Learning Curve

Never being in any sort of organized sport before, I didn't realize the amount of training we'd be expected to do. I thought I'd just hop onto my skates, run some drills, then bout.

Two months into fresh meat and I'm learning that I knew nothing. Sure, I'd been out to the arena/track before training started, but I had no idea what to do. Well, other than to stay upright and skate in circles. That still seems to be the main gist of the game, so I guess I wasn't too far off. We've learned a lot, and it seems like there's still much more to learn. Between falling techniques, stops, hits, and whips, we've also picked up on some "derby talk".


So far we've learned knee stops, rockstar stops, baseball stops (my least favourite), turning knee stops, and, for lack of a better term, 4-point stops (hands and knees on the floor). Some may call these falls, but I like to think of them as controlled stops used in a controlled manner.


Stops that don't involve hitting the ground include the plough and T-stops. The plough was the bane of my existence at first, but now I prefer it. And T-stops, well, they have their place. I'm trying to use them more, but still feel a bit shaky about it.


The hits/blocks are the most challenging for me, so far. It takes a lot of nerve to get in front of an opposing team member and try to knock her down while maintaining your position. All the while, keeping in mind the dozen or so things that could land you in the penalty box.


Whips. Whips can be fun. Whips can be scary. Whips can be especially scary when received from a seasoned player. We haven't spent a lot of time practicing whips, and I hope that changes soon!


Oh the new terminology and metaphors we've heard! They're interesting:
Giner Shiner: Exactly what you might imagine it to be; a skate or a hard hit to the lady bits. I've been lucky enough to avoid it so far, but I've seen a few girls down as a result of the giner shiner.
Kick Ass: The position you want to maintain as much as possible while skating. It's been compared to the position a lady might be in if she were peeing in the woods. Feet shoulder width apart, knees over toes, and squatting.
T*ts Over Toes: Another thing to keep in mind while in Kick Ass. Gotta lean forward as you squat, otherwise you're on your bum.


We've also had the pleasure of doing a million crunches/pushups/planks. I'm not complaining though; they're good for me, and a strong core is vital to maintaining Kick Ass. I'm just really glad we get a day off between practices, is all.


Most importantly, I've learned that all the girls on the team really love it. Their passion for the game comes alive during bouts, and it's really fun to see. I've never heard so much yelling from the players' bench!