1 October 2011

Fast starts

Jamming or blocking, being able to pull out a fast start can open up many opportunities. There are lots of different ways to start, and I have listed 2 of my favourites - the Down Start for jamming and the Up Start for blocking. Ready?

Down Start - for Jamming
This start is very similar to the start a sprinter uses. It's kind of complicated to explain only using words, so picture a sprinting start when reading this!
  • Place the toe of your right leg stopper down just behind the start line. Drop your left knee to touch the ground just behind the start line
  • Balancing with your left hand, extend your right arm behind you, staying in line with your back
  • On the first whistle, raise your left knee so you are in a half-crouch, balancing on both toe stoppers, leaning forward
  • On the second whistle sprint: take 3 running toe stop steps, then splay your feet outwards into a duck run for a few steps, then sprint as usual
Up Start - for Blocking
  • From your position behind the starting line, get up on both toe stops, staggering your feet with (preferably) your left leg behind, keeping your knees and hips bent and slightly facing towards your back leg
  • On the whistle sprint: take 3 running toe stop steps, then splay your feet outwards into a duck run for a few steps, then sprint as usual
 To Run as a Drill:
  • While stationary, run the skaters through the motions of each start
  • For the Down Start, place a pair of skaters on each side of the track where the jammer line would be positioned, with other skaters queued behind them off the track
  • Blow an initial whistle to queue when they are to change positions, then a few seconds later blow their second whistle
  • As the skaters complete the lap, come off the track and join the back of their line
  • For the Up Start, you can continue to run it in this format; alternatively place 8 skaters at a time behind the pivot line to simulate doing this start in a pack