What Does the Roller Derby Skill List Include?

What Does the Roller Derby Skill List Include?
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A great majority of the roller derby teams are made up of women who could hardly skate when first going out for roller derby. This fact should be a comfort to anyone who is afraid of making a fool of themselves. If roller derby appeals to you, the only way you are going to get better is to simply lace up the boots and get rolling!

WFTDA

This stands for the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. They have several functions; mainly they serve as the governing body for roller derby, which includes;

  • Membership organization
  • Setting the standards, rules and regulations for the sport of roller derby
  • Sanctions flat track roller derby games
  • Hosts regional and national tournament
  • Sets safety standards
  • Provides roller derby insurance to athletes and leagues
  • Networking between leagues.
  • Shares resources with all the 78 WFTDA member leagues

They also provide a stringent roller derby skill list. A designated league member has to assess all new skaters prior to their first bout. This person can be the training coach, captain or other official recognized by the WFTDA. Each skill on the list must be signed off on and reassessed each year.

Roller Derby Beginning Skills

In general skaters need to get comfortable on wheels. If you don’t have your own skates yet, then get up to the roller rink and rock the rentals. You need to skate as often as possible.

If you do own your own skates, keep them on your feet while at home. You don’t need to be able to skate through your house, just walk from the computer to the kitchen, do a load of laundry ( as long as the washer and dryer are on the first floor, stairs are not recommended.) The idea is to make the skates feel like an extension of your body.

Eventually start challenging yourself. Go faster, attempt crossovers and start skating in derby stance. Derby stance is a crouched position where you lean over with your thighs parallel to the floor. Work on going around the track without lifting your skates; propel yourself keeping all 8 wheels in contact with the floor.

Intermediate Skills

Stopping is another roller derby skill to master. Work on T-stops and the plow stop until you can do them without thinking. Being able to stop on a dime, or slow down to match the speed of your pack is a necessary skill.

Falls are next on the skill list. These may take a little getting used to. Do not attempt any of the falls until you are properly geared up. Good knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, a well fitting helmet and mouthguard are not just for looks. They perform an important function by protecting your limbs for injury and unnecessary pain.

The falls to work on include; single knee, single knee 180’s, double knee, baseball slide and four point fall. Practicing falls helps you get over fear and teaches you how to avoid injury by “falling small.” Flailing your arms and legs make it hard for others to get around you on the track. It increases your risk of being run over and causing injuries. Getting up quickly takes strength, endurance and lots of practice.

Advanced Skills

The full list of roller derby skills can be found on the WFTDA website. This official list includes derby specific skills like giving and receiving whips, blocking, weaving, leaning and pushing. Knowing how to hop over unexpected obstacles and how to take a hit are skills that must be checked off on your master list before being considered for a roller derby team.

References

Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Roller Derby Rules. https://wftda.com/rules

CNN on Rollerderby as Exercise. Derby News Network. https://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/blogs/hurt_reynolds/2009/05/cnn_roller_derby_exercise_mnrg_cites_other_benefits