From One PE Teacher to Another: The Shoe-Tying Solution That Changed My Gym (And My Sanity)

From One PE Teacher to Another: The Shoe-Tying Solution That Changed My Gym (And My Sanity)

Let me guess your Tuesday at 10:47 AM:

Twenty-three third-graders running laps. Seven untied shoes. Two kids tripping. One bloody knee. Three crying. The nurse is busy. The principal walks by during the chaos. You're on shoe-tying duty... again.

Meanwhile, your carefully planned relay race sits abandoned while you're crouched on the gym floor doing double-knots that'll be untied in five minutes anyway.

Sound familiar?

I'm Bobby Morong. For 13 years, I was you—a PE teacher at Randolph Public Schools in Massachusetts. Before that, I taught Adapted PE, working with kids with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and every ability level in between.

And for 13 years, I watched the same scene play out: Untied shoes weren't just an annoyance. They were stealing our teaching time, creating safety hazards, and crushing kids' confidence.

So I did something about it.

The Gym Floor Reality Nobody Talks About

Let's be honest about what untied shoes really mean in PE:

The Safety Nightmare

  • Kids tripping during tag = collisions, tears, incident reports
  • Loose laces + scooter boards = wrapped around wheels
  • Basketball pivots with untied shoes = rolled ankles waiting to happen
  • That one kid who steps on another kid's laces during soccer = dominoes of disaster

The Time Thief

  • 5 minutes per class tying shoes × 6 classes = 30 minutes daily
  • 30 minutes × 180 school days = 90 HOURS per year
  • That's over TWO FULL WEEKS of instruction lost to shoe-tying

The Confidence Killer Watch a 4th grader sit out of capture the flag because they can't tie their shoes and are too embarrassed to ask for help again. Watch them choose to be "scorekeeper" instead of playing. Watch them shrink.

That's not physical education. That's physical exclusion.

"But It's Not My Job to Teach Shoe-Tying!"

I hear you. I said the same thing.

You've got standards to meet. Fitness tests to prep. Only 30 minutes twice a week with these kids. Shoe-tying is a home skill, right?

Except here's what I learned:

It becomes your job when:

  • Parents send kids in double-knots so tight you need scissors
  • The classroom teacher says "ask Mr. M at PE"
  • The OT has 47 kids on her caseload
  • The kid's been in Velcro since pre-K and suddenly shows up in laces

It IS your job when:

  • Safety in your gym depends on it
  • A kid can't fully participate without it
  • You're losing 15% of instruction time to it
  • You're the one adult they trust to help without judgment

We don't get to choose whether shoe-tying is our problem. It already is.

The Failed Solutions Graveyard

Over 13 years, I tried everything:

The "Velcro Only" Policy

  • Parents rebelled ("You can't tell me what shoes to buy!")
  • Kids with Velcro got teased by kids with laces
  • Velcro wears out mid-year, becomes useless

The "Double-Knot Everything" Approach

  • Kids can't get shoes off for measurements
  • Creates dependency on adults
  • Those knots become concrete after recess puddles

The "Shoe-Tying Station" During Warm-Ups

  • Meant I missed observing warm-ups
  • Kids who couldn't tie felt spotlighted
  • Still took forever

The "Class Shoe-Tying Lesson"

  • Ate up entire PE periods
  • Kindergarten teachers said "too young"
  • 5th grade teachers said "too late"
  • Kids forgot by next week anyway

The "Peer Helper" System

  • Same three kids tying everyone's shoes
  • Helpers missing activities
  • Learned helplessness for everyone else

Nothing worked. Until I created something that did.

The Day Everything Changed

It was 2018. I had two 4th graders with autism in my adapted PE class. Brilliant kids. Could solve math problems I couldn't. But shoe-tying? Complete meltdown territory.

I'd tried everything. Visual cards. Backward chaining. That rhyme about the bunny and the tree. Nothing stuck.

So I got desperate. Started tinkering. Cut up old shoelaces, made them two different colors. Added little "stops" to hold the laces in place while they figured out the next step.

Ugly? Yes. Effective? INCREDIBLY.

Those two boys learned to tie their shoes in ONE CLASS PERIOD.

Not kind-of-learned. Actually learned. Independently. Confidently.

Word spread. Teachers started sending kids to me. "Mr. M has this thing that works."

By 2020, when COVID eliminated my teaching position, I'd helped hundreds of kids master shoe-tying with my janky homemade tool.

My wife said, "Make it real. Other PE teachers need this."

So I did. Training Ties was born.

What Training Ties Actually Is (And Isn't)

It's NOT:

  • Another gimmick that does the work for kids
  • Elastic laces that skip the skill
  • A permanent crutch
  • Something that requires special training to use
  • Another thing to lose or break

It IS:

  • A temporary scaffold that holds laces stable while kids learn
  • A tool that works with ANY shoe with laces
  • Color-coded for easy instruction
  • Something kids use for 1-2 weeks then don't need anymore
  • A one-time solution that creates permanent independence

Think of it like training wheels for shoe-tying. Kids still do all the work—the tool just keeps the laces from flopping around while they learn the motion.

The PE Teacher's Secret Weapon Playbook

Here's exactly how to implement Training Ties in your gym:

The 5-Minute Miracle Method

Week 1: The Challenge Start of class: "Who wants to join the Shoe-Tying Champions Club?" Set up 3-4 Training Ties stations at the side of the gym While others warm up, work with volunteers for 5 minutes No pressure, no mandatory participation

Week 2: The Momentum First champions start helping others Create a visible "Champions Board" with names Watch the domino effect begin Celebrate every success publicly

Week 3: The Transformation Most of your untied shoe kids are now tying independently Class peer pressure shifts from "can't" to "can" You're tying maybe 2 shoes per class instead of 20

The Adapted PE Power Move

For your kids with special needs:

  1. Pre-teach during APE pull-out time (quieter, less pressure)
  2. Let them become the expert before returning to gen ed PE
  3. Watch their confidence SOAR when they're helping typical peers

I had a student with Down syndrome become our school's shoe-tying mentor. Changed his entire school experience.

The "Shoe-Tying Leaders" Program

  • Train your 4th/5th graders first
  • They become official "Shoe-Tying Teachers" for younger grades
  • Give them special pinnies or badges during their teaching time
  • Builds leadership while solving your problem
  • Kids teaching kids = magic

Real PE Teachers, Real Results

Marcus, Elementary PE, Texas: "Bought 5 Training Ties in September. By October, my entire 2nd grade could tie shoes. Haven't tied a single shoe since November. Best $125 I've ever spent on PE equipment."

Jennifer, Adapted PE, Michigan: "My student with cerebral palsy learned in 3 sessions. His mom cried. His OT couldn't believe it. Now he's teaching his little brother."

DeShawn, PE/Health, Florida: "Used to lose 10 minutes every basketball unit to shoes. Now? Maybe 30 seconds. Kids police each other—'Get your Training Ties and fix those laces!'"

Amy, K-5 PE, Oregon: "Made it part of our 'PE Skills Passport.' Kids WANT to learn now. Parents are asking where to buy them for home."

The Investment That Pays You Back

Let's do PE teacher math:

Without Training Ties:

  • 30 minutes daily lost to shoe-tying
  • 90 hours yearly = $3,000+ of your salary
  • Countless injury risks
  • Frustrated kids, frustrated you

With Training Ties (5 units for your gym):

  • $125 one-time investment
  • Kids learn in 1-2 weeks
  • Lasts forever (seriously, they're indestructible)
  • You get your gym time back

That's 90 hours of instruction returned for $125.

Name another piece of PE equipment with that ROI.

The Objection Eliminator

"My budget's already spent"

  • Ask your PTA (frame it as safety equipment)
  • Write a DonorsChoose (teachers always fund these)
  • Split cost with OT department
  • It's less than a dozen foam balls

"Parents should teach this at home"

  • Should and do are different things
  • We teach what kids need, not what's convenient
  • Safety in YOUR gym is YOUR responsibility

"Kids will lose them"

  • They stay in your equipment room
  • Number them like pinnies
  • Kids use and return each class
  • I've never had one lost in 4 years

"What about the kids who already know?"

  • They become teachers (builds leadership)
  • They do warm-up activities while others learn
  • Takes literally 5 minutes of class

"My admin won't support this"

  • Frame it as SAFETY equipment (it is)
  • Show the injury reduction potential
  • Calculate the time savings
  • Share the IEP goal achievement data

The Hidden Benefits You Don't Expect

Beyond the obvious wins, here's what Training Ties brought to my gym:

Parent Relations Gold

  • Parents THRILLED their kid finally learned
  • Fewer "my kid got hurt because of untied shoes" emails
  • PTA becomes your biggest supporter

Inclusion Amplified

  • Kids with special needs becoming helpers, not helped
  • Natural peer interaction opportunities
  • Confidence spillover into other PE skills

Behavior Management Magic

  • "Fix your shoes first, then join the game" = self-regulation
  • Removes the power struggle of asking for help
  • Kids taking responsibility for their own safety

Data for Days

  • Track shoe-tying mastery for IEP goals
  • Document safety improvement
  • Show instructional time recovered
  • Justify equipment purchases with real numbers

Your Shoe-Tying Battle Plan

Ready to eliminate the shoe-tying chaos? Here's your action plan:

Phase 1: Assessment (This Week)

  • Count untied shoes for 3 days
  • Track time spent tying
  • Note safety incidents
  • Survey teachers about the problem

Phase 2: Implementation (Week 2-3)

  • Start with your biggest problem class
  • Introduce as "special equipment for champions"
  • 5 minutes per class max
  • Celebrate every success

Phase 3: Expansion (Week 4+)

  • Add more classes gradually
  • Train student leaders
  • Share success with admin
  • Watch the culture shift

Phase 4: Victory Lap

  • Document your success
  • Share with other PE teachers
  • Enjoy your recovered teaching time
  • Actually teach PE instead of tying shoes

From My Gym to Yours

I spent 13 years watching kids miss out because of untied shoes. Watching PE teachers (myself included) become reluctant shoe-tying servants. Watching preventable injuries happen weekly.

Training Ties isn't just about teaching shoe-tying. It's about:

  • Keeping kids safe
  • Maximizing instruction time
  • Building confidence
  • Creating independence
  • Letting you be a PE teacher, not a shoe-tier

Every kid deserves to fully participate in PE. Every PE teacher deserves to actually teach PE.

You didn't become a PE teacher to tie shoes. You became one to help kids love movement, build skills, gain confidence, and be healthy.

Training Ties gives you your gym back.

Join the Revolution

Over 500 PE programs nationwide have already transformed their gyms with Training Ties. We're building a community of PE teachers who've said "enough" to the shoe-tying time drain.

Ready to join us?

Special PE Teacher Pricing:

  • Individual units: $24.99
  • PE Department 5-Pack: $99 (Save $25)
  • School-Wide Set (10 units): $179 (Save $70)

Get Training Ties for Your Gym →

Questions? Email me directly: bobby@trainingties.com

I answer every PE teacher personally. Because I've been where you are, and I know exactly how frustrated you feel every time you see those untied laces.

Let's get you back to teaching PE, not tying shoes.

Stay strong out there,

Bobby Morong Former PE Teacher, Current Problem Solver Founder, Training Ties

P.S. - Still skeptical? I'll send you one Training Ties to try for 30 days. If it doesn't work, send it back. But warning: once your kids learn, they'll all want to use it. Email me: bobby@trainingties.com

P.P.S. - Remember those two boys with autism who inspired this whole thing? They're in high school now. Both playing sports. Both tying their own cleats. That's why this matters.

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