Mental Training

Mental Training – Derby Style

“Decide who you want to be and how you want to live- and then continuously tell yourself you have what it takes to be that person.” -Jason Selk 

Roller Derby is a very unique sport as most women who join have little to no knowledge of the game and even less experience skating which is a recipe for frustration and anger.  So often I hear new skaters say things like “I can’t do that”, “I’ll never be that good”, “That’s impossible!” and “I suck at this”… News Flash, we ALL STARTED THERE (well most of us anyways, there are the chosen .5% who came fresh from the womb wearing a pair of skates and a helmet *cough* Torch *cough*)

My first day of practice I felt like a lost lamb in a hungry lions den, mentally I was a mess! The thought of falling, jumping, turning, hitting, crossovers, stopping, and much more simply freaked me out! Of course I looked like that awkward newborn giraffe trying to stand up for the first time, only I looked that way for weeks not just a couple hours. But at least I’d already made the first step in the right direction as I was there and trying!

My mind set in the beginning was very much like the new skaters I hear constantly… “I will never be that good”. While I’m still not the best skater on the track, hell I have a LONG ways to go. I can do things I never imagined I would ever be able to do. I can fall (the right way and on purpose), jump, turn, hit, do a crossover, stop, and so much more I never imagined myself doing.  I sure as hell didn’t walk onto the track my first couple of months with the confidence I have now.

So many times derby is more mental than physical, yes being physically in shape is going to make you a better skater, but having the right mind set is even more important. Be patient with yourself, no one was made great over night! Don’t be afraid that the vets are watching you thinking “Ugh, this girl SUCKS” we are aware of the challenges you are facing, we haven’t forgotten those awkward derby days of learning a plow stop and almost falling into the splits.  I think our tailbones are still aching from that first fall on our asses before learning derby position and the rule “ALWAYS FALL FORWARD!”

Roller Derby is already a difficult sport, don’t make it worse by talking down to yourself. Set Goals, be sure they are realistic, and don’t forget your plan of action. Anyone can say “I want to pass my 25 in 5 one month from now.”  But it’s setting a plan of that’s actually going to get you there that is the key to your success.

Example:

GOAL: Pass 25 in 5 by March 1^st

^PLAN OF ACTION:

*Do 4 extra laps during warm up focusing on crossovers and having fluid motion

*Spend Saturday Mornings at the local skating rink to work on speed and endurance

The most valuable lesson I want you to take from my posting is simply to “be positive”. Positive thinking is empowering, being confident that even if you can’t do it right now, you WILL be able to with your goals and your plans to reach those goals.

When I yell “GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD” at practice, it’s because I know what you are thinking. I know how you feel. Never say never and most certainly don’t say “I CAN’T!”

Let me introduce Myself

                                               Me as a fresh meat skater. I was very shy back then.
                                                 
 My Name is Arson (Full Metal Arsonist) I have been skating with U.R.G.E since about the end of Dec. 2011.

 I started roller derby because I felt like I never did anything for me, I was always busy keeping my children happy or working to pay the bills. I was very timid about the sport at first but I had some amazing women pushing me to do better and encouraging me along the way. Within my first week I had falls down and crossovers, I wanted to skate with the Vets badly. I pushed myself to my limits, always how much faster can I go, How can I get up from a fall faster. I worked my butt off for a few weeks and finally I was ready to skate with the Vets it was the most exciting day for me, I finally reached my goal, I was finally a derby girl. I had my first scrimmage which helped a lot and gave me knowledge you can only gain from doing and after that came my first bout, it was the most confusing thing I have ever done. Before I went into it I knew all the rules and how to play the game but now it was hands on learning. The first half went whizzing by I was slightly confused and I did miss the opposing jammer a few times but when the second half started I was ready. I gave it my all and made sure I was listening to my fellow teammates.

                                                         Me jamming it out during a power jam.


 Now I have been skating for a little over a year and I wouldn't give up derby for anything. I have taken hits and given some too, I have jammed a power jam and blocked for my jammer. I have met some amazing people during this first year and made some awesome friends. I have helped new girls coming in and seen them reach goals they thought were unobtainable, I have seen them grow from fresh meat to amazing blockers/jammers and better yet confident and strong women.  All these experiences have made me a stronger person and a better person. I am fit and healthy and I have gained the greatest friends I have ever known.I am more confident in myself now and I know that nothing is impossible it just takes perseverance.I'm not the best at writing about me and my experiences but I will keep you updated on me and share more of my time in derby as time goes by.
                                            Arson.

Derby Saved My Soul

So often in life we wish we could just forget the daily worries of money, relationships, work, and raising kids. If you are anything like me, your mind is constantly jumping from one responsibility to another with little time to focus on one given task.

When I strap on my skates and hit the track the worries of the day and the stresses of work and home disappear. They may only disappear for those 2 hours that I'm pushing myself to every breaking limit I have, but for that 2 hours I focus on me, I focus on pushing myself to new physical limits and gaining new skill sets. As sweat pours down my face I can't help but smile and laugh as I conquer new challenges and overcome fears. At practice, you don't have time to think about the bill you are 2 weeks late paying, you don't have time to think about that report you didn't finish for your boss... no, if you think of anything other than that blocker next to you or that jammer coming around the track then your ass is going to feel that cold hard floor before you realize what or really who hit you.

Assuming I should probably introduce myself, I'm Juicy. I'm 31 years old, a single mom of 3 beautiful kids, I work full time as an office administrator, part time as a waitress, and I currently serve on my teams Board as Secretary. (Yes I'm a VERY BUSY WOMAN but I rarely ever miss practice or an event for my team) It's been almost a year since I joined the Derby community. It all started with a simple Internet search to find an activity to help me with a goal to lead a more healthy life. After one practice with URGE I was hooked! When I first joined Derby I could skate (barely), stopping was a laughing matter, and falling happened often (and no, not in the correct Derby form of falling). Watching the other girls fly past me on skates, stopping on a dime, jumping, and beaming with confidence had me addicted. I wanted to have that same confidence and I wanted to know what it mean to be invincible.

Me with my amazing kiddos!

Derby became my therapy, it became the time I could forget everything wrong in my life, and focus on making myself better. After a few months of training and really pushing myself I went through my assessments right before entering into my first Bout. I never imagined I'd have so much fun! My first bout was quite the learning experience, I don't think I got many hits in and I probably looked like a lost sheep but I still had a blast!

My First Bout (I'm the one with the HUGE smile on her face in the back)

5 Bouts and a scrimmage later I can proudly say I feel like a Derby Girl. I'm stronger, faster, and much more skilled than I was just 10 months ago. Every practice I gain more confidence and strength as a skater. I still have a lot to learn but I can honestly say I am moving in the right direction. Derby has saved my soul and I mean that in every sense possible.

If you are considering derby or if you just want to know more about Derby don't hesitate to contact me at juicy@upstaterollergirlevolution.com

When practice is over and you're mad at yourself

After practice a few nights ago, one of my fresh meat teammates posted on Facebook that she left practice frustrated.  That she wants it, but it's hard.  (I'm paraphrasing.)  I experience this frequently as well.  Monday, for instance, was not a good practice for me.  Minutes before arriving, I got a phone call that left me worried and anxious all night.  There was nothing we could do about it, so I went to practice, thankful for the distraction.

After stretches, we started out with an endurance drill.  Perhaps I am the exception, but I enjoy these most of all.  For the first few minutes of practice, we pulled and pushed each other repeatedly around the track.  That was fun.  Later, though, we played a game called four corners.  Most of our skaters had played at least once or twice before, but I missed those practices, so it was my first time.  It took me at least four rounds to even figure out what I was supposed to be doing, and once I did, I didn't do it well.  Positional blocking is an ongoing struggle.  Hitting and pushing is clumsy, and jamming...  Well, I am trying!  I love how four corners simplified blocking and jamming to help me understand the basic techniques involved, but I was still disappointed in myself.  Then I thought about that phone call I'd gotten and just wanted to go home, eat donuts, and drink wine.  I didn't do it, but I wanted to!  During the drive home on nights like these, I ask myself:  What are you afraid of?  Why didn't you just go for it?  Why aren't you faster, sharper, braver?  When my inner critic starts tearing me down and I want to cry, I think about where I started.

Then:  I could skate, but I couldn't stop or even slow down.  If someone called me off the rink, I'd say "just a minute, I'll be right there!" while I slowly circled around.

Now:  I can plow stop!  I can t-stop, too, although it's not my favorite.  If I'm not going too fast, I can do a 180 toe-stop.

Then:  My crossovers were choppy and timid and barely there.

Now:  I can do them, and have moved on to cleaning up my clockwise crossovers.

Then:  Once I got up to a somewhat decent speed, it scared me because I'd never moved that fast outside of a car.

Now:  I am almost skating my 25 in 5.  Just need to shave a few seconds off!  Speed doesn't bother me anymore.

Then:  I constantly thought, "OMG don't touch me I'll fall!!!"

Now:  Last practice we had a whips race in which partners take turns slinging each other around the track to catch the other team.  I accidentally clawed Torch's arm, leaving a mark.  We lost that round but won the next one.  I'm not afraid of whips anymore!  But I do need to cut my nails.

Then:  Skating in a pack at all was terrifying.  While clumsily trying to weave in a pace line, I thought I might die.

Now:  We do hitting and weaving in a pace line, and while I'm not great at it, I'm okay.  I usually manage to hit my targets now, rather than whizzing past them and having to back up for a second try.  When others hit me, I usually stay up.

Before I started in June, I never could have imagined myself doing these things.  When you're feeling down on yourself, remember where you started.  Even on those crappy days that might have you wondering why you laced up at all, progress is made.  Those crappy days are landmarks on the way to your personal finish line, and as long as you are trying, you are getting something done.  I might have sucked at four corners, but I learned a couple of new things about blocking and next time I won't be quite so lost in the grass.  While success in this sport is hard-won, it helps me to remember where I started.  When I think about how much I've changed already, it reminds me why I wanted this.  Then I imagine myself continuing that gradual upward curve until I'm passing assessments, scrimmaging, skating in my first bout.  I'm on my way!

Where did you begin?  It only makes sense that you'll reach your goal if you keep investing your time and energy!

After nearly a month off

After nearly a month off from practice (Christmas break plus a couple of days I personally took off), I was glad to be skating again last night!  I am sad to say I've gained back some weight that I lost last year when Jordan and I trained for our 10K.  Time to fix that!  Hopefully our new jogging stroller will help me find some time to run or skate outdoors, too.

We did a lot of clockwise ("wrong" way) skating last night, which I needed.  It felt a lot less awkward by the end of practice.  Even though I haven't passed my 25 in 5 again yet, I feel good about where I am with speed and endurance.  Still lots of work to do, but I'll get there.  What continues to aggravate me is the 180 toe stop.  Back over the summer, I spent almost entire practices on this one thing.  I can do it now, just not at a high enough speed that it would be useful in a bout or most drills--and I can only do it to the right.  Last night we were told we need to be able to do it in both directions!  At least that's something I can put my skates on and practice in the living room.

The highlight of practice for me was having my trucks loosened.  Raven, our team captain, asked if they might be too tight and they were!  Jordan loosened them a little and that made it much easier to turn, and especially made it easier to lead with the foot on the inside of the turn.  I'd been having trouble with that.

It was a fun night.  Sometimes, especially after a busy day taking care of the kids, it can be hard to find the motivation to make it to practice.  But later, as I'm walking back to the van all sore and sweaty, I'm glad I did!