20 minutes
Focus: Jammer Awareness (avoiding getting pushed out)
First ask people what the ‘safe zone’ is, and why it is important in derby. The safe zone of the track in this context are lanes 2 and 3 of the track i.e. the lanes in the middle of the track.
Divide skaters into groups of 3: 2 blockers and 1 jammer
Part 1: Stretching the wall out and making use of the holes within the safe zone (in lanes 2 and 3 of the track – staying away from the edges) – using both laterals, leaping, juking and stepping.
At this point do not aim to go through the wall just stretch the wall out across the track - as this happens this will break up the wall. Get the jammer to notice where these gaps appear.
Each rotate so all have a go at jamming.
Part 2: Continue to stretch the wall out as the jammer, but this time aim to get through the gaps – but ONLY within the safe zone of the track. If people are juking round the inside, remind them to focus on going through the middle of the track.
To challenge the jammers more add more blockers. This requires the jammers to be even more aware of not just gaps but 'weak points', where contact between blockers on track can be more easily broken through when challenged.
Focus: Jammer Awareness (avoiding getting pushed out)
First ask people what the ‘safe zone’ is, and why it is important in derby. The safe zone of the track in this context are lanes 2 and 3 of the track i.e. the lanes in the middle of the track.
Divide skaters into groups of 3: 2 blockers and 1 jammer
Part 1: Stretching the wall out and making use of the holes within the safe zone (in lanes 2 and 3 of the track – staying away from the edges) – using both laterals, leaping, juking and stepping.
At this point do not aim to go through the wall just stretch the wall out across the track - as this happens this will break up the wall. Get the jammer to notice where these gaps appear.
Each rotate so all have a go at jamming.
Part 2: Continue to stretch the wall out as the jammer, but this time aim to get through the gaps – but ONLY within the safe zone of the track. If people are juking round the inside, remind them to focus on going through the middle of the track.
To challenge the jammers more add more blockers. This requires the jammers to be even more aware of not just gaps but 'weak points', where contact between blockers on track can be more easily broken through when challenged.