So you wanna be a PURR Girl?
So this is it. You decided. You wanna be a PURR girl. You want the glory. You want the excitement. You want the muscles. You wanna knock people over. You wanna SCORE. YOU WANNA BE A POWERHOUSE ON EIGHT WHEELS....You don't know where to start.
Well here is a run down of how to start your dream life in the derby world. Everyone has to start somewhere, but the first step is having the DRIVE. If you didn't have the will, desire, and drive to want it... then you probably stopped reading after the first paragraph.
For those who WANT IT, here are the basic things you can do to start your life as a PURR derby girl, with some resources to help you be all you PURR-fectly can be.
LEARN IT
Roller Derby isn't just about who can be the roughest. There are no points for tackling, and the team doesn't win because they knocked over the most girls. Derby has rules, guidelines, penalties, referees, skills, and playbooks. YES, there is strategy to this chaos. You might not see it at first, but to be awesome in derby, you have to know what you CAN do, what you CAN'T do, and what gets your team the most points. Because THAT is what derby is about. THE TEAM. It's not about you, and it's not about your jammer. It's about how the team works together to make the points happen.So how do you learn the rules? You read the rule book (link this). And then... you find someone who can explain it to you. :-) For now, the basic principles of the game are:
- Get your jammer (star helmet) to pass opposing players on the track as many times as possible. This is where you get points.
- Keep the other jammer from passing you or anyone at all.
- Maintain a pack. (this is harder than you think.)
- Do this while legally blocking, checking, pushing, moving your rump until the black and white striped doodle-chump-punk points a finger like a stump and tells you STEP OFF...
- Rinse. REPEAT.
- "WHERE'S THE PACK?" - play this game to get better at knowing when there is no pack. If there is no pack, you can't block! So maintain that pack!
- WFTDA RULES
- USARS RULES
- DERBY BASICS - Good video on basics, but made in 2009 so make sure you know 2013 rules
WORK IT
You may notice that we are all on skates. Don't think for one second that you will ever be simply rolling around the derby track. I can't remember one time when I was ONLY rolling. THIS IS A WORKOUT. You will be doing anything BUT coasting during a derby bout. And because of that, you need to have the strength and endurance to make it through without wanting to collapse on the floor in a puddle of sweat. So prepare for it. Even if you can't get to the rink, or you haven't been accepted to the team yet, there are a lot of things you can do to get your body ready. Here are a few links with some ideas of things you can do off your skates. Also, keep reading our blog! We will post more workout tips for derby girls soon!- Derby Drill blog (GREAT resource for training!)
- Fitness video
DO IT AGAIN
You put on your skates. You read the rule book. You walk the walk. You talk the talk. You block the block. You wear the stockings. You can pass all the minimum skills on the test. (Yes, there's a test.) That's great. Now go DO IT AGAIN.This is a sport, and just like any other sport, practice makes perfect. Use it or lose it. That includes mental skills too. Keep playing with the rule apps. Watch other teams. Google videos. Get ideas. Always be thinking about scenarios that you might be in. And even if you aren't the jammer, it doesn't mean you shouldn't learn how to jam. You may end up giving great advice to your jammer and be a valuable resource. Some of the greatest contributors to our team don't even skate in the bouts. They are the ones who are constantly looking for more information and passing it on to the rest of us. WE ARE A TEAM. So remember, if you don't practice, then you will eventually become a weak link, and that's bad for the team.
Here's some more links to help you practice...
- Rule of the day page - like this facebook page to get a rule of the day!
- WFTDA TV online
- Play the board game!! LOL!
WANT IT MORE
Get pumped up. Get excited. Don't let nerves get the best of you. The best derby girls have their bad days and their bad plays. It happens. Expect that you will screw up, but get excited about it. Remember that it is the thrill of BEING THERE. DOING IT. Go out there and GET IT. WANT IT. And when you get tired, or feel like you are on your knee pads more than your skates, play the Rocky theme song in your head and take off after that bi... chic... and show her you aren't going to let her get away that easy. Stick that booty in front of everyone you can find and shout from the roof tops "BABY GOT BACK!".Need some more inspiration? Try some of these...
Great photos from Derby Warehouse - these will remind you why you love derby!
Practice dressing up in your best derby outfit - remember, sweatpants are for soccer moms. :-)
READY TO TRY OUT FOR THE PURR TEAM??
THEN SHOW UP! You can send us a message on our Facebook page and let us know you wanna come out, or just show up! We are ALWAYS looking for teammates! Even if you don't think you are ready, it shouldn't keep you from visiting our practices. Come see what all the excitement is about! Spectators are welcome and encouraged. Stop by during any of our practices at Olympic Fun Center in Hermitage, PA. Practices are currently Sunday mornings from 9:30-12:00am and Wednesday evenings 8:30-10:30pm. Always check our "About us" page for the latest practice times.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!
Many thanks to Heather Perry for this great image!
