Once again this month we are proud to show off one of our skater officials! Dual role members are really special, and bring so much to the league whilst also hugely benefitting themselves, as they have the insight to both roles. It’s something everyone should get involved with to some degree - even if you just NSO one game a year!
We’d like to introduce Jane Eerie - we won’t go on about her for ages; her words can speak for themselves.
Joined ARRG in: I joined in September 2013 as a transfer skater, having formerly skated with the rocKArollers from Karlsruhe, Germany.
Role in ARRG: Pivot/Blocker for the Cherry Bombers as well as ASR during the last season, dedicated NSO.
Favourite Position to Officiate: I try to be as well-rounded an official as I possibly can. I tend to get really engrossed in the ins-and-outs of the particular roles so I want to perfect all roles. I do love Penalty Tracking, however, as you are close to the action. It can get pretty busy and I get to be loud and assertive which is always fun. I’ve also recently gotten into Penalty Box Timing which is a role I used to underestimate. Working the position at A Skate Odyssee 2015 in Gent was absolutely amazing. Challenging, awesome, stressful but just so much fun - especially when you’re doing the paperwork and only have a single stopwatch to work with!
Your Derby Story - Why Are You Here?: I first read about it in 2010 in a blog and I was intrigued. At that time there were only a few leagues in Germany and none in feasible travel distance. A couple of years later my friend got involved in a new league and I joined. In the first couple years I commuted twice a week, up to two hours each way, to make it to practice. I took a fairly long time learning how to skate so NSOing was a way to feel involved. I also wanted to know the rules as they were something tangible I could master while my feet were still being skated by my skates. I travelled occasionally to other leagues’ games but what really got me hooked was my first tournament experience in December 2013 at the Dutch Champs. There is nothing quite like officiating a tournament. You’re on site from 8am to 10pm, usually working one-on, one-off so you quickly become like a little family amongst all the Officials. Between games you get high on sugar and coffee, do Journey sing-a-longs, and dissect world politics (or just geek out about derby). It’s honestly amazing, I can only highly recommend it.
Best Official-Related Advice: Take pride in your work and be humble. Take the time to perfect what you are doing. Ask for feedback and learn to accept and apply it, even when it feels harsh. The rules are your friend, as are your standard practices so study and appreciate them. Help others - officiating is team work! Travel as much as you can - officials work slightly differently everywhere and staying put leads to strange little oddities so get out of your little bubble as much as you can. And most importantly: enjoy yourself - officiating is hard work but it is also a hell of a lot of (no) fun.
What You Do For the League Aside From Officiating: Quite a few things. I’ve been a skater (blocker/pivot) on the All Star Reserves as well as the Cherry Bombers during the last season. I am also the bout liaison for the All Star Reserves and, most recently, have become the Co-Spokesperson for the NSOing side of the Officials Committee, with the wonderful Kirds’n Slay as my Co-Spokesy. I also tend to bake a fair bit for the cake stall.
Any Funny/Embarrassing Officiating Stories: During the last game on Saturday of SKOD we had just gone into a pretty long official time-out and I wanted to stretch my legs, having stood in the penalty box a long time. So I kicked up my heels and of course caught the chair behind me on which I had put my phone and water bottle and kicked it over with a loud bang - my stuff flying everywhere. While I sheepishly picked everything back up the Paris girls (their team area was right next to me) were cheering and tutting and “issuing penalties:” “Official - Misconduct, Low Block” with the appropriate hand signals. Apparently I blushed so violently that I’d have been visible in the dark.
Derby Hero: Anybody who gives up their time, money, and sanity for this sport. It’s a pretty amazing thing to see the dedication of people for the sake of the love of the sport. Officials are really more of a family and I’ve learnt from so many people along the way that it feels strange to single people out. However, I reckon I have to credit my deep appreciation to hard work and knowing the rules to Der Könich, my old league’s Head Ref who in his ever so blunt way really instilled a deep-seated respect for that side of Derby in me. Another major influence has been Record Breaker, my sister from another mister, who tends to give me perspective on most things derby and life. And the amazing and fabulous Pussy Panzerfaust of Metz - NSO extraordinaire and probably the only person I really do idolize a little.
What Do You Do Outside of Derby: I am a full-time PhD student at the University of Edinburgh. I write on New Zealand war literature, specifically on gender, national identity, and trauma. I also like to create things and to that end do a fair bit of crafting, writing, and baking amongst others. I also like long walks on the beach, poking dead things with a stick…
Fun Fact About You: I have a deep love for languages and have approximate knowledge of Te Reo Maori, Dutch, Spanish, and Latin and have given up on trying to online learn Cherokee and Tibetan just because, somehow, derby tends to eat all of my time… oops.
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