The Great Derby Social

it was fun. there was a few hours of open skate, which was open to the public and had music, and there was women's, men's, and co-ed's scrimmages! Me, Wee Beastie, Terryn It Up, Dora the Destroyer, and Dipsie Chick all left around 3:30 am this morning and went to our hotel rool to get some rest before our trip home!

Our First video!

Come watch our first video at:

Youtube:
www.youtube.com/themadmissfits

OR

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mad-Missfits/124345710968219

Great Derby Social/Youtube Account

Saturday some of our girls r heading up to the Great Derby Social in mid-NH. Check out the event at www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=18577413811909 !

I have also just created a youtube page! Check it out at www.youtube.com/themadmissfits
We will have videos of demos for falling and stuff like that. Eventually we will have videos of us skating. have fun getting to know the sport! contact us to get going at getrolling@madmissfits.com

--
iautumnufall
#15A22

Where's the Ball?

Listen up fans and freshmeat, 'cause I'm only going to say this once.

There is no ball in derby.

Roller derby is a full contact sport played on an oval track. The bout (game) consists of two periods, each 30 minutes long. Each period is made up of jams (as many as will fit in a period). Jams are a maximum of two minutes long (but can be less) with a 30 second interval between jams. The lead jammer can call off a jam at any time.

The pack lines up on the track at the first start line with the two pivots in front. The jammers line up about 20 feet behind the pack on the jammer line. A single whistle blows to start the pack. A few seconds later a double whistle blow starts the jammers. The jammers sprint to catch up with the pack.

Now it starts to get interesting. The jammer comes up on the back of the pack and attempts to make it through the pack. The jammer is assisted by her own team members, while the opposing team blockers do everything legal (and sometimes not so legal) to keep the jammer from getting through.

The first jammer to make it through without incurring penalties takes on the status of lead jammer and can call off the jam at anytime. If no jammers make it through cleanly, there is no lead jammer, and the jam will last for two minutes.

Once the jammer is through the pack, she sprint around the track and catch up to the back of the pack—referred to as lapping the pack. This time (and every following lap for the jam) she will score one point for every opposing player's hip she passes. If she also laps the other jammer she gets a grand slam—5 points.

The jam ends with four whistles either when the two minutes are up or the lead jammer calls off the jam. If the jammer's lucky, she's survived to skate again. If not, well enough said.

Check out this video (Hammer City Roller Girls) to get an idea of how to play derby.

Derby Fever

You must have caught it too, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this. I'm happy to say Derby Fever is infectious. I caught it from my father, who brought it back from one his work trips where he saw his first bout with some co-workers. Infected himself and anxious for more derby action, my dad brought my friends and I to our first bout for my birthday. From my first Jam I was hooked, along with my friends, we attended every Boston Derby Dame bout and picked our favorite team, The Cosmonaughties. I found myself bookmarking 'freshmeat' webpages, renting Whip It several times, and watching YouTube videos on 'how to start derby'. The day when I finally found MDR I couldn't wait to start skating, even though I had never skated before in my life.

Its been months since I started derby, but I'm still above the weather with Derby Fever. Proudly, I've spread it myself; to my man- Miles (who is working to become a zebra), to my friends who want to get involved and already have- Mariah, Morgan, Jess, Lisi, and to all the people I know who just want to watch me kick some ass.

If you take one thing from this, its that you have Derby Fever, do your part to spread it; bring up derby in a conversation, wear your favorite team's shirt, invite some friends to a bout, update your FB with some derby info.

---
Call Of Beau T.
#x80x