What can a SkateCourt do for your league?

Hola Maehym here,

SkateCourt may be the best investment your league could ever make. I know I am partial because I am the rep but I want to go through the numbers to explain my case.

Why go from rink to renting a bouting arena/facility? Portable flooring allows your league to skate in a facility larger than a rink whose capacity is between 300-500ppl at $10 a ticket equals $5,000 in gross ticket sales. With hard work on the promoting end, you can pack the venue with 2,000-5,000 fans at $10 a ticket equals $20,000 to $50,000.  It will cost more money to rent the venue, but even if the venue is $5,000 to $10,000 a bout(which is mega high btw). With 3-6 home bouts your team is well on its way to paying for the floor as well as being financially secure.

Renting out a venue means your league has more control over the residual income made at the bout?
My former league LowCountry Highrollers are one of the best in the country at sponsorship and bout production, this being a big reason.  When fans come to derby games, they are there not only to watch some derby but also to support your league. Residual bout income is not only merch but also anything else you team can come up with,
Some awesome ideas for residual bout income
-Fav Derby Girl Jars- take pics of all skaters(and refs too) and place the pics on the jars. Have the table set out in the entrance when all the fans come in and have the annoucer talk up the crowd to come and donate to your jar. At half time, the jars are counted. The skater with the most money in their jar is the king or queen of the bout. All the money goes back to the league, you may make $100-1000 but it is a really easy inexpensive way to fund more training or whatever your league may need.
-Half Time Contests- There are many ways to do this but the main focus is to get everyone involved. My fav idea for this is from Jersey Shore Roller Girls. It cost about $300 for the supplies but can make a bundle. Its called Chuck a Duck,  Your league orders about 200-500 rubber duckies from a party catalogue, number the ducks 1 through however many you have. You can have a party and have your league paint the ducks all crazy is you want to get saucey with it. At the bout, you will sell the duck one for $3 and two for $5. You also have a giant tarp that is painted  with a bulls-eye in the center. Roll the tarp out at half time, everyone comes and throws their ducks and the ducks closest to the target get a prize(that was donated by your sponsors). Its a way to keep the kids moving and tucker them out as well as make a lil money.
-Face Painting- self explanatory but at $5 a kids it starts adding up.
-Bake Sales during the bout-self explainatory, but $750-$1000 per bout is nothing to sneeze at

Larger venues mean you have more space to sell advertising and hang sponsorship banners
Your league now has more of a "sellable" appeal because your league is able to have 2,000 to 5,000 fans gather in one place. You have more to offer sponsors because now their company will be seen by more people.

Sell the floor space as advertising
WFTDA does is with Dr  Hauschka, you can get a large vinyl decal and has it as a perk for large sponsors like Pepsi or another company that has the $$$ to invest  in a fantastic revolutionary sport!!!

Rent the track out to other leagues
The floor normally leases or rents for $1,000-$2,000 per event/night and the renter pays for transport to and from where the floor is housed. If your league leases the floor out 20 times in 3 years, the renting fee has already paid for the floor.

SkateCourt holds its value well
Re-sale value of used floors is incredible and they hold up for 15-20yrs

How the FU&K does our league afford the SkateCourt in 1st place?
This one Im good at, I am a fundraising guru. Im actually going to school for this hehehehe.Please contact me directly and I will work with your league for fundraising,sponsorship and grant research. THIS IS WHAT I DO BEST besides skate. RandiMaehym@SkateCourt.com, call me anytime, only time not available is when Im on the track and Ill call you back.

Please contact me if you want more info. Heres a link to our site for technical info http://www.icecourt.com/skate_floor.html

Hugs,Slugs and DerbyLuv
Randi Maehym
Head of Sponsorship,Denver Roller Dolls
Roller derby rep for skateCourt

Big Hits dont win games, but I LUV BIG HITS

OK, Reality check time

So with the revolution of this game of ours has brought some of us to a revealtion,
Big hits are too risky, here's why
-to chase a big hit you leave your pack and your partner
-your more likely to go to the box, sometimes even clean big hits will land you in the sin bin for a min(not sayin it right just saying it happens)
-if you swing and miss, you've let the jammer sail by ya
-most times you need to accelerate prior to the hit increase the pack speed
-chances are even if you knock the jammer down, you're away from your pack and she is going to skate around ya
-you can screw up a strategy(the trap- if the girl is on the floor, shes not in play, so you have a split pack and have to rejoin, and your jammer will continue to get beat up)

BELIEVE ME, I love a sweet Juicy big hit, I dream about that shit, hell thats why I started to play derby. The reality is Roller Derby is game of control. My friend TranquLiza told me this when I just started skating, how right she was.

Roller derby is about being in control of
-Your mind
-Your body
-Your Skates
-Your pack
-The Opposing Jammer
-The Opposing Pack

This is one of the hardest lessons for me to learn but the Training &Recruiting Team with Denver Roller Dolls have done a great job in coaxing me into smart derby. We are nothing with out our packs!

Big Hits are still useful, but they need to be taken when
-the opportunity is right, dont chase it
-you are playing with your partner ie sit and hit
-your pack has an impenetrable wall up front and you're in the back with and opposing blocker and their jammer. Hit her out and have your whole pack run with you, carrying the other blocker.
-jammers-I love a big hit off the starting line!!! BUT DONT GO IN THE BOX

Im not getting any better-what the F*&k

Hi all,

So this is for the skater who feel like they are stuck in a rut and are not getting any better

This happens sometimes and you ask your coaches help you pin point the problem and they give you vague answers like agility,strength, awareness. I know this is frustrating but here are some things that help me "plateau-ing"

1. Check your skates-I know we cant all afford fancy new skates (including this girl) but there is some things that will drastically effect your agility and lateral motion.

                 your trucks-this is the rockstar part of your skates, its what your wheels are attached to. When you start learn to skate, they are really tight and the more comfortable you get on your skates, the more you can loosen them with a skate wrench. *If you have the Powerdyne Revenge plate, make sure they are not too loose(ie jingling), they are designed to "react" on their own and if they are too loose (ie jingling) they make get stuck in a certain position and  snap/break due to your weight on they. If you have good plates and bushings, they shouldn't jingle. This helps dramatically with lateral movement.

                 your bushings/cushions- these are the rubber circle things that are right under the nut when you are loosening your trucks. They are a cheap fix-$16 for a set of 8 and come in different degrees of "hardness" and slightly different shapes(conical or cylindrical). Depending on how "heavy" of a skater you are, I am 6ft and about 160 but I am on conical yellow cushions, they are pretty "hard/85A"

here is a link to Ivanna page for pic http://www.sincityskates.com/2nd/stuff/nuts.html. Your cushions/bushings should be replaced every 4-6months depending on how often you skate.

                  interior of your skates- the cushioning on the sole of your skates where your feet sit often gets worn out. It is preferable for your feet to "sit into" your skates and for the insole to mold to your feet. Easy fix is getting a cheap insole from Dr Scholls or any brand and cut them to the shape/size of your skate. These are pretty fancy ones-http://www.drscholls.com/drscholls/productSearch.do?method=doProductDetailsLookup&searchArg=54#, but you get the idea. The snugger your feet are in your skate-the more control for have over them-the better you will play

                  Toestops-Check the height of them, if your have problems with your run-out, maybe make them longer. I am currently a big fan of the gumballs and the new moonwalkers, but any monster big toe stop will make you more comfortable to walk around, and run out on them.              

2. How many practices are you going to? If you only "just making league attendance", its your fault. Im sorry but thats the reality, if you are restricted due to other obligations like family and job stuff-Start working at on "dryland-offskates" drills, plyos, squats, core stuff. Put your outdoor wheels on and skate the park with the kids in strollers and on bikes. Even 30 squats a day will dramatically help you.
I love this video (cut and paste this link-http://youtu.be/2YY9oKap0R4) and have modeled my own workouts from it, especially the footwork stuff. Its only 3mins, These gals with Demolition Derby definitely know what they are doing. I do the footwork stuff when Im waiting in a public place like the airport, there are plenty of tiles to jump and hop on.

3. check your stance? Are you falling easily? If so you arent getting low enough, thats where the squats come in handy. YOU NEED THESE LEG AND ASS MUSCLES!!

4. Outdoor skating makes you stronger- its tougher but it makes you better

Any specific questions please email me randimaehym@skatecourt.com , if I dont know the answer I will find it out

Hugs,Slugs&derby Luv

Randi Maehym

You too can have superhero derby vision and awareness!!!!

Giant revelation at practice tonight!!!

As we all know roller derby has a lot to do with timing, gaging distance, and depth perception.

I have been working my ass off on my turn around transition for 3 months, soo now Im super comfortable transitioning from forward to backward and back again at pack speed.
*need help w this skill email me and Ill send you links and videos-randimaehym@skatecourt.com
Now I know why . . . .
Talking to some of my coaches tonight, I have been skating to the front of the pack, transitioning backwards, taking a mental picture of where everyone is, and then either communicating it to my rear blockers or targeting in accurately on the opposing jammer. Even when I am transitioning forward, I still keep my eyes on her, I usually turn forward when she is about 5ft from me.
The difference from this and having "your head on a swivel" is stereoscopic vision vs peripheral
stereoscopic vision-http://education.vetmed.vt.edu/Curriculum/VM8054/EYE/BINOCS.HTM

Its why most natural predators(like us, crocs, lions) have their eyes together facing forward, while large prey animals(elephants,rhinos, Wilda beasts) have their eyes on the sides of their heads. They can see motion but arent so good with judging distance. Hell yeah, watching Discovery Channel and National Geographic finally pay off!!!

Master your transitions!!! SO YOU TOO CAN HAVE SUPER PREDATORY ROLLER DERBY VISION

Hugs.Slugs, and Derby Luv
Randi Maehym
randimaehym@SkateCourt.com

Derby Decision making-things to remember in zee pack

Hi to all you super smart derby players, this entry is not for you

This is for the skater who sometimes but not all times gets outta sorts within the pack especially when her team is try to execute a strategy like this girl - big finger pointing at me

This game is not easy especially as a blocker in the pack, we are suppose to take giant hits, stop jammers, execute plays, figure out speed and time of pack and not to mention approaching jammers, whhaaaaa it will make you crazy.

I'm the kinda skater who hits 1st and asks questions later, this is not always good. I am having to re-train myself on situations and senarios. Yes it means you have to be pretty aware but you should be anyways, your playing derby not speedskating.
My teammates laugh at me because I am attempting to "idiot-proof" the game of derby for myself not because I'm normally an idiot outside of the track but sometimes on the floor I get a brain cramp.
Sooo back to basics
 What do you need?TIME You need to buy yourself a little time like 3 secs to sort some stuff out
  How do you do this? Run to the front inside line-this works because if the opposing jammer is close on your heels she is going to try and run along the inside line, and you are there to stop her

What you need to figure out in order of priority
Where is the opposing jammer?Obvious
Is this her 1st pass?If it is her 1st pass, this is your chance to wall,stall and/or hit. If it is her 2nd pass, DONT LOSE YOUR POINT! rush to the front and herd your teammates to do the same and don't let her take your points!!!ITS YOURS!
Where is my closest teammate and the remainder of my team?You need her to help you wall up, one blocker is fairly easy for a jammer to fly by, but two blockers!! you already out number her. If they are not close, chances are they have trapped someone and need you to drop back with them to gain majority and control of the pack.
Where is my jammer? Does she need your help?Can you help her without giving up your point or the inside line to the opposing jammer? If you can, DO IT, start beating down her obstacles by any means necessary. Chances are you are probably in the front of the opposing blockers, a "can opener hit" or a massive "death plough" should do the trick. the opposing blockers wont even see you coming because they are focused behind them on beating the snot out of your jammer. 
How fast is this pack going and why? If the other jammer is approaching, you know why you and your teammates are speeding the pack up, if your jammer is approaching, slow down, don't make her work even hard. Make sure you slow an opposing blocker down with you by any means necessary, hitting, death plough, the usual.

i know its still alot but the more you play the better you get! bottom line

I hope this helps any additions, tips or wanna chat derby or SkateCourt please email me randimaehym@skatecourt.com
*Once again, I am not a superstar derby player YET but I am working really hard these are tips I have figured out along the way
Hugs Slugs and Derby Luv
Randi Maehym     

Im having a bad practice-BULL SHIT

skater says "Im having a bad practice"
Okay, this is called EXCEPTING DEFEAT!!!!!!!
I hate it when skaters say this, oh really then take your skates off and stop wasting valuable floor space and our coach's time

Now if a skater was to say "I am having a rough start to practice, but I'm getting there"

Does everyone understand the difference?

as most of ya'll know Roller Derby is just as much a mental game as well as a physical game, some may even say more mental(like me but I am getting better at it). You have to approach practice and games with a positive attitude, this is one of your many jobs as a teammate.

Bad attitudes are like a disease- so if you are a new skater and the vet skaters all the sudden "just dip out" when your in mid conversation its probably something you said. Its so easy to get on the bandwagon about "how much the coach sucks" or "how much practice sucks" or "how my skates suck", it is up to you to change your outlook! These EXCUSES will always keep you from reaching your goals. It is your job to get better-no one is going to make you a better skater.

We all fight the mental up-hill battle trying to stay positive. this is one of the many challenges of roller derby, roller derby is a game of challenges- what separates us is what you are will to do to meet and triumph over these challenges-this will change and define you as a better person. Perseverance and determination will carry you further than the fanciest skates, so if you dont get something TRY AGAIN, and AGAIN, then look up some tips, then TRY AGAIN, find someone who does it better that you and get some guidance. YOU CAN DO IT

Hugs and Slugs
RandiMaehym

Nerves&Needles-Gameday then skating w possible new league

AHHHHHH, busy derby days. My league LCHR just bought the remainder of their track to be here prior to April 23 bout, so excited I will get to skate on it before I leave.

I am a relatively confident person for the most part and was a REALLY confident skater prior to ROLLER DERBY. Last season I was incredible humbled by the fact that derby is not as easy as just skating fast and turning left as speed skating is. I spent early last season making excuses to why I wasnt on rosters and all kinds of other "FUSS BOX" stuff. Late last season, I really started to fall in love with the game of derby not only the fact I was able to be on my skates. Our game MAKES me rise to the challenge! I have dedicated my body and soul to roller derby and it reflects through every aspect of me.

I have a game at 6om today, I have watched the other team footage, doing my last minute gear checks, packing my cooler w healthy snacks and watching somemore video of our opposing team. So heres the tough part, after I play, I need to come home finish packing and then Im leaving for Denver tomorrow morning at 5:25am!!!!! We are checking out our possible house on the river and I will be skating with the Denver Roller Dolls for 3 practices. OMG, i am sooo nervous, ummm THEY ARE INCREDIBLE, I am on the road to being awesome but what if they think I suck? ahhhh I just have to stay positive and know that I am always getting better but it starts within your head and radiates through my skating. Okay that sounds good, I am going to write that on my wrist guard.

ONe thing at a time, let go through my skatebag focus on the game, then focus on CO. oh shit, i need new socks, ahhhhhhhh. Ill run through my play book while im in walmart. that  works.

If ur in Denver, hit me up randimaehym@skatecourt.com be there until fri. I am always thankful for friends.
hugs and slugs
maehym