Preparing for Your Roller Derby Career

Preparing for Your Roller Derby Career by Rolly Ghost

You’ve sprouted the brilliant idea that you want to join roller derby, but all you know is that it looks cool.

How do you prepare?

The nice thing about many leagues, including Chicago-Style (CSRD), is that you can join without having skating experience or knowledge of the rules. CSRD hosts New Crew programs annually to teach you how to skate, how to play roller derby, and how to avoid a scolding from the refs. But if you’re anything like me, your excitement or anxiety may be enticing you to prepare yourself before starting your roller derby journey.

A great first step is to attend a game. CSRD hosts a home game about once per month throughout the majority of the year, and there are several other local leagues hosting games, as well. Watching a game not only gets you excited to play, but also helps you to familiarize yourself with the gameplay. You can also stick around for the after-party to meet skaters and ask them questions. You can also watch many games from the comfort of your couch via YouTube recordings or livestreams on platforms like Twitch.

Now the excitement has you thoroughly convinced this sport is your calling, but what if you’ve never worn skates a day in your life? CSRD accepts new skaters with no experience, but if you’re more comfortable getting started on your own, here are some tips.

1. Purchasing Gear:

   You can start your skating journey by renting skates at your local roller rink, but the skates often have a heel, whereas speed skates used in roller derby do not. You can learn to skate on either, but it takes some adjusting your balance when you switch between the two. If you want to skip the readjustment stage, you may want to purchase some speed skates to begin with. You’ll also want a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards, particularly if you are skating outdoors. Also, take notice of the wheels that come with your skates. Speed skates may come without wheels or come with indoor wheels. Make sure you purchase the appropriate wheels for indoor or outdoor skating. Skate shops online or in person can help you with this. 

   Visit two of our sponsors’ websites to check out gear: Bruised Boutique and Medusa Skates 

   
   

2. Learning to Skate: 

   There are many great resources out there for learning how to skate. Rinks typically host regular classes (see Coachlite’s classes here), and there are helpful tutorials on YouTube. One of my favorite online series is Dirty Deborah Harry’s School of Skate. Her videos helped me learn many essential skills, such as transitions and various types of stops. You can download a list of minimum skills you’ll need before playing in a game here. Once you feel comfortable on your skates, the minimum skills list can help you prioritize the skills you practice.

   
   

3. Where to Skate: 

   Skating at your league’s roller rink is the ideal venue for learning to skate. You’ll be using the same wheels as you will once you join, and you’ll already be used to the floor by that time. CSRD’s home rink, Coachlite, hosts several open skates throughout the week. I recommend that beginners attend adult skate nights, as they are less crowded and there are no child tripping hazards.

   If you prefer to have fewer eyes on you when you’re just starting, an unfinished basement, a parking lot, or an outdoor basketball/tennis court are great options. I did my pre-derby skating in an empty church parking lot and the parking lot of my local park. You’ll need outdoor wheels, but you’ll have plenty of space and fewer spectators. A parking lot is great for starting to skate laps at higher speeds, practicing transitions, starting crossovers, learning to stop, and learning to skate backwards. My only piece of advice is to make sure the ground is clear of large debris like stones and sticks before trying anything fancy. 

   
   

4. Join Us!

   The last step is to join us! Or join your local league if you’re from another area. You can reach out to recruitment year-round, or join us at our New Crew info night, which is typically held in March. We can’t wait to see you on the track.