Officiating

The 2013 derby season is under way, and it gives me much to anticipate—the camaraderie and support of fellow officials, fostering good working relationships with skaters, and involvement in our community, to name a few. I’m looking forward to what’s new…new faces, new strategies, new derby names (why is nobody named “Dashing Trudy Snow” yet?).

By Plenty O'fficial

Of all the NSO positions, I love jam timing the most. Don’t get me wrong, penalty tracking is a close second, wrangling I get my cardio AND agility, and lineup is fun ‘cause there’s so many box jokes. But as a jam timer I feel like I am really a part of the game, keeping it moving, taking its pulse.

And like roller derby itself, jam timing is changing.

By Su Real, Denver Roller Dolls.

Most derby leagues I have worked with over my career take the attitude that their officials would tell them if they weren’t happy, right?

Wrong!

At some point, I bet you’ve come across an ad promoting an art test. “Draw Me!” it barks. It goes like this: you’re tasked with redrawing an image shown in the ad; one that comes to my mind is a profile of a leering turtle wearing a turtleneck (ha, get it?) and a beret. You mail in your masterpiece, and later, a “professional artist” will send you a detailed assessment of your talents.

Classic versions of this decades-old campaign, from Art Instruction Schools Inc., assure that you’ll be “in demand” if you can draw. Sweet! Hello, career!

"He's a great team player." "She always gives 110% effort." "He's always on-time and available." "She's got a great personality." Individually, the above statements would appear to have nothing to do with one another. When put together, they establish a theme and one that's often times shied away from. That theme is providing direct, critical feedback.

By Herr Triggore

Reffing is hard.

The English dictionary defines the word dazzle as,

"Dazzle: to overpower or dim the vision of by intense light: He was dazzled by the sudden sunlight."

It also defines it as,

"Dazzle: A grouping of zebra."

I skate with a dazzle and I’m proud of it!

(This article is not intended to judge. This is an attempt to communicate my own personal journey toward deciding what skates were appropriate for me, and also to create an open, honest discussion among readers and skaters to offer opinions, ask questions, or even drive a strong organizational opinion if they choose to one way or the other.)

Issue 13 of FiveOnFive is available now! Find the FiveOnFive table at Westerns, North Centrals, and Champs, or subscribe!

By: Chaz Hall, Carolina Wrecking Balls

The great certainty for refs is that, upon leaving your league zebra den to ref outside your home court, you will inevitably find yourself making calls alongside a whole new group of people whom you’ve never met before. It’s that first day in a new school where you don’t have the security of old classmates to immediately latch onto and go to the cafeteria with. Your comfort level is low, your social safety net small.