I’m pretty psyched to have one of my long-term derby video projects out of my production queue and out on YouTube.

This one is about the Pack and the Engagement Zone. It’s basically everything I would want to teach a new skater about the pack, why it’s important, and how to work it. One could write an entire book about pack strategy – but that’s a post for a different day.

Of course, I’d love it if people would just watch the whole video from beginning to end. But there are going to be some people too impatient for that. So here’s a virtual table of contents for what you’ll find in there.

An Introduction

0:25

Here I’m talking about derby 101. The basic stuff.

Pack and Game Play

1:14

Defining the Pack – what it is and what it isn’t.

The Engagement Zone

7:20

Reviews the derby actions/game play that require an engagement zone and how to identify that Engagement Zone (EZ).

There’s also a flow chart in this segment which goes over the pack/no pack and engagement zone/out of play flow chart and it’s impacts on the game. Covers the concept that sometimes the proactive strategy is to create no pack and how to manage.

Sample Pack/No Pack/Bridging Scenarios

13:49

In this segment several common scenarios are presented with a question and answer format for study and analysis. Includes forward and backward bridging, goating, and results of scrum starts.

Review, Summary, and Conclusion

28:50

Review how to find the pack and engagement zone. Reviews the activity that requires an engagement zone (and consequently a pack). Pulls the pieces together. Includes suggestions for studying and continuing education.