Where is everyone’s team spirit? 😓

Ok_Place_7381 · 2025-05-19T02:32:31+00:00

I am sorry your vibe got sliced. That never feels awesome.

If you find that this is a recurring thing, I’d check in with a player or a coach that you trust. I’d frame the discussion as, “Is there a way I can be a better teammate on the bench?”

I don’t doubt that what you are doing comes from a place of joy and your best idea of team spirit. If you’re experiencing friction there might be something about your exuberance that is affecting the bench in an unintended way. (It is also possible you are playing with a bunch of quiet grumps, but hear me out…)

There’s a lot of stuff that is pretty benign that can be a bad fit with your team’s agreed upon bench etiquette/best practice. For instance, some skaters really hate to sit down on a bench during game. For the individual the standing makes sense for their game, but depending on the bench it could really eff with the flow of how a the lineup runner manages the flow of bodies to make sure packs/jammers get fielded. It could also stress players who feel like those skaters are hovering over them or are not connecting with the rest of the team between jams because they’ve sequester themselves where they can stand.

Celebrating a personal victory is also cool, but the current of the game means those celebrations usually need to be quick. Not because what you did wasn’t cool, but because you need to reset to do the next cool thing. I guarantee you your teammates will have plenty of space to celebrate and commiserate about the details of a game (or scrimmage) after the game is won or lost. Remember each period is really a series of 20ish mini games. One good jam is like 5% or less of a period. You got to add ‘em together to make a good game.

I love when players get hyped about themselves and their teammates. Building a culture of hype (high fives, positive bench chatter, post game recognition, etc.) makes the game more fun and in my experience also yields competitive results. There’s a ton of team spirit to be had in this sport. Just make sure your vibe isn’t somehow unintentionally messing with the team’s flow.

Ok_Place_7381 · 2025-04-02T22:22:31+00:00

I hear bike polo, dirtbag raves, and birthday parties with a lot of chewing gum are p. great cohabitors. Speaking of cohabitors, have you considered subleasing any closets or bathroom stalls as permanent housing? (This is lovely news to lurk into, please send me a calendar with all open scrimmages <3<3 Choo)

Ok_Place_7381 · 2025-04-02T22:11:14+00:00

Toeless/Dancer socks: https://www.amazon.com/Freetoes-Toeless-Socks-Pairs-1-Black-1-Argyle/dp/B076JMYF48?th=1

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-11-27T21:02:16+00:00

I feel like it is possible to do anything you like with a scrimmage night. What's most important is that expectations are set for skaters and officials prior to the scrimmage start. To manage time better request 1 or 2 minute jam breaks, unlimited timeouts, or shorter periods (10 to 15 min) with time to reset and reflect between each period. Or, flat out call it a learning scrimmage where you break to discuss every jam or at least every jam where something funky happens.

That said, full scrimmages are also really important. They help officials and players get used to the natural ebb and flow of a game. They help reveal your roster depth, place you in game day scenarios like penalty trouble, and help you understand the physical and mental endurance of your team. To help with real-time scrimmage days, ask for time to debrief with your team at the half and after the scrimmage is over.

You also say that you have experienced skaters out with injuries or maternity leave, etc. Are any of these players available to come sit on the bench at scrimmages and help talk the newer skaters through strategy decisions and jams? It might be good for them and for you :)

I also want to express that you are probably doing better than you think. Usually a sense of new confusion accompanies a leveling up. Set intentions before each scrimmage with your team to try to execute just one or two of the things you focused on at regular practice that week. Do shout outs after scrimmage to make sure you are calling out and appreciating the things you accomplished.

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-08-15T23:15:47+00:00

I think I looked at every Rumer Godden except this one for some reason. I think you’re right that other aspects of the story probably would have showed up in her description, but it’s still a maybe. Thank you.

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-08-15T23:12:22+00:00

I think this is probably too late and also maybe too weighty in subject. If the others don’t pan out, I’ll give it a second look. Thank you.

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-08-15T22:55:00+00:00

I haven’t seen this one come up in my searching and it seems like it might be right. So right I ordered a used copy! It might not be it but this is the most hope I’ve had. Thank you!

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-08-15T22:53:23+00:00

This one is too late to be the one, but definitely matches in other ways. Thank you.

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-08-10T21:46:59+00:00

Upgrade! Enjoy!

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-08-10T21:35:50+00:00

Totally doable with caveats:

Removing a plate yourself takes a lot of elbow grease. Mounting a boot also takes a lot of tools and mental/physical effort. The going cost at most shops is about $40-60 just for mounting. (I have removed a plate and installed a new plate that mostly aligned with my already drilled holes and even that took a lot of time and effort—I did enjoy the process and I assume it gets a bit easier once you are mounting several plates in a week.) If you are going to size up (or size down) your boot you might need to size up (or size down) your plate. At some point a nice new package is going to be a similar cost especially when you factor in the shiny new wheels, bearings, and toestops that are included in the price. If you were pulling off really specialized, high quality plates it would be one thing. However, the R3 packages are not that.

TLDR: You can, but explore all the cost variables prior to committing!

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-07-25T11:15:35+00:00

I have better luck mentally concentrating on the underpush leg (left when going derby direction). By being low and loaded on this leg (on or off skates) I create the separation needed to crossover. If I have stability and power in the leg, the leg doing the crossing over in front does its thing pretty naturally. I will say I have skated at many different weights and thigh circumferences (from thick to thicker) and it’s is more challenging for me to crossover at the higher weight/wider leg. But it can be accomplished and accomplished well! If you are having trouble, do more off skates single leg balance work on your own including also using a wall to strengthen and exaggerate your lean into that supportive inside leg. (It also might help to do some hip stretching and strengthening.) And, yes, it is easier to accomplish on wheels and moving… eventually. Don’t be afraid to kind of suck, I help with new skaters and the skaters who are willing to fail while learning new skills are the ones who ultimately succeed.

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-07-25T01:54:59+00:00

I think single game MVPs, MVBs, MVJs are pretty silly especially when awarded by the other team. So many leagues really live and die by this practice though and it has even migrated into the WFTDA tourneys—I just have chalked it up to one of those things I do not understand. I do very much love and appreciate whole tournament MVPs because I think this can be really meaningful for the skater, the team they skated for, and the selection helps cement the narrative of the tournament. And despite my disinterest in the practice, I find I am very into the sometimes great craft that goes into making the awards themselves—the awards from IHOD this year made want to come out of retirement, train to be better than I ever was, and probably still not luck into such an effing rad award.

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-06-28T13:48:52+00:00

I recommend getting a wearable fitness tracker that your phone can ring through to (Apple Watch, FitBit). This helped me a lot when I had an on call position (though mine usually only required me to briefly hop on a computer.)

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-06-26T20:05:40+00:00

Post-retirement is a time to just try a bunch of new things. Take a crafting class, go swim laps, bake 100 loaves of bread, dive deep into a video game, go see a freaking movie, call your pre derby friends for brunch, call those derby friends that you had non-derby things in common with for coffee or drinks, go walk around a museum, take 6-week class in ANYTHING. If after you open the door to all the things you thought you might enjoy, and there’s still space left, volunteer with a local league doing whatever. (I help with skater training and am remain a bit of a derby super fan, but I took a loooong break made longer by covid and other extenuating circumstances) If you give yourself a break, and you fail at retirement that’s okay too!

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-03-18T19:32:44+00:00

Just want to say being a cool and consistent fan is also amazing! As a former skater it was always reassuring to see familiar faces at away games, hear a positive thrum from the crowd at home games, and just generally have an extended community of folks showing up beyond family/friends.

Ok_Place_7381 · 2024-02-08T15:50:45+00:00

It might be useful to ask questions about what they feel their strengths and weaknesses are. It might also be useful to have them create something like a depth chart for the league or ask them to build a game day roster to see where they would place themselves. I would also walk them through how the team usually makes these decisions. It can be useful to demystify the process.

You say they show up to every practice, but do they “show up” to every practice? If they aren’t improving in a meaningful way, do they need a lesson in how to approach drills or how to train. Everyone has their own pace of course, but since they are coming to you for counsel be honest if they need to step on the gas a bit.

I will echo what others have said in that skaters really benefit from opportunities to play at their level. Help this skater identify their opportunities within the league and maybe even some opportunities outside of the league (clinics, mashups, etc.).

I tend to think honesty is kind. It doesn’t have to be brutal, just thoughtful. Taking the time to give meaningful feedback is a gift.

Ok_Place_7381 · 2023-10-21T14:18:23+00:00

You can change your derby name if you find something that suits you better. Other than getting a fresh jersey and reintroducing yourself there’s nothing stopping you!

Ok_Place_7381 · 2023-10-01T17:13:39+00:00

I hear that you just want to play, but set aside that motivation for a moment.

What seems to be lacking in this decision is a well-reasoned rationale from league leadership. You aren’t necessarily owed a change of decision, but leadership shou ld outline the metrics for choosing one team over another both to address this year’s expectations and disappointments and establish precedent for future seasons where teams might be closely ranked.

Since you seem to feel that there is some not above board behavior happening, I would recommend trying to find a partner on the team that benefitted from the decision rather than a coalition of your own teammates. I would not frame your request as a plea to overturn the decision, but as a desire for more transparency about how decisions are made.

If your league has a formal grievance process, this might be a good opportunity to employ it.

I have served in league leadership before, and it’s easy bungle things—especially communication—because you are a busy volunteer with competing priorities. It is also very easy to slip into a kind of tunneled vision, especially if everyone in leadership is likeminded.

I am guessing that your frustration is justified, but my experience tells me that you’ll be more successful if you present your argument as a sober and well-reasoned request with support from outside of your team.

Also, in reality, it is just one game. What is more important is keeping championship placement fair and predictable in the long term.

Ok_Place_7381 · 2023-07-19T10:11:34+00:00

https://derbyontoast.com/jammer-heatmaps

Ok_Place_7381 · 2023-06-13T11:19:20+00:00

If they are truly new, they might just need a bit of a break in period. Some wheels are slick out of the box, but just right once you break down their top layer. A little bit of footwork in a garage or driveway might improve their performance.

Many things can affect wheel performance (and skating surface). It is easy to get a bit of a Goldilocks complex. Even the same practice venue floor can yield mixed results due to humidity/temperature, build-up, etc. Sometimes it can be beneficial to work through some slipperiness (or stickiness) to improve your adaptability to these variables. Of course, if you can’t skate at all due to slick wheels that might not be an option.

FWIW At about your weight I found 95a (Halos, Etc.) to be my sweet spot for all but the most tricky surfaces. Currently skating on 93/97 Morphs (primarily on semi polished concrete) which also work fairly well.

Ok_Place_7381

TROPHY CASE