How to Skate Crossovers in Roller Derby
Skating crossovers is an important way to build up speed on the track in a roller derby game, especially when skating in the corners. Crossovers are vital for positions like the jammers, who must be the fastest skaters on the track.
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Instructions
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Prepare for crossover skating by performing figure eight sticky skate drills. Skate without any of your skate wheels leaving the ground, crossing one foot in front of the other and then circling your feet back around so the other crosses forward.
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Build the confidence that it is okay to cross one foot ahead of the other while skating. You need to trust that you will not trip over the skate that crosses in front because it's moving forward along with the other skate.
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Skate a crossover by picking up one foot and crossing it in front of the other and then pushing off with your rear skate. Repeat this while alternating your feet in these roles. This move cuts through the longer distances of the curves.
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Move to running crossovers once you have mastered a standard crossover. This involves picking up your feet at a faster pace while pushing your arms back and forth to help build even more speed.
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Tips & Warnings
Of course, skating crossovers alone is one thing. Skating while on a roller derby track with nine other skaters slamming into each other is something else entirely.
Many amateur skaters make the mistake of pushing out side to side (instead of doing crossovers), which works with inline skates. This won't work in derby, where quad skates are used.
