ROLLER DERBY 101

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ROLLER DERBY 101

• Brought to you by the Gas City Roller Derby
  Association

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(No Transcript)
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The History of Roller Derby

• Roller derby has not always been the contact
  sport that it is today. Historically, the roots
  of roller derby began when promoter Leo Seltzer
  began Transcontinental roller derby which was a
  month-long simulation of a road race between
  two-person teams of professional skaters. The
  skaters began their tour of the United States and
  became a popular spectacle for audiences in the
  1930s.
• By 1939, after experimenting with different team
  and scoring arrangements, Seltzer's created a
  touring company of four pairs of teams two
  five-person teams on the track at once, scoring
  points when its members lapped opponents.

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National Coverage of derby

• By 1948, Roller Derby debuted on NY TV as
  broadcasts brought out more spectators in the
  stands
• Roller derby continued to put butts in seats
  until late 1960s when interest declined and the
  sport as it was died out.

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RollerJam The Next Incarnation of derby
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From quads to inline

• Jerry Selzter (Leos son) continued the family
  tradition by creating Roller Jam in the late
  1990s early 2000s. He adapted the sport for
  television by developing scripted story lines,
  and rules designed to improve television appeal
  derby's popularity declined in spite of this

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DIY Roller Derby of TODAY!
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Everythings bigger in Texas

• 2001 was a good year for derby. In Austin, TX
  when a band of women got together to form Bad
  Girl, Good Women Productions --- the very first
  DIY incarnation of modern roller derby.
  Unfortunately, the She-E-Os of BGGW decided to
  go on a for-profit model of derby with themselves
  as the primary benefactors this caused a split
  in factions of the original league as the skaters
  (whom were paying for gear, uniforms ect) felt
  their concerns were being disregarded. A group of
  these women left the league and formed their own,
  non-profit for the skaters, by the skaters was
  their motto.

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Modern Flat Track Roller Derby

• The mothers of invention of the current model
  for DIY derby leagues were the The Texas
  Rollergirls. The league was formed in 2003 after
  the split from BGGW (now TXRD Lonestar
  Rollergirls banked track league). The 100
  skater-owned and managed flat track league became
  the first of its kind and became the model for
  leagues around the world today.

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Womens Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)
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WFTDA RULES

• Roller derby would not be the sport it is today
  without WFTDA. The international governing body
  for flat track leagues, WFTDA sets the rules,
  regulations of derby and also helps to advance
  and further the sport.

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CHECK OUT!http//wftda.com
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Derby News Network

• Derby News Network was founded in 2007 and is the
  destination for coverage of the sport of roller
  derby. Watch boutcasts, live bouts and get the
  latest news from this network. Every roller girl
  needs to check them out online.
• http//derbynewsnetwork.com/

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Oh Canada
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It all started in Alberta

• Oil City Derby Girls were the first league to
  form North of the 49. Since then, many leagues
  have formed representing cities and towns of all
  sizes throughout our country. Canadas governing
  insurance body is the Canadian Womens Roller
  Derby Association CWRDA.

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Gas City Roller Derby Association (GCRDA)
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Non-profit since 2009

• The Gas City Rollers became a on-profit roller
  derby league in 2008-09. Since then we have been
  training to play the competitive sport of roller
  derby. The guys and gals involved in the sport
  are committed to the community and have
  volunteered with many community organizations to
  make an impact in the community of Medicine Hat

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How it all works

• Fresh Meat Skaters
• These are our newbies, they train on the basics
  of roller derby falls, footwork, stops,
  crossovers ect. This training stage typically
  takes 3 months, but is individual per each
  skater. Skaters are expected to start reading the
  wftda rulebook and pass minimum benchmark skills
  to advance to full skate. Skaters must skate 25
  laps in 5 minutes to advance to next level of
  membership. Fresh meat skaters are expected to
  volunteer for game day and league events.

• Full Skate Members
• Here the rules and strategy of the game is
  learned. Skaters are expected to integrate basic
  skills with team and pack play. Skaters are
  expected to have a working knowledge of the wftda
  rulebook and will write a wftda rules test before
  they are able to bout. Skaters must maintain
  benchmark skills and rebenchmark annually.
  Skaters are expected to attend 60 or practices,
  volunteer for league committees and be in good
  standing to play.

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Membership fees Insurance

• Monthly membership fees for members 30.
• Fresh Meat pay 5 drop in to skate. This will not
  exceed 30 per month.
• Insurance fees are 45 per year. Fresh meat can
  skate 2 weeks before requiring CWRDA insurance.
  You will need to insured to skate, bout in our
  facility.

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The straight dope on gear

• Fresh Meat packages are recommended for beginner
  skaters. At the minimum you need, mouth guard,
  helmet, wrist, knee and elbow protection and of
  course, roller skates. Additional gear allowed
  can include shin guards, butt/hips protection
  ect.

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We recommend these updates!

• If you are really committed to learning this
  sport we recommend starting with better
  equipment. Some gear upgrades we recommend
  include 187 knee pads, Hired Hands full-gloved
  wrist guards, Pro Tec mouthguards, ABEC 7s or
  9s/Qube/Reds bearings. Sure Grip conical bushings
  (all colours). Gumball toe stoppers.

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Wheels, wheels, wheels

• There are indoor, outdoor and hybrid wheels. This
  is a topic that can be very specific to each
  skater. Wheels are probably the most costly piece
  of equipment of roller derby and you WILL be
  upgrading your wheels throughout a season
  (whereas the rest of your equipment will last a
  lot longer). Here is the quick break down of
  wheels

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Skate surface Wheel Hardness

• GCRDA practices on concrete floor that is
  considered sticky. Comparable to some leagues
  floors that are painted and very slick. What do
  you need to know about skate surfaces?

• Urethane Indoor wheels are made to perform on
  smooth surfaces and should not be used outdoor.
  Typical durometer of indoor wheel used in roller
  derby would rate 86A-98A the larger the number
  the harder the wheel. Its preference for skaters
  to like a certain hardness or combination of 2
  sets. Find a skater about the same size and style
  of skater you want to be and ask them whats
  their fav!

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Beginner wheels

• Many fresh meat start out with wider profile
  wheel that is a softer durometer ie) Radar
  Flat-Outs 88A. If you are an agile skater, this
  may not be the best choice for you. But newbie
  legs appreciate having more surface to push and
  crossover with to start. Although, you will want
  to upgrade to a slimmer profile wheel when you
  learn the basics and start to push your gear to
  new limits.

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Rolling on up

• As you get faster more agile a slimmer
  profile wheel that is harder may be a better
  choice. We recommend Heartless, Sure Grip MIDS,
  Radar Mojos, Sure Grip Demons, Atom wheels and
  Radar Pure.
• Tip! Before you buy, ask another derby girl or
  boy what they think of the wheels you are
  purchasing.

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Practicing outdoors

• Sure Grip Aerobics are cheap outdoor solution.
  These have a much softer durometer for skating
  over different terrains. Wheel hardness will be
  around 68A to 76A. Outdoor training will make you
  a more agile and well-rounded skater.
• TIP! Remember to purchase an extra set of
  bearings for your outdoor wheels.

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Getting to know your skates

• Skate maintenance is very important and it is
  recommended that ALL derby girls get to know
  their skates intimately. We recommend the
  Rollergirl Fresh Meat File a comprehensive guide
  to buying skates and gear and breakdown of future
  maintenance. There are also many videos, blogs
  and information online on skate maintenance and
  other topics. DO YOUR RESEARCH and you will
  become a wise derby girl.
• http//www.rollergirl.ca/misc/roller-derby-fresh-m
  eat-file.html
• TIP! Remember to rotate your wheels once a month
  so wear and tear on the urethane is evenly
  distributed.
• TIP! Wash your gear once a month to keep it clean
  and refreshed.

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You pass your benchmarks! Whats NEXT!
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Get your head in the game!

• Becoming a Gas City Rollers means playing roller
  derby! But before you bout its a great idea to
  get an understanding of the game
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v_T8izdlc-dY

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Being a part of the team!

• Gas City Rollers dont just kick butt on the
  track. We kick butt all over the community!
  Members of the team need to lend a hand,
  volunteer time and resources to host bouts,
  fundraise and team up with over non-profits to
  make a difference in our community!

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Time Commitment!

• We all have busy lives, families, school, jobs,
  relationships! But to join the crazy world of
  derby, you will have to commit your time and
  energy to the cause. To play you must attend 60
  of practices, pay your membership fees and be in
  good standing with the league. We practice
  approx. 2 x week from 630 to 8pm and YES dryland
  counts as practice time! Attendance at committee
  meetings, volunteer hours during game day and
  attending bootcamps and out of town games may
  take up extra evenings and weekends. Make sure
  roller derby works for you!

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We need refs! NSOs!
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Get involved with derby!

• Derby girls could not play without the support of
  their reffing crew, NSO crew and volunteers to
  make the game happen! If you are interested in
  reffing or becoming a Non-Skating Official please
  talk to the GCRDA ref crew

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New website coming!!!http//www.gascityrollers.c
om/

• We are relaunching our website online soon! This
  will include blogs, skater profiles, sponsorship
  information and much more. Stay tuned folks!

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Gas City Rollers are into networking!
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Need more info?

• Like us on FB!
• Get added to our group page!
• Email us
• Info.gascityrollers_at_gmail.com
• Talk to a member! We are wealth of information)