From Freshmeat to Team Mate: An Introduction!

Hi There!
My name is Jessica...and until recently I was "Freshmeat."

The day I got my very own Derby gear -
I was SO excited to just try the skates on again!

For those of you who may not know, when you join a Roller Derby team, you start out as something called "Freshmeat." It's sort of like a probationary player.  The Freshmeat period allows you to get your feet wet in the world of roller derby. It's full of practices where you just try to remember with envy how well you USED to skate when you were a kid (or maybe that was just me, LOL) or you basically learn how to skate from scratch.

In Freshmeat training, you learn basics.  Real basics.
Here are some quick examples:
*how to do a derby stance
*how to skate forwards
*how to balance on one foot while on skates
*how to skate backwards
*how to turn around while skating

Then, once you've mastered all of your Freshmeat skills (and there's more...just wait and see!) you get to take your test for Level One. After you pass Level One on our team, you can officially be voted in as a full member of the organization, which is great!  I was voted in a few weeks ago after passing my Level One test...and now I'm working on my Level Two skills.

Sweaty from practice, but THRILLED with my
brand-new track jacket with my official name
and number on it! 

All in all, there are three levels of skills that you have to master before you can play in an official Derby game. This level testing is done for safety reasons.  It proves not only to your team, but to the other team, as well, that you can safely execute all the required skills that may be needed in a game.

 In this series, "From Freshmeat to Team Mate," I'm excited to share with you what I've done to this point to pass my Level One test and to hopefully continue as I get all the way through Level Three to become a competitive player on our team.  I'll be showing you different skills we learn and sharing some of my experiences. I hope you find Derby as fascinating and exciting as I do!!

- Jessica a.k.a. NIKKI TESLA #134
(oh, yeah, did I mention when you play Derby you get to pick a cool "Derby Name" to play under?  We have some great ones on our team... "Meryl Creep,"  "Haulin-Sass," "Astra Knot," or "Paleo Pixie." You can check out our player profiles over on the right sidebar --->)

Video - HOME GAME - Pair O' Dice City Rollers vs. Beat City Bedrockers

Our FIRST HOME GAME  of the season  - Pair O' Dice City Rollers vs. Beat City Bedrockers

Was a close game.   The Bedrockers had a full roster and Pod was down by 5 skaters with only a total of 9 girls skating.   The game was close, going back and forth with the score.  POD was winning by about 20 points towards the end but in the last 15 minutes or so, we got some penalties which put a damper on our game.

Score ended up being Bedrockers 181 -    POD City 165

Check it out right here :)

Pair O' Dice City Rollers vs. Beat City Bedrockers

Highlights of First Home Game of the Season  6-1-2014

Professional Photos by:

You can see all the Pro Pix at our facebook page here  

Congrats to the MVP's 6-1 Home Game

Great day in Derby and for the Pair O' Dice Rollers -
We Made the news.

http://www.wggb.com/2014/06/01/roller-derby-tournament/

Congrats to the MVP's for this game!

FACE BOOK
https://www.facebook.com/pairodicerollers

WoRD vs. POD 5-17-14

Got some photos of the WoRD vs. POD game.

Check out the action, then be sure to become our fans.  We need YOU to come out and root for us and PUMP US UP!

Despite the fact that we lost this game - POD still had fun!!  

Fun is the name of the game!

   

A SPECIAL thanks to ASTRA KNOT who is recovering from a broken ankle!  

She was the POD bench coach for the game.  We love you Astra  :)

One thing to Remember -  we need to...

 Okay onto some pix -  WoRD vs.  POD
POD is sporting their Black today.

MVB and MVJ WoRD vs. POD

Congrats to Pandora and Donny 

WoRD picked these two lovely ladies as the Most Valuable Players for the 5/17 game. 

Bake Sale - JUNE 1st - HOME Game!

$$Bring your dollars$$! 

All bake sale proceeds are going to help support Paleo Pixie ' s daughter!

come and enjoy watching a great roller derby game along with eating lots of sweet treats.  What better way to spend part of your Sunday Evening.  

HOME GAME - June 1st

Click HERE to go to the Face Book Event page.  

Sunday, June 1st  6:00pm
Interskate 91 South
2043 Boston Rd
Wilbraham, MA 01095


Pair O Dice take on the Beat City Bedrockers of Hartford! 

Doors open at 5 pm, first whistle 6 pm.
Advance tickets $8 (ask any POD Derby member)
At the door: 
Adults $10
Kids under 16 $5
Under 5 Free

https://www.facebook.com/events/487886047978568
/

Eve N. Broke

Our valuable player wasn't just Eve N. Meaner, she was Eve N. broke!  Poor Eve broke her leg during practice.  This story was written by Eve N. Meaner herself.  Thank you so much Eve.  We send you our love and healing vibes!!!  

It was just a few minutes before the end of a great practice.  Just one or two more drills before our next game.  I was hit to the outside and was just trying to figure out the best way to stop and turn.  I was already turning to the right but I think muscle memory had me attempting a tomahawk stop and turn to the left.  Clearly those two instincts do not belong together.  

Trust me, putting your right toe stop down, trying to turn to the left, all while off balance and falling backwards makes for a hazardous combination.  I never heard a crack or a pop but I did think, "My leg's not supposed to bend that way," in a bit of a South Park voice.  I kid you not, that's the way I spoke to myself internally. 

 Before long I started dropping the F-bomb, repeatedly.  I hate needles, so the EMTs sprayed something up my nose and away we went on an excruciating ambulance ride. I learned to manage pain with breathing techniques during the birth of my three kids.  Don't get  me wrong.  When ER staff had to put in an IV anyway, morphine was my friend.

My husband and son got to watch as they put me into a semi-sleep for the reduction, the pull and straighten portion of the evening.  I don't remember anything but apparently the F-bombs were revisited, I thought one of the pain creators was enjoying his job a bit too much and...felt, "I am strong.  I am invincible."  My son wrote that one down.

I had surgery the next morning and have been improving ever since the last use of a bed pan.  

The first and only time I cried was when I said to Mae Z. Dukes, an ER tech. by day who visited early the first morning, that I just wanted to finish out this last season, retire #47 on a high note and help out with Fresh Meat or however I can next year.  I'm going to miss hitting and getting hit by these ladies more than anyone not involved in derby can ever know.

Everyone on the team was incredible, holding my leg steady, gathering my things, giving me space to focus on my breathing, preserving my gear as much as possible, contacting my family and driving my car to the hospital.  Visits and messages have been so supportive and I think, every day, how lucky I am to have such an incredible extended family.

Derby <3
Eve N. Meaner
#47

You can like Eve N. Meaner's Face book page here. 

Eve N. Meaner

great info about healing broken bones click here.

Pair O'Dice City Rollers vs. Worcester Roller Derby

Game location is in Auburn MA -  only 45 minutes from Springfield.  Come see POD play!  Root your POD girls on!