ONE QUESTION...

Nykeem holds up two figure skating costumes. One is shiny gold and the other is a shiny floral pattern.

NYKEEM SAYS WHICH ONE?

Giuliana starts skating and Nykeem watches from the sidelines wearing the shiny floral pattern. He holds up numbers to rate her spinning performance.

He holds up an 8.

Giuliana continues to spin and Nykeem holds up a 5 and then throws it and lifts up 10.

Nykeem stands on the ice with his shiny floral shirt, white pants, and skates in a bright light. From the sidelines, Giuliana holds up a 5. Nykeem continues to dance and she holds up an 8. He continues to dance and Giuliana smiles and gives him a 10.

(Drum roll)
(Cheering)

Back in the lab, colours and balls fly out of the science beaker and a slate reads "Pro Tip."

Bryce appears on screen and says SOMETHING THAT REALLY HELPED ME
WHEN I WAS A YOUNG FIGURE SKATER
WAS TO REMEMBER TO USE
A FULL RANGE OF MOTION.
THAT MEANS TO STRETCH
FULLY TO EACH SIDE,
UP AND DOWN.
STRONG LEGS AND STRONG ARMS.
AND DEFINITELY A STRONG CORE.
MY NAME IS BRYCE,
AND THAT'S MY PRO TIP.

Nykeem appears on screen walking off the rink and says I LOVED TODAY.
WE FIGURED OUT
THAT ANGULAR MOMENTUM
CAN MAKE A DOUBLE JUMP COOL,
AND A FIGURE SKATING OUTFIT......IS A FUN LOOK.
NOW I'M GONE,
BUT NOT FOR LONG.
IN THE SPORTS LAB,
IF THERE'S FIGURES AND FACTS,
WE'RE READY TO ACT!

(music plays)

The credits roll scenes of kids playing sports appear on screen.

Written and directed by, Johnny Mitchell.
Host, Nykeem Provo.
Editor, David Mitchell.

Produced in association with TVO Kids for riverbank pictures, copyright 1919216 Ontario Inc.