Comments | maybetwisted: the penalty learning curve

maybetwisted

the penalty learning curve

Apr 16, 2009 12:26

There are still tickets available for the championship final on the 25th April!

Buy tickets now!I've mentioned before on this journal how steep the learning curve can be in roller derby. First, you need to learn to fall properly. Then, once you have sorted falling, you've got to get the skating down, and after that you need to get the blocking ( Read more... )

Comments 17

bluekieran April 16 2009, 12:41:51 UTC

This post reminds me of a conversation I had with my flying instructor in the early days of learning to fly. I was totally baffled by the amount of things I had to try and do at once[1], and she pointed out that was normal - you just have to keep practicing things so they become learned behaviour + muscle memory, and you have some brain-space left to think about other things while you're doing them.

[1] Something like: keep the wings level, check the horizon looks good, check altimeter to see if you're rising or falling, adjust throttle to correct, feet on the rudder to correct balance - and that's just flying straight and level before you start to wonder where you are and what you're supposed to be doing next.

maybetwisted April 26 2009, 18:30:44 UTC

Muscle memory - yes! I think a lot of derby is down to that. Once you are comfortable enough on your skates, you can learn to block. Once your body knows how to do both of those things, you can move on to the tactics. I think that's the place where you plateau...

For this game my mantra was:

Where is their jammer
Where is our jammer
Who is in the box?

bluekieran April 26 2009, 19:38:37 UTC

That reminds me, is there a handy online resource on roller derby tactics? Would be nice to know a little more about what I'm watching.

maybetwisted April 26 2009, 20:12:38 UTC

there are a number of other blogs from skaters all over the world who probably talk about their own tactics - it's amazing how much it can vary from team to team. You've seen a few games now, and have probably got some idea of how different game play can be, even within our own league ( ... )

Thread 5

(The comment has been removed)

maybetwisted April 26 2009, 18:34:08 UTC

thanks :)

I just managed to get through a whole bout penalty free - but have a feeling that's because the refs weren't looking at me, as I blatantly backblocked Kitty DeCapitate at one point!! It was an accident, but I still probably should have been given a minor at the least.

Congrats on your recent game, the score reflects how hard you must have all worked against and experienced team like BB*DD :)

Do you feel like you've stepped up a lot after the game? I feel like each game I'm in seems to make me improve in leaps and bounds, win or lose!

bluekieran April 26 2009, 19:40:44 UTC

How do the real games compare to your practice ones?

maybetwisted April 26 2009, 20:21:27 UTC

Terminology - a game is called a 'bout', practice games are called 'scrimmages'. A bout is waaaaay more intense than scrimmaging, for obvious reasons - a practice is a practice and while we may count points and penalties for a scrimmage, it's just not as vital to win - it's more important to learn ( ... )

Thread 6

ephemera April 17 2009, 23:17:38 UTC

that sounds a lot like things are going well. Hurray for you!

maybetwisted April 26 2009, 18:35:32 UTC

They are! Shame you couldn't come to this one, it was probably the most fun game I've skated in, even if we didn't win :) I leant so much! I am going to work SUPER hard in May.

Awesome! mollie_cosh April 27 2009, 09:23:33 UTC

I love this post May! I had to create a livejournal account just so I could comment on it and tell you :-)

Lots of us are getting much more into scrimmaging, and we're trying to play as bout-like as possible, with a penalty box, trackers, score board, and all that official stuff. But we're really noticing that now we're stepping up our game, we're getting a LOT more penalties - so your post is really encouraging.

We're improving! It's okay! I'm going to post this on our forum; I think all the Rollerbillies and our Tourney team mates will really enjoy reading it.

Thank you :-) x x x

Re: Awesome! maybetwisted April 27 2009, 16:51:42 UTC

mutual blog love!

Thank you very much! Remember, the MS paint graph is 100% scientific and not made up on the spot in any way. No, really.

kathie_d April 27 2009, 17:43:54 UTC

maybetwisted April 27 2009, 18:03:14 UTC

I am glad you like my ENTIRELY SCIENTIFIC and NOT AT ALL MADE UP ON THE SPOT graph :)

I think perhaps the penalties just rack up as you start to get stuck in more, and spend less time trying to catch up!