Getting Ready for Derby

Here is something I wrote for the dgdrecruitment.wordpress.com website.  I wanted to post it here, too.  If you want to join derby, here are a few things that you can do to prepare.

Getting Ready for Roller Derby:

You’ve made the decision.  You want to play roller derby!  Here are a few things to consider getting ready for the Dead Girl Derby training camp:

1.       Attend a Bout!

No matter what you have seen in the movies or on TV, you MUST experience a roller derby bout live!  Attending the game will help you understand the mechanics of the game.  It will show you what you are getting into.  You may also be able to chat with some of the players before or after the game. 

Dead Girl Derby has three upcoming bouts:

                July 27^th at Kemper Arena

                August 17^th at Hale Arena

                September 21^st at Kemper Arena (Championship Game)

2.       Do Research!

Check out the history of Dead Girl Derby!

(Or whichever League you are joining)

Dead Girl Derby skates with the M.A.D.E. Rule Set. A good place to look is Skatemade.org.  At this website, you can take a gander at the rules.  It will link you to popular articles on M.A.D.E. Skating.  There are links to quite a few rookie specific articles.

YouTube videos of M.A.D.E. Derby games.  You can learn a lot by watching.  There are also lots of videos on skating technique.

3.       Budget

Make sure to add a section in your budget for Monthly Dues (can also be quarterly or yearly, whatever you decide works).

Skates and gear will need a space in your budget also. (There will be more posts on gear and where to purchase soon)

4.       Skate, skate, skate and skate some more!

Get on wheels!  Hit up as many open skates as possible!  Don’t worry if you do not have your own skates just yet! Rock the Rentals! Get confident on your feet.  Try skating faster each time! Practice those crossovers!  Try skating in derby stance for extended periods of time!

5.       Get in Shape

Roller Derby Boot Camp will test your fitness and you want to make sure your body can handle the different challenges thrown at it!

Try to spend 30 minutes/5 days a week doing some type of cardio activity.  Sprints and suicide drills are always excellent!

Strength training is great!  You will need strong legs and core!  Squats, lunges, calf raises and wall sits will help with legs.  Planks, crunches and pushups will help your core!  Don’t neglect the upper body through, you will need that strong for your balance.

6.        Stay positive!  It’s hard work, but you can do it!