Orlando Roller Derby Team Strategy

Team Strategy for 2026

ORD Team Fundamentals

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1. Jam Starts (4)

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  1. Front (Sides/Pyramids)
  2. Front (Stack/Toblerone)
  3. Back (Goose)
  4. Back (Chase)

2. Plays (2)

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  1. O-Zone
  2. Scatter (Scatter/Points)

3. Mental Game

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  1. Rules understanding
  2. Derby IQ
  3. Resiliency
  4. Game Poise

4. Skills

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  1. Communication
  2. Skate Skills
  3. Stamina and Athleticism

2026 ORD Team Fundamentals

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TOGETHER

Jam Starts (4)

Notes:

  1. Prefer Front Starts
  2. Dynamic starts are GOOD! Watch what is happening and communicate
  3. Blockers should be comfortable in every blocker position
  4. Jammers read the Floater; Floaters read the Jammer

1. Front (Squish)

  • Floater moves to same side as Jammer
  • Tripod moves to "squish" Really is lining up one butt against brace and the other 2 as a 2-wall

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1. Front (Squish)

  • Floater attacks/moves opposition butts!
  • (Floater side) ORD Butt screens opposition brace away from line (inside or outside line)

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1. Front (Squish)

  • Jammer has a straight path to get through quickly
  • Ideally, ORD Jammer minimizes exposure to out of bounds and moves back to center

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1. Front (Squish)

  • (Floater side) Butt rejoins 2-wall to form tripod
  • Floater continues to help block opposing Jammer

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2. Front (Pyramids)

  • Floater moves to same side as Jammer
  • Tripod moves to other side (In front of opposing Jammer)

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2. Front (Pyramids)

  • Floater attacks/moves opposition butts!
  • ORD (Floater side) Butt moves opposition brace to the line
  • Remaining ORD brace/butt remain focused on opposition Jammer

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2. Front (Pyramids)

  • Jammer has a serpentine path to get through quickly
  • Offense continues to try and move opposition

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2. Front (Pyramids)

  • Floater will join the 2-wall to form the ORD tripod
  • Original (Offensive) Butt becomes the Floater

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3. Back (Goose)

  • ORD Jammer and Floater line up on opposite sides
  • ORD Jammer blocks opposition Jammer/Offense

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3. Back (Goose)

  • Tripod, Floater, ORD Jammer all suck back on the opposing Jammer

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3. Back (Goose)

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3. Back (Goose)

  • Once opposing Jammer is caught (<2s), Floater and Jammer run away

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4. Back (Chase)

  • When the Jammer and Floater find themselves on the same side

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4. Back (Chase)

  • Floater waits for ORD Jammer to be close, then acts as if they are Jamming and try to break up opposing tripod
  • Jammer works with Floater and runs through (might be behind or in front of each other)

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ORD Plays (4)

  1. O-Zone
  2. Scatter (Scatter/Points)

1. O-Zone

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1. O-Zone

  • Once opposing Jammer gets out, closest blockers run back to play offense for ORD Jammer
  • Other 2 blockers race to back of pack to S-wall and catch opposing Jammer

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1. O-Zone

  • One of the offensive players joins with S-wall to make a tripod
  • The other Floats

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2. Points (Scatter/Points)

  • Used during Power Plays
  • The concept is the same when we need "Points"

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2. Points (Scatter/Points)

  • Goals:
    1. To break up opposing tripod
    2. To hold at least 1 blocker to maintain pack
    3. NOT to be scored on (let go and race forward)

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2. Points (Scatter/Points)

  • 1, 2, or more blockers can race into pack to achieve goals
    • Scatter - usually 1 or 2
    • Points - everyone (with 1 holding a blocker just long enough)

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2. Points (Scatter/Points)

  • Jammer races in ready to score points and/or call off Jam

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Mental Game

  1. Rules Understanding
  2. Derby IQ
  3. Resiliency (Personal and Team)
  4. Game Poise

Rules Understanding

The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

  • Skaters should Read the Rules (click the link)
  • Regular Rules Discussions (in-person/virtual)
  • Rules exploitation

Derby IQ

  • Grow Collective Understanding Of:
    • Game Strategy
    • Gameplay tactics
    • All Things Pack
  • Requires Rules Competency
  • Expect: In-person and virtual discussions

Build habits to develop RESILIENCY

  • Practice Visualization
  • Use Breathing exercises like Box-Breathing
  • Journal regularly
  • Maintain a "Win-List"
  • Keep a "Gratitude-List" and share your gratitude with others

Game Poise

  • Grow individual and team ability to maintain composure and focus under pressure
  • Develop confidence in individual skills and team ability
  • Encourage quick and effective decisions during gameplay

Skills

  1. Communication
  2. Skate Skills
  3. Stamina and Athleticism

Communication

  • THE key individual skill leading for team success - MUST be a priority for every skater
  • Goal is for communication to be evident between:
    • Blocker and Blocker
    • Jammer and Blocker
    • Blocker and Jammer
    • Bench and Skaters

Skate skills

  • To play on Travel, skate skills are above minimal base level
  • Jammers should concentrate on all stops, turns, direction changes, etc
  • Blockers should concentrate on plows and hockey stops, as well as lateral quickness

Stamina and Athleticism

  • Training adjustments to encourage more rapid cycling during practice
  • Expect all skaters demonstrate strong effort during practice - URGENCY
    • Let a trainer know if you are unable to do maximal effort (injured or feeling off)
  • Expect additional activity and exercise OUTSIDE of practice

2026 ORD Team Fundamentals

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TOGETHER