How Skills Make it into Gameplay

1) A new skill is introduced usually at a very low intensity level so that people know how to do the skill successfully
2) Intensity is upped while still just working on the skill (people hit harder, move faster, etc)
3) The skill is explicitly being used in derby scenarios (3 on 1's etc), that is, the drill is about using this skill in this scenario
4) The skill is used in derby scenarios that aren't explicitly about the skill (this means people have to think about whether to use this skill or not)
5) The skill is used in intraleague scrimmages (moving from once or twice to occasionally to regularly)
6) The skill is used in interleague scrimmages (moving from once or twice to occasionally to regularly)
7) The skill is used in games (moving from once or twice to occasionally to regularly)

As you can see, there's a lot involved in getting people comfortable using skills in games on a regular basis (think how hard it was to get people to tomahawk stop in games two years ago, I know doing at least one tomahawk stop in a game was a regular goal of mine that I failed at pretty regularly that season).  Not everyone needs all these steps for every skill they learn but most people need most for most skills.  From steps 4-7, the onus is on the actual skater working on the skill to use it as training can't make it explicit or else the skater will still only be using it when it's explicitly mentioned.  Also, people will routinely fail to perform the skill well or correctly at each of these steps so it's important not to judge others or ourselves when we fail at these and trust that we are closer to accomplishing that step having tried and failed.  Sometimes we jump around a bit also so we use a skill once or twice in games at the same time as using it occasionally in scrimmages, etc.

This is a long process so don't feel bad if a skill is introduced and it's not making it into your gameplay 6 months later.  Just keep plugging!  Being mindful of this process and continuing to work the skill in scenarios when it's appropriate should speed it up!