M-80s 2007 Champs, Rookie Draft Approaches

M-80s Win 2007 ARRG Championship

Even though the M-80s (3-1) beat the Smashinistas (2-2) in October, we didn't take anything for granted going into this bout. The Smashies were the only team we lost to this season back in July, beating us 55-51. That might not seem like much of a margin, but in our heads, it was huge. Mentally, we did not play our game and knew that would be the easiest way for us to lose the championship. So when one of our best jammers, Eva Lasting Jawbreaker, had to leave the game due to injury at the end of the 1st period, we totally could have crumbled. But we didn't. Even when the Smashinistas chipped our 21 point lead down to just 6 at one point in the 2nd, we didn't panic. We just kept playing OUR game. As the end of the 3rd period approached, it started to become clear that we were going to win, even with a 7 point jam by Jenny Bonebreak while Nemesistah was in the penalty box. The final score was M-80s 63 Smashinistas 46. Nemesistah had her best game all season, scoring 13 points and getting lead jammer in 6 of her 9 jams. Retiring skater Shank Knife Shelley (Smashinistas) had a great game, and even got a mention in Elwood Bruise's "All Bout Derby" blog. I was mentioned in his blog as well, and was included in his "Three Stars" of the game along with the Siege and Jenny Bonebreak. My stats were among the best in every category we track. I had the best offensive blocking score on my team and the 2nd best defensive blocking score after Overland Offender. My "+/1 per jam" score was the highest of either team at 1.70. Plus / minus per jam is the average difference between your team points and opposing team points per jam whenever you were on the floor as blocker or pivot. A high positive number indicates good performance. I also scored 10 points for the M-80s as a jammer, including a grand slam in the 1st period, and got lead in 4 out of 7 jams (one jam there were only a few seconds left in the period with no time for lead to be established or points to be scored.). I felt much better about my jamming this game and tried to approach it more like a blocker, letting my ability to be hit and stay standing work for me rather than avoiding Smashies like Polly Lop and Davey Blockit. I'm hoping now that our 2008 travel team has been chosen, I'll have more of an opportunity to step up my blocking even more, rather than splitting my attention between 2 positions. I think jamming has made me a smarter blocker though. Rather than just going for the big hits (which are great too), I've really gotten an understanding of how "booty" blocking or using a plow stop to do things like break apart opposing packs or reform loose ones can impact a jammer both offensively and defensively. Best part, my body doesn't hurt as much after a bout! Generally less penalties that way, too! It's still pretty fun when I make people on the other team fall down, though. Just this time it seemed like it occurred more when they hit me and bounced off than me hitting them.

ARRG Rookie Draft

The ARRG draft is coming up in just a few days, and our newest skaters who have been training for many months will finally find out which of our 3 local teams they will be skating for in 2008. These are some pretty fast, tough, amazing skaters who will capture your attention the minute they step on the track at All American in the spring. I have had the privilege of being the "newbie coach" the last few months and it has been one of the most energizing and rewarding parts of derby yet! Our league is only going to continue to grow by recruiting and retaining women of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. Some of them come in knowing how to skate, while others are literally holding onto the wall their first few practices. Of course if you are in your 20's, in shape, and can skate when you join, your learning curve is going to be much shorter. But it's amazing how women in their late 30's who haven't played sports since they were little girls come in, work hard and get better and better. Meanwhile they are having a blast and helping out this or that committee within the league, making friends. Next thing they know, they are in shape, can skate, and can take people down with the best of them!