Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November 2016 saw the delivery of the UK’s first Roller Derby Coaching Summit hosted by FCN Roller Derby Coordinator and Founder of Roller Derby organisation Rule 56, Maha El Nasser.
Over 100 coaches attended the weekend and were treated to some fantastic presentations and workshops delivered by some of the Roller Derby communities top coaches including Nadia Kean, Jenna Downing and Stef Skinner.
Stef Skinner
Topics of discussion included the coach-athlete relationship, how to avoid injuries, long term skill acquisition and the Importance of Networking which was delivered by FCN Founder Vicky Huyton:
“It was amazing to see so many female coaches at this event and whilst roller derby doesn’t necessarily have formal coaching pathways to follow, there was some excellent coaching practices and skills being taught. This is a community which is passionate about its sport and eager to learn and I look forward to supporting more of these events in the near future!”
Vicky Huyton – FCN
Rule 56 is provide practical resources, support, and opportunities for roller derby coaches. They provide coaching support and help with tasks such as
- working with club training committees to set up a new coach development programmes to build confidence & skill.
- building lesson plans and training narratives
- running training sessions for consistent coaching across leagues
- identifying ways clubs and coaches can cater for teams so that all abilities feel included
- implementing coaching systems so that a coaches skating doesn’t suffer.
The aim is to strengthen the roller derby community by forging partnerships with like-minded organisations and skatey people.
Speakers
NADIA KEAN
Nadia Kean has been teaching and coaching athletes of all ages and genders for over fifteen years. She believes that many athletes have untapped potential in the sport that they play, but sometimes it goes unrealized due to certain elements, including the athlete’s experience with their coach.
Nadia especially enjoys helping coaches unlock their inner coach so that they can help the athletes that they work with realize their true potential.
Nadia is owner of Get Smarty Coaching & Strong Athletic
She skates for Texas Rollergirls & USA Roller Derby
JENNA DOWNING
Jenna is the world’s number one female inline skater and ten times British Champion. A natural competitor, Jenna has a built up a series of accomplishments and has represented her country in major international events, scooping the NASS title three times over, winning an X-Games silver medal in 2002 and becoming LG Action Sports World Champion in 2008.
Growing up in a deprived area, Jenna had to work hard to get to where she is today. She now aims to inspire and motivate young people everywhere to achieve their potential.
Jenna is co-founder of Wheels Extreme.
She also works as Athlete Mentor, Speaker, Tutor, and Coach.
EMMA O’KERRY
Having volunteered with children the past and more recently fallen in love with Roller Derby, taking up junior coaching was an obvious step and I’ve loved it!
As the head coach of Leeds Roller dolls junior team, I’ve worked to integrate into the club and grow. Supporting the girls to develop from nervous skaters to confident Derby players is one of the most rewarding (and sometime challenging) things I’ve done.
Member of Leeds Roller Dolls
KRISTEN LEE AKA KITTY
I’ve played roller derby since the dawn of time in the UK (Nov 2006) with the London Rollergirls as well as a couple of years sojourn with the Victorian Roller Derby League (2009-2012) and a proud member of England Roller Derby for the 2014 World Cup.
You name it, I’ve probably experienced it! Skating, Coaching, Bench Coaching, Head of Training, Captaining, Director-ing always with vision and ambition to push the sport of roller derby forward.
Skater for London Rollergirls
Collaborator for Fitness Gone Rogue
