Passing the Star

Objectives: Communication & awareness & practice putting on the star

Suitable for: L1+

Action:

• In groups of three - jammer, pivot, blocker

• Whistle goes

• Jammer pushes blocker for 30 seconds (option to push with hands for L1 skaters) and blocker slows with a plow

• Pivot keeps in front of blocker

• Someone in the middle holds up different coloured cones and all skaters call out the colours

• After 30 seconds, the whistle goes and the jammer passes the star to the pivot

• Pivot takes star and skates a lap while putting the star on, while the other two skaters have a brief rest. The pivot become the jammer / jammer becomes the blocker / the blocker becomes the pivot and they push for another 30 seconds

Objective: Jammer and pivot communication

Suitable for: Levels 2/3

Drill

• Form a pack of 8-10 Blockers- their job is to create chaos and prevent the pass

• 1 Jammer & 1 Pivot communicate with the goal of passing the star

Coaching points:

• Passing too soon - the goal is to be in front for easy release of the star

• Avoid the bridge back if your jammer gets hit off

Objective: Blockers help the star pass to succeed

Suitable for: Level 2/3

Time: 10 minutes in between, or 25 minutes going into depth

In case the jammer is stuck behind the opposing wall and wants to do a star pass, their whole team should help out to ease the star pass. See the attachment for how it should look like. Make sure everyone understands WHEN you want to do a star pass over the wall (not in a scoring pass) and WHAT are legal (and illegal) actions.

Drill

There will be 9 people on track. Team A has four blockers (one of which is a pivot) and a jammer. This is their practice. Team B only has four blockers (one of which can be a pivot).

Team B position themselves in front of the jammer. This could be a four-wall, or a tripod with an Offence.

Key here is Team A jammer who engages with this wall. They must push forward, and keep pushing forward. The other key is to communicate with Team A pivot or other blockers. All the blockers of team A need to get into action.

Assuming there is no Jammer B on the track, or team A lost that jammer, Team A comes from the front. Make sure people are stable and in control, meaning no direction blocking! Team A positions themselves in front of the B wall, like in the attachment. Because Jammer A is still pushing forward, and blockers A prevent wall B to go forward, wall B is now being "crushed". In other words, the wall is thinner. This is the moment Jammer A wants to do a star pass to Pivot A. The distance to overcome is at a minimum. Depending on where the pivot and jammer exactly are, the pass could go between or behind skaters, or over skaters. Make sure everyone understands the possible penalties like forearms or multiplayer. Furthermore, blockers A are still blocking wall B. Meaning Pivot A can escape without being chased.

Practice a couple of times with this setup. You can also let everyone freeze mid-way. This way people can reflect their position and their actions, and adjust accordingly. When Team A seems to get the hang of it, switch to let Team B do a star pass (and get their jammer on track).

When both teams are ready, you can introduce the second jammer permanently on the track. First let the "star-pass jammer" start behind the wall, and the opposite jammer in front of the wall. The opposite jammer has to skate a full lap before coming back into the pack. This will build a time sense of urgency, as well as additional awareness of the star passing team. They need to reform fast enough. When all goes well, start like a normal jam, and let the teams be free in when to use it.

Coaching Points:

First of all, every skater needs to know the rules and all the possible penalties. If not, teach them. Second, the blockers of Team A can communicate well with the jammer. They know when to get into position. Because of the star pass and the opposing team escaping the "crushing sandwich", timing is very important. Team A also keeps blocking after the star pass, to prevent chasing. THEN Team A needs to reform quickly and strategically. So do they chose the front or the back of the pack? It never should be in between Team B.

The most difficult thing is to recognise a jammer in need, and to start this all-team-star-pass. Train it in "natural" settings as a normal jam start. Especially of the jammer starts in the box, this should be used.