Team Players

[Jamie]

Yay, practice starts again Tuesday. I have missed it.

[Jamie]

One of the Murderball guys just invited the girls team to their tournament this weekend. It's about an hour north and I REALLY want to go.

[Jamie]

Went on Saturday. Photos soon. What an amazing, inspiring day. Wow.

[Jamie]

I'm glad I finally got to see a roller derby bout, but it was about 1/100th as aggressive as I expected. I kind of want to try it, because I like the idea of a sport on wheels, but I'd pick rugby over it any day.

[Adrienna]

Exactly. What I've seen has been over-refereed too. Let the girls go!

[Lola]

One of my friends in Cincinnati plays.

Here's her blog about it.

[Jamie]

First game of the fall rugby season this weekend! Woo hoo!

[Jamie]

Ugh, what a let down. I woke up nauseous and never really got into the game. End of the first half, I got hit in the neck which started the gagging and I couldn't stop. Now I'm home on the couch, missing the social, and wishing I could throw up again. Sucks.

[Jamie]

I am really, really going to miss being a part of a team. I had no idea how powerful the dynamic of a women's sports team would be. I'm not going to play for Orlando's team. First of all, they probably wouldn't want me, and I also do not like how they play. My Ft. L team has games up here and I could always just travel to game day, and when it's possible, I'll likely join on. I'm already looking into sports-specific programs at that crazy gym we're going to join, to keep me in tackling and scrumming shape.

But it's not going to be the same. I am going to miss practicing a couple of times a week and all the extracurricular social activities. I'll miss quite a few of my teammates because beyond rugby, they became some of my closest friends. But I'm also going to miss the whole lot of them, being a part of a group focused on having fun and on winning.

Maybe I will find a new sport in Orlando.

[Jamie]

Next weekend, I'm headed back down south to help defend my team's state championship. It's exactly like last year, when the team in first place hosts the games, so we'll be playing in Miami. We have not done very well so far this year, but our numbers should be better for the Cup game than they've been for any game so far this season, and that will help a lot.

[Jamie]

Woo-hoo! I was wrong, Orlando does have an active roller derby team and they're recruiting right now. Just might have to go and check it out.

[Jamie]

There is also a women's football team. Also very interesting.

[Jamie]

I'm playing softball on Sunday, for the first time since college. It's a fundraiser for my friend Josh's team and both Matt and I are signed up. I have neither thrown nor caught nor hit a ball in years and I'm nervous about how rusty I'll be. I'm making Matt play catch this week and we're going to have to hit a batting cage, too.

[Jamie]

We signed up for another softball team, unaffiliated with the one we played on before. Short fall season, coed team, should be fun. Had to miss practice Saturday for a friend's bday party, but we went to the batting caged and played catch for a while yesterday. My wrist is a little sore and it feels weird when I type, but our first game is this weekend and I'm really looking forward to it. Matt and I will play catch a few more times beforehand, I think.

[Jamie]

My softball team is part of a league made up of only four teams. The other three are really, really good. We ARE NOT. We don't just lose. We only play like, 3-5 innings, because the rules state that if you are down by so many runs so many innings in, game over. Last night we made it to three.

Double header, next weekend. We're hoping that maybe, just maybe, by the second game, we'll make it to 6.

They have me at first. Second or pitching were always my favorites, but turns out first is pretty good because I enjoy getting people out.

[Jamie]

WE WON A GAME. For our team, this is like taking the Superbowl.

[Jamie]

Woo-hoo! I was wrong, Orlando does have an active roller derby team and they're recruiting right now. Just might have to go and check it out.

This team died, then another one was formed then died, and so I've just been kind of sitting back and watching what happens. They've had an active team for several months now so I felt comfortable attending a recruitment event last night. If all goes according to plan I should be attending my first practice tomorrow night.

[Jamie]

Guess what I'm best at? Falling!

[Jamie]

Last night was the best practice yet. I'm starting to get really pumped about this sport. I improve every practice and it's so damn gratifying. Rugby was awesome but it takes at least a year before you can even begin to know what you're doing. Derby is better for the reward centers.

[Jamie]

We had a boot-camp, mostly non-skating practice last night.

I'm liking derby, I really am. But a lot of those drills were very similar to rugby stuff and I have to admit I got a little wistful. I think rugby still has my heart.

[Jamie]

I got voted onto the team. I have a certificate and everything. Now I have to come up with a derby name.

[Heather]

Yay! Oooh fun, derby name. . .should it have your name in it, like Jammin' Jamie (lame suggestion, I know) or something, or can it be anything?

[Jamie]

It can pretty much be anything, as long as it's not deemed too close to a name that is already registered.

My own personal rule is no "hymen" puns because if I did that you might as well make my derby name "Jamie," considering I've been called both my whole life.

[tapestrygirl]

Congrats! I forgot to ask, are you doing flat-track or banked-track?

[Adrienna]

A friend of mine is in the derby up here. She had the worst time with her name. As a rookie, she'd been called one name; then the league decided it wanted to be more family friendly, so she had to change her name (although nonrookies were grandfathered in and didn't have to). Best of luck with the name choosing -- it's hard!

[Jamie]

Congrats! I forgot to ask, are you doing flat-track or banked-track?

Flat. I think banked track only exists in TX - there might be one in CA, but that's it.

It IS hard! And I'm pretty blank. I know I want to do something literary or nerdy but I can't come up with anything. (I've been working on trying to figure out a Rosie the Riveter pun b/c no one is using her yet but no dice.)

[tapestrygirl]

Racing Rosie...?

[Jamie]

Finally, we are learning some hitting. I felt like, "Ah. THIS is why I'm doing this."

I don't even know what it says about me that so far, the two things I'm best at are hitting and falling.

[Jamie]

This sport is addictive. My brain is full of strategy, all the time. First game 9/12. Can't wait.

[Heather]

That's great, Jamie! I'm so glad that you found something you love after rugby!

[Jamie]

So we're just 2.5 weeks from our first game. I invited most of you on FB just for funsies.

My team is the smallest, by far, and we also have a large proportion of alternates. Since as captain I'm in charge of the line-ups, this makes things really difficult for me. I'm also still only doing no-contact as I continue PT.

Still, I'm excited. I can't wait to see what it's like to play for real.

Also - I have a jersey, but have to figure out something to wear on the bottom.

[Adrienna]

I wish I could come!