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55mins
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I skate, train, and ref at Rotterdam Roller Derby as Cherry Bombe #47 since 2022. Before that I skated at The Parliament of Pain The Hague Roller Derby. Have been skating since 2014. I love using LessonStack to write out drills and trainings and share
15
mins
Skaters will form groups of 3 initially (we will add a jammer later). We will have different stages to this exercise, you can pick three stages depending on the level of your skaters. Each stage will take about 5min.
Stage 1: Lateral movements with a closed tripod without a jammer The trainer calls out "inside", "middle" or "outside". The 3 skaters move towards the inside, middle, or outside together as a formation. The trainer can also call "turn in" or "turn out", where the tripod will rotate (to the left or to the right) so that a new person ends up in front.
Stage 2: Lateral movements with an open tripod without a jammer The trainer calls out 1, 2, 3 or 4 , signifying the "lanes" on the track (1 being on the inside, 4 on the outside). These are the lanes the (imaginary) jammer is on. If the jammer goes to 1 or 4, the front support of the tripod will also have to move to 1 or 4, letting go of one of their blockers. The front-support will ALWAYS stay in the same lane as the jammer, and will support the blocker who "has" the jammer. ("turn in" and "turn out" can still be called)
The unsupported blocker is then "on their own" for a little while. They either stay a bit away from their blocking buddy, or they move slightly backwards and towards the jammer to "lock in" the jammer. Which is best depends on the capabilities of the jammer and blockers. (Tip: let your skaters discuss what they'd do with different jammers on the team; why?)
Stage 3: Lateral movements with an open tripod with a jammer (low-impact) Same as stage 2, but now instead of a trainer calling out the lanes, a jammer will be present to move to the lanes. The jammer can touch the tripod, but not hit or move around the tripod. They're merely there to indicate the right lane.
Stage 4: Lateral movements with an open tripod with a jammer (high-impact) Same as stage 3, but now the jammer can hit, move around the tripod, etc.
15
mins
Two blockers (or two blockers plus a front-support) will put a jammer (purple) in a "lock" at the side: one blocker (1) is in front of them at the outside or inside track boundary, the other blocker (2) is next to the jammer and forms a very tight "lock" together with the blocker in front of the jammer (see picture).
The jammer practices different tactics to escape this lock:
Jammers will be able to escape a lock in three different ways, and will be able to suprise blockers with which way they choose. They will also have excellent communication with their offence.
10
mins
Skaters pick a spot on the track. On your signal (voice command or certain whistle pattern) they skate backwards or forwards 10, 20 or 30ft.
The skaters have to stop just short of the required distance, or correct themselves as soon as possible afterwards, to keep from "destroying the pack" or "going out of play".
Skaters will react fast, move fast, never go too far, and be able to use different kinds of stops.
15
mins
Jammers start ~30ft. behind the jammer line (or, for a low-impact version, have jammers right behind the jammer line and start 5sec. after the teams start).
Blockers start outside of the track: one blocker of each team on the following positions:
On the trainers signal, all skaters can enter the track and start to reform.
This drill can be adapted to make it simpler, by only using blockers from one team or by including 3 instead of 4 blockers per team.
Teams are reformed and in a good position to block once the jammer enters the pack.
Jammers make good used of any residual "chaos" in getting past the blockers.