OK, so, time for a little moan and a request for some advice please.

I am super chuffed to have moved up to the Friday training and being up for home team selection. I know that it is pretty standard to be a bit daunted by the steepness of the learning curve one encounters, and am fine with that.

My query is this - I have fallen pretty hard a few times last Friday and this Wednesday (yesterday), and although I am all for skating through the pain I wonder how beneficial it would be for me to hoik myself back onto my skates tomorrow and add yet more bruises to the collection.

Would I be better off coming along and skating as much as possible? Would it be ok to sit out at certain points and do exercises in the middle instead? Or would it be better to give my body a little time to recover and come on Sunday instead?

Am I being a wimp? Am I being sensible? Having never really done any proper training for proper sports before, this is a new marshy place of unknowns for me and any previously gleaned expertise would be welcomed!

Hey Barbie, just to say, you are doing AMAZING! You're right, it is a very steep learning curve, but S&T wouldnt have let you graduate if they didnt have every faith in your abilities!

Its always difficult getting hurt and knowing how far to push yourself. When i hurt my knee I kept going, and kept going and ultimatly made it worse than it needed to be!

I think it depends on exactly what your injuries are (you dont have to disclose them here, just something to think about). If you have a huuuge bruise for example I'd say skate through it, but if you have a sore knee/back etc then maybe think about what underlying problems there might be.

Ongoing injuries should be dealt with professionally, so I'd reccomend a physio or Dr if your having alot of problems. Its propaby best to let the coach who's training that perticular training session know, so that you can be excused from any full-on contact drills etc!

You're doing great, so stick at it! xxx

ack just keep going.

never, ever sit out without asking whoever is coaching.

If you're gettting bruised loads, slap on lots of arnica. Constantly.

If you think you've pulled something, maybe sit out for a session and see how if feels. If you come along to watch but are injured just let the coach know and you can watch from the sidelines (designated area).

Um - if you're just a bit sore, I'd carry on and really work on the falling thing!! Work on hit avoidance, agility, speed control so you can jump/avoid obstacles and falling properly on your pads without twisting yourself as much as possible! Make sure when you skate you are contantly looking about you loads. People always adverise when they are going to hit you.

It'll get better I promise!

xxx

yep. roller derby is hard, and it hurts! but you should be able to tell if the hurty bit is something potentially serious (eg a shooting pain in your knee or groin = not good) or just regular wear and tear from playing a contact sport (eg an insane amount of bruising, perpetual muscle stiffness = part and parcel of da game).

i am generally covered in bruises which hurt and look ridiculous. but only one has stopped me skating, because it was disproportionately huge and right where i hit/get hit/land.

i also generally feel like i'm about 75. but for all my whining i can carry on and do stuff (uh - or try anyway ). BUT when i strained my quad, i knew instantly that something was wrong, and that i couldn't/shouldn't carry on.

this is probably really unhelpful, sorry. basically you are looking really good so unless there is something wrong that will prevent you from skating normally - in which case seek professional advice - I would keep the momentum up and keep improving!