#derbydirection

After taking quite a bit of time off from this blog, I’d like to go back to it! Taking over coaching my league made my brain mush the last year or so when it came to explaining things again and again and again and again...

Anyways, I have been skating since 2011, and have captained and coached everything from freshmeat to advanced skaters. I’m a bit of a gear head, and I can help with learning your skates, how to change things around in your gear, improving individual skills, and how to make your way around the world that is roller derby.

I can for sure!  If there’s anything specific I don’t talk about, please let me know!

So for a blocker, if you hear the dreaded “Black 2-6, back blocking!” first you need to make an effort to stop doing what you are currently doing. Disengage from your hit or bridge, and make a beeline to the outside ref lane. Some refs will call a quick Insubordination if you do not make a very obvious effort that you heard them and are heading to the box. I try to make some sort of gesture that i’ve heard them (but stay away from “THAT WAS A HORRIBLE CALL REF!), and get to the lane as soon as possible. 

A thing to remember while in the ref lane- the outside pack ref has the right of way, and it is your responsibility not to crash into them. Especially if they are skating backwards. Be aware where the refs are, go around them. While hitting them feels awesome, it slows down your time to get to the box. 

Your penalty time does not start until your butt hits the chair the NSO should be signaling for you to go to. If you dawdle and take your time to complain to the crowd about how you obviously did not cut the track, you are letting the other team have an easier time without you on the track for longer. Get your ass to the box. Having said that, slow down, tomahawk or knee drop as you get to the box, because if you hit the and move the chair or NSO, it’s an additional penalty. As soon as you are sitting, your minute starts.

Some things to think about in that minute: Do not remove your gear. You can adjust it but make it very clear that you are not removing any of it. Mouth guards are allowed to be taken out, but I in general prefer if skaters just leave it in. Less to worry about. I like to time my own penalty, and watch the clock when I sit down. It gives me something to do aside from thinking about the horrible ref. Don’t get up from the chair even in a time out, and do not talk to your bench.

When you hit 30 seconds, you should be told by your NSO. Feel free to harass them about the time left, if the jam is called while you are in the box and they stop their watch is a great time. But you can ask them as much as you want. When they tell you 10 seconds is left, you must stand from the chair. You do not have to stand all the way up, you can “hover” on your chair to try to fool the other team, but you must stand up. At this point, another skater can take your chair if there is a queue, so just be aware of people entering and exiting the box and the lane.

Where you enter as a blocker is important. Watch the pack as they are moving, and remember that you can skate non-derby direction in the ref lane to join the back of the pack if needed (so if the pack is stopped or slow moving in the back corner, you can skate in the ref lane to get to the pack if it’s faster then entering the track and skating a full 3/4s lap). Again, it is your responsibility to be aware of the other members in the ref lane, and you must let the outside pack refs have the right of way.  Join the pack legally, don’t use your momentum from coming out of bounds to hit a bitch, and don’t cut anyone. I like to come in about two feet behind the last blocker if possible, so that I am at no chance of ever coming in illegally. 

Now at times there may be a full penalty box, and when you go to the ref lane, you might notice there is no chair for you to sit in. At this point, you will be waved back on the track and in the Queue. Rejoin the pack legally, and continue skating. What this means is that you must stay on the track and play all the jams that happen until there is a spot for you. Tell your captain or pivot or coach that you’re in queue so that it can be quickly communicated to the rest of your team, so you don’t have too many blockers. You are responsible for your legality as a queue skater, and you can accrue penalties so don’t do that. If you get a penalty while you are in the queue, you get an additional minute. Keep an eye on the penalty box, and as soon as there is a skater standing in the penalty box who is not your jammer, exit the track to the ref lane, and treat it like a normal penalty.

I see a lot of questions in the roller derby tags all the time, people who want to join, people who've just joined and even experienced skaters. Derby is a confusing sport,with a lot to learn, and a lot going on. There is no shame in asking questions about anything to do with derby! 

I want to help answer those questions you have. I've been playing derby for 3 years, I'm one of the founders of my league and currently run my league's freshmeat program, as well as captain our travel team. I'm a gear head, and a rules obsessor, and I spend way too much time reading and watching derby. I also work for Left Turn Coaching, and have experience in general athletics (I was a semi pro soccer player before joining derby), as well as personal training and nutrition (although I am not a professional in either of those, and I will point you in the direction of better people)

I won't ever claim to know everything, or that what I'm saying is the ONLY WAY TO DO IT, but I hope to give some answers to those questions you have that you don't know where to ask!

Some examples of questions that I can answer include finding a league in your area (or starting one!), attending your first practice, questions to ask a league you might be joining, getting your first pair of skates, buying your first pads, making sure you'll have knees in 20 years, how to fit a helmet, what on earth durometer means and what that means for you, widths and size of wheels, brands, hubs, (I love wheels. I'll answer all the wheel questions), skate boots, skate packages, skate plates, how to mount skates, how to adjust your skates, how to change out your pivot cup, what a pivot cup is, the tools you'll need for your skates, minimum skills, why 27 in 5 is the only thing holding you back, how to stop, how to go faster, how to be awesome, skating backwards, skating forwards, protecting yourself from injury, coming back from injury, coming back from injuring someone else, making friends on your team, making your team friends, picking your derby name, dropping your derby name, how to glitter a helmet, how to remove glitter from yourself and your house, running a practice with 4 skaters of different levels, running a practice with skaters who are better then you, leading your team, rules in all sorts of different rulesets and picking the right one for you, finding sponsors, getting people to your games, how to market your team...

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Basically, I'll answer any question about where to start, what to use or how to do something, I can probably answer. And the good news is, that if I can't, I can put your question out there so other people can too! The derby community is very welcoming on Tumblr. 

I know starting roller derby can be scary. It's a new sport full of skills you've never done and very confusing rules and equipment. But derby doesn't have to be confusing forever. My goal is to help point everyone in roller derby direction!