Hurricane Ana = Derby Homework Assignment

BOO, RAIN!

Mother Nature is a Cock Blocker!

Let’s use this opportunity to learn some other derby stuff that doesn’t involve skates.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POP QUIZ!

• WHAT YEAR WAS PACIFIC ROLLER DERBY ESTABLISHED?

• HOW MANY LEAGUES ARE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII?

• WHAT IS PRD’s CLOSEST WFTDA COMPETITOR?

• WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN A JAMMER “JUMPS THE APEX?”

• WHAT IS A GRAND SLAM?

• WHAT IS THE RECORD HELD FOR NUMBER OF POINTS SCORED IN A SINGLE JAM BY A JAMMER?

• HOW MANY LAPS EQUAL 1 MILE?

• WHAT IS THE “MAGIC CIRCLE?”

• WHAT IS A “TRACK CUT?”

• HOW MANY SECONDS ARE SERVED IN THE BOX FOR A PENALTY?

• WHERE DOES A JAMMER LINE UP AT THE BEGINNING OF A JAM?

• HOW MANY REFEREES ARE THERE IN A WFTDA SANCTIONED BOUT?

• HOW LONG DOES A FULL JAM LAST?

• WHO CAN CALL OFF A JAM?

• HOW LONG DOES A REGULATION GAME LAST?

• WHAT HAPPENS IF I TAKE MY MOUTHGUARD OUT TO YELL AT YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF A JAM AND THE REF SEES ME?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEFINITIONS

• PANTY
• POINT OF SCRIMMAGE
• BRIDGING
• “NO PACK”
• POSITIONAL BLOCKING
• PIVOT
• JAMMER
• JUKE
• EAT THE BABY
• SCRUM START
• PIVOT START
• HULAGANS
• BIZNASS
• MRG
• GIRR
• RRR
• WWW
• PRG
• RRRG
• ACR
• MRDA
• WFTDA
• USARS
• LEAD JAMMER
• MULTI-PLAYER BLOCK
• LOW-BLOCK
• HI-BLOCK
• NSO
• 20-FOOT RULE
• SK808
• STREET SKATE
• JAM SKATE
• DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DRAW THE DERBY GEAR ON THE HIPSTERS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DRAW THE DERBY GEAR ON THE HIPSTERS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Identify the Ref Penalty Hand Signals

       

   

fin

Weeks 5 and 6: Crossovers continued, Backwards Crossovers, Magic Circle

Once we get the basic mechanics of skating down, we begin to move into some refining skills that impact speed and efficiency. In roller derby, a crossover is used particularly on the corners as an efficient skating stroke to maximize your push within the momentum of the derby track. Gravity is working against you on the corners, so we also use what is referred to as the magic circle, or the diamond, which shortens the distance around the track. It's essentially creating a diamond shape or a circle within the oval. See diagram below. Note corners 1, 2, 3, and 4, as marked. Derby direction is counter-clockwise.

                                      1                                                                                 4

 

                                     2                                                                                  3

It is important to know where the momentum of gravity will begin to work against you. In the same way that it works against you when you are trying to become faster at your laps, this is also an important thing to keep in mind as you become a derby blocker. That jammer that you are blocking against will find it very tricky to recover from the momentum of a properly placed hit or booty nudge at turn 1 or 3, for instance. Likewise, jammers learn where blockers naturally stray from the inside line (turns 2 and 4) creating holes they can sneak on through! Pay attention, freshies. This is fundamental, and oh-so-important.

With forwards crossovers, we talked about the job of the left leg, which is to deliver an "underpush." We practiced pushing the wall with both the right leg out to the side and then with that back leg underneath, feeling the engagement of the muscle groups of both legs. The Neutrino of Rat City Rollergirls best demonstrates. I'm not even going to try to compete with her amazingness, she has it completely broken down in the most entertaining way possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFFu1kY_h0E

Backwards crossovers are a lot like frontwards crossovers, although they are more like sticky-skating ones. Does that make sense? It starts with a backwards watermelon (or scissors) motion, then the right leg will drift behind the left leg to deliver a momentum push and propel you a bit. To complete the motion, you pick up that right foot and put it back where it first began. Watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JIzx482y_g

Fresh Meat Weeks 3 and 4: Crossovers, Skating Backwards, Transitions

Fancy stuff, this roller derby!

If you've made it a month, chances are good that you will continue to stick it out and pass your skills. Roller derby is a lot of mind over matter. A lot of it is mental game. Take skating backwards, for instance: the whole idea of moving backwards on wheels is a terrifying concept. If you break it down and figure out the mechanics, while giving yourself a few safeguards to make it less frightening such as looking behind you, it's not as daunting. Let's start at the beginning.

Holding onto the wall, we worked on transitions. We talked about opening the door and closing the door, by leading with one foot and opening our body up to the world, then closing back up to complete a 180 degree turn. That is a very broken-down version of a transition. This is easy to demonstrate as a concept by having girls put their hands palms together, then opening their arms up like they are going to give someone a hug, then going back to putting their palms together. The same thing happens with your legs from a standing position. Don't overthink it, don't look down at your feet (I tell girls not to look at their bumper when they drive), and don't freak out. It's a simple movement that should feel fluid. Once it's comfortable on one side, try the other side. Once both sides feel comfortable, try jumping to face the other way and skip the stepping. Always start with turning your head to face the direction you want to go. Keep your knees bent in derby stance.

Once you have transitioned to skating backwards, the real freakout happens! OMG! I'M SKATING BACKWARDS! PANIC! J/k. Don't panic. At any time to slow down, all you have to do is put your toe stops on the ground and you will stop.

To pick up momentum while skating backwards, it is helpful to lead with your ass and keep your weight on your heels. If you are new to skating backwards and are starting from a standstill, you can try the "marching approach." This video is a good demonstration of such. Notice that her knees point in and her heels kick up and out to the sides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZxFvpSzZMc


We worked on crossovers in a forwards direction, concentrating on the push we were giving with that right leg before it crossed over our left leg. We tried to keep our right leg on the ground as long as possible before it came up off the ground, while still maintaining good form of our weight being evenly distributed on our left side, shoulder over hip over knee over toe.