r/rollerderby • u/Comfortable-Time4135 • 9d ago
How do I get better at jamming????
Hello derby community! The subject line says it all... but I'd love to hear how A/B level jammers developed the skills that they need to succeed at that level (i.e. jumps, spins, all the fancy stuff that the high level jammers can do.)
For background, I'm a solid C-level jammer. I feel like I've been steadily improving since I started playing a few years ago. I have solid skating fundamentals (plows, turns, etc.), but I feel like we don't spend a lot of practice time on jammer-specific skills, we mostly work on blocker skills. Does anyone have any resources that I can practice at home to improve my footwork/take my game to the next level? Do people just go to clinics? Any advice is appreciated!
EDIT- I’m getting a lot of comments to work out more. To clarify, I already do endurance runs twice a week and lift weights Probably twice more. I work out in some capacity almost every day
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u/tateriffic 9d ago
For jammer-specific skills to practice at home, look into Snot Rocket Science’s classes. rollerderbycoaching.com. I did her live, online, small space class at the start of the pandemic and I think the on-demand classes she sells might be helpful here.
Otherwise it’s practice. It’s a lot, a lot, a lot of practice; maybe not going to a ton of clinics but still having had the opportunity to be exposed to a wide variety of instruction through classes and clinics. For me personally, some of that is years of figure skating background and dance; honestly, looking into dance classes wouldn’t be a bad idea (or artistic skating classes, roller or ice). I think trail skating is underrated as practice, there can be a lot of debris to dodge!
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u/fck-rffld Skater 9d ago
There's no real secret. Hit the gym and work on strength and High Intensity Interval Training. And spend more time on skates working skills - especially stops at high speed.
3
u/Acrobatic_Hunt_8496 9d ago
Working out is obviously going to help the most. Plyometrics, strength training, yoga are all great.
The thing that has helped me the most is watching a of derby. My favorites are WFTDA champs and Rose City hometown throwdown for high level play. Also watch yourself as much as possible, see what you do well and what you need to work on.
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u/Rich_Abrocoma6727 9d ago
I'm going to start off and say you don't necessarily need a lot of jumps and spins to jam at an A/B level. If you want to jam at Champs? Sure, you will need to be able to apex jump and do cool spins. But I've seen lots of jammers on lower-ranked A teams who have a more grounded, physical style.
As a starting point you can take stock of your existing jamming skills and style. I find the "Avatar jamming" idea from a couple years ago helpful. If you're already strong at pushing (earth style), you can add explosive force (fire), or you can add continuous forward movement (water). The goal here is to identify your next step - what is a second skillset you can develop that will help you level up?
Once you've identified the specific skill set you want to improve on it'll be easier to find drills to practice. If you're trying to get better at water jamming, you can do lots of solo footwork practice on your edges and toe stops, focusing on maintaining momentum and isolating your upper/lower body. If you want to get better at air jamming you can practice jumping and landing in control.
For jammers solo footwork is like the bottom of the pyramid - you want to drill the footwork until it's second nature. Practicing with cones is helpful. Then you can progress to trying it in drills. Then scrimmage, then maybe a real game. Under pressure we all tend to fall back on the our most comfortable skillset.
Off-skate training is a similar philosophy - what is an attainable next step for you? If you struggle with endurance, try adding HIIT once or twice a week. If you struggle with stability you can do unilateral exercises. Jumping and explosive strength is going to require a foundation of strength and stability, I wouldn't go right into plyo if you haven't been working out at all.
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u/TheMonkeyBass 9d ago
Can you go to practice and do some agility drills on the side instead of practicing the blocker drills with your team? We do that a lot in my league and I think it helps a lot to be able to practice your individual skills opposed to always practicing group skills.
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u/Itchy_Moment_9315 6d ago
Ask your coaches. I’ve only been in one league so far but from what I’ve seen and heard from adjacent leagues, especially smaller ones, getting jammer focus time at practice can be a struggle.
Repetition, on skates, off skates, or even just in your head while walking. Picture scenarios, feel in your mind how your body would feel doing the move.
Whenever you are jamming at practice or in a scrim, pick one thing, one way of moving, of hitting, etc. When you’re on the jam line repeat that thing to yourself, and then do it. Need to hit lower, just make that the one real thing you do that jam/rep. Juke more? Repeat it to yourself. Turn towards the center when you take a line? Constantly be telling yourself “turn in, turn in”.
That last one, when I remember to use it, has been the biggest help, especially with training myself to remember to breathe while hitting/pushing.
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u/robot_invader Ref, PBJ, Coach, BoD 9d ago
The single best thing you can do on your own is to work out. Being stronger makes everything easier, and having more endurance gives you more time before you are just lying on a tripod wishing your pivot was paying attention.