A US Scrimmage (or two)

The other day, I NSO'd for two scrimmages here stateside.  One in a nice little practice venue, the other in the bouting venue with a floor big enough to fit 6 tracks with OPR lanes, when the seats were retracted.  Three key things were ran differently to what I've seen in the UK.

1. Player Rotation
   
   Basically, the skaters formed a queue where the 'bench' would be. The front 5 decided amongst themselves who would be jammer and who would be pivot. Should penalties dictate that fewer than 5 would skate, those further back in the queue would step out, regardless of skating skill.
   
   This was amazing! All skaters, regardless of how "good" or not they were got a roughly equal amount of time on the track. As well, those still working on their skills got paired up with (and against) much more talented skaters. What a learning opportunity! Sure it occasionally led to lop-sided jams, but anyone concerned about the score in a scrimmage has his/her priorities seriously, seriously wrong.
   
   
2. Static Recycling
   
   Recycling the jammer has been explained to death. Everyone knows it, everyone does it. Thing is, these girls did it differently. Basically, when the jammer was hit out, one skater would jet back about 20' to recycle her. The others would immediately form a wall at the back of the pack ready to catch the jammer once she'd come in. No one went back to help the recycler, she sort of expected that the jammer would beat her one-on-one. She'd try, of course, but she'd expect to join the wall as soon as the jammer came back in.
   
   This meant that the pack was roughly stationary on the track, as the one teams movements were backward when the jammer was out, and only slightly forward when the jammer was in. The team defending the actively scoring jammer was thus limited to a short engagement zone and forced to sacrifice blockers to bridging. It wasn't at all the boring stand-still derby, it was exciting. Loads of contact, skaters jostling for position, and key walling skills. It just didn't orbit the centre.
   
3. Jamming on the Margin
   
   There was one jammer who had this down to a T. She was fast as hell, could juke and jump like a champ. So, needless to say, her first pass was often less than 10 seconds between the double whistle releasing her and lead jam status. Her opposing jammer would usually exit the pack about 40'-50' behind her. Now, conventional logic says to call off the jam just before the non-lead jammer arrives at the pack. Save points, right? I'm a fan of it, and I know others who value saving points almost above all else.
   
   However, this girl had done her maths. If she gained a 50' advantage on the first pass, she should be able to trust her pack to hold the opposing jammer for just as long on the second. Thus, when she's on her second pass, she should have about 100' of advantage. If she does well to not get held up, and her pack works brilliantly, she may even be able to get a grand slam in on the second or third pass.
   
   It's a risky play. If she gets held up on her second pass, then she may concede as many points as she scores. But if she goes flying through the pack before her opponent even engages, then she has the time to go around and increase her marginal lead. It was beautiful to watch.

All in all, the quality of derby was comparable to what I've seen in the UK.  There were just these few key things to make it a bit more interesting to watch.  As well, there were no bench staff anywhere to be seen.  I don't know when they practice with their skaters, but it wasn't at these scrimmages.

That's my first report from the States.  Roll on!

The Fan Experience

Everyone who plays derby has their own reasons, from an excuse to stay fit to loving competition.  For many, this includes a chance to compete in front of an adoring public, aka the fans.  I honestly don't know of a single skater who prefers closed bouts to open ones, as they love the sound of that crowd!

Thing is, often that crowd is the last to be considered when setting up a bout.  1st comes the track, then the skaters' needs, then those of the refs and NSOs.  Then a bunch of chairs are set up where there's space for the crowd.

This is fine if you're just interested in showing some people how roller derby works.  If, however, you want that crowd to return bout-after-bout, you have to put a whole lot more effort into improving the fan experience.  Here are some simple ways of doing just that:


The Demo Jam/Kit Checks

Some teams have let the demo jam fall by the wayside because they assume that a high enough percentage of their audience knows how derby works that they don't need to explain it any more.  They leave that to the announcers and fellow audience members.

As well, some teams plan kit checks to work around skate-outs really well.  Visitors skate whilst home are checked, and vice versa.  Otherwise, the fans get all excited during skate-outs, then have to hold on to the excitement for what can seem like a long while.  I have personally seen it really hamper a good atmosphere.

Combine the two?  Almost every bout I've been to uses a projector for the scoreboard.  This means that teams can show videos!  Why not show a demo jam/explanation of the game on the scoreboard during the kit check, then do skate outs?  A good video will have the crowd excited a bit, then the skate outs will send them over the top, and they'll be psyched for the first jam!


Premium Seats

LRG do this, and you should, too.  Separate seats, that are more comfortable, and have waiter/waitress service.  They cost a bit more, but come with amenities.  One team in Carolina has a set up where there's two couches, each with a cooler full of beer and a subway party platter.  One is for hire, the other a door prize given out to one lucky fan via golden ticket in the programme.  Who, then, wouldn't want to be the sofa king?

Some fans are willing to spend extra money on sports, and want that added comfort.  It's not only a good source of income, but it shows fans that you're willing to go the extra mile for those superfans who want to make a special event out of roller derby.


Halftime Show/Official Timeout Distractions

I know British sports don't do them, but something to watch during that 20 minutes of dead time is a great idea.  I've seen professional roller disco skaters come out for halftimes, games involving audience members, and even a 10 minute junior derby bout!

Sure, some of the fans will be going to the loo or to the beer line, but boredom is poison to a sports audience.  There has to be something going on in the middle to keep them entertained, maybe 2 skaters demonstrating their jumping ability or a derby duel or two.  Even doing the raffle would work.  Just make sure to keep the excitement up!

Same thing goes for the official timeout.  These are getting fewer and shorter, as the minor passes into oblivion, officials hone their craft, and head refs better ignore requests for official timeouts from bench managers and captains who have already burned an official review.  However, whilst they're still in existence, there has to be something to distract the audience.

Jammer dancing does this well, but only works for short timeouts.  So, announcers and organisers, get something going to distract the audience.  Could be as simple as having a league member who's not otherwise involved leading the wave or some other cheer.  Or, why not have a dance-off in the audience to some song?  Make sure the audience don't really care that the action's on hold for a minute.


Cake

What is it with derby bouts and daggum cake?  Every bout there's at least one cake, if not multiple.  I am fed up with cake!  Please, let's have the treat after a bout be savoury for once!  Wings, fried scampi, even pizza.

I was coaching against Croydon Roller Derby, and they had the best damn food spread at the after party I've seen in the whole of the UK.  They had chips, spring rolls, onion bhajis, samosas, wings, and all number of other treats to eat.  Of all the after parties I've been to, they won.  No damn cake, but real savoury food!  I know this one's personal, but learn from them!


When next you plan a bout, please put due care and consideration into the fan experience.  Do that a few times, and you'll see your attendance climb.  You may even have regular fans who have no connection to derby other than "I showed up once, it was awesome, now I go regularly."  That reasoning is exactly why I got involved in derby in the first place.  Roll on!

The Derby Duel

This last weekend, two of the most exciting jammers in Europe challenged each other to what I can only call a Derby Duel.

2 Minutes

2 Jammers

1 Winner

Skate around the track.  Whoever is further ahead when the time expires wins the duel.  All normal derby contact allowed.

Do you skate fast?  Do you go for hits?  That's all up to you and the one-on-one strategy you choose to employ.

It's really the ultimate test of jammer-on-jammer ability, and a great way of finding out who has the skills to be a good jammer.  No pack to get in the way, or offer assistance.  Just pure one-on-one.  Also, it's the most excitement you'll ever see on 16 wheels!

I can see this being a good training routine--if a team wants to work on jammer skills, what a great way to drill cleverness and contact all in one go.


There is a precedent for this sort of thing.  Baseball has the home run derby and basketball has a slam dunk contest.  Both are displays of a basic skill taken to the extreme, and given a high degree of showmanship.  Both are a part of the all-star festivities in each sport.

I would like to see Derby Duels taking the same sort of position.  If there's a tournament, have a duel at the halftime of every bout.  Thus, there will be a duel tournament nested within the main one, giving the audience no excuse to leave the track!

Or simply arrange a few to take place at the half time of a regular bout.  I'm sure there would be loads of skaters vying for those 4 spots in a duels playoff.  They wouldn't even need to be from the leagues involved in the main bout.  It would only take 6 minutes to get a champion, and keep the crowd in their seats and screaming for the first part of halftime.  Way better than any other halftime show, by far!


The first derby duel was started as a display of sportsmanship and fun, plain and simple.  Two jammers only had one opportunity to face each other all day, and wanted another round of it.  All that was said was "I jam against you, and you speak it."  That 2 minute game showed 100% fun.  It was nothing but the sheer joy of derby, and the crowd were right up against the outside line screaming.