Most derby leagues I have worked with over my career take the attitude that their officials would tell them if they weren’t happy, right?
Wrong!
Most people that I know who volunteer at roller derby do it because they want a personal connection with the skaters. They are looking for something bigger than themselves to be a part of, and they’d really like that something to be as cool as roller derby. They WANT to invest themselves in a derby league. But it is up to the skaters to give them the reason to pick YOUR league.
It isn’t hard to get people invested in roller derby. There is that certain awe factor that happens when you tell your friends you are in roller derby and suddenly you are the most interesting person in the room. But it does take conscious effort.
Instead of assuming that people want to work for your league – I’m mean OBVIOUSLY it is the coolest around –you might consider assuming that there are over a hundred different leagues that they could be working for instead. It is up to the skaters to give the volunteers a reason to come back for scrimmage week after week and give up their weekends for bouts month after month.
Here are a few suggestions. But they are just suggestions. I am sure the best league around – and that’s yours- can come up with a whole list of their own.
- Say hello to the officials at scrimmages.
- Tell them thank you for being there.
- Try to realize that that once a week scrimmage opportunity is the only chance officials have to practice their skills. They are going to get things wrong. Isn’t that the point of practicing? And after all if skaters never made mistakes there would be no need of officials.
- Treat your officials like you would your co-workers. If you wouldn’t go storming across the office floor yelling “That’s f***ing bull***!” at work, you probably shouldn’t do it on the track.
- If someone does throw a temper tantrum, speak to them. Don’t let it become “culture”.
- If you disagree with a call, utilize your skills of diplomacy. Tell them you didn’t understand the call, and ask them to explain it.
- Those people on and around the track who aren’t wearing skates — they need love too. Probably more because most people never even know they are there.
- Make it a point to personally invite your volunteers to league events. It might just push them over them”maybe fence” into the “yes yard,” and it shows you know who they are.
- Show your volunteers you appreciate them. Give them a certificate. A poster signed by the skaters. Stickers. Whistles. A Hug. Whatever. Just show them that you appreciate their talents and skills.
- Include volunteers in your annual awards ceremony. You’d have no bouts without volunteers. There would be no “most feared blockers” or “highest scoring jammer” without the massive crew of non-skaters who help make your dreams become a reality. This includes the announcers and photographers. Who else chronicles your dreams?
- If there is one individual in the officials’ organization that is affecting retention or sowing seeds of discontent, deal with it right away. Don’t let the well that the league relies upon get poisoned.
- Follow up and follow through. Don’t let your volunteers get disenchanted because someone didn’t respond to an email for a month.
- Over communicate. It is better to let your volunteers filter out what is too much information rather than having them wondering what is going on, when, what time and whether or not their attendance is needed.
There are so many ways you can accomplish the same end, but the most important component is to be pro-active. Don’t wait until half your official squad is ready to quit: let your volunteers know that you are grateful they are part of your league and not that other league 5 miles down the road.
-Su Real
Okay, okay, this is perfect timing. I have always appreciated what the NSO’s do and the ref’s, but when I got a misconduct call last week, I didn’t apologize immediately like I should have. I let myself justify my behavior using the heat and the bad examples I’ve seen before. I am not going to forget how important our zebra’s are to my performance, our league and the sport and will apologize at scrimmage tomorrow.
I joined the same league twice and then left becuase none of the above items ever happened. Great article! Thanks!
This blog needs to go viral. Great post!
I love this list of ways to appreciate the people that help a derby run smoothly. I have only been part of the roller derby world since March, but it is the appreciation of my team and the way they constantly cheer on my efforts and skate their hearts out that made me addicted to them. We all seem to feed off of each others excitement and efforts. The harder they skate, the more fun it is for me to take their pictures. The more fun pictures I seem to get for them, the more excited they are to skate harder. All around, it is addictive to me and I can’t wait to take pictures of them again. But you’re right, if they weren’t so appreciative and accepting, it wouldn’t be near as much fun. And I almost lose my voice at every bout cheering from behind the camera. The refs that we have working with our team are amazing and as much fun to photograph as the players and they spend a lot of time working with our guys to help them be their best out there. Love this post!
Is that a bloody KNEE you’re not siwnhog or nasty road burn on a butt cheek? Look closely. It’s a way cool shot, that is one tough chick and I am sooo there Saturday night! Roller chicks RULE!!
Nice reminder, Su! As a skater I’ve found that it’s all too easy to get wrapped up in your own thing and forget how important the volunteers and officials truly are. We wouldn’t be able to do the thing we love without their support! I’ll be sure to post this in order to spread the love <3
I am head NSO for our league and at the last bout we made little thank you cards for all the NSOs. It wasn’t a huge gesture but one that they all really appreciated. I think it’s little things like this that matter the most! This post is great and something which every single league, old and new can take on board!
Might not hurt for the skaters to recognize their sponsors, in person, at the bouts once in a while too.
Love this post. As a freshie of 4.5 months, NSO’ing is very important for me, I learn so much from being in and amongst the game without yet having the skills to be on the track. At our monthly public scrimmages the NSO’s are never ever forgotten by the skaters – they all come into the middle, get on one knee and clap and cheer, sometimes it’s quite embarrassing, but it does leave that warm fuzzy feeling inside and, yeah, I will come back and NSO for you again next time. But I didn’t realise that this was such an issue elsewhere… Sort it out, we’re all human beings at the end of day, VOLUNTEERING FOR FREE…
Great post!! I’m putting it on facebook with the hopes it goes viral. Every league member should read this.
The point of practicing for both skaters and refs is just that, practice. To hone skills, judgements, calls.
It’s not easy to have hot headed people on either side of the line to contend with, after all, it is a sport and we have to be proffessional whoever we are.
I love this! I hope that every skater reads this and takes it to heart. Without officials, there is no roller derby, and we’re volunteering just as much time as the skaters. Many officials travel all over their region to make sure they are as good as they can be. THANK your officials and make them feel like they’re part of the league!