First Bout Jitters

“There’s nothing like your first bout. You will never forget it!”—That’s what people say. That’s what they tell you. I’m sure it’s true, I don’t know for a fact because I just played in my first bout. I’m looking forward to many more, but I couldn’t help but wonder what other advice I needed to hear.

You probably feel nervous, anxious, excitable thinking about your first bout EVER. I was asked several times in the weeks leading up to it “How do you feel? Are you excited? Are you nervous?” No matter what I answered, there were words of encouragement. But I couldn’t really put into words how I felt. Mostly I think it seemed surreal. After training and trying to pass minimum skills for SO LONG, my brain was just in practice mode.

Are you panicking? I didn’t really feel the panic or anxiety until I was on my way to the arena that day. The closer I got the more my mind panicked thinking about the track, the people, the gameplay. My stomach felt like it did a flip. I felt like I needed to use the restroom—whether to poop or puke, I wasn’t sure. In that moment I was glad I had asked for some advice for getting ready to bout.

First Bout Advice:

Prepare. It’s bout week—make sure you have everything you need. Wash your pads. Clean your bearings and wheels. Don’t forget your mouthguard!! Put together your boutfit. Make sure it’s stuff you feel comfortable in, as well as appropriate for the floor you’ll be falling on (fishnets on concrete = ouchies). Know what you’re going to do with you with your hair/makeup. Bring stuff like deodorant, extra shorts/socks, duct tape, skate tool, laces, aspirin, small snacks, water, YOUR JERSEY.

Check your diet. Did you drink enough water? Be hydrated, but not so much that it’s all sloshy in your stomach. Eat smart. Apparently carbohydrates the day before is really good (or so I’ve been told by my coach). YAY! Eat ALL the pasta! Try not to drink alcohol or eat a bunch of junk food, though.

Know the details. Check with your coach for the itinerary (what time to be there, when to do warmups, start time, etc). Do you need cash for the day? Does parking cost money? Do you need a skater pass? How are intros going to be run?

Go poop. I had this told to me more than once. I thought it was odd, until I was driving to the arena. Your nerves make you feel like you have to use the restroom, whether you need to or not. Try to do it. Don’t forget about all the water you were supposed to drink, too. You don’t want to pee a little when you fall down—and you definitely don’t want to be worrying about it on the track.

Breathe. You’ve gone to enough practices, you have the skills, and you know how to use them. Just breathe. You got this. After the first couple of jams your nerves will start to calm down. This is your track.

Listen to your coach. They have so much experience and knowledge. Try not to take it personally when things happen. You might get pulled off the line up here or there, you might get a penalty you disagree with, your coach might scold you for something you did/didn’t do. Take it as it comes, listen, but don’t dwell. Have “Jamnesia.” Don’t sulk in what happened last jam. Last jam is SOOOOO over. K? Moving on.

Remember to have fun. This is most important. You joined derby to have fun—that’s most important to remember. Smile! Enjoy it; the bout will go so quickly you won’t even realize it’s already halftime. Leave your home-life baggage at the door (forget what’s troubling you at home, at work, wherever). Savor the jam and look excited to go in. Having a “derby high” is a real thing, and you don’t know what it feels like until it happens. Ride it. Adrenaline will also kick in, and you won’t feel those bruises until later. It all happens so quickly, so trust yourself and your team, kick some ass, and have fun!

If you have any bout-week rituals worth mentioning, leave a comment!

Thanks for reading, and happy skating!

Bitter Sweets <3

Last Blocker in green! First bout EVER!
(Photo by Steve Yates)