Dear parents and fans: These are kids!

Sign at Cherry Bomb Brawlers v SJRD

This past weekend, my SJRD kids (and every single one of them is *my* kid) played an awesome bout.  As mentioned before, they lost, but they had a blast playing.  At the end of the bout, the teams tackled each other with hugs in an awesome display of derby love.  But there was something else.  During the bout, one of my players came to me looking very hurt after one jam.  Someone in the crowd had laughed at her when she fell.  This was an experienced player, someone who has been playing the game for 4 years, and someone who is no stranger to sports and the fans (she plays several other sports as well).  Yet she was hurt in this particular instance.  If someone as strong and as powerful as this player can be hurt by one comment, how much damage is being done to those even more vulnerable?

Kids matter.  We in junior derby know this.  We love our kids, and we do everything we can to make sure they can play this game that we (and they) love safely.  We give them pads to protect their elbows and knees, helmets and mouth guards to protect their brains. We teach them to fall so they will be able to get back up when the hardest of hitters comes along and sends them flying into the chairs at the edge of the track.  But there is a problem.  Something which has been getting a lot of attention since the 2013 season started in earnest.  The fans are hurting the kids.

Not physically, sure, there aren't flying beer cans or squid being thrown on the track or anything like that, but the kids are being hurt none the less.  Words hurt.  Laughing and telling them they suck when a kid falls while doing his or her damndest to play the game to the best of their ability hurts.  Screaming at the refs, or yelling at a player who has made a mistake can sometimes do more damage than the hardest hitting blocker out there.  And it's happening.  It has happened at every junior bout I have been at this season except one, and I have received reports of it happening at many others as well.

One need only look at the conversation in one of my posts to see that this topic has become something of an issue, with accusations flying back and forth between leagues and parents.  But accusations aren't going to stop it.  There needs to be a change in the culture of fans at junior derby.

While yes, we are teaching them to play derby at a very competitive level, we need to remember that these *are* kids.  We should be working together to support them all, and to cheer the accomplishments of each and every skater on the track.  Sure, it's great when your team wins, but it's just as great when someone on the other team pulls a great juke, or lays down a huge hit.  Sure it sucks when your jammer falls, or steps back in at just the wrong moment, giving up a power jam, but you know what?  Telling her she sucks is not going to improve her performance.

We need to see more signs like the one pictured above.  We need to see inserts in programs, announcements during games, security dealing with unruly fans, and we need to see an agreement on a parenting code of conduct from every single NW junior league.

These are our kids.  We need to work together to make sure our kids aren't being hurt.

Feelings on SJRD

Well... an amazing weekend of derby is in the books. SJRD's first, major away bout is done, some of the kids are still together and no one has died... yet ;)

It looks like we might be getting some more kids in next week, some of our up and coming kids are coming up quick, and there are some potential plans for partnerships which are going to expand our offerings and offer some other, experienced skaters a chance to bout. Add to that, some sponsorships in the works and some additional fund raising ideas (I LOVE having a working board!), and we're on pretty solid footing with the juniors.

The tootsy program is growing, too! Gear donations over the past few weeks have given 4 more kids the chance to skate, with 4-5 more wanting to try it out. The growth is there and waiting, we just need to figure out how to make it all happen.

As a couple of my skaters have said in the last three months? I remember now why I love derby. The sheer joy on the faces of the skaters this past weekend. They had just lost by 79 points, but they had won. They were smiling. They were happy. The scoreboard didn't matter, because they had just played the game they love.

And the looks on the faces of the kids who were strapping on skates for the very first time at Boys and Girls club. The nerves were there, but the smiles as they started to learn? Priceless.

Seeing what this game and this league is giving these kids amazes me, and makes me want to work that much harder to make sure this continues.

I know... this isn't a recap, but I just had to share this.

Team meeting before a bout against the Cherry Bomb Brawlers

I5 rolls with win over D-Bombers 297-138

I headed over early to see the I5 v KDB D-Bombers bout.  There was a damned fine burger to eat.  A *very* fine burger!  If that burger were the only good thing to happen tonight, I would have called it a success, but alas, poor burger, you were to be overshadowed by the fine display of power and grace that is junior derby!

I5 blasted out of the gate with Dee Stroir's14 point romp as the I5 blockers swarmed all over Champ Pain, keeping her scoreless.  Each jam in the first few series' was the same for the Kitsap squad, as they struggled to find their footing against the solid walls of I5.  Then Lex Celerator popped the star on her noggin and found herself the beneficiary of a power jam thanks to a cut track by Lil Mean Sunshine.  She rattled off 30 points.

Seven minutes in, I5 found themselves with a 46-4 lead.

The problems just piled up for the D-bombers as their blockers and jammers found themselves in the box more often than on the track, giving I5RG power jams in fully 50% of the jams in the first half right along with pack advantages in just as many.  I5 took full advantage, crossing the century mark at 21 minutes into the game.  At the half, the score stood at 171-35.

In the second half, Kitsap came alive.  While the Rollergirls still took lead jammer 62% of the time, the power jams and penalties seemed to be favoring Kitsap this time! One of the most exciting jams of the game came halfway through the second half.

Dee Stroir and T-pain were on the line as jammers and both hit the pack.  Dee got through for lead while T-pain was struggling against the I5 squad.  She finally got through and shot after Dee, who found the back of the pack first, passing 2 Kitsap blockers before taking the barest of shoves out of bounds and picking up a cut track penalty!  The pack was short for I5, and T-pain was off like a shot, racking up 25 points thanks to some heads up offensive blocking by her teammates.

After that, it was almost all I5 as they scored 62-12 over the next 6 jams.

With the clock ticking down and down about 200 points, you would think that Kitsap would be demoralized, right?  Wrong.  They just kept on coming!  In the final jam of the game, Champ Pain was stuck hard after snagging lead jammer over Karmic Death, who was called for a track cut, giving Kitsap a much needed power jam!  

I5 was going to close this one down, though, and had Champ in a vice of blue blockers... but out of nowhere, a star pass!  Champ handed it off to KDB captain, Lil Mean Sunshine, who raced the track 5 times and picked up an amazing 23 points to finish out the game!

Excellent bout! 

Three Cheers for I5 Rollergirls

Maya Massacre - A game leading 74 points, 66% lead rate, 12.3 Points per jam?  It looks like I5 has yet another all star jammer on their hands!  First cheer for Maya!

Lex Celerator - She only jammed 5 times and scored 71 points.  She had great blocker stats with ticks in every column.  Is it any wonder she was the Washington State Roller Derby MVP?  A wonder to watch as always!  Cheer number 2 for Lex!

Hunter - She led the entire game in blocker stats with more big hits than anyone else in the game.  As one of the announcers said, it's like she teleports!  One moment, she's opening a hole for her jammer at the back of the pack, then out of nowhere she's in front laying a shoulder in to recycle her opponent.  Cheer number three for Hunter!

Three cheers for D-Bombers

Champ Pain - With 40 points she led all other Kitsap jammers, and she had several big hits as a blocker.  Definitely a double threat and well deserving of cheer number 1!

T-Pain - She was only two points behind Champ, but she well outperformed in getting lead jammer with a 60% lead rate in her 5 jams.  In a game where lead waqs rare for Kitsap, she was definitely of benefit.  Second Cheer for T-Pain!

Quarter PoundHer - She led her team in blocking stats, putting up solid numbers in every category.  Every time I looked up, she was a homing missile heading for the I5 jammer or making sure that her jammer had a safe path through.  Cheer three for QP!

Photo by The Creepy Leprachaun

I5 Jammer Stats - 

Number	Jams	Lead %	Points	PPJ
91	5	80	35	7
27	6	33	9	1.5
14	4	75	65	16.25
18	5	80	71	14.2
26	6	66	74	12.3
55	1	0	5	5
2	2	50	11	5.5
55	4	50	27	6.75

KDB Jammer Stats

Number	Jams	Lead %	Points	PPJ
115	8	25	40	5
84	2	50	2	1
33	8	12	18	2.25
1	5	60	38	7.6
5	2(sp 1)	0	23	11.5
17	5	80	23	4.6
13	2	50	4	2
106	1	0	0	0

Blocker StatsAnd now, the blocker stats! A blocker has three categories: jammer stops, open holes and big hits. 

B - Big hits are, well, big hits, but they have to be clean and they have to be significant. 
S - Jammer stops have to keep the jammer from getting through the pack in a significant way.
O - Open holes are awarded for creating an opening for your jammer to get through. 
A - Assists are awarded if you contribute significantly in a play which gives your teammate the ability to make a big play.

Remember, this is only based on what I can see. If I missed a big hit for you, I am sorry!

I5 Blocker Stats

Lex Celerator B-2, S-2, A-2, O-2

Sierrated Blade S-3 A-1

The Archer S-2, A-1, O-1

Hunter B-5, S-3, A-1, O-2

Gory Locks S-1, O-1

Death by Beth O-1

Miss B Haver O-1

Audrey Headburn B-1, O-1

Dee Stroir B-2, S-2, A-2

Izzy Exterminated B-1, S-1, A-1, O-1

KDB Blocker Stats

T-Pain B-1, S-1

Alisin Wonderlsam B-1, A-1, O-1

Holly Palooza A-1, O-1

Red Rager B-1, A-1

Quarter PoundHer B-1, S-2, A-1, O-2

Aqua Knock You Out B-1

Little Mean Sunshine B-1, S-2, A-1, O-1

Kayti Catastrophe B-1, S-1, A-1

Krissy Karnage A-1, O-2

Stabby Gabby B-1, A-1, O-1

Kae-Oss B-1, A-1

Gaines Slayer B-3, S-1

Champ Pain B-3, O-1

Little Red Riveters pound SDB Div 2 All Stars

Bout 2 of last week's junior action at Southgate Roller Rink in Seattle featured a Portland Home team, The Little Red Riveters, up against the Seattle Derby Brats' B team, the Division 2 All Stars.

Things stared slow, with both teams playing tight defense and and driving jammers to force the call-off, until Assalting Caramel was able to take advantage of a power jam and brought the all stars the lead in the 7th jam of the game, 24-15.Unfortunately for the Brats, the Rosebuds home teams play their A level players as well, and Little Bo Weep wasn't going to stand by and let that happen.  The 8th jam saw her with the star on her head and a 29 point power jam in her pocket.

Over the next ten jams, the Brats managed to claw back and took the lead once again (54-53) on the the 4 and out by Amelia Dareheart, but they lost it for good the next jam as, once again, Little Bo Weep had the advantage of a cut track by the Brats jammer and slapped up 15 points.  Riveters had the lead at the half, 88-67.

The rest of the bout was just as toughly fought as the first.  jammers were hard pressed to gain 1's and 2's, let alone 4's!  In fact, if not for penalties allowing the Portland squad to put up 52 points, the All Stars would have had this one in the bag.  They controlled lead the majority of the time and were doing an excellent job of point control.  As time ran out, The Riveters took the victory having only extended their lead by 4 points over all, 167-142.

Three Cheers for Riveters!

Little Bo Weep - 82 points, a lead percentage to be envied by all?  This jammer has earned the respect of her opponents as well as the first cheer!

Tempest Fugit - Taking a few turns at jammer, she managed to force some crucial call-offs, but it was as a blocker that she earns cheer number 2 with 4 stops and a big hit!

Mackenzie - This blocker was everywhere!  With 2 big hits and 2 stops, she was right behind Fugit in the blocker stats and earns herself cheer number three!

Three cheers for Div 2 All Stars!

Pooky Poundya - 19 points, a 71% lead percentage, 3 stops, a big hit and an assist earn her cheer number one for SDB!  Truly a double threat here!

Assalting Caramel - throwing up 33 points for her team with a 60% lead rate earns Assaulting Caramel cheer number 2!

juVnile - One rocking blocker! jammer stops, an assist and a big hit earn her cheer number 3!