Chest Blocking

Objective: To get skaters comfortable with the basics of chest blocking.

Prerequisites/starting point: Backwards skating

Suitable for: L1+

Action:
It's good to ensure skaters are comfortable with skating backwards for this drill and so a recap of backwards skating footwork and backwards crossovers on the straight (see below) are a good starting point.

Drill 1 (4 mins)

Action:

1. Skaters on track individually. Skating backwards and practice dropping into a more stable stance and putting toestops down with staggered feet.

2. Run that for a couple of minutes and then introduce dropping onto toestops on the whistle for 1 minute.

Drill 2

1. Get into pairs (it's probably better to mix abilities so that newer skaters are paired with more experienced skaters if possible)

2. Skaters start facing each other. The backwards facing skater ensures they are in a stable position with knees bent, feet staggered and chest up

3. Forwards facing skater starts engaged on the backwards facing skater chest on chest and gently pushes backwards facing skater

4. Backwards facing skater to put their toestops down with staggered feet to slow the skater that is pushing

5. Switch pairs and repeat - it's a good idea to get a feel for this with skaters of different heights

Coaching points:

• Pivot at the hips - if there is increased pressure on your chest you may need to stagger your feet back to compensate

• Get a feel for how heavy you need to put toestops down to slow and stop

Drill 3

6. Get into pairs again

7. Skaters start facing each other as above and start engaged

8. This time, the pushing skater practices pushing and disengaging so that the blocking skater can get a feel for where their weight needs to be

9. Switch pairs and repeat - it's a good idea to get a feel for this with skaters of different heights

Coaching points:

• Keep weight centered and head up so that you don't fall forwards when the blocker disengages

Progression: Same as above but skaters start rolling and then engage gently. More drills below.

Objective: Gain confidence catching a jammer on the chest at speed and tactics for catching a jammer on the apex in particular

Prerequisites / build-up: Backwards crossovers across the track - above.

Suitable for: L2+

Thinking about which leg goes back when you get to a line to catch a jammer. If you are thinking about control when catching the jammer after an explosive movement you might want to have the leg forward. This is the leg you will have your weight on, it’s loaded so that you can skate in the opposite direction. This is about control rather than hitting off, particularly on the apex when it’s all too easy for a jammer to hop over a leg. On the outside line on the apex is where you might aim to do something different - it’s a good place to hit off as jammers have the longest path to get back on track. In this scenario we might put the outside leg back to enable the hit off.

Coaching points:

• Hips should be square

• Have your weight and body covering the inside line with leg loaded ready to change direction

Drills:

1. Skater skates backwards in lanes 2-3. Coach calls inside / outside (or blows one whistle for inside / two for outside). Skater crossovers to the line, thinking about leg and body position and then returns to the middle of the track.

2. In pairs, blocker skating backwards and jammer facing forwards about 5 feet apart in derby direction. Skaters start skating in lanes 2-3, jammer goes to pass on the inside/outside line. Jammer commits to the line - this is not about juking, this is a blocker drill. Backwards skater has to respond, stay in front of them and cover the line.

3. Two lines of skaters - jammers and blockers. Line up just before the apex with blocker about ten feet from the apex and jammer starting about 30 feet from the apex. The blocker stays in front of the jammer in lane 2 on the apex and not reacting until jammer makes a move. The jammer should skate towards the outside edge of the apex initially and either cut in or skate out. The point is that the jammer will suddenly choose inside or outside and the blocker has to react. But the blocker should stay in lane two until the jammer has reacted. This is because the inside line is the shortest path and if the blocker is pulled too far to the outside on the apex then it’s much easier for the jammer to get past on the inside line.

https://www.facebook.com/rdjunkies/videos/2177422935608969/?v=2177422935608969

After the blocker has caught the jammer hips should stay square. Look past the jammer and feel where they are instead of looking at them. Aim for one tow stop and guide to a line.

Drill 1

• Skate backwards around the track

• practice putting a toe stop down behind, dropping and popping up

Drill 2

• Everyone skates together as a big pack

• One blocker in front of the pack, everyone else are wavy trees.

• A Jammer comes through and tries to avoid the murder hit at the front.

Teaching point

• Front blocker needs to be far enough in front to make the catch hit without ending up in the pack.