Move on up

MRD have been skating a long and bumpy road lately. It's not cool to moan, but as any fledgling team, group or organisation will know, often the way that things begin is not the way they can continue.  Sometimes introducing any sort of change can be the biggest challenge of all.

Bearing this in mind there has been a LOT of change in the MRD camp this year. As the club began to grow the members of MRD expressed a desire for decision-making to be more democratic and fair. We ran polls, allowing people to nominate themselves for project manager positions within the club (e.g. Treasurer, PR, Bouts manager... to name but a few) and we also voted in an overall president of the club.

We recently voted on whether we should move training venues, from The Arcadia in Levenshulme to The Sporting Edge in Openshaw. It was a difficult decision as the club was founded at The Arcadia, but 87% of the votes were in favour of the move and it meant we could have our own space in an already fully-functional environment whilst remaining centrally located. So we're now settling into our new venue!

We remain as inclusive as we have always been but we are currently putting in place ways to make skating with MRD safer, fairer and more encouraging for skaters both new and old. Setting up a junior roller derby club requires skaters and coaches to be safeguarded, whatever their age. This is something we're looking to set up with help from the owners of Sporting Edge. We're also fine-tuning our training sessions to make sure they fully cater to the needs of all ability levels - there'll be an announcement soon about our next run of the Mega Heroes 12-week course for new skaters.

Our future bouts have now been planned up until the end of 2012, meaning we will soon have an actual bouts calendar for everyone to plan their weekends around :P On top of all this and more, we are trying to get a brand spanking new website designed and up and running! The current website was knocked up in under two weeks to promote our first bout Wonderbrawl and has been long overdue a re-design. We now also have a fantastic sponsor in the form of Extreme Largeness and an official team photographer in the ever lovely Shirlaine Forrest. So much work is going on behind the scenes it is unreal!

The main aim of all this hard work is for us to be more organised, fairer and stronger than ever before - and although it has been a tough road so far I reckon we can pull it off. We *are* MRD after all.

Derby love to you all - it's our love of this mad sport that keeps us trying to make MRD the best it can be.
- Kate Push

"Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress." - Bruce Barton

Copyright - Shirlaine Forrest

MRD have a new home!

Manchester Roller Derby are proud to announce that we have a brand spanking new home at Sporting Edge in Openshaw.

Watch this space for info on open scrimmages - we'll be starting them up again for anyone past minimum skills as soon as we're all settled in.  And look out for an announcement of our next Zero to Hero programme coming shortly!

We also have a new website address at www.manchesterrollerderby.co.uk, so head on over and show us some love.  Keep your eyes peeled as things will be changing on our website very soon (and very much for the better!)

MRD v GCRG - A road trip to Aberdeen

Earlier this year, MRD went 'up North' to play Dundee Roller Girls. The journey was fraught with an obscenely early start and heavy snow but we had an amazing time up there and Dundee's Silvery Tazers were lovely hosts. That said, the journey there and back in the same day was something we all swore we'd never do again. Then we got ourselves a bout with the Granite City Roller Girls' Northern Fights in Aberdeen. Aberdeen. That's even further away than Dundee! So of course we said we'd do it but this time with sensible travel arrangements involving a two-night stay. Much more civilised.

Our MRD team was a little depleted as Pinky Fingaz got the lurgy a few days before but off we headed to Aberdeen in a vehicular mishmash of two minibuses, a car, trains and planes. Somehow we all made it there in time for brunch before the bout. I have to confess that I got very excited when we arrived at the bout venue, the Beach Leisure Centre, as it was by the sea, which always gets me giddy, but it was soon time to focus on the bout.

Captained by Vic Tori Bee, MRD took a lead initially, getting ahead by 13-1 after a couple of jams but Granite City started fighting back immediately, getting the score to 19-MRD GCRG-16 by 10 minutes in. GCRG's Fight Cub caused our jammers some problems but MRD pulled away to lead 44 to 28 after some high-scoring jams from Vic Tori Bee and Scary Wollstonecraft. It was a close game throughout with some hard hits on both sides. MRD had some newer players who held their own on the track and I think surprised some of the opposition. The half time score was MRD 62 - 55 GCRG with both teams having it all to play for in the second half.

Granite City came out fighting in the second half and took the lead by 77-70 after some big jams and seemed to be hitting harder. A 17 point jam from Scary took us ahead again to 115 - 105 and we were all trying very hard to stay calm. Usually from the bench I'm not taking any notice of the scores but this was as tense and as close a game as I've ever seen and the last few jams were nailbiters. The last jam just meant us getting lead jammer and calling it, which we did in style and left us with a winning score of 124 to 121. Phew.

Massive thanks to Granite City for hosting the bout, feeding us afterwards (why does playing derby make pizza so much more tasty?) and for putting some of our team up in their lovely homes. On a personal level, I probably enjoyed this bout more than any other and was so glad we took our time with travel meaning that we got chance to have a look round the beautiful Granite City. I also found out why no one local drinks Irn Bru on tap and have learnt a valuable lesson. I've also learned that driving 14 hours for a roller derby match is perfectly acceptable, providing it's not in one day.

A Jolly Holislay

As our lovely Kate Push said below, we've had a pretty busy few weeks in MRD Land - what with marathons, bouts, getting a new amazing bunch of Heroes... we were all in definite need of a holiday. This was obviously misheard and we were packed off to Grantham to play in Jolly HoliSlay, hosted by the Lincolnshire Bombers. 

Our car full of roller girls, NSOs and chauffeur took the scenic route, allowing for a quick viewing of the crooked spire in Chesterfield and making it seem like we were off on our hols across the rolling hills. It was a double-header so we got to watch Lincolnshire's B team, The Damebusters, take on Newcastle's B team, the Whippin' Hinnies, in the first game of the day.  All the while our girls were mentally preparing themselves to take on the Bombshell Bruisers under the guidance of our captain for the day, Suffra-Jett and our bench and line-up managers Gwai-Lo and Darth Sebious.

I think it's fair to say that this was one of the more challenging bouts MRD have played and the team knew that we needed to be at the top of our game. I was sub for the game and usually this means feeling a tiny bit sad when you don't get to play though still thrilled to be watching and cheering on our team. This time, I was genuinely happy not to play as it was SUCH an awesome and nail-biting game to watch. I was really pleased to be able to take a step back and realise just how much we've grown as a team over the last few months and was immensely proud of our ladies.

From the first whistle it was clear this was to be a very physical game. Lincolnshire have some very good, very hard hitters but MRD started as we meant to go on with some tough blocking from our side. In the first jam, Fale took out two blockers single handedly, not even flinching and leaving two bemused girls on the floor. G-Whizz made the most of a power jam bringing the score to MRD 8 LBRG 12, before our box filled up and LBRG did exactly the same. Helli Chopper and Catfight Candy did some top notch jamming for LBRG, widening the score gap slightly, although Psycho-Sis soon put a stop to that doing an excellent job of holding Candy up whilst Vic Tori Bee ripped through the pack to pull back some points for MRD.

Our PollyKiller got a power jam and soon we were back up to 52 against their 72 points. A combination of power jams and totally on-the-ball blocking saw the half time score being settle at LBRG 80 - 73 MRD. SEVEN POINTS! The Bombshell Bruisers were not going to make it easy for us to score points but we really made the most of every opportunity to do so.

The score grew to MRD 109 - 115 LBRG and it was still anyone's game. I was starting to feel a tiny bit glad not to be playing as the hits came in hard and fast. LBRG's Diss Continued certainly caused our jammers some problems but we fought until the final whistle. The end score was MRD 128 - 145 LBRG but we were really pleased with our performance and with having held our own against a team as good as Lincolnshire.

A huge thanks to the Bombers for being wonderful hosts (even providing us with goodie bags in the dressing room) and for giving us a good game. Thanks as always to the refs, especially our very own SkaBarella who did a fantastic job of head reffing the NRG-LBRG bout.

We've got a busy few months coming up. Bout-wise we've a team of MRD-ers taking part in the UK's first co-ed bout in Sheffield on 17th September, the same day that an MRD contingent will be heading out to the seaside for Skatemania - an outdoor roller derby tournament.  Before all that is our fundraiser, MuRDer in the Dark, to get us up to Aberdeen at the end of the month for a much-anticipated bout against the Granite City Roller Girls. It's certainly an exciting time to be part of this wonderful thing we call derby!

See you on the track!

Nyte Owl

Photos courtesy of me and my husband, Danny (RoswellJam Photography)

MuRDer in the DARK - An MRD fundraiser

I must apologise - it's been deathly quiet around here of late... but then again, we've been super busy!

Little bit late I know, but Carry on Jamming scores went a little like this: Manchester Roller Derby 115 - 108 Newcastle Roller Girls, Campers 112 - 69 Cruisers. It was a great day, if super sweltering - but we mustn't grumble when we actually get nice weather and it was so lovely to meet the lasses of NRG's Whippin' Hinnies.

Happy Campers and Cruisers! (photo: Jason Ruffell)

What a strange bunch... (photo: Shirlaine Forrest)

Last Saturday we bouted in Grantham against Lincolnshire Bombers' established travel team, The Bombshell Bruisers - and did ourselves proud! It was a close game, with only seven points in it at half-time and the final score settled at LBRG 145 - 128 MRD. I was so proud of how the team really came together and it was a massively enjoyable game. Big thanks to LBRG for being fantastic hosts.

LBRG meet MRD (photo: Paul Needham)

COMING UP...

We're hosting a fundraiser!

Friday 2nd September <-- Get this date in your diaries (actually, it's less than two weeks away... just make sure you're there!)

We're hosting a fundraiser to try and physically get us to Aberdeen to play the mighty Granite City Roller Girls at the end of September.

Not only will we have some of Manchester's finest bands in the form of Bisonhammer and Dangerous Aces, but the amazing Upside Down Ladies will also be showing off their pole dancing skills.

Come and try our very own cocktail 'Rink Splash', watch some awesome bands, marvel at flexible ladies, get to know some skaters and throw on your glad rags for a chance to win a prize.

The dress theme is 1940s/film noir. So guys - don your spats, braces and fedoras, and dolls - work those big curls, red lips and sultry dresses

Doors open at 7pm, first band at 8pm. £4 entry @ Base Bar, 42 Charles Street, Manchester, M1 7DB (near the BBC building on Oxford Road and where Po Na Na used to be).

VERY EXCITED!


See you all there :)
- Kate Push

Meet the Mega Heroes!

Derby Spotting: Point Differential

The most important thing about roller derby is point differential. The team with the most points wins, but it’s not just about racking up as many as you can in each jam. What you need is to get the largest difference between your points and theirs. If you both get 4 points you might as well not have bothered – you’re level & knackered.

There are many ways you can ensure the point differential is high and they’re things that both jammers & blockers can think about.

1. First and foremost for jammers is knowing when to call it off. I’ve already talked about this at great length here.

2. Second is something that sometimes sounds simpler than it is…. get to the front! Whoever is making up the back of the pack will be scored on first so make sure it’s not you. Being at the front has many other advantages too (such as controlling pack speed) so it’s a great place to hang out.

3. Burn time if you need to. If your jammer is starting in the box – don’t cross that pivot line! Kill as much time as you can before the jammer whistle goes and you might have your jammer back in time to get some points.

4. The opposite of #3! If the opposing jammer is in the box then there’s loads of things you can do to get your player off the line ASAP. You can all take a knee – this means there’s no pack from the start forcing the jam whistle to blow right away. You can run off the line forcing the other team to chase you. You can try and split the pack by starting two blockers waaay back and hoping the other team mark you (this has the same effect as taking a knee). Take your pick.

5. Don’t give your point away. Try to keep in mind if the jammer has already passed you, or if they’re on their scoring pass or not. Then choose your block carefully. If the jammer hasn’t passed your hips then your best bet is to try and positionally block and keep them behind you for as long as possible. If they pass you, then it’s the perfect moment to race forward and whack them in to the crowd!

This is just a small selection of strategies you can use, keep your eyes open as well as the score in mind and a close loss could turn into a close win!

You can find more info about Manchester Roller Derby at our website www.manchesterrollerderby.co.uk

I's got's new's skate's!

Ten ways derby has helped me in 'real' life

Roller derby is more than a sport; it's a way of life. Roller derby people will take every opportunity to enthuse about this rapidly-growing sport because it is life-affirming and awesome and everyone should give it a go. See what I mean?

Since I started playing last year, I'm finding that things and experiences gleaned from derby often crop up in everyday life and this has prompted me to make a list of ways in which it has helped me. I hope I'm not the only one out there that has experienced this!

1) Getting through a crowded club to get to the toilets = lots easier when you put yourself in jammer mode and seek out those little gaps and nimbly hop between pint-wielding obstacles.

2) In a similar vein, ousting the six-foot person who has just stood in front of you right as your favourite band take the stage. Now, I am not advocating rudeness in anyway and this will only work in a tight crowd but get your foot and shoulder in front of theirs and you will pop back to your rightful position in time to see Eddie Vedder belt out 'Even Flow'. Win.

3) Walking into things doesn't phase you. I walk into things a lot, usually a mixture of daydreaming and clumsiness. I used to stand about looking all hurt and sorry for myself but these days, after many evenings when I first started playing of being hit by people I didn't see coming, I just carry on like nothing has happened.

4) Bruises are no longer a trauma. I don't bruise very much at all but the old me would have sat around worrying about bruises and how long they would last for - whereas now if I get a bruise, I just rue the fact that I wasn't playing derby when it happened.

5) Confidence is less of an issue. After you have walked round a town in sweaty kit and fishnets with helmet hair, walking into a meeting of people you don't know seems a lot less daunting. It's not that I don't care about my appearance, but I know WHEN to care about my appearance and when to just not. Case in point below.



6) Opening doors when my hands are full is no issue at all, so long as they open outwards. I've sadly moved offices so am no longer able to startle my work colleagues with my hip check entrances.


7) You will meet so many people when you start playing derby that as well as making lots of lovely new friends, you will no longer be lost for someone to advise you on practically everything. I've had advice on all sorts, from derby stuff to gigs to check out.


8) My stamina has improved lots making long walks, sprints to catch the bus and unplanned exercising much less of an issue these days.


9) I have muscles that I never used to have which have come in very useful when having a clear out and lugging stuff to the tip, shovelling snow, pushing cars to start them and all sorts of similarly unladylike activities.


10) I stress less. Honestly. I've had to work really hard at getting my head round the fact that once the jam is over, there's nothing you can do to change it. I find myself dealing with other stressful situations in the same way and am much happier for it.

* * *

Feel free to add to this list in the comments - I'm sure there must be some I've missed out! How does roller derby help you in 'real' life?

And speaking of ten more good reasons to come and join us, our Zero2Hero intakes are now nice and regular so get your name down and give it a go - info on our Join us page. If you want to see how it's done, our guys' team (men's derby = merby) are playing in Manchester on 30th July 2011 at CARRY ON JAMMING, with an extra treat of seeing our ladies' team play Newcastle beforehand.

Derby Spotting: Pack Speed

For part 2 of Derby Spotting I'm going to deal with Pack Speed. One of the most common chants of fans at bouts is 'Speed up!!' 'Slow Down!'. Now most people understand speed up, but why would you want them to slow down? Derby's a race right? Wrong! Derby is about helping your jammer whilst hindering theirs. So derby girls are always ready for situations which require them to change the speed of the pack:

1. Your team is winning by a LOT of points.
Speed up! If you’re winning, a great way to hold on to your lead is to tire the opposing jammer out. Yes, your jammer will get tired too, but all you need to do is hold on to the lead you already have.

2. Your jammer is in the penalty box.
Speed up! Your only concern in this situation is to get away from the opposing jammer. If she doesn’t even make 1 pass through the pack then so much the better.

3. You’ve caught the opposing jammer in the pack.
Slow down! If you’re doing a great job of trapping their jammer behind a wall then you probably want to slam the breaks on. This breaks her momentum making it harder to get past & at the same time allows your jammer to fly round with ease. This often happens when you have more blockers on the track than the opposing team.

4. The opposing jammer is in the penalty box.
Slow down! In this situation you want to almost come to a complete stop giving your jammer a chance to score lots of points for as long as possible.

The reason it’s possible to speed up or slow down is because there’s a rule prohibiting ‘intentionally destroying the pack’. If you deliberately speed up or slow down so much that there is no legal pack, you get a penalty, so both teams *have* to stay together or there’s a ‘no pack’ situation. If the refs shout ‘no pack’ no one on the track is allowed to help or hinder anyone else until they’re all back together again. So if you need the pack to slow down & you gradually glide to a meander the other team have to stay with you – they can’t just race off. If you want the pack to speed up, you have to get the opposing team to chase you as you race off in to the sunset.

A more sure-fire way of getting the pack to slow down is to catch one of the opposing blockers behind a wall & slow down in front of them. This is known a catching a ‘goat’. Check out this video of Sun State Roller Girls Vs Victoria:



Skip to 1.15 & watch the Sun State blockers (yellow & black) forming a wall, trapping an opposing blocker behind them. Because they are the largest group of blockers from both teams on the track, they are the pack & the Victoria blockers must either stay with them or help their trapped blocker to escape. Meanwhile, the Sun State jammer is able to get round a lot more times than she would if the pack was moving at a much faster speed.

You can find more info about Manchester Roller Derby at our website www.manchesterrollerderby.co.uk

PacManc's Megahero Derby Diary 2

Pacmanc's Megahero Derby Diary

A Midsummer Night's Scream write-up

I'm not going to lie - I don't think many MRD skaters were feeling particularly confident prior to our second home bout, 'A Midsummer Night's Scream'. A leak in our training venue The Arcadia's roof meant that a number of sessions building up to the bout had to be cancelled or cut short thanks to Manchester's relentless rain. Some of our stronger players were unavailable to play or had opted not to play to give newer skaters a chance. And then there are the usual organisational stresses that occur whenever hosting an event of this size - our first ever home bout sold out Manchester's Academy 1, with 600 people turning up to watch - and this time around it was to be broadcast live by rduk.tv.

'A Midsummer Night's Scream' had ruffs, ivy, fairies and even a real-life faun. It also, bizarrely, had a rather eighties themed playlist - but we discovered that worked pretty well! 

To kick things off the Montagues took on the Capulets, aiming to end their age-old feud 21st century style in a cherry popper bout featuring new skaters from across the North of England.

Montagues v Capulets
Photo by Jason Ruffell

It was a great bout to watch, and if any of the skaters were nervous it didn't show. The score was finally settled with the Montagues slaying the Capulets, 149 - 92.

Photo by Jason Ruffell

To the header bout...

Feeling the love...
Photo by Jason Ruffell

Given our leaky practice space woes, the day of the bout was the first time we had skated together in a couple of weeks and as this team.  The Central City Rollergirls 'Slay Belles' from Birmingham were our opponents and we had resolved to give it our best shot. 

Sui-Cider looking fierce
Photo by Shirlaine Forrest

The opening jams saw both teams fairly matched, but a gap soon began to appear with CCR taking the lead thanks to stunning jams from Madame Flutterby, Lethal Sizzle and Agent Dana Skurry. The end of the first half saw that lead increase to make it CCR 61 - 29 MRD, and we really had our work cut out in the coming half.

Lex Brawl and Gerty Go Go gang up on Manc Zappa
Photo by Shirlaine Forrest

I don't remember any specific team talk or strategy during half-time, everyone was very calm and collected - which made a nice change! We started the second half without a jammer, but secured our own power jam shortly after. 

G Whizz and Joanna Clout on the offensive
Photo by Shirlaine Forrest

From that point on we fought hard, and began to close that gap with lots of tactical play and awesome jams from Polly Killer and Vic Tori Bee. The second half flew by, it seemed that CCR's announcer Rolls Voyce had informed us there were 25 minutes left and then all of a sudden it was the last jam.  It's trite to say but given a couple more jams, I think we could've pulled it back.

Final score. Well done to The CCR!
Photo by Jason Ruffell

It felt as though we played our hearts out as a team, really gelling and working together instead of just trying to stay on our feet as we did when we first started playing together towards the end of 2010. In some ways, it seemed that the very things that had caused us to feel anxious in the run-up to the bout had actually ended up helping us. We weren't all trained out or relying on stronger players - and any organisational stresses turned into big fat blocks on the track.  CCR are a brilliant team, it was a pleasure to have them and MRD is chomping at the bit for a rematch!

Feeling the love... again!
Photo by Jason Ruffell

In the meantime, however, we can look forward to hosting our third home bout at the end of this month.

Lots of love,
Kate Push

READ READ READ

Carry On Jamming will take place on Saturday 30th July, and Manchester will get its first taste of MERBY. Do not miss this. More details on Facebook or if you're already sold, tickets on our website.

Derby Spotting: Calling It Off

So I've noticed recently how a lot of people turn up to watch a bout with a good grasp of the basic rules, but spot things happening on the track that just seem to make no sense at all. The fact is that roller derby strategy sometimes uses the rules in surprising ways and it can be hard to work out exactly what's going on, but in my opinion it's exactly this that makes the game so crazy and exciting!

If you've ever found yourself having to ask the person next to you why they're screaming at the pack to slow down or why the star jammer got through the pack once and then the jam just ended, then worry not, I am here to help you out!

This week I'm going to look into calling the jam off and power jams.

Roller derby is all about the points. If you can get points while the other team get a big fat zero then happy days right? One way to stop the other team getting points is to catch the other team's jammer in the pack and stop her from passing people while your jammer whizzes round and round. It's a good strategy but you can't always rely on it - one good hit from the other team or one very nippy jammer and she's passed you. So how else are you going to stop them from scoring? Well I'll tell you how - you're going to call it off!

If you get lead jammer (i.e. get through the pack first without committing any fouls) then you’re allowed call the jam off at any time. Basically, you want to call off the jam (by touching your hips with your hands) at that magic moment when you have points and the other team doesn't.

Here's an example from our game against The Imposters in January.  Behold the dextrous G Whizz as she takes the jam by storm.



G Whizz comes out of the pack first and gets lead jammer. You can see her get through the pack for the second time (picking up 4 juicy points) 0:49, and note that she is already calling it off because the Imposters jammer is just inches away from scoring as well. Whoever’s not the lead jammer will be single-mindedly chasing the other jammer down to try and reach the pack before she does. If the lead jammer is overtaken she’ll have to call off the jam early to avoid the opposing team getting any points.

No one wants to do more work than is strictly necessary so if the other jammer gets through the pack, the lead jammer will have to go round *again* until there's a gap in the scores, all the time getting more and more tired (it's not easy out there you know!) Ending a jam with equal numbers of points scored is not a good situation – you might as well have both got zero, except now you’re both knackered and you’ve wasted valuable time.

This tactic is the bread and butter of roller derby. You could almost say derby is more about stopping them from getting points than getting points yourself! So if you ever find yourself at a bout wondering why someone's calling it off - look at where the other jammer is and there's your answer.

There is one other situation that relates to calling it off and this is during a power jam. Power jams occur when one jammer is in the box and the other jammer has free reign to just snap up all the points she can handle. In this situation the jammer pretty much never calls it off because it's free points ain't it!

You can find more info about Manchester Roller Derby at our website www.manchesterrollerderby.co.uk

The 'NO MINORS' rules set: Yea or nay?

In case you missed it, at the beginning of April the WFTDA confirmed they would be testing a new rules system known as the ‘no minors’ rules set. Throughout the summer, teams from across the US will be participating in test bouts to see how these changes could impact upon the sport we know and love.

Like the current rules set, penalties will given based on impact. At the moment there are three impact levels: ‘no impact’, ‘minor impact’ and ‘major impact’. As its name suggests, the ‘no minors’ rules set would get rid of minor impact penalties. While some minor penalties would simply be ‘upgraded’ to ‘major impact’ penalties (and result in a minute in the penalty box), others would be called as ‘no impact’ and thus incur no penalty.

But what effect will this have on the game?

Critics argue that bringing in these new rules would result in sloppy, dangerous game play. The ‘no minors’ rules set, for example, determines that any use of elbows which doesn't directly result in an opposing skater losing position as ‘no impact’. Similarly, any back block which forces a skater off balance but does not cause them to lose their relative position is ‘no impact’. While these changes may come as a relief to many skaters, others argue that the changes would encourage careless play and increase injuries.

Yet, many of the changes seem to have been suggested with safety in mind. Some infractions currently classed as ‘minors’ would become major impact penalties under the new rules. This includes any clockwise engagement or blocks by stopped skaters, even if they do not result in loss of position.

Supporters of the new rules argue that they would create a faster paced and more exciting game (could roller derby be any more exciting?!)

The new rules would drastically reduce the amount of time jammers spend in the box and perhaps create higher-scoring games. In cases of false starts the jammer wouldn't be penalised unless they failed to yield to the opposing jammer. Similarly, the curiously-named tactic, ‘poodling’ (intentionally incurring a fourth minor by positioning oneself out of play when lining up), would become redundant. Unfortunately, this would result in fewer power jams, which in my opinion can be tactically very interesting.

All in all, it’s hard to say what the impact of the changes would be. It depends not only on the rules but on the strategies that teams will adopt in order to use them. If you’re interested in reading a more detailed analysis, WindyMan’s Roller Derby Notes provides an interesting discussion of the proposed changes.

Despite the hype surrounding the test bouts, there's been no official proposal to change the rules. According to the WFTDA,

The ‘no minors’ rules set was created for the sole purpose of ‘collect[ing] data for review’.

All changes to the rules must be voted on by member leagues and it is by no means certain that these changes will be adopted.

So far, only one bout has been played according to the test rules and this was closed to the public. The first public test bout will take place on 25 June 2011 when Charm City Roller Girls take on the Windy City Rollers.

Like many in the roller derby community, I can’t wait to see how it goes!


To find out more about MRD, check out our website: www.manchesterrollerderby.co.uk

A Midsummer Night's Scream - 19th June 2011

Never watched live roller derby? What are you waiting for?

It is exactly one month until our next game at Manchester's Academy 1.

A MONTH!

If you were at our last game, you'll know what the atmosphere's like. Everyone gets behind their respective team and excitement reaches fever pitch. The announcers do a great job of keeping everyone, not least the skaters, on their toes - and the rocking DJs, cake peddlers, merch lovelies and raffle merchants do their very best to make sure no-one leaves without a smile on their face and a feeling of being absolutely essential to the success of the game, BECAUSE YOU ARE!

If you weren't at our last game... first of all, why not? :P I'm just kidding, have a quick read here about it.

But really, roller girls from all across the North West will need your help and support at this one. We're hosting a 'cherry popper' game to give newer skaters experience of playing a real bout. This will be the first bout of the day and sees the Montagues take on the Capulets - aiming to settle the age-old score between the feuding families once and for all.

The finale of the day will be our game against Central City Rollergirls' 'Slay Belles'. It's gonna be a tough one but we're ready to fight, just like Demetrius and Lysander in Shakespeare's enchanting tale of forbidden love and fairies (with added skates!).

Come to Manchester, have a laugh, eat some cake, watch some derby, scream until you're hoarse - what more do you want from a day? The best city in the world combined with the most exciting sport, fairies and Shakespeare. Positively cultured, my love!

You can get your tickets here, but get on it quick. Once they're gone, they're gone. 

To find out more or to chat to other lovelies making their way to A Midsummer Night's Scream, check out our Facebook event.

Derby loves,
Kate Push

What do I need to play Roller Derby?

Want to play roller derby but have no idea where to start? Seen 'Whip It' and want to give it a go? In this short blog I'll shine a little light on what I've learned, how to get involved and what equipment you'll need to get you up and blocking in no time.

The first and most important thing you need is enthusiasm. Without this, it can be a painful journey. You might think that being able to skate is more important but you can learn to skate. Learning to be enthusiastic, I've found, can be rather more of a challenge.

It also helps to have a sense of adventure (or grow one) and leave your inhibitions at the door, as you won't get anywhere in roller derby without a few nervy moments. I still remember lining up for my first ever jam and feeling sick to my stomach, but finishing with the biggest sense of achievement and an even bigger grin.

What will you get out of it?
Everyone is different and takes up roller derby for various reasons. I took it up to improve my confidence and be part of something I thought looked exciting, whilst getting fitter as an added bonus.

And I'm going to throw this out there first off: physical prowess is not the most important thing in roller derby. We have guys and girls of all shapes and sizes so you don't need to be a super-fit powerhouse to play. Practising consistently and regularly will improve your fitness anyway, and balance and agility are more important than brute strength in my opinion.

If you have the time then extra exercise to build muscles and improve core stability can be helpful. Derby has a habit of toughening people up as well as improving general fitness, and you tend to use your legs a lot so it's great for building up those muscles. Some of our players have actually lost weight by using roller derby as exercise.

But the physical part is just a small part of the benefits of derby. The sense of achievement the first time you get lead jammer in a bout and hear people shouting your name is pretty damn awesome and I grinned for about a week. Or the first time you block someone to the ground... or beating your laps from the previous week. Being part of a team of such lovely people is another big plus and making new friends in a relaxed environment is always a winner.

You'll need some basic equipment unless you want to get involved as one of our NSOs (Non Skating Officials). NSOs are a vital part of the crew, making sure everything is in order and penalties and scores are tracked.

If you come to join us at Manchester Roller Derby, we can lend you all the equipment you need whilst you have a go and see if it's for you. I bought most of my equipment online as there aren't a lot of places that stock skates, although your local skateboarding supplier might be able to help you out with some of the protective gear. The basic kit you need is below - prices will vary but it can be cheaper to buy all your kit together as you may get a discount. For example, I got my skates (Riedell R3), knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards for around £125.

Skates
Roller derby is played on quad skates so I'm afraid rollerblades are out. Skates are available in a wide range of prices and fittings and what you choose will depend largely on your budget and what feels right to you. We could do a whole blog on choosing skates but to give you a rough idea, the cheaper end of skates start around £80 and can go up into the hundreds. Skates are upgradable too so get something that feels comfortable and you can upgrade plates, bearings and wheels later.

It really helps to try before you buy, or you can end up embarking on a very expensive skate journey. Don't be afraid to ask if anyone is the same size as you at practice and try a few pairs as, like shoes, they all feel different.

Most derby skaters use skates designed for derby that are light and manoeuvrable but some of our skaters skate in hockey skates. Some of the most common choices for beginners are Riedell R3s, Sure Grip Rebel Invaders and Riedell Vandals or Wickeds. Come and try some out with us first anyway before you make your choice. I picked Riedell R3s, partly because they are non-leather but comfortable. Cheaper skates come with wheels but these can be varying in quality so be prepared to upgrade once you have tried out different wheels! The Arcadia where we practice is also used for roller hockey, so some of our skaters use hockey wheels which are lightweight and fast.

Pads and helmet
Roller derby is a full contact sport and you will fall so knee pads, wrist guards and elbow pads are a necessity. Again we have pads you can borrow when you start. Like skates, you can pay a little or a lot for a set of pads.

From my experience, there isn't a great deal of difference in wrist guards but make sure that they are double splinted (have a hard part on the front and the back). I started out with relatively cheap knee and elbow pads from Anarchy which provide enough cushioning without being too bulky but have moved onto 187 knee pads which provide a lot more cushioning.

You'll also need a helmet in case of stray limbs or back falls. Your brain is pretty important so make sure the helmet fits. Helmets used in roller derby are the same sort that skateboarders wear - cycle helmets aren't really suitable for roller derby as they are too rigid and can cause more injury than they prevent. Ideally, get down to a skateboarding shop and try some different helmets out for fit. The helmet needs to fit tightly enough so it won't jiggle about if you do knock your head. If there are gaps, try a different one - do not underestimate the importance of a good fitting helmet. The good news is that they are pretty cheap from about £15-£30. Some popular makes are NutCase, TSG and Triple 8.

Mouthguard
Before being allowed to take part in hitting drills you'll need to have a mouthguard. Knocks to the face are rare but teeth are pretty difficult to put back in so it's better to be safe than gummy. We sell mouthguards for £3 and they're easy to fit; just place in boiling water then fit according to the instructions. You can get custom mouthguards from your dentist too which will last for some time and, depending on your dental plan, they can be fairly cheap too. Mine was £30 and I notice a big difference in fit and comfort now I have it.

What to wear
Good news! Apart from the protective equipment, you can wear what you want for roller derby. However, you will get hot and sweaty after a few hours of skating so leave the sexy woolly jumpers at home. It's most important that you're comfortable and able to stretch, so things like jeans are not so practical. Bear in mind you will need to get elbow pads and knee pads on too so short sleeves and legs help with this. Most people tend to wear shorts and vest or t-shirt with leggings, tights or long socks to protect your shins from scrapes. Keep jewellery to a minimum as you don't want to get caught on anything or have to stop play whilst we all get down on hands and knees to look for the clasp off your favourite necklace.

Getting involved
You can't do roller derby on your own so find some people to learn and play with... like Manchester Roller Derby for example! If you're local, the easiest way to get involved is to pop down to one of our Sunday sessions at 5:45pm to see what you think.

Our Zero to Hero programme is the best route to passing minimum skills. Minimum skills means you'll be able to take part in full-contact games (scrimmage or bouts). The next one starts on July 3rd from 6 till 8pm and will run for 12 weeks, taking you through all the things you need to learn in order to pass minimum skills.

You do need a certain amount of time to devote to roller derby and once you get hooked, you'll end up wishing there were more hours in the week. See our Join us section on the website for details of how you can get involved. It's a bit basic but the more you put in, the more you will get out.

Drop us a comment on this blog, our Forum or look us up on Facebook or Twitter if you're interested or just come down and try it out. Our ethos is that everyone is welcome regardless of age, gender or ability and if you have that enthusiasm, anything is possible.

Sunday outing!

Last Sunday a few of us were lucky enough to join a mixed scrim with Leeds Roller Dolls & Middlesborough Milk Rollers.  Leeds are in training for a momentus closed bout against London Brawling, so we agreed to play Leeds Vs everyone else so they could indulge in a little bit of team bonding.  How could anyone say no to that!

MRD's own Sui-Cider was elected captain for the black team and the game was on! Since most of us hadn't skated on a team together before, we separated in to jammers and blockers and did our line-ups production line style, which was great because it meant that MRD & MMR skaters were all mixed up together.  I put myself forward to jam because I thought, 'Hey, what better practice than jamming against Leeds!'

It was a mixed game for me, I got lead jammer twice and managed to get some points but also got sent to the box three times (eek!) Playing a hardcore team like Leeds can make it easy to pick up penalties, you're trying so hard you have to be extra careful.

It was a great game, although HARD! The final score was...

Massive thanks to Leeds for hosting us & Cecee Slam'er for her superlative bench managing skills.  And good luck to Leeds against London... it'll be tough but we know you can do it!

You can find more info about Manchester Roller Derby at our website www.manchesterrollerderby.co.uk

Great Yorkshire Showdown!

Hi everyone, this is Polly Killer checking in with a (slightly belated) recap of the Great Yorkshire Showdown 2011, hosted by the beautiful and talented Leeds Roller Dolls.

This year's GYS was super exciting for us because last year's tournament in October was many MRDers first bout (we lost to Wakey Wheeled Cats 62:20), so it was a great chance for us to see how much we've improved in 6 months.... and we really have!

The tournament is made up of eight teams split in to groups, playing 30-minute games within their group, then the winner of each group goes to the final.  It's a massive derby fest with sooo much to see, although trying to concentrate on watching a bout when you're about to play one yourself isn't easy if you feel as sick as I always do!

Our first game was against the fabulous Dolly Rockit Rollers (who are the proud owners of my favourite team logo ever!) and they're a tough bunch who pushed us hard. They were 7 points up after the first jam & the gap widened even more, but after warming up a bit and one awesome 20-point jam from Fale we took the lead and went on to win 83:52.  Phew!  It's great to play a team that make you work so hard right up to the last second.

Tennel Aidie going in for the kill.
Photo by Daz Wilson

Next up for MRD was our old rivals and awesome buddies Hot Wheel Roller Derby, previously encountered at our first home bout Wonderbrawl (see the video here).  Like us they've made massive strides in the last 6 months, led in to battle by their hardcore coach Jerry Attric, so we prepared ourselves to give our all.

Well, we skated hard and managed to pull a tremendous win of 71:48, leaving us with half an hour until the final against Leeds Roller Dolls.  Eeeek!  We had to hold it together, stretch out, stay focused and discuss how we were going to approach the game.  We knew we had LRD's infamous walls to contend with.

Well, it was hard and fast and we skated like we've never skated before.  The score after a full hour of gameplay was 142:85 to Leeds, and they freaking deserved it!  Those ladies know how to put up a fight!

Fale shows us what she's made of!
Photo by Scott Kellie

After that there was nothing left to do but party! Although I can't sign off this post without one special mention... we at MRD hold a special place in our hearts for the Liverpool Roller Birds, and there is one Bird who showed an example to us all that day.  Yes, I'm talking about the wonderful Sissy Breakneck, who left blocking behind her for one jam only and jammed like a rocket for LRB nearly doubling their points!  One of the greatest parts of roller derby is going out of your comfort zone and taking on the world.  Sissy, we salute you!

Check out that grin!
Photo by Daz Wilson

You can find more info about Manchester Roller Derby at our website www.manchesterrollerderby.co.uk

International Women's Day update

Okay, there's a LOT going on this weekend in celebration of 100 years of International Women's Day - it can be a little hard to keep up with!

Have a look below for the definitive schedule of MRD's and Manchester Roller Hockey's IWD celebrations...

Pssst... guess what?  All of these events are FREE FREE FREE!

Saturday 5 March

10-1pm	Under 16s girls hockey training session
1-2pm	Under 18s girls roller derby training session
2-4pm	Ladies roller skating (public skate)
4-6pm	Ladies roller hockey training
7.30-10pm	MRD vs Lincolnshire Pretenders - ladies roller derby bout

Sunday 6 March

9am-2pm	Ladies roller hockey tournament
2-4pm	Ladies roller skating (public skate)
4-6pm	Ladies only roller derby scrimmage

WONDERBRAWL

Well then! Yesterday, we had our first ever ever ever HOME bout, at Manchester's number one music venue, the Academy 1.  And it went amazingly, if we do say so ourselves.

Manchester sat witness to not one but two exciting games of hard-hitting derby goodness - and by the sounds of it, the sport may well have gained a few more fans.

The day for me started at 12 when I got there, but preparations were well underway by then - part of the track was marked out and some of our MRD lovelies were mopping the floors and setting up the projector/DJ gear.

Having put myself forward to help, I donned some knee pads and got involved with finishing off the track - in a team of three with lovely Farrah and Shannen.

Once the track itself was laid out we shoved our gear upstairs in the very swanky changing rooms and tried to settle ourselves a bit.  It was here that we were told there was a rather large queue forming outside and that a girl in that queue had MRD SHAVED. INTO. HER HAIR.  This was BIG.  Maybe the nerves started to set in a little more at that point... but we'll call it anticipation.

I ventured back downstairs. The merch stalls in the foyer were all set up and looked byootiful.  Seeing this (in addition to the track all laid out, the projector screen all set up and the growing crowd) it was plain to see how everything had actually come together.  All the hard work put in by everyone (particularly Psycho, Sian, Al, Seb, Gio, Sui, Mooks, Kristy, Martha, Robin, Farrah, Vicki, Joe, Gaz, Danny and Shannen) had totally and completely paid off.  This was happening, both in the 60's hippy slang and actual sense of the word.

The venue was packed in time for the first game, with about 550 people all eagerly awaiting the first whistle.  The atmosphere was electric.

First on the track were Tiger Bay Brawlers (TBB) and Birmingham Blitz Dames (BBD).  The first game started off extremely tight between the two teams, and for most of the first half there were only a couple of points in it. The gap widened a bit in the second half and despite a couple of serious TBB skater injuries, they came out on top - beating BBD by 123 to 110.

Next it was our turn. The crowd was ready, we were ready...

With skate outs, variously impressive warm-ups and stretches out of the way, the ref blew his whistle and we were off.  Hot Wheels went ahead in the first couple of jams, so to all intents and purposes it was a bit of a wobbly start.  However, someone once said to me that the first jam is always rubbish... so let's remember that.

Our jammers spent a fair bit of time in the sin bin during the first quarter but we definitely learned from that quickly and turned it around.  It was kind of like the turnaround we'd pulled off at Mods & Blockers but much earlier on.

The scoreline went from HWRD 12 - 8 MRD to HWRD 16 - 20 and we were back in the game!  A power jam briefly put Hot Wheels back in the lead, but we pulled it back again with awesome jams from G-Whizz and Fale.

During half-time we had a brief team talk - morale was high but we didn't want to get too cocky.  Hot Wheels could easily turn it around, just as we had almost done at Grimsby.  We decided on our gameplan and were ready to go.

As the second half kicked off the scores were HWRD 40 - MRD 91 and we got straight back into it again. Focused and positive!

It was full-time before we knew it and the final scores settled at HWRD 56 - MRD 171.  I'm so proud of everything that we did and all the work that was put in, both on and off the track.

Huge thanks and much love to the Hotties, Blitz Dames and Brawlers for being amazing, brutal and tenacious. We want you all back.

Everyone I invited, even those who had no idea what the game involved, said that they absolutely loved it.  My dad, a total footy-obsessive, was bowled over (particularly by the fact that we just get up instead of rolling about on the floor angling for a penalty :P).

The Wonderbrawl teams, future MRD heroes, NSOs, refs and friends/fans are made up of the best people you could hope to meet and I love being a part of MRD.

This has gone on for longer than I intended.
Derby loves,
Kate Push #11

(All photos courtesy of Shirlaine Forrest except the first colour photo, which was taken by Hannah Wood, and the second colour photo, which was taken by Danny Powell. Thank you!)

REVIEW: Tarzan and Pain

(or 'How I popped my Merby cherry...')

'Merby' (or Men's roller derby) is often looked upon as the lesser derby sport. Perhaps because of the number of people playing it, perhaps because it's a sport more generally associated with women and I'm sure there are other reasons but I don’t really have time to get into them right now.

However, I am a roller derby PLAYER (not a referee), and Tarzan and Pain was my first real Merby bout ever.

Travelling to Sheffield I was nowhere near as nervous as I thought I was going to be. I knew the boys on my team well, knew a few of the guys on the opposition and, all things being equal, we were quite well matched. One key difference however, was that our team had a large proportion of guys who practice and skate together at MRD on a regular basis.

One of the arguments in opposition to the sport of Men's derby is that there is a lack of team play. There is an idea that it's just a bunch of men on skates hitting the crap out of each other... and sometimes it is. On this occasion though, us MRD boys definitely got some amazing team play in there.

The game was set to be us (The Kings of the Swingers) against them (The Jungle VIPs), and I don't mind say they had some pretty large VIPs. Our side had an awesome bench team and captain who told us straightaway that we would win if we stuck together, communicated and kept our mouthguards in/language down.

Before I knew it the first whistle blew and I was on the track. I'm not sure if it's just me but you go into some kind of 'game hypnosis' when you're playing. Someone had told me once before that you can’t hear the crowd in a game situation and you really couldn’t (apart from a certain MRD NSO whose scream has to be heard to be believed...).

After a shaky start the line-up arranging fell into a good rhythm and we were all communicating well on the track. All our preparation really began to show and we took the lead. It happened slowly at first then the gap widened until by half time we were about 60 points ahead.

Following a brief half-time rest and after the realisation had hit that my body was actually performing reasonably well, the second half began and something just seemed to click. There were some standout jam performances from Crash Matt, First Aiden and Jerry Atric that served to push our score way up into the stratosphere.

The Jungle VIPs continued to fight hard with awesomely nippy jams from Jammie Dodger and Lil Joker, but The Kings of the Swingers we were up, way up, and the final score rested at 269-86 to us. I was amazed!

In conclusion, I'd like to thank...

• The Sheffield Steel Roller Girls for putting us on
• EVERYONE who came to watch
• Jude and Zine (who had an awesome bench/line up combo going on)
• The boys on both teams

My hope is that the success of this event moves Merby forward in the UK, partly because the MRD boys are going to need some teams to play and also because it's an amazing sport that absolutely everyone should be able to enjoy!

Bonfire bye byes,
Gay Fawkes