Tag: The Jukes on You

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So You’re Saying There’s a Barrier?

What do lacrosse, hockey, fencing, and roller derby have in common? Stumped? Well, if you guessed that they are predominately white sports in America then you are spot on. Why are so many sports including our beloved roller derby dominated by white faces?

One reason, boils down to barrier to entry. What do I mean? I’ll lay it out for you. These sports require lots of equipment, and at the youth level generally expect kids to own their own gear. By the time youth in lacrosse, hockey, and fencing make it to high school the majority of these athletes own their own gear (aka mommy and daddy bought them the gear). I’m not knocking parents giving their kids resources to participate in sports. I’m asking for an open perspective on why these sports are predominately white, so we can understand ONE aspect of the whiteness in roller derby.

Notice the name and country printed on the gear. More on this in a sec.

I picked up fencing during my junior year of high school. The best fencers tend to have their names printed on their gear similar to Olympic fencers. These fencers often took private lessons and had national rankings from competing on their own outside of school events. It was also a symbol of status within the fencing community, and they were usually the top ranked fencers at school tournaments. I did not have my name on my gear. I wore hand me downs and it was obvious. My school thankfully provided gear for the fencers who needed it, and by the time my senior year rolled around I was winning medals at tournaments while still wearing borrowed gear.

Basic low level, starter foil fencing set: $400. High school me was not about to beg for fencing gear.

Roller derby is no different. We all know how much it costs to join this sport. We all know that to even try this sport out, you have to fork over a decent amount of cash to make it happen. From WFTDA insurance, to monthly dues, to purchasing gear. It all requires money. If it weren’t for the borrow bag I would have never tried fencing. Heck, if it weren’t for the borrow bag I would have never tried roller derby.

My first practice was in roller rink skates and missed matched gear, but I felt like I wasn’t official just like I did in fencing. At fencing tournaments I was referred to as “No Name.” Kind of made me feel like I was less than other fencers. We need to get rid of the stigma associated with borrowed gear if we are going to draw more diversity into this sport. Not thinking about the money involved is how we place barriers to entry. It is also how we keep POC skaters from making it to the higher levels in derby. Think on that for a sec.

-Jukes

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This is my blog. There are many like it, but this one is mine…

Please note, that my opinions, within this blog post and all future blog posts, are just that, my opinions. If you disagree with anything I say, please feel free to engage in respectful dialogue in the comment section below. I can also be reached at jukes@derbylisting.com. Thanks for joining me on my blog-venture!!

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One Big Community

What’s up derby pals, how’s life without derby? Kind of weird not having practice, eh?

How will individual’s experience quarantine? Some are chomping at the bit to get back to practice. For some, it will be the first time in a long while that they haven’t had a jam packed, derby filled schedule. Some might even enjoy this extended break. A handful are finding some way to be on wheels as often as they can. While others haven’t put on their skates since March. There’s no right way to quarantine. It’s a completely personal choice based on each individuals personal situation. The big thing is the entire roller derby community is experiencing this together around the world.

Wild right? Every derby player and volunteer around the world is going to remember that time that roller derby was cancelled. Kind of like a weird badge of honor for current members. Instead of, “I played roller derby back when there were two whistle starts.” It will be “Yea, I totally played roller derby when it was internationally cancelled, I’m old school.”

Thinking about the community in its entirety I can’t help but wonder, what will roller derby look like after covid? I’m sure most teams will pick up where they off. However, what about those teams who are less stable? What about practice venues that shut down due to finances? The teams in lower income communities are going to feel the effects of post-quarantine life the hardest.

So let’s ban together as a community! I’m looking to share derby related fundraisers. Do you know of any?

-Jukes

This is my blog. There are many like it, but this one is mine…

Please note, that my opinions, within this blog post and all future blog posts, are just that, my opinions. If you disagree with anything I say, please feel free to engage in respectful dialogue in the comment section below. I can also be reached at jukes@derbylisting.com. Thanks for joining me on my blog-venture!!

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COVIDerby Blues

I’m feeling the void these days. Here I am in my “home” state feeling gosh darn lonely. I put home in parenthesis because I don’t really have a home state. I did my last two years of high school in New Jersey and left for college soon after graduation. I come to NJ simply to visit family but it has never felt like home. So of course, just like with every state I’ve moved to, I joined the nearest roller derby league. They let me be on the charter and we were prepping for our March 29th bout together. I was learning names, meeting new people and starting to feel pretty good about my new temporary home. Then Covid-19 happened… 

Poof! Just like that, practices for the rest of March are cancelled along with the tournament. I feel like a lot of us are in the same boat. No matter what country you call home, roller derby enthusiasts everywhere have suddenly lost their “happy place.” However, just because we should stay 2 meters away from each other or in some cases can’t leave our homes (shout out to the Italians!), it doesn’t mean we can’t stay connected and have some fun. Technology plus social media can be a beautiful thing!! So here’s a list of ideas to stay entertained while #survivingrollerderbyshutdown

  • Do derby drills in your house and post the vids to social media
  • Host an online workout with your derby friends (zoom is a nifty conference app)
  • Draw something derby related and share with your social peeps
  • Go on an outdoor skate together (keep your distance and wash your hands after)
  • Start a workout challenge (countdown to next practice) and let others know when you’ve completed your daily workout
  • Submit video clips and make a league compilation video for your league social page

These are just a few ideas, but I’m excited to see what everyone comes up with. Share your social content using the hashtags #survivingrollerderbyshutdown and #coviderby so others around the world can follow along! 

– Jukes

This is my blog. There are many like it, but this one is mine…

Please note, that my opinions, within this blog post and all future blog posts, are just that, my opinions. If you disagree with anything I say, please feel free to engage in respectful dialogue in the comment section below. I can also be reached at jukes@derbylisting.com. Thanks for joining me on my blog-venture!!

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Let’s Talk Communication

Being a teammate can be hard sometimes

Communication doesn’t need to just happen on the track. Roller derby leagues are organizations. They need to function efficiently, put on events and raise money. However, when you put a group of folk together on a regular basis, tensions can flare. It can be frustrating at times, but that is a simple fact of combining people of differing interpersonal skills (and lets face it…tact). 

The not so secret ingredient for keeping tensions low within a league is respectful communication. With emphasis on “respectful”. I’ve seen many a conversation explode due to  one disrespectful or inflammatory comment added after hurt feelings. Communication is hard, but important. 

There are a lot more leagues choosing to handle the majority of league communication on a forum or private Facebook page. This is fine, but there’s something about written communication behind a computer screen. It somehow makes people forget that they are talking to another human with feelings. We’ve all seen it. If you scroll through social media you’re bound to find at least one post that is a dumpster fire of emotions riddled with popcorn eating memes. It’s become the norm on social media today. However, it shouldn’t become the norm within our leagues and derby community. 

So what defines effective communication? 

The first tidbit for effective communication is listening. I mean truly listening. You ever hear an inflammatory 5 second sound bite on the news and then hear the rest of the story and realize it was blown way out of proportion or miss represented the person who made the comment? Now think of a moment when someone has said something that struck a nerve with you. In that very moment you might have started formulating a sharp response to that comment. However, while you’re conjuring up the response the person is still talking and you’re missing all of the other points that they are making. Perhaps they are giving you insight into why they think a certain way. Give the person a chance to finish their statement, truly listen to each and every word then respond with empathy. 

Yes, empathy is tidbit number two. Let’s be real, we don’t know everything there is to know about all of our teammates (nor do we probably want to). We don’t know their upbringing, their current state of affairs, their fears, or their desires. All of these things and more play a role in why they say the things they do. Set aside your emotions and preconceived notions about the person and communicate with an open and understanding mind.

Perception rains supreme 

Keep in mind, that we ALL want what is best for our leagues. However, what’s best for the league can differ from person to person because we all see things through a different lens. We have different life experiences that shape our leadership and decision making styles. It’s okay and very normal to disagree. Just remember that perception is everything; doesn’t matter what you “meant” by your words or actions. What matters is how those words and actions are “perceived” by others. 

How does your league handle interpersonal issues? 

– Jukes

This is my blog. There are many like it, but this one is mine…

Please note, that my opinions, within this blog post and all future blog posts, are just that, my opinions. If you disagree with anything I say, please feel free to engage in respectful dialogue in the comment section below. I can also be reached at jukes@derbylisting.com. Thanks for joining me on my blog-venture!!

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Focus on What is Next

The wonderful thing about the new year, is it’s a chance to reflect on the accomplishments of the previous year. Life isn’t easy. It’s full of ups, downs, and unpredictable situations. But one thing we can always count on, is so long as we’re breathing another day will go by and eventually another year will come to a close. It’s easy to get wrapped up in thinking about the things we failed to accomplish, the things we wish we had or hadn’t said, or the things we have lost. 

Did you set a goal last year and not achieve it? You know that is okay, right? You don’t have to harp on your failures. It’s a new year. Time has offered you a chance to reset and begin again. Reflect on the past year with the understanding that you are simply human, and as a human we sometimes fail. Use that reflection to adjust your goals for the new year and chase them with full speed. 2018 is done. There is no redoing it. There is only forward. 

Did you have an amazing year? Well done! Be proud of your accomplishments, but also reflect. Why was it a great year and how can you replicate your success in the new year? Set your goals and use the positive energy from the previous year to launch yourself towards that which you desire. 

For me personally, I had the most insane derby season of my life. Though I accomplished perhaps my biggest goal of the year, I can say it wasn’t all rainbows and happiness. I don’t think I truly knew what I was getting myself into when I set my mind to try out for a D1 travel team. Honestly, it was a pretty tough year. Mentally, physically, all of the above. A lot of things I’m passionate about fell to side as I focused all of my energy on derby. There are moments from the year I wish I could undo or change but in the end, as I reflect on the year, there is no doubt that I grew as a skater and as a person. Those experiences are now part of me and have shaped me into the human I am today. As I’ve sat and reviewed the last year, I know my goals will be to focus more on self care and life balance. 

Happy reflection, friends. May this new year be full of joy, growth, and accomplishment. 

This is my blog. There are many like it, but this one is mine…

Please note, that my opinions, within this blog post and all future blog posts, are just that, my opinions. If you disagree with anything I say, please feel free to engage in respectful dialogue in the comment section below. I can also be reached at jukes@derbylisting.com. Thanks for joining me on my blog-venture!!