Roxy Rockett

Sorry for not posting in awhile, family comes first sometimes. I took a ‘derby break’ and I still have a couple of days until I dive back into this here sport!

Some of our girls are heading North to Charm City (Baltimore) this weekend to bout these WFTDA newbies. We sent a few girls that have never interleague’d before in hopes to get them up to speed with our seasoned grannies! I know they will make us proud!

Going to be doing some derby training this weekend with the Atlanta Rollergirls. We will be on the rink 2 days/4 hours. I think this should be enough time.
I remember these girls coming up for our first public bout in 2005 (side note: a year after our league formed; and holding 2 private expo bouts) and having some of them sit in on a team meeting/dinner the night before our ‘coming out bout’. They have been great friends of ours during the past 2 years! I feel really honored that they asked me to come and teach the important skills that make up the foundation of skating and derby. They can take and leave whatever they see fit. I will try and have some feedback from them so everyone can get an idea of what I do on private training weekends.

In the midst of all this derby crap, I’m getting married in September and I have been frantically searching for bridesmaid dresses. I have found my dress, I just have to find the right color of wheels for my skates and what type of socks (if any) to match my dress. Not to mention a venue and all that crap. Perhaps I’ll write some posts on how to plan a wedding and do derby at the same time. Better yet, perhaps some of you can chime in and help my sorry ass out!!

I hope everyone had a great New Year and I hope to be spying on you West coast bitches at Dust Devil II (if I can muster up enough money for a plane ticket).

Thanks for reading!
Roxy

Comments(10)

This is a sensitive and personal subject to some skaters. When talking about blocking, I tend to think about it as two different types, desperate verses effective.

As with anything you do on the rink, you have to know what, when, why and where to perform your acts.

Blocking is something every skater does and in my opinion, the most important element on the rink when bouting.

Desperate Blocks

Whoooo weee.. I have had my fair share of dealing with such blockers. In fact, this is the first real stage of bouting every newbie goes through. After weeks of training basic drills and watching the grannies scrimmage from the sidelines, when newbies get their chance to go in for the first time,.. you’ll see some awful falls, slide tackles, over committing to blocks, grabbing while falling (likely a reaction stemming from some bitch just knocking you the F out), tripping, back blocking, elbows/forearms, 20 feet (hell, more like 90 feet).. and so on. The main factor in ridding this ill, is knowing how to get you (and your blockers) past this ‘infant’ stage.

Effective Blocks

When I say effective blocks, I’m talking about the ones that not only land and take some bitch out, I’m talking about ones that have no penalties attached to them, ones that you can land and still keep skating with the pack, ones that keep you in front of the targeted skater. Effective blocking has to do with knowing what you want to do and to whom. Going around knocking every girl on the rink isn’t effective blocking (unless, of course, you’re coming out of the penalty box and they don’t see you coming… sshhheeeit, that’s always a fun thing to pull). Effective blocking is basically, knowing how to control yourself when hitting.

Over committing to blocks

This one is the hardest one to stray from. I mean, how can you tell a blocker that has the most JTD’s (jammer take downs) to learn to control herself more when blocking. One could reply with, “she was effective in keeping that jammer back/down.. why change?” I reply with, “Perhaps we should also take a look at her penalties to answer that question”.

Flying at someone without a target in your eye, just hoping that you so happen to nail her, isn’t an effective why to block. Though you may take that jammer/blocker out, in the meantime you rack up penalties, and you’re out of play for your team. Most skaters I skate with see these types of blockers coming. Especially if you’re trying to make a huge hit.. getting into position to pull something like this off is a dead giveaway. It’s like an 80’s metal head wearing white sneakers.. I know you like Def Leppard.

Same thing, when I’m jamming and I see you aiming for me, unless you have some good control over your blocks, your ass will have missed me and you’ll go flying (either into our fans or your team mates).

How does one control a block?

1.Conditioning. First off, I have this drill I like to do with newbie skaters. It’s called jab blocking (yeah, it’s an original name). It’s a stationary drill that one can do at home and work to strengthen their thighs and condition their upper body to keep arms in and project the shoulders upward and outward. You basically start in derby position, then you push from your left leg in an upper motion and stretch your right shoulder upward and outward, then you pull yourself back into derby position just as fast as you left it.. You repeat on the right leg. Alternate legs throughout this drill about 20 times and you’ll start to sweat.

2. Basic Skills. Another thing to note is that unless you have good control over your skating skills, you will not be an effective blocker. If you’re struggling to stay up and in the pack, how in the hell are you going to be able to land an effective block and be able to keep on skating? You’re not. That’s why I always go back to basic skating skills first and foremost.

3.Selecting your target. One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is aiming, finding that target to hit. You have to know who’s around you at all times. Hopefully, by the 8^th jam, you have a good sense of the other team and how certain skaters play. When finding that blocker/jammer to hit, you have to first find their weakest part. If a blocker is unstable and unaware, wait until she is focused on the jammer and knock her down (the jab block should take care of this). You always aim for the weakest player on the track when beginning a jam. Get her out of there.. the fewer the blockers, the easier it is for your team to control the pack.

If you see that certain players play offense and is highly effective at it, you will then want to make sure you put her where you want her on the track (how to do this exactly? well, this info is not free. Sorry! C’mon, I’m going to have to play some of you bitches soon enough).

4.Executing. Lastly, know when to hit your target. What happens when you try to land a block on a jammer if you don’t see her coming? You can’t. What will happen is, you try to sprint at the last minute (if you use toe-stops, beware of them ankles cracking) to land a block, but unfortunately, you’re too late on the draw and if you land any hits, it’s more and likely an elbow or a back block (both minors). The best case is, you’ll completely miss the jammer and your ass is on the floor (although you’re WAY out of play and doing nothing to help your team, you do not get any penalties). Best reaction in this scenario, don’t desperately throw yourself at the jammer, get some speed and get into the pack.

How to coach to the uncontrolled blocker

I have a few levels of coaching on this issue.
I like to think of said issue as an infant child. How would one go about teaching this child NOT to run into traffic?

1. Teach them the dangers in doing so- At newbie level, you train girls the outcome of each dangerous situation. Example: doing squats. I train our newbies to keep their arms in when doing their squats and in the same breathe, I tell them the reason for this is: “you’re finding balance in your outstretched arms, you need to pull them into your chest and let your legs and stomach find balance. Why? When you start bouting, you’re outstretched arms are going to evolve into forearms/elbows.” When talking to your skaters, do not come at them with a pissed off, “you suck” attitude. You approach them lightly (at first) and offer your help.

2. If skaters are not listening to your advice and continue to be a danger on the rink, you then want to start pointing them out in scrimmage. As a coach, you should stand in the middle of the rink (with your refs) and start naming names. I know the league I skate with, tend to think I have an abrasive manner at times, so I would hold off on calling girls out, due to sensitivity (taking it as a personal attack, when it’s coming from Roxy the captain, not Roxy the “off-rink-funny-kick-ass-dancer”). Calling bitches out, after they had a sit down with their captains/coaches, will hopefully get them to shape up. (not to mention, I’m sure their fellow skaters will have a few “unencouraging” words to say to them after they land a shitty block on them.)

3. The last way to talk to one of these blockers is to out right bitch at them with anger and sincerity. Going back to that infant teaching comparison, think about this child is about to run into traffic.. what is the first reaction a mother has? “STOP!!!!!!!!!” That’s the same raw emotion you have to use when communicating to this blocker. You’re (in a sense) trying to save her from this speeding car…perhaps it should be said, you’re trying to save your other players from her.

4. If all else fails, take her out of scrimmaging and do falling drills (yes, that is my answer for everything).

Comments(6)

UGHH! I need to vent. It won’t grant any wishes, but f’n christallmighty.. what in the hell is going to happen to derby if ladies worry about photo’s moreso than practicing? I was doing some myspace stalking and came across leagues that had fancy pictures but no action shots. I like fancy pictures. I like chocolate and beer. I like all 3 at the same time. But good freakin’ grief.. aarrrggghhhhhh! Perhaps our league is just ghetto. Perhaps if we had free time, we would take fancy photos. dunno.

I’m going to post my last damn topic on falling and get to the size post. I had 2 great ladies supply me with their opinions and a lot more asked me questions. Thanks to all of you who replied!

Off to work.

Comments(6)

Helping your jammers and blockers out is a very good thing, don’t get me wrong. When their tired and need an extra push, there’s nothing more loving than a nice healthy assist. However, doing assists incorrectly can hurt your jammer/blockers more than if you just have let them go to venture the amazon forest (aka. Pack) alone. Granted, assists are learned through constantly doing them, and in the beginning (actually, any time), you will make errors. You need to learn from your mistakes and understand why it wasn’t effective. Don’t get pissed and yell at the girl giving you the assist, instead say “thanks, but what happened was, blah blah blah” and keep working on it. Also, you do not have to take every assists that offered to you. As a jammer/blocker, you know what you’re doing and where you want to go. On the same note, if you need an assist and no one seems to be lending you hand, ask for one.

Whips

I got this comment a few days ago, after posting what my Falling topics will include. I decided to answer her in this post.

“What’s bad about doing a one knee drop whip assist? “ -Mange

First off, it’s not what you’re doing, it’s how and when you’re doing it.

One Knee drop whip assists are good, IF:

1. Leg Position-You keep the leg that’s on the floor right behind you (rather than to the side) and you get up and sprint as soon as the whip is completed. I think a lot of girls fail in this department. They tend to give these drop down whips and sit on the floor and proceed to take a nice little nap.

2. Where is your position in the pack? In order to give these types of whips you have to be either; a) in the back of the pack- Doing this will either be 20 feet assist (penalty); you’re out of play in the pack as a blocker and not helping where you’re needed most; or, you simply whip into the backs of other skaters.

   b).in the front of the pack- again 20 ft rule; tripping oncoming skaters; ability to get up and be counted as an effective blocker.

   c).on the outside line- this would be the ideal time to drop down to a one knee whip assist. However, it also depends on your ability to get right back up and sprint to stay in the pack and be an effective blocker. NOTE: the timing on this whip could be effective due to the inability of opposing blockers to break it up or stop it completely. The skater on the ground acts like a protected shield for her whippee. That skater (the whipper) can not be blocked while on the ground giving the whip, and if the whip has enough force behind it, the whippee would be projected at a faster speed than that blocker who’s looking to stop this whip and will go unscathed.

3. Timing- Do not give/receive a whip at the back of the pack if you can help it. Getting whipped into the backs of other players is a penalty, not to mention it f’n hurts the blockers. If you see the pack is spread out and a lot of holes are present, then I would say that would be left up to the jammer if she wanted to take it. Otherwise, don’t waste your time lending a whip, rather, go into the pack and help by blocking for her!

Butt Pushes

We all love some butt pushes, and we all hate them at the same time. Butt pushes (along with whips) should have their own dedicated practice time. If done wrong, you are setting back your jammers/blockers rather than helping them. Also, communicate to the girl you’re assisting. Yell, “butt push” when you’re about to give one. Sometimes, I like to grab the girl I’m about to assist and count down from 3. I usually put my hands on her hips on the corner and then push her when coming out (only if there is an open space).

3 Steps to pushing the butt

1. Positioning of hands. You should have your hands right above or on her hips. Noticed I said hands (both) and not fingers (’Jazz Hand’ butt pushes are useless) and hips not back.

2. Going into the corners. Crossovers, unexpected tripping, rope lights, blocks.. etc, are all factors when giving a butt push in the corners. The skaters body positioning is different than when skating on the straight away. I would highly recommend NO butt pushes on corners.

3. How to push. When giving a butt push, you should always push forward, not in an upward/downward motion. When giving the push, you also need to absorb the girl getting the assist. Hard to explain. Easier to demonstrate.

Biker Fox demonstrating Jazz Hands:

Comments(2)

One thing basic skating skills should teach is how to control speed and balance. Basic stops (without toe-stops) trains you to use your weight in proportion to your speed/momentum and height. I will not go into the toe-stop vs non toe-stop debate at this time (though I am against them and I will be happy to explain soon enough), rather, go into actions done by skaters that show no real control of balance, therefore, creating some pissed off Refs, team mates and opposing bitches.

Toe stop slow down

When deciding to use your toe-stops as your only mean of slowing down, you never develop a full sense of balance, which in the overall scheme of things, you never really have true control over your skating.

What’s bad about toe stop slow downs:

1. High probability of injuring yourself. Either the ankle that’s out in middle earth, dangling like the tooth fairy over a toddlers bed, or, the ankle trying to hold your unbalanced self up. You have to keep both ankles on the ground at all times. Alone, your ankles have decreased in strength. If one ankle is being dragged behind you, trying to slow you down (150+ pound skater), and along comes another 150+ skater that wails the shit out of you… what do you think happens next?

   A. Possible tripping if that blocker missed the target (you) = Penalty. More and likely, if you constantly use this method to slow down, your ass will be in the penalty box. Then, your team mates should be pissed cause not only do they have to skate one skater down in the next jam, but your stink ass becomes a free point for the other team.

   B. Ankle strike! That solo ankle doing all the work holding up your body decides, “shit, I’m f’n tired! I can not keep working overtime for this bitch while the other ankle just goes and takes a nap. I’m done..”. CRAAAACK! You have broken that poor little ankle and you’re out of derby for a good 6 months.

2. Remaining effective. If you use your toe-stops for slowing down, you more and likely use them as power points for blocking (meaning, you get all your power from your toe-stops to land a hit rather than your thighs). When this happens, your leg usually extends itself WAAAYYYY out and is being dragged behind you, while the rest of the pack is speeding up to reengage. Again, you’re on one ankle and the other is out there waiting to trip someone. Not to mention, how can you effectively jump into a sprint to reengage that jammer? You can’t.

Remember, your ankles hold all your weight. They need to be conditioned just as much (if not more) than the rest of your body. If you have weak ankles, I would suggest you do on foot glide squats on each foot every practice for targeted strengthening.

Forearms/elbows

This is another balance issue. Some skaters seem to think that if they they swing their arms fast and hard enough, they will eventually be able fly. Wrong. You can never fly and you should stop trying now.

Remember the ‘derby position’? Arms in, knees bent?! (see previous post about Clinging) Whenever you do fall drills, speed practice, even scrimmaging, be mindful of your arms and keep them tucked into your body (in derby position) as often as possible. When you have to use them, be sure you understand how and when is appropriate in order to save the most energy.

What’s bad about flailing arms?

1. Penalties- yes. Forearms to block; forearms to the face; elbows to block; elbows to the face are ILLEGEAL!

2. You waste energy. If you ever watch the speed skating in the Olympics, they have their arms behind them and only use them to pump on the corners, especially during the 30 lap races. They do not use their arms for pumping until the last 10 laps, and only in the last 5 do you see them balls out pumping. When they do pump, the arms have a strict area in which they have to stay within in order to save as much energy as possible. I learned a lot from watching them skate. I went back to speed/endurance practice and started using their methods. Now, when jamming, I keep my hands behind my back to save energy (when I’m out of the pack). It works.

The plow stop leg extension trip

If you have graduated to the non toe-stop ways, then the next issue would be the leg extension when doing a plow stop. Most ladies do not actually do a complete stop, more like a plow slow down. Plow stops are good for when you need to reduce speed quickly. When doing a plow stop, both legs should remain within an arms length of your body. Doing a split plow to slow down, which takes up (literally) half of the derby track, isn’t an effective use of this stop. You have to sit back into it and use your ass muscles to control this stop.

What’s bad about this:

1. Penalties- Tripping. Enough said.

It’s all about control and leg placement.

Comments(3)

Ever hit someone when they least expect it? Ever feel your shirt was almost ripped off from the skater cause she didn’t know how to fall properly?

Ever get knocked so hard you were making wishes on the shooting stars in your eyes? Your first reaction is to find a friend to lend a hand.. or shirt.

Why does one cling?

This is from lack of training and also from lack of experience on the rink. All leagues should start out doing nothing but basic skating skills. I mean one foot glides, backwards skating, squats, crossovers, reverse direction endurance, falling drills, stops , etc… for a good 2 months before attempting any contact drills.

What can I do to stop my clinginess?

Constantly skate in the ‘derby position’. If i ever had a training session with your league, you know what stance to which i am referring.

Derby Position- Bend at the knees (not at the waist, no hunchback either) as low as you can possible go and cross your arms and press them tightly to your chest. Simple as that.

Do this stance when jamming and blocking. Not only will this hopefully rid you of clinginess but it should help with your balance, reducing the use of forearms/elbows and build up stability.. so when you do get hit, you won’t have to cling anymore cause you can absorb the hit and keep on skating.

How do I handle a clingy bitch?

Skating against- Knock that bitch out as much as possible! If she’s clinging to you for support from a hit, who knows what desperate moves she would do to take out your jammer/blockers down the road (especially when her endurance is on it’s last leg). When you go in for that hit, make sure it’s not a lean block but a fast jab hit. In and out. BAM!

League Drill- Tie her wrists together with a long tube sock. Doesn’t have to be extremely tight, just enough to keep her hands immobile. Have her skate with that the whole scrimmage time. If you fear for her safety when doing this, then you need to take her OUT of scrimmaging and have her do falling drills. Also, yell at her every time you see her cling. She may not be aware of her actions, that’s why you need to communicate (yell) to make her aware.

Here’s an example of me doing a one knee drop in derby position. Notice my hands are closely to my chest. This helps me strengthen my thighs, so when I have to use this fall in a bout, I will be trained not to cling.

(photo courtesy of neon salt mine)

Comments(3)

To be honest, I’m not sure what WFTDA is doing right now. That’s not my committee (hahaha!!! get it.).

However, I think all skaters are to be held responsible for their image and mission in accordance to WFTDA. If we have any chance at keeping this sport alive and in good taste, it has to be represented as a true sport. I know when Texas started this up, their intention wasn’t to revamp roller derby to make it become the fastest growing sport for women in the history of ever, it was to get out there and have fun, pass the time and keep in shape.
What it has evolved to is a sisterhood, a 2nd (though to some, their 1st) family, a sport that has the making to change the way traditional structure in “man” sports is built.

Their old way: big money sponsors, highly payed players, highly payed coaches and rules that don’t cover safety but strategy.

Our new way: local sponsors, we PAY to play, we are our own coaches, and our rules are being formed around safety.

My issue: newer league that start up and present themselves to their community with the tag of “roller derby”, do not understand what harm they are causing. Forming a league and holding a first bout within 6 months isn’t logical. Though they may have cute, fancy costumes, professional photos and pretty faces, their skills will not be defined, the ref’s will have no clues as to what to look for(= injuries galore), and they leave a bad taste in the mouths of their community about roller derby.

I understand the way i tend to view and do things may be extreme sometimes, but in the end, it’s to protect derby as a sport, and not as a fashion show.

Seriously, roller derby needs to be around in 20 years so my little girl can come in and kick your little girls’ asses.

Comments(6)

 These are the topics in the falling category.

The Victim-
A fallen skater

The Crimes-

Scissor legs

Clinging to other skaters while falling

Speed reduction trip (toe stops, forearms/elbows, plow-stop leg extension trip)

Bad assists (one knee drop full arm whip, butt pushes on corners, one handed butt pushes, ‘back’ pushes instead of BUTT pushes, whips/pushes into the backs of blockers)

Over committing to hits (flying out into the audience/ref’s, taking team mate out
tripping a player out of desperation)

Back blocking (speed control, bad assists)

Comments(0)

I would have to say this is the most frustrating way to waste energy, as a jammer and a blocker.

Here comes the jammer and you have her lined up perfectly… you know how and when you’re going to take that bitch down. You have been staring at her for at least a half lap.. you’re ready! All of a sudden, here comes one of her blockers and she nails the SHIT out of you (literally wiping the snot off you face).

What happens next?

You land close enough to the jammer so she is in range of your hyper-extended leg. Or, as luck would have it, you fall all crazy like and position your legs so that they happen to create a speed bump for that jammer.

Jammer falls (hopefully in a trained fall and doesn’t twist her ankle from your desperate moves) from a fast speed. Not only does she loose her momentum, she has wasted her earned energy, she looses her position in the pack and has to start all over again with tight thighs that can’t sprint anymore.

So, Why do you extend that leg?

Cause you’re pissed that you got knocked down, you’re pissed cause that jammer got by you, and mostly, you should be pissed cause you didn’t keep an eye on those other players out on the rink.

How can this be fixed?

Doing falling drills every practice.
Read books about controlling your anger in frustrating moments.
Have girls be the “cheap” player during scrimmage so your league can get prepared and deal with these situations before they happen in bouts.
Realize that there are more than just jammers on the rink. Some ladies just see the star and go for that, not realizing that it’s the blockers who call the shots and give them as well!

Coaches/trainers should make it their responsibility to keep this from happening. It lessens the value of your league and it could cause some serious injuries for the opposing player (s). Injuries that happen because some bitch doesn’t know how to control herself on the rink is one way to be booed and frowned upon in the derby world… (or at least in Roxy’s world).

Ref’s should determine how threatening and harmful this is and call it accordingly. If they see one player doing it over and over again (even before her 4^th major for the same crime), then the ref’s should take it upon themselves to eject that player from the remaining of the game.

For teams who have to deal with these players, a probation period should be implemented.
-no scrimmaging for a few practices
-falling drills on the side while the rest of the league is scrimmaging (i mean the WHOLE scrimmage time)
-assess her falls after the probation period is over
-do not allow her to do interleague bouts until your WHOLE league votes (or those eligible) that she is safe to return.
If these seem harsh, then you’re not taking this sport seriously.

You can have fancy pictures and cute costumes, but your lazy ass gets on the rink and pulls desperate moves like this, then you can count your league out of any chance of becoming an ally in the fight to make this a recognized sport for all women.

And personally, this is the ultimate goal all leagues should strive to promote

Comments(5)

This is my attempt at blogging.
Uncensored doesn’t mean shitting on the unknown. I do not spell things wright nor do I write well… I literally write like i talk and drive like I skate. ADHD is my favorite 4 letter word. this “…” means a new thought.

A mission statement will soon follow this unfinished post.

-Roxy

Comments(3)