THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WOMEN’S FLAT TRACK DERBY ASSOCIATION (WFTDA) ISSUE 11, SPRING 2011
fiveonfivemag.com
fiveonfive contents 30-31
4-5 advice
ask dahmernatrix and suzy hotrod!
WFTDA 2010 marked a milestone in WFTDA officiating with the introduction of the Referee Clinics.
6-9 business good roller derby media relations conquering your fundraising fears
concussions part two derby weight training ankle rehab
Jules Doyle
10-16 health and fitness
18-23 games and coaching
40-41 men’s derby Friend or foe to women’s flat track derby?
knee down start managing your bench
24-27 gear 34-37 JRDA motivation
Erin No Bragh
size matters wheel regrooving
42-44 derby is a sport
38-39 rookie
Tips for how you can get the media on your side.
go fast, turn left
Jules Doyle
46-49 international derby 52-56 art and media 57 classifieds 60 horoscopes
health and fitness
concussions part two C R U I S I N ' B . A N T H O N Y, S T E E L C I T Y D E R B Y D E M O N S
10 | Spring 2011 | fiveonfivemag.com
Steel City’s solution, designed by skater and optometrist Mission Impassible after extensive research, is based on freely available tests and protocols recommended in a 2004 paper from the National Athletic Trainer’s Association. Some of the tests are similar to ones on the free internationallyused SCAT card; Steel City also includes two commonly used tests: a graded symptom checklist, and a balance test. Mission added a smell test because losing your sense of smell is a definitive but often-overlooked effect of brain injury.
Jules Doyle
Last issue we talked about what a concussion is and why it’s so important for a player who gets one to make sure she doesn’t get a second concussion before her brain is fully healed. A concussion is a brain injury that may be overlooked in the moment, and typically includes symptoms like headache, dizziness, and confusion; longer-term effects can include emotional problems and trouble keeping up with school or work. Research shows that women may be more at risk for concussions than men, although it’s not clear why. Junior athletes are particularly vulnerable, and take longer to recover. In general, a skater with a concussion may be out for days or weeks, sometimes longer. Many organizations have concussion policies and testing programs, from the NFL and NHL to the U.S. Military and Cirque de Soleil. When Steel City designed their program, a major hurdle was the lack of a budget for the computer testing those organizations use. And since some of Steel City’s skaters don’t have health insurance (and those that do may get unhelpful advice from their doctors about concussions), the league chose not to depend on a doctor’s clearance for returnto-play. While concussion specialists can provide excellent advice to help recovery, Dr. Collins, of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Sports Concussion Program, implored coaches to never accept a return-to-play clearance from an emergency room, or from a doctor who says it’s OK to return to practice after a certain time period. He says, “You can’t predict how long [recovery] is going to take.”
Concussion expert Dr. Mark Lovell, also of UPMC’s Sports Concussion Program, said that Steel City’s immediate post-injury approach is “a good broad-based concussion identification program.” He recommends two changes, though, which would help protect players even more. First, he recommends benching any player for the day that has shown any concussion signs whatsoever, such as our star jammer who briefly showed dizziness and confusion (she passed concussion testing during the bout, but ended up with full-blown symptoms later that night.) Research on high school football players shows that even athletes whose symptoms went away after five minutes ended up with weeks of recovery time. The full force of their symptoms didn’t show up until after the game.
Second, he said that while Steel City’s testing is a good way to identify concussions when they happen, the same test may not be sensitive enough to detect when a player is ready to return to the track. Instead, he recommends a computerized test. Dr. Lovell is one of the designers of the ImPACT test, but he notes that there are others that have been proven to measure recovery well. Computerized tests are great for return-to-play testing but not for evaluating symptoms on the day of injury, where Steel City style tests are the right tool for the job. Steel City is considering ways of implementing Dr. Lovell’s suggestions, although the cost of computer testing could still be an issue for cost-conscious leagues. The cost of ImPACT, according to their website, is $500/year for up to 300 athletes. Another test, by Axon Sports, can be purchased individually at $7.50 a pop. Balance tests may still have a place in return-to-play testing, since balance returns to normal more slowly than other brain functions. A possible future addition, which scientists just developed in the past year, is a test for reaction time based on how quickly the skater can catch a weighted yardstick that’s dropped from a tabletop. It’s a clever way to test reaction time without a computer, since a quick calculation converts inches into milliseconds. Any concussion test is most useful when baseline data is available for the skater, which means they should take the test before they get injured. Adults probably just need one test; junior skaters should be tested every year or two.
Jules Doyle
implementing a plan For now, there is no WFTDA-wide policy on concussions, so each league is on their own for determining when a player has a concussion and when they are cleared to return to play. Within Steel City, skaters are bound by league policies, which include testing at baseline and after a potential concussion; a return-to-play progression; and a rule that a skater is benched after her third concussion in a season. Some research suggests that three concussions in a career are already too many, but Dr. Lovell says that “nobody knows what the magic number is; it depends whether the person has recovered completely before they have another one. But [Steel City’s rule] is not a bad idea. You have to have some point where you say enough is enough.” No skater had more than one concussion in 2010, which was the first year of Steel City’s policy. No national data has been published on how common concussions are in roller derby, but the league counted four possible concussions this season out of about 60 skaters, 12 of whom were tested after hitting their heads. Miss Ill, a member of the safety committee, remembers the policy rollout going smoothly, without resistance from
league members. Doing baseline tests for all skaters at the beginning of the season was a big project, but only a handful of baselines will be necessary in subsequent seasons, mainly for fresh meat and transfers. Where the situation gets a bit trickier is at travel games. At this year’s East region tournament, a Steel City skater hit her head at the end of her last game on Saturday. On-site EMTs were only able to perform very basic brain-injury screening, so Mission Impassible administered Steel City’s test. Since the skater passed, and didn’t develop any symptoms that night, she returned to the track the next day. Concussion testing materials are now part of the league’s traveling medical kit. The opposite issue could occur if a visiting skater had a concussion at Steel City’s home venue but wanted to keep playing. EMT Ed Reich remembers a time (before the league policy went into effect) when an opposing team’s coach rejected his recommendation to keep a concussed player out of the game. “At that point it’s almost a refusal of care thing,” he says. No rule requires a skater to follow medical advice, although WFTDA rules might arguably allow a referee to prevent someone from skating who is a danger
to others. Mission says that the league won’t enforce its rules on a visiting skater because it would seem like a conflict of interest to bench an opposing player. Still, the tests add to the EMTs’ toolbox for making recommendations. Although Steel City’s policy is conservative – some might say strict – it benefits the league and players. Just knowing that the league considers concussions a serious subject makes skaters more aware of the issue and means that they won’t feel pressured to get back on the track too soon after a head injury. The league’s DIY approach also shows that a concussion policy can be done on the cheap, although seeking treatment from a specialist is a great idea for skaters to pursue when then can. Leagues shouldn’t punt the problem (as some schools do) by relying on a medical clearance since a doctor who isn’t aware of the latest information on managing concussions may send a skater back to play too soon. No skater should have to risk their brain cells to play the sport they love. Testing based on current knowledge about concussions can help skaters protect themselves by staying out of harm’s way when they are most vulnerable. fiveonfivemag.com | Spring 2011 | 11
wftda
ref clinics J U D G E K N OT, T E X A S R O L L E R G I R L S
2010 marked a milestone in WFTDA officiating with the introduction of the WFTDA Referee Clinics. These two-day events were held in four locations throughout the U.S. and garnered attendees from over 51 leagues. Participants came from as close as the hosting leagues to as far away as Canada (we’re talking about you, Montreal), and the overwhelming response was one of “Wow, I learned the answers to questions I didn’t even know I had!” Through the efforts of the WFTDA Games and Referee Committees, the challenges confronting officials in the sport of roller derby were identified and training materials were created to address them. The focus was on consistency and uniformity. With so many member leagues in the WFTDA, it is imperative that the officials from each country, region, state and city call things the same way every time. A member league should not have to worry about the officiating and should show up at each and every away game expecting the same procedures, same communication, and the same calls. The WFTDA Referee clinics address this need, along with furthering the continuing education of our officials around the world. With separate classes for skating and non-kkating officials, as well as specific curriculum for both skating skills and rules knowledge, there was truly something for everyone. A small classroom setting encouraged attendee participation and Q&A sessions, while the instructor/attendee ratio allowed for personalized attention on the track. Participants experienced one-on-one help and training on specific skating skills and gained the confidence to exceed even their own expectations. On day one attendees participated in rules discussions and training with topics ranging from impact assessment to rules hierarchy. Breakout sessions, group discussions
30 | Spring 2011 | fiveonfivemag.com
and instructor presentations covered all facets of the ruleset and the correct way to enforce them. From common mistakes and errors to the wackiest scenario you can dream up, the full range of calls (and no-calls!) was covered. Communication was also a big part of day one, with training on how to most effectively communicate with other officials, skaters and fans. The overall emphasis of day one was consistency and uniformity, making sure that all officials in attendance had the tools to call an accurate and consistent WFTDA bout. Day two put that knowledge to the test with the skating portion of the clinic. All the knowledge in the world is useless if you’re not where you need to be to make the call. With skating drills, scenario re-enactment and angle training, officials were able to put the previous day’s information into action on the track. No subject was left uncovered, whether it be passing a certification skating test, how to best communicate with other officials on the track, or how to best spot a back block in turn two. Under the guidance of experienced skating instructors, attendees were encouraged to push past their current comfort levels and learn how to become a stronger, faster and more confident skater. Regardless of their starting skill level, every participant was able to see a marked improvement in their abilities and take what they learned back to their
Jules Doyle
home league and share that knowledge. Building on the goals and achievements of the 2010 Clinics, the WFTDA will be offering a continuing schedule of Referee Clinics beginning in the summer of 2011. The curriculum has been revised to be even more expansive and will include classes and information on Standardized Practices, Referee Certification and up-to-date rules clarifications.
The WFTDA Referee Clinics are truly the best ongoing resource available for all officials, from aspiring to experienced. Active participation from officials and leagues is encouraged, and will move us closer to the goal of consistent and accurate officiating for EVERY bout. Keep an eye out for the dates and locations of the 2011 WFTDA Referee Clinics, coming soon to WFTDA.com!
fiveonfivemag.com | Spring 2011 | 31