Crunch time

Photo Credit to
James Calder Photography

I have been on this roller derby journey for almost exactly one year and in that very short time I have: put on skates for the first time in about a decade, worked my butt off just to learn the most basic skills, completed the meat camp of a WFTDA charted team, passed my assessment to become a real league member, was drafted by a home team, and for my first home team season, I was lucky enough to be able to play in every single home team bout.

... but that could all change. In a little less than 3 weeks, my team will take the track with the goal of taking home our league's Skate of the Union championship trophy. While my team is incredible and supportive, they're also very competitive. Some would say to a fault, but those people are usually on other teams. This means that when May 12th rolls around, you can guarantee that 14 ready skaters will be on the roster and I want to be one of them.

I know that as a rookie I am just as much, if not more, on the cusp than some of the other incredible women on my team. After all, nearly half of my team is on the All Stars, another 2 have been on the travel team at some point, and several more could if they wanted to. There is no shortage of talent on my team.

I've learned at this point that my own mental limitations do more damage to my skating than any physical ones, but with the help of my team I'm starting to realize I'm faster, stronger, and know more than I give myself credit for. Now it's just a matter of remembering that every time I put my skates on.

I'll be busting my ass these next three weeks, but maybe this focus is what I need. Whether I am rostered or not, I'll at the very least be more focused and have a good start on next season.

p.s. I'm not saying I'll be very happy about not being rostered. I'm allergic to losing in any capacity, but I guess I will take it in stride. Wish me luck.

Derby Confidence

If you stop and think about the diversity of women who play derby, you can't help but to be astounded. If your high school was anything like mine, the jocks were the jocks, the geeks were the geeks, and while one was occasionally also the other, it was usually the exception and not the rule.

Roller derby is nothing like high school. Derby manages to bring in women from all walks of life: the loners, the rockers, the shy girls, the jocks, and the beauty queens, and they all make great derby players. I credit this to what I call: derby confidence. Derby confidence is what allows a stay-at-home mom of 3 to lace up her skates and lay someone out on the track or someone who feels that they are socially awkward to be a fierce jammer.

Unfortunately derby confidence doesn't come easily and I think for some, it never happens at all. In my opinion, derby confidence is something that happens when you leave everything except derby at the door. When you lace up your skates determined to give every practice 110%. When you leave every excuse, every minor ache and pain, and your bad attitude off the track.

Derby confidence is what makes the big girl quick, the small girl tough, and the quiet girl a leader on the track and it all comes mainly from the willingness to be awesome at this incredible sport  -- and that is all you need. There will always be someone who thinks you're too new to try out for the All Stars or too slow to jam or too small to block well, but for every person who thinks that, there is one who is defying all of the "odds". Find that person your your league and learn from them. Emulate them during a tough drill or watch their style of hitting or juking for tips.

Of course this, like most things, is easier said than done. I still have a daily struggle to keep myself positive and focused. I get discouraged at least once per practice, but really make a concerted effort to keep my negative emotions in check and keep my confidence up. Last, but not least, you can also fake it til you make it. Practice exuding confidence and after a while, you'll start to feel it.

Now, go forth and kick ass.