Reforming

• All skaters gather inside the track

• Three wall and a jammer start. Jammer starts engaged

• Jammer taps on the shoulder of one of the blocker

• That blocker has to leave the wall and the brace clogs the gap while one of the other skaters from inside the track joins the wall

• This continues for one minute then a new jammer jumps in

• Continue until everyone has jammed

Progression drill

• Jammer can tap multiple blockers so that two blockers leave the wall leaving one blocker to hold until the wall reforms

Objective: Blockers will practise reforming a three wall under pressure

This activity is a tough, fast paced activity that trains blockers to reform under pressure.

Suitable for: L2+

Activity:

• L2 skaters - stop and contact version, L3 skaters - full contact version

• Blockers make a three or four wall and attempt to stop a jammer. 

• The jammer is aided by one or two offence players who focus on not letting the wall reform.

• If the jammer gets out, they should immediately leave the track, and re-enter behind the pack and keep going.

• The key to the drill is that the offence players do not let the wall reform if the jammers get out - they have to 'keep the pot boiling'. This keeps the pressure on the blockers attempting to reform the wall.

• This drill can be tiring, and players can start being to drag. Use breaks to keep their energy up - but also lean on them during practise to keep the work rate high. It should feel urgent and challenging.

Coaching Points:

• Skaters should demonstrate swift reforming under pressure.

• Observe and correct during the drill

Common mistakes:

• blockers relaxing after the jammer gets out

• jammer skating back inside the track so no one is clear whether they got out or not (make them re-enter from outside the track so it's clear when they are 'back')

Objective: Practice reforming against a jammer

A fun drill that draws on the competitive nature of the derby player. Blockers learn fast reforming to catch jammer. Jammer learns recovery from a 2 knee fall

Suitable for: L2+

Activity

1. Two blocker queues at jam line, lanes 1 and 4. 

2. Jammer queue at turn 3. 

3. Jammer sprints to jam line, double knee slides and recovers as quickly ass possible. 

4. Blockers release when jammer crosses jam line, sprinting downtrack attempting to reform ahead of the jammer.

Cycle team through until all have a chance to block and jam at least once (repetition depending on time).

L1 option: Non-contact option. Have blockers simply race to the pivot line, each staying on the in/outside lines of the track

Check For Learning

Coaching should look for solid skating from blockers, forming into a 2 wall without looking at feet, etc. Jammers should be double knee tapping correctly with good form and recovery.

Objective: Practice reforming against a jammer at speed

Suitable for: L2+

Action:

• • three blockers start about 10 feet apart

  • Jammer starts about 20 ft behind and goes on first whistle - jammer aims for lanes 2-3

  • Blockers reform on the second whistle to block the jammer and block for 10 ft then reset

Progression: Allow jammer to use lanes 1 and 4