Situational Scrimmage

Scrimmage is an essential part of a training plan - it allows skaters to work together on the track to try out all the skills they have been practicing, test out different strategies, and learn how to work with their team. Situational scrimage takes it to the next level by giving one team a goal or tactic for each jam.

There are almost endless suggestions for what instructions you can give to a team; these are ones I have used and found to be very helpful. Only give instructions to one team at a time, to allow the other team to watch and respond accordingly.

1. Everyone but the pivot plays defense
2. Force the jammer out of bounds and stop to make them enter behind you
3. Control the front of the pack
4. Get your jammer through on the inside
5. Aim for 3 jammer assists
6. Push an opposing skater out of bounds 3 times
7. Slow the pack at the start of the jam
8. Allow the opposition to hold the front and try and force them out of play
9. Make a wall of 3 at the front
10. Trap one opposing player and come to a crawl

If you have any situational scrimmage suggestions that work well for you, please leave a comment to share with others

Hold Up

Hold up the jammer as they come through by controlling your speed and working with a partner. This is an endless jammer drill that will help keep over-enthusiastic chasers in check.

Evading Can Openers

A few weeks back, I posted a how-to for killer can openers. This week, let's look at what to do when you are on the receiving end of one and how to avoid feeling the pain.

Lethal Can Openers

A well executed can opener can put the other team on their booty before they know what hit them. Bust this out when a jammer is lingering behind you, or when you are alone up the front of the pack.