We all hear that watching derby is the single best way (off-skates) to get better at playing it. And derby is hecka fun to watch, right? But I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that you mostly don’t do it.
Why?
High level derby can be hard to watch if you’re not used to it. Plus watching derby and analyzing derby are two different things.
- How do you know what to pay attention to?
- How do you think about what’s happening on the track and apply it to what you might do on the track?
- It’s all moving so fast. HAAALLPP!
Here’s my contribution. The next installment in my “You Should be Analyzing More Derby” series.
The 2016 Vancouver Playoffs bout is:
Victorian v Angel City at 2016 WFTDA D1 Playoffs
The questions (and comments) below are to help you hone in on specific parts of the game and get you thinking like a derby analyst. These questions are by no means ALL OF THE THINGS that you could glean from this bout, but it’s a good place to start. You can download them in PDF version HERE.
The First Half
Jam #1 –> You can already tell what kind of bout this is going to be by this jam start. Angel City is taking the chance of breaking themselves up to disrupt Victorian’s cube formation.
Jam #3 –> Smart move by Victorian to grab the front with Angel City down a blocker. Why does this matter? How does it put them in a power position?
Jam #3 –> Early offensive set-up by Victorian in their jammer’s 4th scoring pass. The O parks herself between the back two of Angel City’s tripod and causes maximum confusion.
Jam #5 –> Angel City trying to squeeze Victorian to make room for their jammer on the in and the out, executed a little haphazardly. It is ultimately successful, but not executed as quickly as they needed on the limited time of a power jam.
Jam #6 –> Another smart jam start from Victorian using their larger blocker numbers and positioning to separate Angel City’s defense.
Jam #6 –> Jammers from both teams going directly at the opposing defense when their team has made room elsewhere. Might be nerves?
Jam #7 –> Victorian makes a conscious decision to send one back with their goat to create two 2-walls. Good move! It gives them a little better chance at defense in the back and it splits up Angel City’s targeted O.
Jam #8 –> Angel City is crazy sneaky with drawing these cuts. This could prove to be a problem for Victorian jammers.
Jam #8 –> Victorian’s ability to move together as pack is beautiful. It allows them to escape any real attempt at power jam offense from Angel City. Seriously watch this jam on repeat if your team struggles with running away together.
Jam #9 –> Due to the camera angle, it’s hard to tell which team started to run at the beginning of the jam. However, Angel City takes advantage of the speed to pull Victorian apart. It almost looks like each Angel City blocker knew exactly which Victorian blocker she was in charge of picking off. Surgical precision!
Jam #10 –> Angel City’s O in this jam showing what it looks to play smart, targeted offense to open up space for the jammer. Notice that she’s not trying to take out the brace, but one of the active back blockers.
Jam #10 –> Victorian jammer squeezes out those 5 points through patience and trust in the blockers to make room.
Jam #12 –> Great awareness by Angel City to keep Victorian from recycling through the pack and allowing their jammer to take advantage of that wide open lane.
Jam #12 –> More beautiful defense protection from Victorian, staying just out of reach of Angel City’s O and dropping a bridge with perfect timing.
TIMEOUT –> I legitimately don’t know why Angel City is calling a TO right now. It looks like they’re talking positioning. What do you think the reason is? (EDIT: This was a Victorian penalty, that was wrongly attributed to Angel City, which makes more sense.)
Jam #16 –> Both teams have settled into the game and you can see it in their game play. They are adapting to each other immediately on the track. So fun to watch!
Jam #17 –> Victorian uses their jam start to force Angel City into passive offense.
Jam #17 –> On the flip side, it’s very smart of Angel City recognize when they will (or in this case will not) be successful with a strategy and abandon it.
Jam #18 –> Free clinic from Bicepsual in one-on-one backwards blocking. NBD.
Jam #19 –> Penalty kill <3
END OF HALF –> Both teams started to poke at each other and get more aggressive at the end, this should bode well for an exciting second half. What will each team talk about in the locker room to stay in control of this game?
HALFTIME SCORE = VRDL 71 Angel City 82
The Second Half
Jam #1 –> Did Angel City pull that Illegal Procedure penalty? Why can’t I see all the camera angles at once!!
Jam #3 –> Sexy Beast is all of us during this game: “Oh my God, how can that keep happening?”
Jam #4 –> Victorian blockers took whatever they talked about during halftime to heart. Clean, controlled, aggressive, smart, CALM play. This is a defense that can win the game despite jammer penalty troubles.
Jam #7 –> “This is as much a battle of will as it is of strength and talent.” — TARA
TIMEOUT –> This one really is Angel City! Despite the fact that they’re still in the lead, this is wise. You can start to see some cracks in Angel City’s defense, they’re still building up the stamina to play at this level. (I’m calling the fact that they will be very dangerous next year.)
Jam #9 –> Angel City attempts to draw back the Victorian jammer which weakens they’re blocking wall. Good decision or not-so-good decision?
Jam #10 –> Victorian chooses not call it; they do need time with lead to build up the score and their defense has been hot. There will probably be more of this soon.
Jam #13 –> There’s nothing really to say. These teams are just grinding it out. Both executing where they need to be. Nail biter!!
Jam #14 –> The defense these last 2 jams is tight. NO POINTS SCORED?!? Even with attempts of O from both teams.
Jam #15 –> It’s worth noting that up to this point Angel City’s Satan’s Little Helper had a 100% lead jam rate.
TIMEOUT –> Victorian. They come back from timeouts fierce and together. This is a great use of the TO for them. Disrupt Angel City and get it together.
Jam #17 –> Uhhhh…this is where Angel City’s relative inexperience with games at this level comes out. (I think.)
END OF GAME –> That grind, tho. I’d be terrified to be the team that plays Angel City at Champs. Or Victorian. Either of them really.
FINAL SCORE = VRDL 143 Angel City 140
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