8th Practice Update

It has been quite a while since I posted. I just completed my 8th practice, which makes me eligible to pick my official Derby Name. After much deliberation, and constant checking availability on twoevils.org (the official International Derby Name Registry), I have decided upon 'Poundora Di Stroya.'

The first practice, I was on skates. The following day I was informed that I could not skate unless I have already paid for my annual insurance through the Derby Association. Finances have been tough, but I just paid my insurance fee last night at practice... and I am getting my very own pair of skates, with outdoor wheels, this Saturday! I am SO extremely excited! Once I have both those things, I will be able to be on skates. The down fall? I have already trained for the NSO (Non-Skating Official) positions, and will not be on skates for the first Bout (which is in a little over a week). This is something I can live with, believe it or not. The Refs out there with skates on have it rough! And it has been a blessing getting to know all the ins and outs of the rules from the outside. It makes it easier for me to see what is expected of me out on the rink.

The first few scrimmages, I was given the position of 'Penalty Box Timer.' Basically, I sat and watched the scrimmage all night long, and only had to pay attention to timing for a minute at a time. It gave me some great experience just watching the Jams. Then, just 2 practices ago, I was trained on 'Score Keeping.' This is an interesting position. One in which you may not, not even or a second, take your eyes off of the Jam ref assigned to you. They sign the number of their Jammer to me, I write it, then for the rest o the scrimmage I am paying attention to points awarded for that specific Jammer. I record the points awarded (keeping track of points accrued by individuals NOT on the track, such as positions serving penalties. Not only do I mark whether or not there was someone not on the track, but also where they were, and what position they are... all the while, not taking my eyes, not even for a second, off my Jam Ref). This was a very difficult task for me, especially coming from the penalty box! The first few Jams, I was elbowed a few different times to let me know I was missing numbers being thrown at me. And I didn't keep track of the 'Ghost Points' until about Jam 7! But after that I did well processing all the information, and knowing when I could look down to correct something, and when I SHOULDN"T look down.

That night, after the first 2 scrimmages, I got switched to 'Penalty Tracking.' This position is similar to the Score keeper, in the fact that you must keep your eyes on your Ref the entire time... only this time it was 3 Refs I was required to watch. Then I had to not only mark the penalty, but I had to code what sort of penalty it was (e.g. elbows, back blocking, etc). This task required me to not only look down at my page, but to search for the correct code... all the while not missing any other penalties being called on the team I was assigned. Once a player had 3 minor Penalties, I then had to tell the 'White Board Operator' to write the number down, and when they hit their 4th minor penalty, I had to call the 'Runner' to go out into the middle of the track and pull the player to serve their penalty. Whoo! All in all it was a great experience.

Last night, I got my official position assignment for our up coming Bout on March 13th. . . I will be the 'White Board Operator.' Which sounds like a real chill position for my first bout. I also found out that I will only be working the first bout (there are two), which means I will be able to have a beer, and chill with my company for the last half of the Bout. :) So, needless to say, I practiced being a 'White Board Operator' for the entire scrimmage last night, and will be doing it again next week, at our final practice before the Bout. White Board Operation is pretty simple. I wait for the Penalty trackers to tell me which number, and from which team, has three penalties. I write that number on the board, and display it for all to see. This is important for the players, because it lets them know they have one more chance, or they'll end up in the box for 1 min. And it is important for the Coaches, cause they don't want to put a Jammer on the track who is about to go to the box.

The best thing about White Board Operation? The fact that I get to actually watch most of the Bout! ;)

I'll post again after our first Bout! Wish me luck on getting the name I want!