Derby Journal 2016: #1 Back on Track
My roller derby future seemed sort of up in the air after the minimum skills test early in December. I caught a really bad cold afterwards, and was down for the count for the rest of the season. I must admit that I was also a little disappointed in some of the things I failed on the test, so it left me feeling a little disenchanted by the whole thing. I am happy to say that things have changed!
I missed out on practice last week (I'd forgotten we started up already), but decided that I was going this week no matter what. And just earlier today it dawned on me, that I'm not really a 101er anymore. I'm a full member of the league now, I've been given access to secret groups on FB, people have welcomed me with open arms and are excited to have me join them. And just like that, the impostor syndrome that tends to haunt me at these things, disappeared completely. I have every right to attend these practices and practice at my own pace if that's what I want/need to do. I'm there to learn and better myself, just like everybody else.
With that in mind, I headed to my first practice of 2016. I haven't been on skates since the minimum skills test.
We did some hard core crossover drills. I got a couple of good pointers, but felt I did okay. I still need to work on speed, and pace, but at least I'm not scared of going fast anymore (now I'm just annoyed I'm not able to go faster!).
Then one of the coaches took the fresh meats missing their minimum skills aside (there were four of us all together) and had us do minimum skill drills. I am happy to say that I have now passed whips (arms and hips) and pushes! So that's a couple of things crossed off my list, I'm so pleased. I was certain I knew how to do this, and was so disappointed to hear they'd failed me on this on the test. So that was a relief.
I still need to work on the following:
27 laps in 5 minutes, backwards skating + "Shoulder and hip hits, and derby stance (more advanced than red) on yellow level."
I am a little confused about the red level yellow level stuff, this apparently indicates what level of contact we're cleared for. I'll ask about it and figure it out. Apparently my crossovers look really good, despite not making me fast enough to ace the 27/5, because I have cleared "crossovers on yellow level (thats the more advanced one)" without even knowing it.
We're invited to join the Sunday practice to practice stuff on our own. I should really grab the opportunity. I can do this!
For the record, I did 24.5 laps today, I think that's a new record? hahahha what the shit. Man, I so want to get the fucking 27/5 challenge out of the way! IT'S SO FRUSTRATING!
I missed out on practice last week (I'd forgotten we started up already), but decided that I was going this week no matter what. And just earlier today it dawned on me, that I'm not really a 101er anymore. I'm a full member of the league now, I've been given access to secret groups on FB, people have welcomed me with open arms and are excited to have me join them. And just like that, the impostor syndrome that tends to haunt me at these things, disappeared completely. I have every right to attend these practices and practice at my own pace if that's what I want/need to do. I'm there to learn and better myself, just like everybody else.
With that in mind, I headed to my first practice of 2016. I haven't been on skates since the minimum skills test.
We did some hard core crossover drills. I got a couple of good pointers, but felt I did okay. I still need to work on speed, and pace, but at least I'm not scared of going fast anymore (now I'm just annoyed I'm not able to go faster!).
Then one of the coaches took the fresh meats missing their minimum skills aside (there were four of us all together) and had us do minimum skill drills. I am happy to say that I have now passed whips (arms and hips) and pushes! So that's a couple of things crossed off my list, I'm so pleased. I was certain I knew how to do this, and was so disappointed to hear they'd failed me on this on the test. So that was a relief.
I still need to work on the following:
27 laps in 5 minutes, backwards skating + "Shoulder and hip hits, and derby stance (more advanced than red) on yellow level."
I am a little confused about the red level yellow level stuff, this apparently indicates what level of contact we're cleared for. I'll ask about it and figure it out. Apparently my crossovers look really good, despite not making me fast enough to ace the 27/5, because I have cleared "crossovers on yellow level (thats the more advanced one)" without even knowing it.
We're invited to join the Sunday practice to practice stuff on our own. I should really grab the opportunity. I can do this!
For the record, I did 24.5 laps today, I think that's a new record? hahahha what the shit. Man, I so want to get the fucking 27/5 challenge out of the way! IT'S SO FRUSTRATING!