Could Minors Become a Thing of the Past

The WFTDA has recently launched a series of beta test bouts that will be using a different set of rules.  Under the new rules outlined in Section 6 minor penalties will no longer effect game play.  That means elbowing, illegal use of forearms, or back blocking that does not force a player out of bounds, down, or out of position will be considered 'no impact'.  The other change is cutting the track in front of any player from the opposite team will result in a trip to the penalty box for one minute.

I have been giving a lot of thought to this 'no minors' change and are on the fence about the whole matter.  As a skater that has benched for a entire period for having three minors I like the idea of minor penalties being irrelevant.  My team also has a tendency to play dirty so a move to no minors might help our game.  On the other hand I worry that derby might get more dirty.  I know a lot of players out there who freak out when people elbow them or touch them with their forearms and I wonder how they would react to all this. 

In any case it will be interesting to see what kind of information the WFTDA discovers from these beta test bouts.  I'd also love to hear your thoughts on the matter so don't hesitate to speak up.

The Power of Visulization

As athletes we train hard and carefully plan our strategies hoping that on game day all our hard work will pay off and we will be victorious. One other key ingredient to prepare our mind and body for the big day is visualization. Before every game I take time to get quiet and visualize myself handling game scenarios flawlessly. This technique is great for calming your nerves, building concentration and self confidence, and improving your performance without tiring your body before a big game where you want to peak your performance. Visualization is also a useful tool in rehearsing strategies played in hypothetical game situations.

Why is this technique so effect? The answer is visualizing ideal game scenarios creates a neural pattern in the brain, similar to those created when actually performing the physical movements. These patterns are necessary to create ecetrical impulses that generate our movements. Physical training coupled with visulization build the neurological patterns we need to perform actions precisely.

To practice this technique effectively find a quiet, comfortable place free of distractions. Start by concentrating on your breath. Feel your body relax with each inhalation and exhalation. Then begin to imagine yourself playing the game. Imagine the details and the way it feels to perform. You can include your senses in the visualization. See actually images or pictures of the game, sounds like the roar of the crowd, and what your body actually feels like in these scenarios are all helpful techniques in immersing your mind into the full experience.  Imagine situations in the game and and then visulize yourself executing them immaculately.   

Doing this for ten minutes three times during the week before your match is suggested for this technique to be the most effective.  You can also do short visualizations when you are in line at the store or anytime you are you have a brief moment to focus on something else.

Often a win comes down to scoring points in the final seconds of a match.  Why not use every available technique out there to maximize your performance, especially one as simple and easy as visualization.  

2 Play or Not 2 Play

    
     Coed sports like dodge ball, softball, soccer, billiards, tennis, and badminton are great fun for everyone.  I played on a coed kickball team last summer and it was a blast, but when it comes full contact sports, I think I'm okay just playing with the girls.   Yep you heard me right, I'm afraid to play with the boys.  I love going on outdoor skates with them and chasing them around the rink during speed skate sessions, but when it comes to playing derby I'm as timid as a teenager at a school dance.  
     
     My phobia goes back to my first encounter with merby.  It was the 2008 WFTDA National Championship hosted in Portland, OR.  During half time of one of the games the men played a thirty minute scrimmage.  It was much more physical then the way we women play and all the testosterone made it seem more macho and less sexy.  The pack speed was crazy fast as was the action out on the track.  At one point it time one of the guys flew out in the crash zone onto some poor girls lap.  As he got up his skate managed to get all wrapped up around the strap of her purse and he dragged it with him back on the track. That's not the not the worst part.  It's contents were flung all over the crash zone and she had to go retrieve them as this crazy game of merby continued.    
     
     The next year a men's team formed in my home town and many of my teammates began playing with the guys.  I kept my distance.  After watching those boys play rough at nationals I didn't want to take any hits from them.  That was my stance and I was sticking to it.
     
     Recently my phobia was put to the test.  My friends and I took a road trip up to Bremerton, WA for the Wild West Showdown.  We were super excited to see some epic derby and compete in a challenge bout.   That is until I discovered it was a coed scrimmage.  My fears began to rise as I saw the size of some of these guys.  Big girls are intimidating but if a big dude were to come at me on skates I think I might piss myself.  Soon my anxiety melting into excitement.  Rice Rocket was skating on my team and all of a sudden I was filled with joy and giddiness.  Several jams into our scrimmage I began to lose my worries as I watched other women hold their ground up to these dudes.  Wouldn't you know it the second I let my guard down this gigantic man knocked me into next week on the outside of a turn.  It was unlike any other hit I've ever taken.  I flew into the crash zone and then just kept going.  Past the styrofoam bummers and head on into a chair.  Thank god no one was in it.  The funny thing is the hit didn't hurt.  Even though the guy was as big as a semi truck he was soft like a super sized teddy bear. 
     
     A couple days ago I was faced with my fear again.  Our travel team was scheduled to scrimmage the men's team.  With one coed scrimmage under my belt I was considering the challenge.  However that night I got cold feet.  The previous week one of my team mates sprained her ankle scrimmaging the guys.  Even though she was the only one that got hurt I heard a lot of girls moaning and groining about how sore they were from playing them.  In the end, I decide to pass.  


     I know boys don't bite but they do play rough, and from what I understand our men are covered under a different insurance than WFTDA.  Therefore if I were to get injured playing them, I would not be covered under their policy.  I've talked to a couple of my team mate and I know I'm not alone in my fears.  I guess for now, I'll just stick to playing with the girls and wait to kick it with the boys this summer when kickball starts back up. 

Fancy Footwork

One of my coaches introduced this amazing footwork drill to our team that we use all the time to improve our agility.  Its a great thing to run through as you're warming up for practice or a scrimmage.  

1.  Front Middle Back Middle-  The purpose of this exercise is to help develop footwork to catch yourself if you are knock off balance either forwards or backwards.  This drill should be done on the right foot and the left foot.  The first time through practice it with small, quick movements.  Give yourself a little rest and then practice it again with slower, exaggerated movements.

How it works:
step forward with your right foot transferring your weight onto the right foot
transfer your weight back to your left foot bringing your body back to center or middle
step backwards with your right foot again transferring your weight onto the left foot
transfer your weight back to you left foot bringing your body back to center

2.  Out Middle Out Middle-  This drill helps develop lateral movement which in turn will help you avoid hits and navigate through the pack while keeping your feet moving.  This drill should also be practice first with quick, small movements and then with slower, large movements.

How it works:
Step out to the right with your right foot
Draw your left foot in and make two small, quick steps (left-right)
Step out to the left with your left foot
Draw your right foot in and make two small, quick steps (right-left)


Note:  Think of the quick steps rhythmically happening similarly to the syllables in mid-dle.  Chanting to yourself, "Out Mid-dle, Out Mid-dle," as your beginning really helps your feet coordinate with your brain.

3. Cross Middle Cross Middle-  This drill like the previous, it helps develop lateral movement.  When you do it fast it kinda feels like a jig, and coincidentally, when done slow, feels like doing the rock steading.  As with before practice once with quick, small movements and again with slow, large movements.  Be sure to rest in between.  The idea is to push yourself to go as fast as you can and then as big as you can.  Chanting with this one is also a helpful when you're getting started.

How it works:
Crossover with your right foot
Bring your left foot in to meet your right foot and make two small, quick steps (left-right)
Crossover with you left foot
Bring your right foot in to meet your left foot and make two small, quick steps (right-left)

4.  The Juke-  I was so thankful for this drill.  The truth is I use to suck at jukes.  Now my fakes are actually faking people out and about half the time getting me past my opponents.  What can I say, I'm still a work in progress.  For any of you that have never heard of a juke here is an explanation.  Basically a juke is a move to trick your opponent into thinking your going a certain direction, when they make a move in that direction, you dart off in the opposite.  The idea here is to really sell your fake.  That means arms, upper body, and head are all giving off a strong impression that your headed in a certain direction.   Practice juking on both sides and at various different points on the track.  Visualize an opponent in front of you as you preform this drill.  Pretend lines or marks on the track are blockers and work on your timing.

How it Works:
Stomp in the direction you wish to fake to, throwing your arms and upper body into the movement
Leap in the opposite direction and take a couple quick strides and then repeat

Flesh Ink

Derby girls are know for their beer guzzling, hard hits, sexy outfits, and of course tattoos.  Recently I've been spending a fair amount of my spare time looking at tattoos online.  I love coming across a good collection of tattoos inspired by television, horror movies, music, or famous art works.  This post is dedicated to roller derby inspired tats.  If any of you out there have a derby tattoo, send me a picture and tell me about your piece.  I want to hear from you!!


Mama Kaze
Texas Rollergirls Rec 'n' Rollerderby Recreational League
Austin, Texas

Red Bully

No Town Roller Derby

Fresno, California

Carmen Geddit
Houston Roller Derby
Houston, Texas

Rex Havoc
Emerald City Roller Girls 
Eugene, Oregon

Scarlet GoDancin
NEO Rock 'n' Roller Girls
Akron, Ohio

Sally Strych9

Oklahoma Victory Dolls
Oklahoma, Oklahoma

Marcie Price

Junction City Roller Dolls

Layton, Utah

Cannon Doll X
LA Derby Doll Sirens

Los Angeles, California

Roxy Rockett
Carolina Rollergirls
Raleigh, North Carolina

Sk8 Crime
Cincinnati Rollergirls
Cincinnati, Ohio

Susan B. Agony
Atlanta Roller Girls
Atlanta, Georgia

minx a'matosis

Lincolnshire Bombers Roller Girls

Lincolnshire, UK

Sweet C

Naptown Roller Girls

Indianapolis, Indiana

Stormy Trooper
Dead Girl Derby
Kansas City, Kansas

What Happens Behind Closed Doors, What Does it Effect Besides Our Reputations

     Recently I was in a crowded bar standing in line to buy a drink.  Suddenly I was pushed up against the man waiting in front of me.  I felt my pelvis push into his buttocks as the crowd swelled.  "Holy Shit," I thought, "My vagina is touching this guys butt!" It stayed there just long enough to make me conscious of how uncomfortable I felt.  At the time I was wearing only leggings and booty shorts, having just come from practice.  This thin layer of clothing did not feel like enough to shield my vagina from this stranger's ass.  After getting my drink and returning to my friends a thought occurred to me, my encounter waiting in line was similar to getting caught behind a blocker's booty.
     Let me say for the record that I hate getting caught behind a blocker's booty.  Its like trying to get around two heffers at a hot dog stand.  I pondered this some more and realized when the roles are reversed and my booty is doing the blocking, the feeling is not the least bit awkward.  When I'm blocking and I catch a jammer with my booty it feels exhilarating.  Its like catching a fly  ball, sending your oppents to the field and your team to the mound.
     My thoughts then turned to social situations in which my booty finds itself on someone.  All of a sudden the skies parted, a light shined through, and a voice said, "DUH, you like having your butt on people because your a women and that's how you like to get fucked?!"  Is that true.  I then considered what it would have been like if that poor schmuck that I practically humped in line had done the poking instead.   The truth is I think it probably would have turned me on a little and maybe given him a chubby.  What can I say my ass looks good in stretchy clothing.
     So this is when my mind made a crazy jump.  Does booty blocking feel so good and natural because it mimics men's and women's sex roles?  When I think about other social interactions like dancing in a club the same holds true.  Think about it, when was the last time you saw a lady giving it to her boyfriend on the dance floor, and by "giving it" I mean thrusting her pelvis against her honey's fart box.  No, that never is the case.   However if it was, it would just be funny, slightly weird and probably damaging to that man's ego.  The truth of the matter is when you walk onto a dance floor these days and see a couple getting their groove on, it usually looks like two people humping with their clothes on while standing up.
     I guess the lesson to be learned here is this, sex is a big deal and the roles we play in it effect more than just what goes on behind closed doors.  It sometimes can be the reason we socially except certain things and reject others.  My only thought now is how to the men playing merby feel about positionally blocking with their booty.

Tournaments- A Bit of Advice to the Spectator

After traveling to Bremerton Washington for The Wild West Showdown I was pondering what I could share from experience with my readers.  Then it dawned on me, knowing what to bring and what to leave at home might help y'all plan for your next tourne.  Here are a few things I was glad to have or in hind sight wish I did.

THE LIST

• First and foremost bring plenty of cash for booze and merch
• Snacks because the food served there most likely sucks and you've save money for sushi later or more merch  
• Clothing the color of the team you are cheering for.  You may need to pull a superman if your rooting for a couple of teams.  Think layers.
• Signs because they're fun and they increase your chances of being on DNN

• A small notepad to jot down anything you might want to remember later or possibly to get an autograph of your favorite skater
• Cowbell or other noise making device.  TRUST ME, your throat will thank you later

• A camera for photo opps of course, there will be many
• Water bottle, hydration is important
• A large tote to put all this shiz in 
• Bring your skates and outdoor wheels! Often there is down time or you'll just want a break from all the excitement.  What a better way to do so than by ganging up with some friends and cruising the town on your skates!

Well I hope this advice is helpful to you in all your future derby endeavors! Bon Voyage