Check yo head.

This weekend has been one of conversations. It's been one of derby too (fundraiser Friday, NZRDT training Saturday, team, league and travel team training today) but also about talking about derby. I spoke to some very interesting people and had some very interesting insights and I thought I'd share (lucky you)

I wrote a post last week about feeling like I felt I had I had to sacrifice myself to the derby "monster". At the time, that was how it felt. My job is very demanding at present and with a lot of derby admin and training and such it all felt a bit much. And then yesterday at the NZRDT training, I met the husband of one of the skaters, and he gave me a bit of a new perspective.

I'll describe him as a bit of a derby philosopher, because that's exactly what we talked about. We had a lot of time to talk (and in a freezing rink in the middle of winter talking big stuff keeps your mind off the cold snaking its way up your legs). We watched the packs do their drills and he asked me what I thought was the one thing a skater should live by, what they should strive for either in a team or a pack. I gave it some thought and came back with "Excel in your role".

Excel in your role


Bear with me here. When I was starting out and I was a little freshie, one of the coaches told me that the one word every player should have tattooed on the inside of their eyelids was IMPROVE. And yeah, we should be. Every training, every practice, every jam. But I think EXCEL IN YOUR ROLE is more apt to being in a team, a league, a pack. You should be aiming to do the best you can every time, but within something greater. Every skater has a role to play both on and off the track, and if you're going to do something, be bloody good at it! I left Hamilton feeling pretty tired, but happy at having spoken to someone so interesting and who left me with lots to think about.

Today we had team training before our next bout in a fortnight's time. I hadn't got much sleep over the last few nights, I wasn't really looking forward to over five hours of training and the feeling of being stretched and tired was still there. So, I went to my captain and spoke to her about how I was feeling.

You know how it is when you go to someone for advice and they manage to say EXACTLY the right thing in the right way? BadJelly did that for me today. My mood instantly lifted. A combination of a five minute conversation with her and a long chat the day before had helped me sort out my head and how I feel about derby and its place in my life.

This was helped by training(s) today being brilliant. The afternoon session felt like it went in a flash, and I managed to work up a good sweat and felt like I'd really WORKED (something that's been missing from the last few trainings that weren't the bootcamp maybe?). I felt I learned a lot, felt that I tried my hardest in every drill, that I was being useful. Excelling, in fact, in my role.

I think I can make this work now. Give my sport the time and effort it requires and deserves, whilst maintaining my sanity. I feel like a weight has been taken off. It's awesome.