A lot of people have learned a special secret during this pandemic — roller skating is FUN! Skating videos are all over social media, internet searches and sales of quad skates are up, while a nearly perfectly timed roller skate emoji works its way through release (it’s on Twitter.com!) This pandemic has been a horrific, nightmarish, traumatic event for many people, but quad skates have offered a bit of freedom and escape. Here are some great reasons to transition that new found love of quad skating into joining a roller derby league.
A Built In Adult Community
Do I even need to quote a statistic here? I think people living it know how hard it is to make new friends as an adult. Depending on the size of the league, joining a derby league can offer anywhere from a dozen to over hundreds of new folks to meet and build community with.
Beyond that, there is the broader derby community, where you can find like minded folks all over the world. Like quad skating and World of Warcraft? There’s a discord for that. Pretty much anything you can think up, there’s others folks on #DerbyTwitter who are also into it.
I don’t want to paint a picture of a paradise, you will also find people you don’t really vibe with, but this hobby allows for a pretty wide berth to avoid those folks and the governing body and member leagues are all working on beefing up the code of conduct to keep folks safe.
This aspect, the built in community, has made derby leagues a main hub for support during this pandemic. It’s even driven some folks back to derby who had previously left #retirementfail.
Go make some new friends!
I Would Join Derby But I Am Too _______
Whatever reason you can think of for not joining a derby league, there are lots of people involved in derby who already fit that identity. Too old? Tuety from Roc City is 67. The teams I coach range in age from 19–52 and 21–51. Too short? Some of the most iconic skaters in derby have been small in stature. Similar to rugby, roller derby can incorporate a wide range of people.
The community is also already known for its progressive policies towards gender identity in sport, with the governing body the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) taking a strong stance.
The WFTDA recognizes that identifying as transgender, intersex, and/or gender expansive is not in any way related to an individual’s eligibility for participating as a volunteer or employee. An individual who identifies as a trans woman, intersex woman, and/or gender expansive may skate with a WFTDA charter team if women’s flat track roller derby is the version and composition of roller derby with which they most closely identify.
The WFTDA will actively work to promote a climate that is welcoming and inclusive of transgender, intersex, and gender expansive participants. Any conduct which fosters a hostile environment for any participant on the basis of gender identity will not be tolerated. In addition, the WFTDA will continue to increase its knowledge of trans, intersex, and gender expansive issues through ongoing education for volunteers and staff. The gender identity of any and all WFTDA participants is considered confidential and private.
Further equity in the sport is an institutional priority, a major focus of the WFTDA’s strategic plan and driven by the growth of teams like Team Indigenous Rising, Team Philippines, Team Jewish Roller Derby, Team Iran, Team Black Diaspora and more.
Although not as wide spread, there are also many Junior leagues for people to join and also many Men’s leagues or OTA (Open to All) leagues.
Regardless of your sporting history, or lack thereof, there are people just like you already involved in this sport in some way.
Actually Competing Not For You? That’s Cool Too!
Contact and competition are not for everyone. Some people just prefer to engage with this sport in a different way and build other roles for themselves that are just as meaningful as skating. There are lot of really important roles in roller derby — skating officials, non skating officials, announcers, photographers/videographers, coaches, volunteers, fans and more — and all are just as important and valid as skating. The benefits are largely the same, a built in adult community for you to make new friends and try new things.
A Derby Name
One of the most widely known things about roller derby is the culture of creating punny/goofy names and building alter egos. You could be the next Scald Eagle, Bonnie Thunders or Freight Train!
Emotions Are OK In Derby
One of the best things about derby spaces is they typically allow for a wider range of emotion than most other adult spaces. Not every league has a ton of water signs, but some are chalk full!
Show Off Those SICK Skills!
So you’ve been putting in the work during this pandemic, re watching Whip It and levelling up your skating skills. Joining a derby league and putting those skills to work on the track is just a natural progression.
PUT SOME SKATES ON AND BE YOUR OWN HERO!
You Don’t Even Have to Like Sports
The Roller Derby community is full of people who hated sports growing up. Although it can fit within a traditional sports lens, derby also broadens that space and has made many folks realize an inner jock that they never knew existed.
If any of this convinces you, search for your closest league and shoot them an email about your interest. Although most leagues are not in the return to play phase to begin practicing, they can let you know when the next recruitment becomes available or if there are any current socially distant volunteer opportunities. Any other questions — gear, training, insurance, rules, resources, etc. — #DerbyTwitter is a great resource that can find you an answer.
Also click through and scroll the photos in this thread, this could be you!
Like what we do? Consider chipping in a few bucks.
