Roller derby's still a new sport. So, while I do have certain "rules" for myself, I also leave room for evolving out of them.
As far as I'm concerned, there's no "always" and no "never" about anything. "Right" and "wrong" are also subject to evolution, over time. Put simply: keep an open mind.
Another part of my philosophy on coaching is this:Assume everyone in the room has ADD.
who's ready for this to make a comeback!
Now, I don't mean to offend anyone with that statement.
Not to get to too politicky on you, but I don't even believe in "ADD" as a "learning disorder."
Because... when an entire generation's got it... Well, I guess that's not a disorder anymore, is it? It's just the way things freakin are!
So... I remind myself, when coaching:
Think about how short your attention span is, and how much blah blah blahing you yourself can handle before it's time to look at shiny things...
And try to keep that in perspective.
In coaching, I feel it's important to keep things moving:
Say a little, do a little. Do something else, elaborate a little more, do something else, switch back to the first thing. Not necessarily in that order, but you get the idea.
Think about the complexity and intensity of the game: offense, defense, and point scoring are all happening at exactly the same time!
So the people that play this sport... well... they're smart! With quick brains that need constant stimulation.
photo blame: Rinkrat
Basically, the sport is complex. So are the players, so should be practice.
That said, breaking it down into bites at a time, building up in complexity as things move along, and ending with something very complex seems to work for me.
Try it, and let me know how that works for you. I'm not giving out any fish today... just telling you how I fish.
Even though though that's a weird analogy for me. Being a vegetarian and all.
Part 4 is coming soon...
Have a megolific supercalifragilistic RAD day today!
There are just as many different styles of coaching as there are personality types. I'm sharing what works for me, and by no means saying it's the only way.
It's the best way for me, you may be different.
That said, here's my basic philosophy on coaching:
When I put the whistle on, I'm clocking in. I don't need to be anybody's friend or favorite person.
My intention is to impart information efficiently; and the ethic that roller derby (in that moment) is the most important thing in the entire world. We can be friends after practice is over.
About 10 minutes into nearly every training camp I coach, you feel the strange energy shift in the room.
Everyone was so excited a minute ago, now they're on the ground doing planks. Or push-ups. Or squats. Maybe lunges?
And I'm patiently explaining it's not a punishment, it's a gift and you can almost hear everyone thinking collectively;
Hey, I thought she was into magic, sparkles, and kittens... what's happening here?"
In truth, I'd rather not have to give out so many plank, squat, and push-up gifts.
That would be amazing. It would mean that everyone has the mentality of a professional athlete, ready to show the highest respect to their coach through intense discipline and focus on the moment.
But the truth is, not everyone knows how to be a good student, right away.
As coach, that's your job to impart. Can't take all the talking and giggling while you're coaching personally. Just have to redirect everyone and teach them a better way to get the most out of their time.
So teaching that is usually my first lesson.
So the very first rule I have is:
Do not to start talking until everyone else has stopped.
That sounds so simple, but I see coaches in every city just walk into a noisy room and start talking! And then they wonder why a) nobody listens b) nobody respects their authority.
I don't do this because I'm starving for attention, or authority.
In fact, if I were to think about it like people paying attention to me, I'd *probably* freak out and stammer over every word.
When I coach, though, it's not about me. It's about roller derby.
It's a fine, but important distinction.
The reason everyone needs to pipe down is so we, as a group, can focus our group intention on raising our collective potential through the sport of roller derby.
That kind of magic just doesn't happen when there's side conversations and shenanigans going on.
So, as coach, I consider it my first priority to make it clear that I'm there to impart information and an ethic that roller derby, in that moment, is the most important thing in the world.
And we can totally be friends after practice is over!
Part 3 next time....
Have a super mind blowingly focused special magical cuter than a kitten RAD day today!!!
Parting gifts:
For more info on my coaching and background,CLICK HERE.
What I'm about to do here is drop a bunch of my hard earned wisdom, inspirational, and informational resources to help out the coaches of roller derby worldwide.
With a quick disclaimer that a) I'm still learning every day b) I've learned as much from making mistakes as I have from inspiration.
But first things first. Here's my background on why I do what I do.
And some boundaries.
The reason I share so much with the derby community is because I believe in roller derby. My logic:
I believe that having roller derby as an athletic outlet for women (and men!) helps us deal with our natural aggression.
And that making it a professional sport would provide much needed/much lacking positive, relate-able, role models for young girls (and boys! though girls I'm much more concerned about) in mainstream media.
And that the spreading of information helps us grow as a sport, raises the bar faster, gets us professional sooner.
So I'm all about sharing!
That said...
To my knowledge, I'm the first FULL TIME roller derby coach.
This was not a sudden decision. I spent years coaching for free. And sharing information with people, and gaining experience.
And surviving all the slings and arrows that came with running a league for too many years in a row and getting to know the ins and outs of every aspect of this sport.
And training my goddamn ass off!
photo credit: Timothy Tolle
So... you could say I've paid a lot of dues to get to this current occupation.
And yeah, I have a lot to give. When I'm hired or inspired to give, I give freely. But... how much is reasonable to take?
Sometimes you just need advice. Or to be pointed in the right direction. Or you have something to offer in exchange for whatever you're asking for.
That is totally cool.
What's not cool is asking me:
I'm running out of ideas for drills, can you give me some?
Can you tell me what books to read to be a better coach? I think I saw them on your blog once, but I'm too lazy to find them. What were they?
Can you send me a list of everything you taught at a training camp I couldn't make it to?
Or woman, as the case may be...
LESSON 1: BOUNDARIES
I will help you but only enough to help yourself.
The rest... well, the rest you have to pay for. A woman's gotta make a living. And when I'm "on the clock" I hold nothing back!
LESSON 2: SELF-RELIANCE
Be your own greatest coach.
Be resourceful.
Learn as much from your own research and inspiration as you get from other sources.
Understand the difference between asking for advice and draining the well.
LESSON 3: INSPIRATION
I'm inspired by things that have nothing to do with roller derby, and find ways to bring it all back. You can be too.
For example, I learned about having a good mental game from this Jay Z video:
Which isn't necessarily screaming: roller derby wisdom!
Unless that's what your focus is on finding in every day stuff. Which I always am.
like... a giraffe?
I figured out how to coach jumping by watching this video over and over again. Which I was doing anyways, because I like it:
LESSON 4: EDUCATION
There is a Sports section of your local book store. It has books in it written by coaches. There are also books specifically about women's sports. There is something to learn from every one of them.
Check out your local video store and get EVERY sports movie with the review "INSPIRING!" on it. Get any documentary on any subject that involves teaching or coaching of any sport!
Ask yourself: how can I relate this to roller derby?
Is there a lesson for me here, as a coach?
I found all kinds of inspiration reading Monica Seles' story. And she played tennis!
Think about the worst coach you've ever observed in pro sports, or had when you were a kid... Analyze them: why did they suck so bad? What mistakes don't need repeating?
Got photos with red? Why not share them by posting them to Ruby Tuesday. To find this delightful red focused meme, please click here.http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/
When I was in primary school, Dad used to drive us up to Durin where my maternal grandparents and many relatives lived. One day, we were excited, we camped over night at Grandpa's place so that we could get on to the ferry the first day it sailed across the river to the other side of the river. We were awed by a boat that could take so many cars. Best of all, it was free.
Alas, over the years, people were impatient about the slowness of the ferry. They asked for a bridge which took many years to build. In fact it took so long that it was still under construction when I had left the country for many years.
Today, the ferry is no more, gone is the giant boat of my child hood memories. My grandparents have gone to their homes in the skies, so have my parents, I have yet to drive over the bridge that replaced the ferry that gave me such joy and pride.
I found this pretty yellow moth in a nearby meadow last week. It was fascinating as it reminded me of a delicate paper cutting. It looked as if the black areas had been crisply cut away from the yellow. That effect does not show up in the photo. Memory is a funny thing sometimes. When I went home I told my husband I had seen a geometer moth!. a year or so ago I had found a very similar looking moth which I identified as a false crocus geometer moth and that memory had stayed recessed in my mind. ( As I get older I am very aware of carrying genes from two grandmothers who both suffered from memory loss and dementria in their later years. so I am always pleased when my memory unlocks some identification puzzle for me.) This moth even had yellow legs! as seen in this upside down view above To be sure of my identification I sent a copy of my photo to Bug Guide:http://www.bugguide.net in hopes that they would id it for me. They did!!!! What a wonderful free service this is. They reported back to me that it was a Xanthotype moth. Another common name for this moth is the false crocus geometer moth! wow! I had been right when I had first seen it.
