Controlling the pack

Today we did some scenario work in scrimmage, like when you have two blockers and the other team has four, or whatever, and we kept mixing up the numbers. I like these scenarios; it makes it much easier to see when to do what play. I'm still kind of a derby strategy derp though, so having stuff explained helps. And then I write it here so I can remember it and stuff.

This is what I got out of scenarios like 4:3 and 3:2, if you are the team with the more players:

1. If you have control of the pack (i.e. more of your players), there are a bunch of different things you can do to help your jammer. One thing that Smack said was that you should speed up and get in front of the other blockers, such that if your jammer is lead and coming up on the pack, them she can score the points off them first without having to try to get past her teammates.

2. If the other jammer is a while away, you can also force a split pack while the other blockers are holding your jammer. That way they'll have to release her before you need to jump in and stop the opposing blocker. (Of course, if both jammers are really close to each other, there's no point in splitting the pack since you'd have to yield to both jammers, but the above point about being in front of the other blockers still holds.)

3. Another thing you can do is stand on the side of the track (probably the outside) in a line until your jammer passes and then swing back in to form a wall before the opposing jammer comes in. This will prevent your jammer from having to crash into her own teammates, and thereby save a bit more time for her to get around the track.

4. Importantly, because you already make the pack, you don't need a goat to make up the numbers. Obviously. But it might mean that your blockers could get goated, so keep your eye out for that.

5. You also control pack speed, so you can speed off (not too ridiculously though) to make the opposing jammer work harder for her points. But it's tricky to do this and not also tire out your own jammer if the opposing blockers also speed up to try to catch you.

Yay. I'm slowly learning. I'm still a rollerderp but I think I'll get it eventually!