HEAD NSO HANDBOOK Gravity Kills Roc City Roller Derby gravitykills322@gmail.com This is a workbook to facilitate running a roller derby bout from the Head NSO position. It includes equipment checklists, recommendations for staffing, and checklists for staffing. It is set up to be printed out and used for each bout. As such, some of the lists may seem to be in an odd order. For example, the list of bout day meetings and times are on the front page, because you re going to need to know what s going on when on the day of the bout, and it s easier than flipping to the middle of the document. Page 1: Pre-pre bout setup. Items and documents that need to be acquired before bout day. It also includes a list of important bout day times that you will need to know. Page 2: Staffing. This is an informational page that does not need to be printed out each time. It gives suggestions for how many people you need for a bout, and how to adjust your staffing in case of emergency or shortfall of volunteers. Page 3: Staffing chart. The chart at the top has spaces for each position that, optimally, needs to be filled. The form below it is for any bout-day adjustments that had to be made, and check dots for taking roll-call at the pre-game meeting Page 4: Start of pre-game checklist. Also includes a space at the bottom to note any duplicate skater numbers, any homonyms, and any numbers that could be misread as another skater s number (11 and 111, 25 and 125, etc.) Page 5: Remainder of pre-game checklist. Page 6: Halftime and post-bout responsibility checklist, and a post-bout equipment checklist to make sure everything gets back home. Page 7: Post-post bout. Things you need to do when you get home to complete your responsibilities as head NSO. Appendix 1: Sample letter to send to NSOs prior to the bout Appendix 2: Sample notes for pre-bout meeting
HEAD NSO CHECKLIST Pre-pre-game: Equipment: o 6 clipboards, minimum o 2 whiteboard-backed clipboards (if no score whiteboard person) o 3 small whiteboards (3'x2') o 2 inside penalty whiteboards (marked for minors and penalty minutes)* o pens (pref. Erasable), several (test to make sure they work) o whiteboard markers, several (test to make sure they work) o rags/erasers for whiteboards o 6 armbands in each of the teams' colors (penalty, score, jam ref, outside pack refs) o tape o 2 copies of penalty abbreviations (outside WB) or whiteboard sheets from Statbook o 4 copies each, preferably from StatsBook. (See Head NSO): o lineup sheets o penalty tracking sheets o score tracking sheets o penalty box equipment o 6 Stopwatches minimum* o 6 chairs o way to demarcate seat colors and jammer seat o timer and whistle for jam timer * Your league may use a single inside penalty WB, or less stopwatches. Head NSO: o NSO meeting notes o Know when meetings are going to be o Extra forms o StatBook set up with team, ref, and NSO information, IBRF printed o USARS bout reporting form set up with team, ref, and NSO info and printed MEETING TIMES: NSO MEETING: REFEREE MEETING: NSO REPORT TO CENTER: INTRODUCTIONS: BOUT START: DURATION OF HALFTIME:
STAFFING OPTIMAL (bout): o 2 penalty trackers o 1 penalty WB o 3 penalty box o 2 outside WB o 2 scorekeepers o 1 score WB o 1 jam timer o 2 lineup trackers TOTAL: 14 people Order of job merging: 1. Pull score WB, have scorekeepers use whiteboard-backed score clipboards 2. Merge lineup trackers 3. Pull penalty WB, have penalty trackers mark their own penalties 4. Pull one penalty box attendant 5. Pull one outside WB 6. Pull other lineup tracker (Lineup is a stats position. A bout can run without it.) 7. Pull second penalty box attendant 8. Pull one penalty trackers, use 2-up penalty sheets (last resort) 9. Merge scorekeepers (now illegal, but eff it if you re that desperate) BARE MINIMUM (Bout): o 1 penalty tracker o 2 scorekeepers o 1 outside WB o 1 jam timer/penalty wrangler o 1 penalty box TOTAL: 6 people (NOT advised. Ever. Pull people out of the stands before you try this at a real bout.) SCRIMMAGE BARE MINIMUM: o 1 penalty/scorekeeper o 1 jam timer/penalty wrangler o 1 penalty box TOTAL: 3 people (Sucks, but it works in a pinch.) Staffers: Should be reliable Should be trained ahead of the bout, at a scrimmage optimally Should be able to quickly get out of the way of flying derby girls and referees if necessary, and have no conditions that could endanger them if they are hit (e.g. pregnancy, broken arm, etc.) Less important for lineup trackers if they are well off the track, vital for all other positions. Should know that they are there to do a job, not watch the game If borrowed from another league, should get money for gas and tolls. Coordinate this with the league treasurer.
NSO POSITIONS Penalty Tracker Penalty Whiteboard Penalty Box Outside Whiteboard Scorekeeper Score Whiteboard Jam Timer Lineup Tracker *Penalty Box 1 should be the penalty box supervisor. Pre-Whistle Role call: o PT 1 o PT 2 o PW o PB 1 o PB 2 o PB 3 o OW 1 o OW 2 o SK 1 o SK 2 o SW o JT o LT 1 o LT 2
BOUT DAY Pre-Game: o Prep clipboards: o Lineup, each team, new sheet for periods 1 and 2 plus spare for overflow o Team name, lineup tracker name, period number at top, pens provided o Scorekeeping sheet, each team, new sheet for periods 1 and 2 plus spare for overflow o Team name, scorekeeper name, period number at top, pens provided o Armband in appropriate team color o Penalty tracking sheet, each team, new sheet for periods 1 and 2 o Team name, penalty tracker name, period number on top, pens provided o Armband in appropriate team color o Confirm rosters with the team bench managers, note any changes o Skater names and numbers, organized numerically on forms o Organize by number, ignoring letters and words o If the skater's number is a symbol, put her at the bottom of the list AND sort out what she will be called during the bout with the refs. Note that on the sheet and the board. (No longer WFTDA legal) o Note duplicate numbers and homonyms and call attention to them during the prebout meeting, stressing that they need to cite color AND number (see bottom) o Note confusing numbers/words/symbols and call attention to them during the pre-bout meeting, and sort out what they will be called by the refs o Prep whiteboards o Penalty Whiteboard o Write team names at top, on the side their bench is located (left or right) o Write skaters' numbers in the order they appear on the penalty tracking sheets, neatly and clearly o Have whiteboard markers and erasers at the ready o Outside Whiteboards o Tape lists of penalty abbreviations on back of boards (or form from StatsBook) o Divide the board in half, writing the team names or colors at the top of the halves, so that there is a clear side for each team's penalties to be written o Have extra whiteboard markers on hand for each board, as they won't have access to the equipment bin where they are o Have erasers on hand for both whiteboards o Score Whiteboard o Set up the same as Outside Whiteboard, minus the list of abbreviations o Penalty box o In appropriate location o 6 seating positions, appropriately marked (colors, jammer seats) o Line of No Return marked (continued) Duplicate Numbers/Homonyms
o Prep staff. o Make sure everyone is present and accounted for at least a half-hour before the bout, more if they have not yet been trained. You don't want to have to rush or panic as to where your team is. o Train staffers who need training o Make sure they know where their station and equipment is o Outside whiteboards o at 2 and 4, or wherever the OPRs will end their laps o find a good well-lit spot where they will not obstruct the suicide seats or referees o will be able to jump back if skaters or refs come flying at them o can see the penalty trackers' signals o Staff in the middle should be aware of the penalty whiteboard and know not to stand in front of it, as the coaches/captains/bench managers need to see it o Score WB needs to know where the scoreboard keeper is and work out how to know they are set with the score (e.g. thumbs up, wait for board to change) o Scorekeepers need to know who their jammer refs are, and who their score whiteboard person is (or, if no score wb, to signal their own score via the whiteboard clipboard. Work out signals as per Score WB.) o Penalty trackers need to know o where the outside whiteboards are (and can see them clearly) o who to flag down in case of a skater getting 4 minors (IPR, jam ref only if it s his jammer) o how to communicate with the penalty box in case a skater gets multiple minutes in the box o a signal to flash the outside whiteboards to let them know a penalty has been noted (thumbs-up) o to grab an inside pack ref or the head ref in case of need for official time out o Jam timer o has a stopwatch and a whistle o knows how to use the stopwatch and whistle o knows to check with head ref before blowing jam on o knows when to start and stop the watch and what to time (jams, between jams, team time-outs) o Penalty box o has all needed equipment and staff (bench/chairs, signage, timers) o is versed on all applicable rules (jammer, multiple minutes, when/how to send skaters out, when/how to wave a skater off and how to communicate it to a ref, etc) o knows who to flag down in case of a problem/waved-off skater/etc. o Lineup trackers are in a good position to see skater numbers and the penalty box o Make sure jam refs get their armbands o Make sure there are beverages available for the staff during the bout o Make sure staff know where to stow their stuff (usually the ref's locker room) For more training info, see NSO position-specific manuals
Halftime o Check sheets o Score o Verify running total (or have them verify each other), make sure it gets transferred to the second period sheets o Make sure they know they'll be following the jam ref to the other team and trade armbands accordingly o Penalty o Make sure minors and penalty minutes are shaded in on the second period's sheet o If penalty trackers are also moving over with the jam ref, make sure they know o Talk to penalty box supervisor, make sure there are no special situations or problems o Talk to head ref, make sure there are no problems o Talk to all staff, make sure there are no problems o Correct any problems o Make sure there are still beverages in the middle for staff consumption Post-Bout o Gather sheets from all staffers, make sure you have all of them (4 penalty sheets, 4 lineup sheets plus spares, 4 score sheets plus spares) o Verify score total o Thank staff profusely. They deserve it. o Make sure any visiting NSOs get gas money (coordinate with Treasurer) o Complete IBRF and USARS bout reporting forms, get signed by captains and head ref o Pack up gear, make sure all of it is present and accounted for o Get contact information from other league so that you know where to send copies of the sheets o Jot down notes for game post-mortem meeting Post-Bout Pack List o 6 clipboards (or # used ) o 2 whiteboard-backed clipboards (if brought) o 3 small whiteboards (3'x2') o 2 inside penalty whiteboards o pens o whiteboard markers o rags/erasers for whiteboards o 6 armbands in each of the teams' colors (penalty, score, jam ref, outside pack refs) o tape o 4 each: o lineup sheets (completed, plus any spares used) o penalty tracking sheets (completed) o scorekeeping sheets (completed, plus any spares used) o Penalty box equipment o 6 stopwatches (or # used ) o 6 chairs returned o Way to demarcate color and jammer seat (recovered if reusable) o timer and whistle from jam timer
POST-POST-BOUT Immediately (within 48 hours*) after bout: o Scan or photocopy the bout forms o Send scans or copies to: o The other league(s) contact person (usually head ref or team coach/captain) o Our league's statistician and/or coaches o Enter data into StatBook o Send StatBook to o Statistician o Coaches o Other league o Keep originals in a safe place o Report score to DNN o Report next bout to DNN if it s not listed already *I like to get it done while everything is still fresh in my mind, and get the information out to those who need it as quickly as possible so I don t forget to do so. Not everyone does it that way, but I do. Within week of bout: o Attend bout post-mortem meeting, bring up any concerns or problems that arose from the bout o Make sure all equipment is in good condition o Replace any equipment that needs replacing o Restock pens and whiteboard markers as needed o Start training NSOs for the next bout!
Appendix 1: Sample Pre-Bout Email to NSO volunteers. This is what I send out, so a lot of it applies directly to Roc City. Items in red are points that can change per bout. --Please make it to at least one scrimmage before the bout if at all humanly possible, even if you can't stay for the entire thing. (LOCATIONS, DATES, AND TIMES) Thursday scrimmages have been running with two periods, so you should get a fair practice session even if you can only stay for one. --Bout-day NSO meeting is at TIME. Please try to be there a few minutes earlier so we can get started on time. *Preferably an hour before the bout. --If you have any questions or concerns about your position going into it, be there earlier. I'll be there at TIME, so I'll be around. --No TEAM or LEAGUE colors or merch. We're supposed to be impartial. I'll have extra uniform shirts for those of you without them to throw on over your clothes or what have you. They are grey and black police shirts. --Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are recommended. NO skates. Wear something you can dodge flying referees and skaters in. --Dress cool... GVA is a molten hell once it's loaded with people. --Please, keep cheering to a minimum. I know it sounds harsh, but we're supposed to be impartial, and we're doing a job. Pay attention to the job first. Also, please no texting during the course of the bout. At the half is fine. If the game is running, the cellphone is in the pocket. --A couple jobs require some extra work. -Penalty trackers need to confirm their rosters with the bench managers/captains of their assigned team, and put the appropriate numbers up on the penalty whiteboard. - Scorekeepers need to trade their sheets with each other at the half and check each other's math, and make sure they move to the other team with their jam ref. -Penalty box attendants need to help set up (and break down) the penalty box. (PENALTY BOX SUPERVISOR will let you know when to be there.) -After the bout, all paperwork positions need to get their paperwork to me. --Double-check your sheets to make sure you have the right period and team! I do my best, but I do goof sometimes, and clipboards can get mixed up. --If you aren't in a position that involves extra work, there's always something going on that Team Bitch needs some help with...especially since the two home teams are going to be the ones bouting this time. Please lend a hand if you can. --BE IN THE MIDDLE BY TIME (15 mins before bout start)!!! Else I get panicky. When I get panicky, I get VERY cranky. If the intros have started, you should be in the middle and ready to go. Please don't make me have to chase you down. If someone from Team Bitch* tries to draft you for a last minute job, politely tell them that you need to do your NSO job and cannot help. They don't always remember who's working. I hope that the uniforms will help with that. *Our bout production staff s nickname
--At the half, please be back in position preferably 10 minutes before we restart, 5 minutes dead minimum. Time slips away fast, and it's harder to chase people down when the game is starting in a few seconds. ADDITIONAL INFO (Can be individually mailed to volunteers per their positions) Expectations for Positions: Penalty Tracker: -Check roster with team bench manager before bout -Make sure numbers are written correctly on the penalty whiteboard -Shade in minors to carry over to 2nd period during halftime -Aggressively ensure that skaters with 4 minors are pulled off the track in a timely manner -To the best of your ability, ensure that all penalties are recorded correctly; use official time outs as needed -Anticipate penalties if you hear a single whistle blast. Watch the referees for hand signals. Listen for penalties. Stay alert. -Check to make sure the penalty whiteboard matches your sheet between jams when possible -Watch your outside whiteboards Scorekeeper: -Keep accurate score. Double-check math as you go. -At halftime, trade sheets with the other scorekeeper and double-check each other's math -Watch the jam ref and your jammer continuously. -If a question arises as to a point total or lead/lost jammer situation, address it as soon as the jam ends. Use official time outs as needed -Check the box for ghost points. Use correct abbreviations. -First period goes on first sheet, second period starts again at jam 1 on second period sheet Penalty Whiteboard: -Serve as extra ears and eyes for penalties, and be sure to relay the penalties you hear to the penalty trackers. Don't just draw an X and assume they heard it. -Watch the outside whiteboards and notify the penalty trackers if you see a penalty coming in. -Don't distract the other officials
Penalty Box: -All pitch in for set-up/tear-down of penalty box -Keep an eye out for communication from the penalty trackers and referees -Grab an outside referee if you need to communicate -If fans are interfering with the box, alert security immediately. If you need to, wait until the end of the jam and call an official time out to address the problem. -Pay attention to the job, not the game Outside Whiteboard: -Pay attention to the job. No texting, no chatting up the crowd behind you. -If you see an outside referee make a call, be prepared to write it down quickly -Communicate penalties to the inside staff as quickly as possible -Write clearly, large, and accurately. -Circle majors -Do not erase until the thumbs up is given by the penalty trackers Lineup Trackers: -Pay attention to the job, not the game -Be as accurate as possible -First period goes on first sheet, second period starts again at jam 1 on second period sheet -Watch the opposing jam ref, and make sure to check who is in the box. Listen for single whistle blasts to alert you to someone going to the box. Score Whiteboard: -Write large, clearly and quickly. -Show the score to the scoreboard, wait for thumbs up, show to benches and crowd, then erase. -Pay attention -Don't distract the other officials Jam Timer: -If you have not used your whistle before, practice a few times before the bout begins. Fox40 whistles require a lot of air, and it helps to get the hang of it before you have to start blowing sets of 4 quick blasts -Know how to use your timer. Practice with it before the bout begins. -Pay attention to your surroundings. Know if a time out has been called (official or team). Check with the head ref to make sure it's ok to blow the whistle.
Appendix 2: Notes for Bout-Day NSO Meeting. These are mostly reminders regarding the emailed info, plus any special items that come up on bout day. Introductions (each other, head NSO, head referee) Grab a ref if you need an official time out (Specify who to grab if needed. If you only allow the head ref to call official time-outs, let them know that.) Correct problems ASAP, between jams at the absolute latest No coaching, cheering, or letting them know if something's wrong on the track gameplay-wise (Unless it's a safety hazard, in which case immediately tell the refs.) Penalty trackers: o Make sure your roster is correct, o Make sure numbers are up on the board correctly o Make sure you re on the right sheet and write your name on it o BE ASSERTIVE. Every second a skater with 4 minors is on the track, her team is gaining an unfair advantage. Get your inside pack ref s attention and get them off the track. Penalty whiteboard: o Extra ears for the penalty trackers, o Confirm all penalties that you mark with the penalty trackers. o If you hear one they didn't, note what it was and tell them immediately Penalty box: o Help break it down at the end of the night. o Outside pack refs are stopping next to the box...grab them if you need to. (Adjust if needed. Let them know how to get a referee s attention) o Watch the inside NSOs and refs for possible second-penalty-minute notifications Outside WB: o Pay attention. o Watch the outside pack refs and anticipate calls coming in. o Write big. o DO NOT ERASE unless you get the thumbs up from the penalty trackers. o Circle majors. o Get them up as fast as you can. o No texting, no cheering. Scorekeepers: o Make sure you re on the right sheet and write your name on it o Check each other's math at halftime and game's end. o Check your math continuously. o Watch your jam ref. Your jam ref is NAME (introduce them.) o Check the box for possible NOTT points o Refs will swivel hands if a jammer lap point has been scored. (Or whatever signal you use) o Confirm score with ref at end of jam o Make sure the scoreboard gets the score! o Any other house signs (No pass no penalty, Did not break the pack) Score Whiteboard o Get cumulative totals from scorekeepers (or however your league handles it, e.g. per pass, per jam) o Hold it up for scoreboard until both the computer and overhead scoreboard ops get it, then hold it up for the announcers, THEN erase.
Jam Timer (Varies per league. Ask your head ref how s/he wants these items handled.) o Wait for head ref to be in position o Hand up at 5 seconds, chop for pack, chop again for jammers Lineup trackers o Getting correct numbers down is first priority! o Watch your opposing jam ref for passes o If they start in the box, it s pass 0 Duplicate/homonym numbers (Any duplicate, homonym, or potentially problematic skater numbers) Drink. Keep drinking. Have a beverage at all times. NO BOOZE. The cooler is LOCATION. *Our summer venue is hot as hell. We keep a cooler under the table in the middle of the track. Take a break at halftime and between bouts, but be sure to be at your appropriate spot with enough time to get settled and prepared. Check in with me at halftime and let me know if there are any problems I need to address. If a problem comes up during gameplay, grab the nearest referee (or whoever your league requires) and call an official time-out. Be back here NO LATER than 15 minutes to gametime! You can stash your bag/purse/gear in LOCATION. Don t get volunteered into any jobs that will keep you busy close to game start you are an official tonight. Questions? Last minute training?