Interview with Nina Millimeter, WCR All-Stars
The 2009 WFTDA National Tournament is THIS WEEKEND! The WCR All-Stars first bout is on Saturday at 1:30 East (12:30 Central). If you can't make it to Philly, you can follow along online at Derby News Network. The full tournament bracket and schedule is available at Declaration of Derby's website.
Loco Chanel: You've been on the All-Star team for 3 years now-- this is your third tournament season and will be your third trip to Nationals. How would you compare each season?
Nina Millimeter: Wow, I can't believe this is number three! Time flies these days, for sure. Of course, it has to, when you're practicing 4+ days a week. Back in 2007, when WCR went to Austin for Nationals, we were completely unprepared for what we would face there (Texas hits hard like, whoa!). That season, we had one All-Star practice a week, and were encouraged to attend at least three practices a week as All-Star members. Now, we have three All-Star practices every week (including one on Friday night - that's dedication!), and attending three practices a week is a bare minimum. As a team, we have a much better idea of what it takes to get in shape for tournament season, and how fit you have to be to just compete at that level.
Aside from fitness, there is an important element of chemistry. All the practice together really helps us understand our teammates, and learn how to work with one another. While we have plays that we practice, each teammate I am partnered with has different strengths on the track, and learning how to play with someone and find a way to maximize those strengths takes time.
Can you describe what the few weeks before a big tournament are like for the team?
Everyone gets super pumped up, and we all encourage each other to go that extra mile to take care of ourselves and prepare for the tournament. We encourage each other to eat right, drink less (or better yet, not at all), and hit the gym a few extra times. At the end of every practice we give a team cheer, and I think it gets louder the closer we get to a big game or tournament.
In addition to being an All-Star and a Double Crosser, you'll be the Training Chair (along with Yvette Yourmaker) this year. Can you tell us more about what these off-the-track jobs for WCR entail?
Where to start? Yvette and I work hard to coordinate and manage all of our different sub-committees, which include Interleague, Officiants, Captains, Trainers, and Medics. We make sure that practices get scheduled, and that a Trainer gets assigned to them. With 5 league practices scheduled each week, it is a big undertaking. Thankfully, we have the wonderful Pominatrix at our side as Head of Trainers, and she has been doing a great job at keeping the practices staffed and our heads clear of worries. We also schedule drafts, coordinate budgets, help schedule All-Star games and home team scrimmages, and facilitate skills clinics for individual teams.
Our current undertaking is a comprehensive training manual for our farm team, the Haymarket Rioters. Along with their coach, Juanna Rumbel, we are writing a manual which identifies the skills needed to be a powerhouse derby player, and outlines how to go from being a girl who just bought skates to a girl with strong skating and derby skills. Each week of training builds off the week before, so it has been challenging to make sure that we aren't forgetting anything important along the way. It's been a much more difficult and time consuming project that I imagined it to be, and I can definitely sympathize with my teacher friends who talk about the hours it takes to get their lesson plans just right.
Next, we would like to put out version 3.0 of our Training Manual, which lists drills by focus and also includes complete practice plans. Our Trainers use the Training Manuals to run and plan their practices, and I always find it to be an awesome resource. We're also working on building a multi-part strategy clinic, an internal officiant review system (we don't just want to build the best derby players, we want to build the best refs, too!), and a train the trainers program to ensure consistency in our practices.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Meetings. Actually, I would like to take a moment to address Meetings directly:
Meetings, seriously, it's time we had a talk. You and me? We aren't really friends. And yet, every time I look at my calendar, there you are, scheduled as if by magic, waiting for me to show up and pretend I actually like to spend time with you. But I am putting you on notice, Meetings. I am done pretending! I hate you, Meetings, and I am officially telling you it's over. Please don't call or write, and delete my email address and cell phone number from your contacts list. I'm sorry to tell you this so publicly, but I've been trying to get the message across for at least a year now, and you just won't take no for an answer.
Meetings, seriously, it's time we had a talk. You and me? We aren't really friends. And yet, every time I look at my calendar, there you are, scheduled as if by magic, waiting for me to show up and pretend I actually like to spend time with you. But I am putting you on notice, Meetings. I am done pretending! I hate you, Meetings, and I am officially telling you it's over. Please don't call or write, and delete my email address and cell phone number from your contacts list. I'm sorry to tell you this so publicly, but I've been trying to get the message across for at least a year now, and you just won't take no for an answer.
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