What is 20 Feet?

Remember 20 feet is from the pack. The pack is defined as 3 players from one team and 2 from another — not 20 feet from the front-most group.

If the 3 and 2 are in the back, the 20 feet might be a lot tighter to the group then you realize. If 3 and 2 are in the middle you have more room up front. If they are in the front, then you have to be tighter in the back.

Don’t get tripped up on this!! Keep a tight pack and don’t drag block too long, or you’ll get 20 foot out of play penalty.

In MADE rules: “The Pack” is the formation of a grouping of 2 players of one team and 3 players of the other, NOT the grouping of 8 blockers including pivots. If you are behind all the Players, do NOT look at the last blocker in front of you and go, “Ok I have 20ft from that player” it’s not always true.

This is also why we urge Jammers, if during their initial pass they get knocked out of bounds, to re enter as soon as they can with 2-3 in front of them, NOT go all the way to the back to the last blocker.

Remember Jammers, if you get knocked out when three and two are already in front of you, just hop back on the track — do not reset.

You have to look at where the largest cluster of 2-3 players are, and approximate your 20 feet from the back or front most part of that cluster. If the pack is spread out the refs say “pack it up” to help players tighten the pack so you can get a better estimation for the 20ft and/or mark the pack for you by saying “The pack is up here” and mark it with two arms opened. We’re not just saying those phrases because the players look sloppy, it is to give an indicator as to where the pack is established.

Common mistakes:

Mistake #1: Say “the pack” speeds up due to a Jammer re-entering. The Main Blocker is looking behind them to time their block. Well, guess what? If they’re not paying attention to the speed of “the pack” ahead of them, and are just glancing at the bridging blocker in front of them, they run a high risk of making themselves “out of play.” The pack has sped ahead, while they are slowing down to nail the Jammer.

As a ref I am trained to watch this process to completion, so either as Head Ref or Pack Ref we will watch the Main Blocker until they have dropped back and hit the incoming Jammer. If they do it past the 20-foot mark, blam, instant penalty.

Mistake #2: The pack stays at constant pace. A Blocker is hovering the 20-foot mark and slows to do a drag block. They are inside the 20 when they begin, but they hold the block too long and take themselves out of play past the 20-foot mark.

TEAM MAINLAND VS TEAM PUERTO RICO 

Brought to you by Walgreens Pharmacy

​

DATE: Saturday, October 13, 2012

TIME: 7 PM

WHERE: Coliseo Jose “Pepe” Huyke, Morovis, PR

With more than a thousand tickets presold, sixteen ladies from the M.A.D.E. All-stars will be heading to Puerto Rico this week to battle the ladies of Boriken Roller Derby and The Killer Dolls for an all-out derby island showdown.

Proceeds of the game will be donated to the senior classes at two local Morovis High Schools.

“Thanks to generous support from Walgreens, I am able to put together two things that I love,” said chief organizer and NOVA Roller Derby Captain, SinDee Crusher (Yara Pabon DSalazar), “my town Morovis, and roller derby — It’s very emotional for me!”

“Every time I explain roller derby to the new generation back home, and see the excitement in their faces; and hearing my little 13 year-old cousin telling me ‘when you come back in October you have to teach me roller derby’. It’s just priceless,” she added.

“Just the thought that my WHOLE family, and friends experiencing roller derby for the first time LIVE, I get goose bumps!”

SinDee Crusher and several others will have the honor of playing for their native Puerto Rico, including South Jersey’s A-Lo.

Making up the M.A.D.E. All-Stars (including alternates) are: South Jersey Derby Girls—Billy Rae Siren, Mos Deathly, Midge Night Monster, McMenace, Daytona 500 and Steph Threat. Representing NOVA Roller Derby are Debi Does Dulles. Penn Jersey Roller Derby will be sending Clobberella, Hottie Hemorrhage, Misfortune Cookie and Honeybee. Four members of Man’s Ruin Roller Derby will be playing—Tienty Deville, Therese Hell, Criss Catastrophe and Deevious Von Doom.

If you can’t afford to travel to Puerto Rico to cheer the ladies on in person, be sure to catch all the hard-hitting action on RDnation.com thanks to Veggie Delight.

Get to know the M.A.D.E. All-Stars here.

I was 41 years old and had been playing and coaching roller derby for five seasons.  I had fought with a bad back all season.  I had been advised not to play any more.  This is one of the reasons my wife, Deevious von Doom, and I had decided to retire in September 2011.

Our retirement lasted ten months.  In July, we started training again with the hope Dee would be able to play in CCRE.  I was going to attend and just bench coach.  As we trained, I decided to make a comeback, as well, and signed up too.  I couldn’t be happier with that decision.

From the moment of our arrival, we began to renew old friendships, make casual ones stronger and start new ones.  The joking, camaraderie and good vibes of the entire event were staggering.  I feel like I didn’t spent enough time with any one person, because I got to spend time with a hundred people.

Workshops were fun.  I only went to one advanced class, primarily because two women who I coached in their rookie years were teaching it.  I felt like a proud papa.  Crap, that makes me grandpa to the people taking the class.  I’m so proud of how far Criss Catastrophe and Holly Screwya have come since they began their derby careers.  Part of the joy of this game is seeing young women and men become more confident and stronger.

Pool party.  Nurse Ratchet bleeds ginger.  Enough said.

The next day I had the privilege to coach the blue rookie team.  Ice Tease was coaching the yellow.  I wasn’t sure whether to be jealous of her new Avenger MG plates mounted on Bonts.  I had brand new Avenger MGs mounted on Antiks.  Is the guy in the Lamborghini jealous of the chick in the Ferrari?  I’ll probably never know.  Both rookie teams were amazing and it was the best rookie game I’ve seen yet.  The blue rookies that I coached were attentive and appreciative.  I was riding high on all the positivity from that game.  I can’t wait to see what all twenty of them are going to do in the future.

And then came the highlight of the weekend, the old school all star game, where the men and women play alternating periods with a combined score.  I am rarely nervous before a game, but I was for this one.  Was my back going to hold up?  Was I going to have to leave the game and let my team down? Was I just getting too old to play with these young whippersnappers?  Deevious was captaining the women’s team and I was captaining the men.  What a special game.  What pressure.

I knew I was rusty right off the first whistle.  I was half a step slower than when I’m on my game.  But I wasn’t too terrible for ten months off and being on skates 4 times before the game.  What really stood out was how much everyone had improved since I had last stepped on the track.  The new guys were good.  The experienced guys were better.

The game was tight, with several lead changes in the beginning.  The Sting Raze were fortunate enough to establish a lead near the end of the first half and mostly held onto it after that, but it was always in doubt.

Roller derby is not tiddlywinks or croquet.  The men’s game was full of hard hits and bone jarring collisions…and even some good natured taunting.  But we all knew what we were in for the moment we stepped on the track.  There really isn’t any such thing as excessive force in an all star game, as long as the hits are legal and clean.  That game was chock full of martial artists, bouncers, former college football players, and plain tough dudes…and General Tso Fine…but he’s a ninja.

There were a couple losses of temper, and the referees did a good job of dealing with these immediately.  Mac the Ripper is a champ. What could have gotten out of hand was held in check very effectively by our stripe shirted friends. There were two quick expulsions. But both gentlemen offered up apologies to the refs and other players before the night was through.

Any and all issues were left on the track, to be learned from and then put away forever. We were all at the bar afterwards hugging it out.

At the afterparty, it really dawned on me how special this event is and how special all the people involved are.  The scores and awards hardly matter once the games are done.  It’s a cliché, but it’s the journey that counts.  What a wonderful journey it was.  And I didn’t have to see Beater Griffin naked even once.

I hope to see you all there next year.

Next up, Petra Siniestra #138 from Boriken Roller Derby, Puerto Rico.

Stats:

Petra Siniestra

#138

Years in derby: 2

Position (s): All

Here’s what she had to say:

I friggin’ love derby in any shape or form!

Greatest derby moment: Playing alongside Mo Pain and Olivia face (Philly Rollergirls) in a bout.

Derby Achievements: Hmm.. just playing roller derby in general is an achievement. Fostering and honing skills and other techniques have been the greatest achievements that one can encounter.

What are you best known for on the rink: Frolicking on my toe stops! !!

Hometown: Juana Diaz, PR

Occupation: English Teacher

Other hobbies: Biking, Arts & Crafts, DIY projects, Painting

Interesting things about you: I have a thing for Russian accents..
I’m addicted to this peanut butter coconut candy called chik-o-stick.

Next up: Daytona 500, South Jersey Derby Girls.

by Mos Deathly, CCRE Chair

My favorite time of year is here again. It seems like it was just yesterday when we were all braving Hurricane Irene, evacuating Wildwood, and invading the sweltering and humid Drexel Armory. A little rain didn’t stop the hard-hitting action we all know, and love, or dampen our spirits.

Amongst the (very) sweaty tanktops and tennis court rink rash, we made new friends and said goodbye to old ones.  Long-time All-Star and M.A.D.E. co- founder, Demalisha Durga, relocated to Washington State and launched Northern Exposure Roller Derby.  Newly-engaged Nick Fury and Major Threat headed to the West Coast, as well, and joined San Diego Roller Derby. And two-time Sharks Captain, Miss Chievous, went down south to Louisiana.

As we head back to the Wildwood Convention Center, this year’s CCRE is shaping up to be epic. And as CCRE returns home to Wildwood, here’s some changes you’ll see this year.

1) The number of participants in the clinics has nearly doubled, and will have a whole host of new All-Star Coaches.  Clinics include:

Track A

11 AM: Beginner 101 with Torque Chop & Jabberwacky
12 PM: Better Blocking with Punch Drunk Shove & Yosemite Slam
1 PM: Fancy Footwork for Beginner’s with Abs of Flab
2 PM: Intensive Pack Work with Aym to Maim
3 PM: Effective Strategy Roundtable

TRACK B (Class 1 & 2)
11 AM: Advanced Jamming and Pivoting with Criss Catastrophe & Holly Screwya
12 PM: Defensive Maneuvers with Tienty Deville and Therese Hell
1 PM: Multi-tasking with Mos Deathly & Midge Night Monster
2 PM: Advanced Maneuvers and Footwork with Billy Rae Siren & Ed McMayhem
3 PM: Trick moves workshop: Add flare to your game (For Advance/Expert skaters) with Clobberella

Grandstand

9:30 AM 12 PM: Reffing Symposium and Testing

12-2 PM: Intro to RD Nation and Stats Tracking Class with Veggie D. & Justin DiMatteo
2-4PM Right Grandstand-Gear Swap (Bring your unwanted gear and swap for stuff you do want.

2-4 PM: Skate Maintenance with Wags

2) After years on the waiting list, eight new ladies were added to the coveted All-Stars. New to the Blue Sharks this year are: Aym to Maim, Midge Night Monster, Supersonic, and McSlamHer. New to the Black Sting Raze are: Steph Threat, Curly Suicide, MaHotma Blondhi and Criss Catastrophe.

3) We’ll be going high-tech. Say goodbye to the dry erase board, this year’s MVPs will be tracked digitally at www.derbylogic.com (and will also be projected on the dividing wall for as-they-happen updates). And all the games will be aired live at www.rdnation.com

4) Tournament will start later in the day on Saturday (4 PM), to allow free beach time and to bring in more evening fans.

5) Pool party Friday evening and Amusement Park After Party. Moving to an early pool party Friday, allows for more social activities and shenanigans at night. This year’s Saturday Night After Party moves to Morey’s Pier. For anyone who has not been to Wildwood before, the Pier is a magical-must at night.  If you drink on the Boardwalk, please be safety conscious when on the rides. Don’t forget to get your Morey’s Pier After Party all-you-can-ride passes (10:30 PM – 12:30AM) - $20 All You Can Ride passes.  Get them in advance!  https://store.moreyspiers.com/ColossalCoaster A photographer will be on hand to take group photos at the Great White.

Next up, Penn Jersey Roller Derby Veteran and CCRE All-Star, Clobberella #9.

Stats:

Clobberella

#9

Years in derby: 5

Position (s): All

Here’s what she had to say:

Its amazing how quickly MADE has grown in recent years. Its always a great opportunity to skate against people from other league’s, but this is definitely something special. This will be the farthest I’ve traveled to play a roller derby game, and I am very excited to skate against the talented ladies from Puerto Rico. I am honored to be a part of Team Mainland and look forward to the game! ….Its gonna be a good one!

Greatest derby moment: My greatest derby moment was skating in the first banked track roller derby game to happen in Philadelphia in 28 years. It was the most exciting game I ever skated in. My team was losing and we came back at the end and tied it up 31-31 taking the game into overtime. We won the game 33-31. It was the last game I skated with Judy Sowinski watching.

Derby Achievements: Best Blocker 2010 and Skater’s Choice Best Blocker 2011.

What are you best known for on the rink: Da Booty!

Hometown: Jackson, NJ

Occupation: Illustrator & Designer

Other hobbies: Art, Singing, Snowboarding, and movies

Interesting things about you: I work with kids at an after school daycare in North Philadelphia. I was always very active growing up and played competitive sports my entire life. I was in the colorguard in my high schools marching band and I still continue to snowboard and canoe. I canoe race 17 miles in the largest flat water canoe race on the east coast.

Next up: Petra Siniestra #13, Boriken (PR) Roller Derby.

As the Colossal Coastal Roller Expo gets ready to head into its fourth year, registration opens for the Derby Ink Banked Track Invitational and we see more and more guest skaters, we’d like to offer some helpful game play advice, and roller derby training tips.

MADE has been played for more than six years by scores of leagues, so we understand that full-time MADE leagues will have an advantage. However, we want EVERYONE to put their best foot forward, and any tips we can give to level the playing field, and help leagues adjust to the learning curve, we are more than happy to share. We’ll be posting forums, info about rules clinic and more here shortly.

Tight Pack in Upstate New York

Here’s some things you need to know to get started:

1)  There is no slow pack:

MADE skaters love to go fast. The slow pack strategy is not very effective here. Practice getting out fast and then taking control of the pack and slowing it down. Always keep your Pivots out front so that they can break. The opposing team will be trying to suck your Pivots back into the pack, so the pack speed varies greatly, but is usually more on the fast side.

2) Pivots can break:

Learn where to put your fastest people. Not only do you need a fast Jammer, but you need an equally fast Pivot. Pivots do not go looking for blocks during the qualifying pass, defend yourself, but   don’t risk loosing your position. Make sure that your blockers protect your Pivot until Active Jammer status has been established, don’t leave your Pivots undefended.

3)  There is one whistle:

You will see everyone tensely standing on the line. Don’t false start! Practice getting out fast, and then gaining control of the pack. MADE leagues have gotten creative at giving their teams the upfront advantage.

4) There are no “minors”:

MADE has Minors (1 minute) and Majors (2 minutes) and each penalty is served when committed. MADE skaters do not want to go to the box, and give up a point to the other team, so intentionally committing penalties is not a strategy we use. Learn what will send you to the box.

5) There is one start line:

Typically you will see both Pivots, and two blockers on the front line, although various strategies are used up front. Everyone else usually spreads out behind them and then the Jammers line up behind the Power Blockers. As a Jammer, visualize your best path through the pack fast, and line up accordingly. Skaters will shift all around before the whistle, but Jammers must always be behind the Blockers on lineup.

6) Penalty definition:

Familiarize yourself with the term “illegal contact” and the illegal contact zones. Learn The Bump, you’re gonna get one. Keep your elbows and your hands to yourself. If you stumble, put your hands up, or you will get an “Illegal Contact: Hands” penalty. Don’t block out of the 20-foot zone. Learn what “no pack” means, the whistles and calls associated, you can not block in a No Pack situation.

7) Tight scores:

Several key factors make scoring points more difficult in MADE. Jams are often 1-3 points per. Scores are usually close and rarely over 100 points per game. Practice when to call of a Jam. If you wait too long, the other team might sweep in and score more points than you, even though your Jammer was the Lead the whole time. Practice getting your loose points (trailing blockers) to the front so they aren’t weak points. You will often hear MADE skaters screaming, “Get to the front,” Go!,” and “Sprint.” This aspect makes MADE games very exciting.

8) Lead Jammer is whichever Jammer is in the lead:

The creme de la creme of MADE. Work on endurance, getting the advantage, shadowing, or anything you can do to beat the other Jammer or Pivot legally back to the pack.

9) Lead Jammer must be on their feet and within bounds to call off a jam:

Practice getting up fast! You can not call it off until you are back on your feet. I have seen too many Jammers get wiped out by the Power Blocker when they were ahead a lap, only to have the opposing Jammer come in and score four points.

10) If a Jammer goes out of bounds their first trip through the pack, they will have to Reset.

Resetting refers to going to the back of the Pack. KNOW that the Pack is defined as two skaters from one team, and three from another. You DO NOT have to wait for every last skater to pass you. So resetting is often a fast process. Take yourself Out of Play by BRIEFLY pulling up on the inside or outside of the track or at the top of the rail, let the appropriate amount of players pass you, and haul ass.

11) Familiarize yourself with MADE strategies:

Just as other rulesets have naturally evolved strategies, so has MADE, and the skaters that play it regularly, know them well. We want everyone, no matter what you play in your regular season, to have a great time, have a chance to win, and kick butt. Some common mistakes in strategy with new skaters are:
* Trying to destroy a pack by capturing one player. To destroy a pack in MADE you have to capture two players. Don’t waste your time deploying this strategy.
* Back walls –  are ineffective in MADE. You want to be in front in MADE, not in the back. You need your Pivot up front always, and everyone else will be trying to suck them back into the pack. MADE is front loaded, not back loaded.

12) Standardized reffing system:

MADE refs love to be short and concise. What we mean by this is that, MADE refs are trained to call a game the same way from start to finish every time, so no matter where you are playing it all seems the same. This is not really an area where there are too many surprises. The best tip here is learn what the whistles mean, when you are gonna hear them, learn the hand signals, and the voice calls. Most common things you will hear are “No Pack,” “Pack up,” “Resume Play,” “Engage,” “Reset,” and “Get Moving.”

The most common penalty calls are usually: “Illegal Contact, followed by the body part,” “Blocking out of Bounds,” “Blocking in a No Pack Situation,” and “Blocking out of the 20 foot zone.”

Things that will get you two minutes are typically Team Penalties (having too many players on the track) and Excessive Force, in other words, Railroading. Railroading is when someone has little control and comes flying around and rams into the back of someone like a run away train. Always be in control.

I hope that these tips help you have a great experience with MADE, and we look forward to skating with you.

A couple of weeks ago I bought wheels, as well as, the Faster Lite Removable Hubs, available through East Coast Roller Sports.

Similar concept to automobile wheels and rims, this package is the best, because the hub can be taken out of the wheel and replaced very fast and are insanely afforable.

Changing from wood floor to slippery sport court? Just swap on a set of grippy tires. Tires worn out from all those hockey stops? Pick a hardness and swap them out. You’ll never have to buy wheels again, with this wickedly convienent, removable hub system.

With an aluminum hub, all you have to do is purchase new tires and swap them onto the hub!

I prefered the set of wheels in purple called Faster Grip. They are a 90A rating that gives you amazing grip without sacrificing the roll. Good for slick sport court or polished concrete.

My second choice would be the light blue, Faster Strides. They are harder with a 96A, but are good for most wood floors and tight sport court.

The most revoluntionary are the crazy fast, Faster Demiurge Wheels, which make pusher wheels obsolete. Made from our 96a compound, with a 93a “grip strip” on the back of each wheel. Work on a variety of surfaces, these wheels are perfect for derby, and I can’t wait to try them out.

Faster Demiurge

To read all about Faster, and see their complete line of products visit them at http://fasterskates.com

Next up, Man’s Ruin Roller Derby Veteran, and Jerzey Derby Brigade go-to-girl, Criss Catastrophe #27.

By Sean Hale

Stats:

Criss Catastrope

#27

5’9 – 135 lbs

Age: 27

Years in derby: 5

Position (s): All

Here’s what she had to say:

Being a part of this All-Star team really makes me feel like my 5 years of hard work and dedication were for this very moment. From the asthmatic girl who could barely stand on her skates to the woman training hard to represent the Mainland U.S. in MADE roller derby is a huge personal accomplishment!

Before I found this ruleset, I played roller derby for 2 years on a WFTDA ruleset team. It was fun and had all the magic of roller derby, but little did I know there was something better out there! I followed my fellow skaters from my old team to Man’s Ruin, and instantly fell in love with OSDA (even though I was hesitant about playing with boys at first). Soon after, MRRD switched to MADE and it was love ever since. MADE captures the old school dynamics of the roller derby the world loved before its demise, and refreshed it to conform to today’s athletic knowledge and safety standards on the flat track. Its a fast-paced game full of skill and strategy, and there’s never a dull moment! I still play on a WFTDA ruleset team as well because I love my teammates dearly, but there is no doubt which one has captured the heart of my fans and myself. Let’s go MADE and Team Mainland!!!

Greatest derby moment: In my first season with Man’s Ruin, I scored a double grand slam. Its not often a jammer will go back in for a second round, but my blockers were doing such a spectacular job that I was able to score 10 points!

Derby Achievements: B-Cup Brawl 2009 Champion Team Red, Old School Championships: Man’s Ruin Roller Derby Victory, CCRE 2010 MVP Intermediate Game, Jerzey Derby Brigade MVPivot – 2010 & 2011, Jerzey Derby Brigade Fan Favorite

What are you best known for on the rink: My legs! My plow stop can span more than half the width of the track. They don’t call me Catastro’legs for nothing!

Hometown: Wayne, NJ

Occupation: Graphic Designer

Other hobbies: Part of a hiking group that happens to hike during derby practice. Choosing between the two is ROUGH! Avid hiker, skier, photographer, explorer.

Interesting things about you: I am the master frog catcher.  I can’t say no to cupcakes. My fingers are double jointed – especially my pinky. Ask me about it.  I’m deathly afraid of heights & airplanes. Crap, I can’t drive to Puerto Rico, can I?  Before every game, I eat macatunaroni for breakfast. If you get styrofoam anywhere near me, I immediately get goosebumps. Can’t help it!

Next up: Clobberella, #9, Penn Jersey Roller Derby

By Sean Hale

By Sean Hale

By Sean Hale

By Sean Hale