Radzi Takes on Roller Derby Blue Peter Bite

This is Blue Peter, but mini.

Expect epic adventures, makes, bakes, badges, pets, presenters,

and your post.

We've only got five minutes, so get ready for your Blue Peter adventure.

The most important thing about any Blue Peter challenge is preparation.

You've got to know what you're doing,

and you need the right equipment.

So when I was told I was taking on roller derby,

I knew exactly what was needed.

My snazzy hair rollers.

Oh, no.

I've completely got this wrong.

Roller derby is actually a fast-paced,

frenetic sport on roller skates.

Created in America way back in the 1930s,

it involves players trying to lap each other round the track.

And it's now becoming popular here.

So I'm going to give it a go.

And Emma from the Leeds Roller Dolls is going to help me.

Or should I call her Tricksy?

Tricksy, where's that from?

It's cos I mess around on track, and everybody gets their own name in

-roller derby.

-And do I need to make my own name up for this?

That would be great if you could, I'm sure the girls will help you.

OK, that's definitely happening.

Tricksy has arranged for me to train with the girls' junior team.

But how do you play roller derby?

Well, two teams of five people go head-to-head on track.

They're made up of blockers and jammers.

Here, the blockers are trying to stop the jammer scoring points by

skating past them. Staying within the orange lines of the track,

the jammer has to try and complete a lap.

And they score points for every person they skate past.

I've seen how points are scored,

but I've never seen how you stop people from scoring.

How do you do that?

Well, what you have to do is use your body to stop them.

What we'll be doing today is positional blocking,

which means I can move in front of you and things,

but I can't throw a hit into you.

Do I need any equipment?

Yes, you need a couple of bits.

-Two wrist guards.

-Yeah, of course, yeah.

-Thank you.

-Elbows.

-For falling.

-Yeah, elbows. Yeah...

-Kneepads.

-And...

-For falling.

Skates. Probably for falling.

And a helmet.

-For your head.

-Right, OK.

Thanks, Tricksy. Better get my skates on.

Ha!

And now I've got my gear on, I've come up with my name.

Let me introduce you to R...

Radical Radzi.

Ahem.

Roller derby is a sport that both boys and girls can play,

but it does help if you can roller skate.

So I'm going to have a go at some training drills.

If you're going to play roller derby,

you need to be able to do our obstacle course.

-An obstacle course?

-Show him, girls.

What, that? Looks easy.

OK, it turns out it's not that easy.

It's fine.

The next thing we need you to be good at for roller derby is speed.

-OK.

-I was thinking a game of tag?

Amazing, I love tag.

OK, bring in the girls.

What, more?

# Here come the girls

# Here come the girls. #

The aim of this exercise is to try and grab a coloured bib.

It should get me used to quickly changing direction on skates.

I'm not very good at this.

But then...

Oh! We got a bib!

Tricksy, you've put me through my paces,

am I ready to hold my own against these girls?

Absolutely not.

OK, I've read between the lines, and I'm going to give it a go anyway.

Wish me lots of...

Here we go. One 30-minute game of roller derby.

I'm going to be the jammer, so it's up to me to skate past the blockers,

get around the track, and overtake the other team to score points.

Ha! Doddle.

Getting past those blockers and staying within the orange line

limits of the track is actually really hard.

Every time I go outside of the track...

Oh, no! ..it's a foul.

And although I'm a beginner...

this youth team aren't going easy on me.

I've scored...

no points.

The only way I'm going to get past is with a little trick.

Your shoelaces are undone.

I can't believe it worked!

I've made it past the blockers.

Now all I need to do is try and get round the track

and lap the other team to score some points.

But once again,

my skating skills let me down

and I go outside of the orange lines.

At least it's progress.

Maybe I can actually score points.

I just need to stay on the track.

I'm getting the hang of this, just about.

It's amazing what you learn with...

-Blue Peter?

-Yes?

Just to inform you, you've just got seven penalties.

-OK.

-That means you've fouled out, so if you'd like to

-remove your skates and return to your bench area?

-What?

I'm off.

I have left the track so many times, I'm out.

It just goes to show how tough this sport is.

And although I've absolutely loved having a go at roller derby,

I'm not sure my team is going to miss Radical Radzi.

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