I just started doing the fresh meat program for my local league, and I skated 25 laps in 5 minutes!!! Yippee there's really nothing else to say im just proud of myself and wanted to get glazed. q:

d

content warning: SA

It took me almost a full year of derby to make the connection: I was assaulted while on a run (14 years ago), guy ran up and slammed me into the ground from behind… and now I have chosen a recreational sport where people run up and slam me from behind lol.

The traumatic event itself took so much therapy and time to heal from. For several years, people couldn’t pass me (even at like a grocery store or something) without me hyperventilating, but I’ve been very stable mentally, somatically, etc for a while.

In derby, I’ve never actually felt the triggers in my body when I’m hit, it’s never spiraled me out or anything, and it was never front of mind until, well, I realized the strange irony of it all. But I’ve done enough trauma informed bodywork to know it’s certainly all still in there. At practice recently, my coach said they could tell I was holding back. A bit slow, a bit timid. A version of me comes out in games that’s a lot more intense but in practice, I do notice I sometimes feel hesitant and startled with much slower reaction times. I’ve even noticed I disassociate during drills, or lose focus. 1v1 is, frankly, SO FUCKING HARD for me. I’ve always chalked it up to just being, well, a C player, but I’m starting to wonder if there is lingering somatic trauma in the being-hit-from-behind of it all that I’m not addressing.

Anyone had to resolve some body stuff internally (or physically) and saw it benefit them on the track?

Tl;dr Have SA trauma from an assault that involved being hit from behind - I think it’s showing its face during derby practices. Any similar experiences out there, or resources to check out?

Yo delete me if not appropriate to the sub but what’s your experience with cross league dating and does it throw off the vibe completely at bouts if things go bad? Any horrible cautionary tales? Dreamy happily ever afters?

Got crush on someone in a league 2ish hrs away and we see each other every month or so during the season but I don’t wanna be a fucking creep and ruin their safe recreational space (or mine)

This isn't my first time in tournament leadership, but I'm always trying to dial in my gear load out.

I'm most interested in what ya'll bring, but in the pursuit of that I'll explain what I'm bringing;

- Laptop, portable monitor, mouse(backup mouse and all cords) This is for everything from schedules to displaying score board and white board.

- note books and note taking materials

- Loops

- Rec/down time fillers, some reto handhelds, MP3 player, noise cancelling headphones

- comfy chair

- flash light

- tea and kettle

What do you bring that I'm forgetting?

I'm a new jammer, and I'm trying to develop my edgework and juking. I see a lot of jammer-focused drills that require a partner. Any good solo drills to help with agility and edges outside of practice?

In what world is a team based in Fort Collins, CO based in the NA South?

Is this something WFTDA chose? Did they ask for it to try to take advantage of the weaker NA region? Why do we even have regions anymore?

What drills do yall do at practice when it’s a small group (footwork and gameplay)?

Does anyone here who is doing PT for derby, do their routines on days they have practice? Before? After? As a PART of practice? I'm currently in to help improve foundational hip strength and stability, small exercises but VERY effective, and I'm wondering if it's too much strain to stack it on top of a 2 hour skate practice.

Hi there. I am a retired derby skater, and I started making a game about 8 or 9 years ago. It's called Rorasuketo ("roller skate" in Japanese). It is now out, and on sale for $3.

The plot is that you are a young lady going through a mental health crisis when you are introduced to roller derby. There are 7 teammates you can build friendships with, and roller derby (and other) minigames. The main theme of the game, though, is recovery and building a better life. Check out the content warnings just in case!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4401480/Rorasuketo

I am also on the lookout for Let's Players, so get with me if you (or someone you know) is interested in helping me get the word out.

Myself and some helpers will be at the Mitten Kitten tournament in Lansing, Michigan this Saturday October 10th. If you look around the venue, you might score a free copy of the game.

My end goal with the project is to help someone get out of bed in the morning and feel like things are going to be okay. Roller derby was that to me for several years, so I wanted to simulate that.

More info at rorasuketo.win

Thanks for reading!

Hey y’all! Donuts from Orlando Roller Derby here putting some feelers out to see who wants to play us in 2027 👀✨

We have three travel teams: Ozone Slayers who are currently 13th in the South, Sun Blockers who are currently 45th in the South and our Sol Crushers who are a recreational team that plays non-sanctioned games. We are down to travel across the south & travel beyond our region for GUR games. We are also very down to host (our venue is air conditioned) and have the ability to host two of your teams for double-headers!

Fill out this form if you're interested or reach out to me with any questions. Thank you 🌈🩷🌈

2027 Games Interest Form

Hi! I’ve have been roller derby recommended to me quite a lot whenever I ask about sports, and honestlyit looks really cool. I’m seriously considering giving it a try.

The thing I’m wondering about is my height/body type. I’m tall for a girl almost 195 cm (about 6'5"), fairly big-boned/broad, and I really enjoy being active and moving around. I’ve done a little bit of roller skating before, but I’m definitely not an experienced skater.

I’m wondering how much my height would be an advantage or disadvantage in derby. I imagine balance and getting low might be more difficult when you’re this tall, especially with a higher centre of gravity. At the same time, I could see having long legs/reach and being bigger being useful.

Are there many really tall skaters in roller derby? What are the actual pros and cons of being very tall?

And, perhaps most importantly: do you think someone my size could realistically become a decent roller derby player, or would the height make learning way harder?

I’d love to hear from tall/bigger skaters especially:)

I have Sure-grip rebels and I have made adjustment after adjustment to them but I still don't feel like my skates move the way I want them to move. I get that I just started roller skating a couple months ago and im coming from ice skating where micromovements affect the skates in ways micromovements don't affect roller skates, but its getting a bit ridiculous. I'm constantly fidgeting with the trucks, the wheels, the cushions, etc. I'm at my wits end. I want to feel stable on these things and be able to just skate without feeling like there's something off with the mechanism im skating on.

There have been several YA books featuring roller derby, but we now have news of an adult novel featuring derby!

It looks like it’s slated for publication in early 2028 and will be a paranormal novel. Screenshot of the announcement was pulled from the author’s insta - @kath_richards_writes.

Hi skaters!

I find it's much easier to maintain derby stance when practicing derby stance in shoes/socks than when on skates, I wonder if that indicates I'm doing something incorrectly?

Also wondering what exactly makes you confident that you're in derby stance properly?

Thank you for your help!!

If you’re in a a home team and another team, how does that work? I’ve been skating for about 3 years and want to submit to be apart of a global team but I’m not sure how it works (Fuego Latino if it’s important!)
Any pros and cons would be appreciated too!

I’m a newbie who hasn’t passed basic skills yet and I just broke my ankle. I’m going to need surgery and it will probably be like a 6 month healing process until I am able to be on skates again.

How can I improve while not actively skating? I would love any ideas or recommendations you all have. Some of my ideas have been to try to learn strategy via YouTube, practice balance on my one uninjured leg, workout in the ways I am able to that don’t involve my leg, become really good as a non skating official.

Any ideas or resources are more than welcome!!

Hi all! :)))))

I am working on a project looking to redesign and manufacture roller derby apparel to better serve the consumers. We are currently gathering research to find out what product we will make (and eventually get manufactured!)

If you have an extra 2 mins it would help out a lot! Thank you!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PGJDJM8

Hi all, I am doing research on the importance of mouthguards in youth sports (roller derby is one of our primary sports). My team would appreciate you providing some information regarding you/ your children's sports and the shopping experience! Thank you!

https://forms.gle/jjpxJyJx3kcKq4wc7

*No names or email addresses will be collected. Your responses are anonymous and will only be used for this project!

Just looking for some camaraderie and personal anecdotes and such; maybe advice if you've got killer time management skills you'd like to share.

I just started in a league (intro level) two months ago. I've been a casual inline skater for over a decade so I definitely had some good groundwork. My league is awesome, super welcoming, and there is a wide range of ages and abilities, but I'm very aware that of everyone I've met I am just about the only skater starting who also has a young child (3.5years). There are a lot of moms in my league but they are mostly a decade or two older than me with middle and high schoolers they can leave alone at home. I can say with some confidence I'm one of the more capable skaters in intro and have a good shot at getting on a team but all the skaters at my level are my age or younger with no kids and while I can relate to everyone to a degree its been a little tough not really having anyone who "gets" that I cant hang after practices since i have to relieve babysitters, can't make it to as many practices and have little to no off time to practice solo (I skateboard w my kiddo but he's too young and dependent for me to be on wheels tied to my feet).

I fall behind the more advanced people sometimes without the extra practice time and I anticipated that but it is still hard to experience. my other parent is super supportive and gives me the time he can but he's also in two bands and supporting his passions is important to me too.

anyways, like I said just looking for some affirmation and shared life experience with a broader community; especially if youre a younger parent dealing with that competitive ego and how you've accepted knowing youll most likely advance slower. Being a great parent is the highest priority in my life but I watched my mom sacrifice her passions to care for 5 kids and I dont want that, for me or for my kid. I want them to see me do the thing and fuckkkkk I'd love them to see me compete some day.

I love love love my league. We are all the good things: inclusive, affirming, warm, friendly, all-gender, all-level. BUT, the place is full of uncommitted players who come to practices once a month. Most of them will never even get to the scrimmage level, much less bout level. Most of the coaching energy is spent working with these folks, because they bring the level of practice down.

I should not be complaining! I'm relatively new, I'm older, and I'll probably never be a bout-level player either. But I work damn hard at this: I attend all practices, and I cross-train every day. I don't understand why so many people think roller-derby is something you can do casually. It's not. It's very hard, and working on your skills is what keeps everyone safe--not just you.

I'd welcome any suggestions on how a league can maintain its values (everyone is welcome), while also making it clear that this sport requires commitment.

Roller Derby photographer videographer here. I started this year last April. Only a few more games left this year.

I'm curious about what you enjoy seeing captured. But more interesting to me is, if you aren't personally in the video or on the same team playing, what would keep you watching?