However, the league did create an entire new program for us (I like to think because we are just awesome and they want to keep us around) called Skaters on Tap. The deal is that we would become a part of the business, pay dues, have league jobs, and in return, we get to train with the league during league-wide practices. We also get to join the Homies, which to me seems like is made up of anyone who is not on the travel team, who want to travel and play other people outside the league.
So, for the past 2 months, I've been skating with the Texas Rollergirls
And it is freaking awesome!
I've been learning so much and I can actually watch a live feed derby game without having to play it at half speed. This to me is pretty big.
I still feel like Bambi on skates sometimes, especially when I am blocking on
Fast forward to last night. We had a scrimmage night where we played each other with a few travel team players sprinkled in. I was so excited to test out all the new skills that I had picked up during these past few months of practice and to tell you the truth, I was completely overwhelmed.
By the 2nd jam my weaknesses were already exposed clearly and by the end of the night, I was completely bombarded mentally with all the things that I need to do better. So, I e-mailed my big Delirium Trigger and I asked her about setting goals. I think I'm supposed to be a jammer eventually, but I feel like I need to be able to block before I will be remotely close to being an effective jammer. Who knows, I may like blocking in the end... but anyways, I wanted to ask her thoughts about whether or not I should specialize in jammer skills or blocker skills, or if I should just learn both as I go.
She suggested both, but if I were working on blocker drills, I should be thinking about how to take advantage as a jammer.
And then she reminded me about reverse engineering when it comes to setting goals. After thinking about this, I decided to work on the following:
1) Making quick lateral cuts :
To do this, I will need to solidify my hockey stop, perform squats to strengthen the muscles, and work on consecutive explosive pushes ( as opposed to a single drive).
2) Being able to track and create a strong wall:
To do this I need to strengthen my core and legs so that I can drop lower. Work on really feeling the jammer with my body and turning in/out slightly to catch any creepage. I also need to work on plowing hard into the ground. *I actually had a lightbulb moment tonight when MegaHurtz pointed out that I can turn my body a bit to catch the jammer before I square back up again. Also when anticipating a catch, Peace suggested that I start moving my feet so that I can get going faster. And gravy suggested that I bend over to make my body horizontal to give myself more area to catch an incoming jammer. I then put these pieces of advice into practice and now I feel like I am MUCH more stable.
3) More fluid and exaggerated jukes
To do this, I need to work on agility and making quick lateral cuts (see #1) Once I can stop quickly on a dime, I should be able to juke and change directions a bit better.
4) better transitions between toestops and rolling.
To do this I just need to spend more time on my toestops. I need to get over the fear of falling over flat on my face and just practice toestops to rolling and rolling to toestops.
Tonight's practice, we worked on #1,2,3 and by the time I left practice, I felt so good about improving in those areas. Now, are they perfect? No, but I can tell I got better and that's all that counts, right?
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