Do you have what it takes to play roller derby?

Published by Renegade Derby Dames, Copyright 2018.

Earlier this month, Hogtown Roller Derby’s (formerly GTA Rollergirls) annual fresh meat tournament, The Fresh and The Furious, wrapped up in Toronto.  As the name implies, it is a tournament geared to new roller derby skaters who have been playing for under a year.  With all the excitement that surrounds the tournament, many passing observers suddenly get the urge to try on some roller skates, and maybe even consider playing.  Below I have compiled a handy list to help you decide if roller derby is right for you.

Are you between the ages of 18-80?

This may seem like a crazy age range for roller derby, but in our sport, age really is just a number.  At the Renegade Derby Dames (RDD), we have players ranging in age from 18-49.  If you still think that being on the other side of 40 (or 50) is a reason to not play, see the example of Merby Dick, a roller derby player who started to play at age 70!  

For those with skaters who are under 18, there is a Junior equivalent as well.  RDD’s sister league, Alliston Junior Roller Derby, accepts girls ages 9-18.

Are you really tall? Super short? Doesn’t matter!

In roller derby, size really doesn’t matter on the track.  Thick or thin, short or tall, we want ‘em all!  Unlike other sports where certain sizes are valued over others, in roller derby, different sizes are welcomed, as players learn how to use their size (whatever it is) to their advantage.  Don’t believe me, check out these game photos, taken by Jeff Ostrander.

Notice the different shapes and sizes of the people in the photos.

Does the idea of hitting people and not going to jail appeal?

Fun fact, there are only two sports for women that have full contact: Rugby and Roller Derby.  Contact sports are fun, for both the players and spectators.  Yes, it does come with an element of risk, but so do things like walking downstairs or driving a car.  You could also choke on your morning coffee, but that hasn’t stopped me yet!  

For those who truly want to be on skates without the violence, skating officials are always in demand.  Unlike other sports that may employ one or two officials, roller derby can require up to 7 skating referees. As you can imagine, referees are in high demand!  Whether you choose to play, ref, or do both, roller derby will soon become that thing that will consume your thoughts.  You will often find yourself longing to get back on your skates!

Are you looking to have fun with a group of individuals who also like to spend time on quad skates? Meet new friends?

When I first joined Fresh Meat, I was looking for a different recreational activity to help get fit. I joined with a co-worker who had similar goals.  Neither of us expected we would make so many new friends of varying ages and from different walks of life. In fact, our first night at “Fresh Meat” we saw something completely unexpected before we left the car.  As we pulled into the Toronto inner-city parking lot, we stopped dead in our tracks as we saw what looked like a “tagged” car in the parking lot.  We were afraid for our safety, and afraid that my car would also be tagged if we left it here. Upon closer inspection, we noticed the phrase “honk if you love roller derby” sprayed on the car, and we knew we had come to the right place! My car was safe. Since then, there have been many wonderful moments and memories that have come about from travelling together to away bouts to helping out with various community events.  What started out as just a cool way to get in shape turned into lifelong friendships with people I might not have otherwise met.

Fast forward a few years, and life took me out of Toronto. I now live in a community just outside of Barrie, and one of my first thoughts was, “Can I still play roller derby?” Luckily, I found the Renegade Derby Dames in nearby Alliston, who were also a non-profit WFTDA league.  So, I made the transfer, hoping it would aid in helping to find new friends in my new community.  Similar to my time in Toronto, it made it easier to help find friends in my new community.  It has helped make the transition from city life to country life much more palatable.  

So, is Roller Derby right for you? I’d say if you were able to answer yes to any of the questions above it could be right for you.  To learn more, come out to one of our Boot Camps, or check out an upcoming home game.