WOMEN’S FLAT TRACK ROLLER DERBY MAGAZINE ISSUE 18, WINTER 2012
proud partner of the WFTDA
fiveonfivemag.com
fiveonfive contents 34-35
4-5 advice
ask ms d’fiant and suzy hotrod!
WFTDA European roller derby has grown exponentially the past few years. Learn what the WFTDA is doing to embrace that growth.
6-7 business volunteer voodoo
8-13 health and fitness 14-27 games and coaching
Manish Gosalia
the case for commuting pad cleaning
defensive play coaching and the wizard of oz 2012 championships recap
44-45 How to Build a Team Bond A simple step-by-step guide for building trust and league loyalty.
common questions and misconceptions wheel review
36-38 junior derby excellence in coaching age differences
Danyel “Shoot To Kill” Duncan
28-33 gear
46-47 Derby Burnout Part 2
40-41 rookie the dos and don’ts for newbies
50-51 international derby 52-61 art and media 63 classifieds 68 horoscopes
F-Bomb and Mortar ‘N Pistol provide practical suggestions for reducing your risk for burnout.
games and coaching
coaching and the wizard of oz M A G N U M , P. I . M . P. , A R C H R I VA L R O L L E R G I R L S
There are coaches who tell you what to do, and those who tell you how to do it. There are coaches who want grandeur for themselves and others who pursue success for their team. Some coaches just tell their skaters what they are doing wrong and others tell them how to improve. The Wizard of Oz had two sides: One that relied on intimidation to get his way and another that looked into the eyes of those seeking help and performed true magic. smoke and mirrors When we first meet the Wizard of Oz, he is unapproachable and put on a pedestal. His persona is much like many coaches who create a façade to maintain control and promote an image of superiority. They bark orders down to their skaters without having a real dialogue. Direction is limited, due to one-sided communication. They rule using fear due to their insecurities about their skaters finding holes in their strategy. They think to themselves, “If I do all the talking, they will think I know what I am talking about and won’t question me.” The problem with this coaching style is that it does not breed independent and creative thinkers. In derby, there are the situations you know are going to happen, (starts, jammer up/down, blockers up/down, etc.) and then there is the rest of the game. Derby is similar to aerial dogfights. The best players are those who can be improvisational when the crazy stuff happens... and it will. Just telling people what to do without giving them the why will result in incomplete
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players who end up at the losing end of huge jams. If you ever ask yourself, “Why does our team do so well until the shit hits the fan? When that happens, we fall apart.” It is because they know what to do but not why they are doing it. When everything is going well, they execute the strategy. When odd situations arise, they completely fall apart. If this is your team, you are telling them the what but not the why. Educating your players on why they are doing drills and strategy is crucial for having a team that can recognize and respond to all situations. Will this newfound knowledge allow them to question your teachings when your strategy has flaws? Yes, it will. However, in order to have a strategy with staying power and cohesion, it needs to be constantly reexamined and dissected. Strategies are works in progress. You should always be evaluating the efficiency of your actions on the track and evolving your game plan. Educate your players, have open discussions with them about your tactics, and encourage feedback. Otherwise, at the end of the day, you’ll be convincing yourself how brilliant your strategy is and your team just won’t do it right. don’t be a humbug Pay attention to the (wo) man behind the curtain. The real Wizard of Oz was just a normal person found behind the curtain. His true magic and contributions were given by understanding those who were seeking help and connecting on their level.
Knowing each person’s shortcomings allowed him to give them what would benefit each individual the most. As a coach, knowing your team’s strengths and weaknesses is essential to giving them the tools to succeed and creating a winning approach. Often times, the hot new strategy on the scene won’t match with assets of your team. Do you have talented and self-reliant jammers to run a totally defensive four-man wall? Are your blockers strong enough, defensively, to execute a two-man wall? Knowing the answers to these questions will unlock the true potential of your squad and determine what to focus on at practice. Take an inventory of the skill you have at your disposal. Know your team and you will know your potential. As a coach, the best way to help your team is to step down from your pedestal and wade in the trenches with them. Try things out, solicit feedback, and try asking your team what works and what doesn’t. Involving them in the learning process will give them the understanding to execute your strategy when thing go awry. The true Wizard of Oz was approachable and caring. A true coach is vulnerable because they are on the same level as the team and have a constant dialogue with skaters. This coaching style will result in respect from the skaters, and they will value the learning process. be an equal The Fellowship of the Slippers Athletic skaters with potential are like
Bob Dunnel aka Mr. McWheely
Coaching is an interactive and engaging process that takes time, patience and dedication. Dorothy with her ruby slippers. These skaters have what they need to do great things but if they aren’t astutely told how to use their assets, they will not reach their true potential and unlock their concealed power. Just like your team, each member of Dorothy’s crew needed something. The Wizard of Oz gave each character something that represented what they already possessed but didn’t realize. Through hard work, each one of your skaters can be a contributor. They hold this potential already. You just have
to teach them how to accomplish it. You must give your skaters the tools to succeed at derby. Focus on why you are doing each drill and you will increase the derby IQ of your team. Coaching isn’t “I say, you do.” Coaching is an interactive and engaging process that takes time, patience, and dedication. Being a derby player is a journey. It begins with obtaining your very own slippers (skates). It progresses by finding cohorts to go on this adventure with you. And inevitably, you’ll come across a
witch who wants to destroy you along the way. Derby tests the will and determination of each individual. It’s easy to be distracted by the poppy fields of drama, injuries, and parties. Skaters destined for greatness will push through these diversions and maintain their path. Remind your skaters of the team’s objectives and their role in achieving those goals. Everyone is on this journey together. Avoid trying to be All-Powerful. Instead, be an enabler of greatness.
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art and media
“I Know A Girl... Who Skates Roller Derby!" P E LV I S C O S T E L L O , B O S TO N D E R B Y DA M E S
“I am sure plenty of adventures are in store.” When I was sent I Know a Girl... Who Skates Roller Derby, I was told it was a children’s book. Beside the fact that a PlayStation 3 and Wii flank my living room television, I’m not exactly the demographic for the genre and that made me concerned I would be overly critical. In truth, Robert Anderson (who is a fellow announcer, “DeNouncer Dude”) wrote a really cute book. Reading that sentence almost made me cringe, too, but let’s all push our chairs back from the cynical table and think about that. Is “cute” a bad thing for little girls? The book weighs in with a little over four hundred words, with large illustrations from Emmanuel Hernaez doing their part to tell this first-person story from the perspective of the ginger-haired jammer that’s featured on nearly every page. The art has a messy, sketched look to it that I enjoy. But the speed and pace of this book is right for first-year readers. It’s not Seuss, but Anderson does a good job bringing us this upbeat, fun look at roller derby suitable for a young kid’s understanding of the world, and were it not for I Know a Girl... I would have been repeatedly checking my email while waiting for Dread to save her Skyrim game and hand me the controller. Get it for that little girl who wants to be something other than a princess, because there are way more derby leagues than there are kingdoms. available for purchase at scratchcommunications.com.au/books
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