Ask Frisky: When to slow down, when to jump around

Now that my fingertips have healed from Derby Daze and we’re back from annihilating the competition at the Spudtown Knockdown, it’s time to answer more of your long-pondered questions about the Rose City Rollers and roller derby in general.

Georgette asks:

hey frisky,

can you talk about the strategy of the slow pack starts and individuals taking a knee off the first whistle we were seeing at HTTD?

Sure, in kind of a general way.  Rob Lobster will come after me and my family if I reveal any specific Wheels strategies.

Let us refer to WFTDA rule 4.4.2:

Once the rearmost pack skater has crossed the Pivot line, the referee whistles the Jammers to begin their sprint through the pack with two short whistle blasts.

Then, subsequently, to rule 4.1:  

4.1.1 The pack is defined by the largest group of in bounds Blockers, skating in proximity,containing members from both teams.

4.1.1.2 Proximity is defined as not more than ten feet (as measured from the hips) in front of or behind the nearest pack skater.

So, the jammers don’t start until the rearmost skater of a legally-defined pack has passed the pivot line.  A team might have different specific strategies to hasten or stall the jammer start for different reasons.   Is your jammer standing in the penalty box?   Maybe you want to slow the start.  Do you have a 4-on-2 pack advantage?  Maybe you want to get your jammer off the line ASAP before more girls come in from the penalty box to beat her up.

I can say no more.

oldblindjohn:

What team will Hillery be on?

We’re getting specific now, aren’t we?  Well, she’s a very skilled new Fresh Meat skater, but only time will tell.  She doesn’t even have a skate name yet.  Patience!

JeLLyPiG sighs:

Besides trolling every dang derby site, blog and social network where might a Superfan find some 200 level Derby info? I’m sort of 101′d out.

Hi, JeLLyPiG.  I’d argue that you are getting some sophomore and junior-level strategy from SpeedBump.  101 is more of along the lines of ”wall up for defense”  and “break up the other team’s walls for offense.”  You know, go fast when your team’s jammer is in the box, etc., etc.

Senior and grad-level strategy is constantly changing as teams develop and play each other.  That’s the nature of a young and dynamic sport.  Think of how Rocky Mountain used a back wall against us, and then we used that against Boston  at ECE.   RD 507, advanced roller derby seminar, is every freaking game.

Was that an unsatisfying answer?    Sorry!  We can sit together during the next Wheels game and I’ll talk your ear off about strategy as it’s being played out.

Can’t you people ask more easy questions, like the duct tape one?  I liked that one.

Sharkey:

Sounds like there is a tactic out there “jumping the arch” or something. I think it is pretty new, so maybe the fans might like to learn more about that, use, risks, how big a role it will play, methods to counter it.

I think we’ll see more of it in the months to come.

Jumping the apex?  Ain’t nothing new, Sharkey.  That’s when a skater jumps across the turn on the inside line.  See at 50 second mark or so of this video.

Dangers:

• If you put a foot out of bounds at any point, you’re probably going to the box for cutting the track.
• If you create contact while both feet are off the ground, that’s illegal.  If the other girl goes down or you pass the last line of defense illegally, that’s a major.
• While it’s illegal to create contact while in the air, it’s legal to hit someone who’s jumping.  So you’re a flying target.

Pros:

• It looks really cool.
• You can save lots of time and energy by cutting a shorter path.
• Skilled jammers only need a few inches of space to take off and land on the inside line.

LESSON:  Don’t give skilled jammers an inch on the inside line if you can help it.

Kill Nye asked:

It might be interesting for the average fan to do a writeup about the tactics behind the slow game in general. Why the slow starts or the slow pack at various times. I’ve overheard some newbie fans ask lots of questions when the pack slows down. A primer might be of benefit.

Slow pack?  Your jammer can get around more easily to get more points.  If the other jammer is in the penalty box, it’s a really smart thing to do.

Slow starts, discussed above, are to delay the scoring of points.  Slow-moving packs help your team to score more points if your jammer is on the floor.  As a jammer, you burn through most of your energy getting through the pack, especially if you get knocked down a few times.   You can’t full-out sprint for two minutes unless the pack is so light and your blockers are doing such a good job that you can just step through without being touched.  The slower the pack is, the more times you can  get around to score.

On the other hand, if your team’s jammer is in the box, you want to speed up so that the jammer can’t get around to score.  Or if the other jammer is coming up on the pack half a lap in front of yours, you probably want to speed up the pack to give your jammer a little time to catch up before the opposing jammer starts scoring.

Cool?  Cool!

I feel I ought to mention another hot topic from Derby Daze: Yes,  a player from Bakersfield threw up on the track.  During game play.   There was not much…volume.  Draggin Lady, may fortune smile upon her, cleaned it up.  The player  skater in question fell, and someone fell on top of her.  Puking happened.  Then went to the penalty box for tripping.  Bummer.  Get your “Puke on the Flat Track” t-shirt while it’s hot!

More questions?  Ask away!

Hearts,

Frisky