In Roller Derby, Going at Your Own Pace is Key

Roller derby is a sport that requires hard work and perseverance while practicing skills, drills, and strategies. While learning new skills can be fun and rewarding, it can also be frustrating when something just isn’t clicking — especially when many of your teammates seem to have picked up the skill with no trouble at all. One of the most important things to keep in mind no matter where you are in your derby journey is that everyone learns at their own pace.

We’re all unique — and so are our learning styles. 

Every derby player has their own learning style. Some learn best through pictures, diagrams, and videos. Some prefer to learn by doing, while others learn best through reading and writing. Throw people's personalities, motivations, and interests into the mix, and even two people with the same learning style still may take in information differently! So, embrace your uniqueness, and acknowledge that your experience is going to be different than anyone else’s.

You can go your own way.

We don’t just learn through different styles; we also learn at different speeds. Some players may pick up new skills quickly, while others may take longer to master them. Focus on your own progress and never push yourself so hard that you burn out and hurt yourself. And when things get frustrating, give yourself some grace. Would you talk down to a teammate if you saw them struggling with turn around toe stops? Nope! You’d probably offer some words of encouragement, right? Do the same for yourself.

Don’t let comparison steal your joy.

Comparing ourselves to others is a mental trap that’s easy to fall into, and it can be especially prevalent in a sport like roller derby. It's easy to feel discouraged when we see other players effortlessly executing moves that we struggle with. However, comparing ourselves to others only leads to frustration and can negatively impact our progress. Instead, celebrate your own victories! A great way to keep a pulse on how far you’ve come is to document your journey. Take progress videos of yourself working on a skill, and watch them a few months later. You’ll quickly realize how practice pays off.

“I recently skated in my very first bout, and I still have a ton of skills and techniques to work on, but not comparing my progress or abilities to my teammates' and instead just working against myself to get better has made a big difference.”

— Sugar & Spite (Bubbles)

Patience and practice are virtues.

Another important aspect of learning roller derby is being patient with yourself. Learning a new skill takes time and practice. It's okay to not get it right the first time — most of us don’t. What's important is continuing to try. Regardless of how long it takes a skill to click for you, approaching practice with motivation and dedication will get you there. No one starts out as an expert. Even your most skilled teammates started as newbies, and they’ve put in a ton of hours of practice to get to where they are. So show up, try your best, and stay driven.

Set realistic goals.

Finally, setting realistic goals is an important aspect of learning roller derby. You need to challenge yourself, but make sure your goals are achievable. Almost no one gets 27 laps in 5 minutes on their first try! Setting unrealistic goals can get you frustrated fast and can negatively impact your progress. Instead, break big goals down into smaller, more manageable ones and celebrate each accomplishment along the way.

You’ve got this!

Still not convinced? Talk to any of your teammates or derby players you know, and all of them will have stories of skills that took forever to click for them, times when they felt like giving up, and practices that left them so frustrated they cried. Nailing those skills is hard work! Remember that you’re not alone and that everyone has to start somewhere in order to grow. And remember that for every frustrating practice, you’re also collecting a list of your own stories and accomplishments to tell future new teammates.