My first volunteer role at a SRDL was also my first ever live game of Roller Derby - I was penalty tracker, which meant I got to sit on the sidelines ('suicide seats') with a clipboard while Refs screamed the numbers of penalised players at me. It was very confusing, took me ages to work out '10&10' was a skater's number - not that number '10' had copped two minors, and gave me an amazing chance to get up close to the game.
For my second go as a Vollie I offered to go a bit more back-of-house, a tiny smidgen undercover, and volunteered to be on the door. Upon arrival I saw a mass of girls all standing next to two empty tables and was hit with the question: 'Will you handle money?' Ah ha - currency shyness! I've handled my fair share and so didn't have a problem saying yes. I very quickly realised, though, that this was a bigger job than I thought. Roller Derby makes good business sense, I realised as I collected money and stamped wrists. And there will always be the politics of dealing with committee-based organisation.
In my usual fashion I kinda took over, did all the little jobs I saw that needed doing, used my initative and scared the hell out of some less boucy people. Customer service is all about the smile, and there's not that much difference between collecting glasses in a packed nightclub and wrangling people in and out of a roller derby bout.
The day went of wonderfully, the new venue was amazing, and the Screaming Assault Sirens stomped all over the CBD'viants. It really hit home to me that Roller Derby really is a sport when I looked up from my table to see a guy in shorts and a singlet, eating a pie with sauce and drinking beer out of a can!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
This time the rumours were true!
A real actual skating rink will be opening these school holidays out at Oak Flats! According to Google Maps it is about 2 minutes walk from the train station.I'm just a little bit excited.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Biggest turn out yet
Last night we had 11 members on skates, on the track. Shelby Unkonshus counted back through the training book and this is the biggest turn out we've had yet. Kay Ottick was coaching and so we did a whole lot of pack work, some chunks of agility work, and there were no major injuries.
Photo shoot and whatnot on Sunday and then we're putting out the 'WIRD needs experienced skaters now' press release.
Photo shoot and whatnot on Sunday and then we're putting out the 'WIRD needs experienced skaters now' press release.
Monday, June 15, 2009
WIRD's Hot New Site
Our site has been polished up and reinvigorated by the amazing Drop Bear, webmistress extrordinaire!
www.wird.com.au
It just gets better and better.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
WIRD Media Info Pack
Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby Mission Statement Wollongong and Illawarra Roller Derby league (WIRD) aims to develop a group of committed and passionate skaters, in order to establish the competitive sport of flat track roller derby in the region. We are a non-profit Association, run by the skaters for the skaters, and dedicated to making roller derby an accessible and inclusive sport. Safety, athleticism and teamwork are highly regarded values for WIRD as we structure an empowering and enduring experience for the quad skaters of Wollongong and the Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia.
WIRD was founded in January 2009 and is an incorporated not for profit association
Our skaters are in developmental training and expect to be ready to compete by late 2009
The League is run by the skaters for the skaters and all money raised goes towards league expenses
WIRD welcomes support from the local community and aims to strengthen bonds within the Wollongong and Illawarra skating community
WIRD FAQs
What is roller derby?
Roller derby is a fast-paced skate sport where women compete for points and glory. It is played on a flat oval track between two teams and players wear quad style roller skates.
How is roller derby played?
A game, or bout, is broken down into two 30 minute periods, with each period divided into two-minute point-scoring segments called Jams.
Each team has five players on the track, with two of these filling special roles while the remaining three are called blockers and make up the pack. Skaters can be swapped out or change positions between jams.The skater at the front of the pack with the stripe on her helmet is the pivot blocker. It is her job to set the pace for the pack, keep up communication between her blockers and act as the last line of defence to stop the other team scoring. In special circumstances she may take on the role of point scorer.
The point scorer is known as the jammer and is identified by the stars on her helmet. She races the opposing team’s jammer and points are scored for each legally passed blocker. The hardest part of her gig is getting through the pack, good teamwork and communication can mean the difference between a fast lap and a slow crawl in the middle of the pack. The first jammer through the pack without any penalties can be made lead jammer which gives her the right to call off a jam before the end of the two minutes.
Isn’t roller derby a pretty aggressive game? Aren’t you worried about getting hurt?
Old school roller derby competitions and popular movies have represented roller derby as a violent and aggressive ‘fake’ sport where rules are ignored, hits, blocks and fights are staged and players’ safety is given little to no consideration. WIRD does not play this kind of roller derby.
Modern roller derby revolves around healthy athleticism, fair competition and the value of good teamwork and community building. A globally recognised body, the Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association, sets official rules for the sport. Breaches of these rules are punished by a trip to the penalty box, while violence, maliciousness and blatantly unsafe behaviour can be punished by ejection from the game, season or league.
The potential for serious injury exists in roller derby, as it does in many sports. To counteract this WIRD skaters wear a full complement of safety gear including: regulation quad roller skates; a multiple impact helmet; a fitted mouthguard; wrist guards, as well as elbow and knee pads. Players are also trained to skate, stop, and fall in ways which minimise the risk of injury to themselves or other skaters.
Where do WIRD skate?
As you may already know, all of the skating rinks in the Illawarra have been closed down over the last decade. This made things a little tricky to begin with and WIRD started out skating in carparks but since April 2009 have moved to training in a Community Centre hall.
One day WIRD intends to compete in the WIN Entertainment Centre though until then we are exploring several potential venues for bouts.
WIRD skaters can also be found skating in a variety of carparks and on bike tracks around the region. They appreciate happy greetings and cheers of encouragement if you see them out and about on their skates.
Who do WIRD skate against?
WIRD is still in developmental training and has not yet split into teams. When competition commences we expect to start with two teams playing a season against each other and then move onto playing other teams in the state.
There are currently six independent leagues in NSW and the Act: Sydney Roller Derby League; Canberra Roller Derby League; Newcastle Roller Derby League; Western Sydney Roller Derby League; Byron Roller Girls, and Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby.
All of these leagues are at different stages of development and there are plans to commence state-wide interleague competitions when all leagues are skating at the same approximate standard.A national inter-league roller derby tournament cannot be more than a few years off and by the time this starts WIRD intends to offer some serious competition to the roller derby skaters of Australia.
When can we come watch WIRD compete?
WIRD will begin short bouts or scrimmages for family and friends towards the end of 2009 and will be holding a gala event to launch our season in the first few months of 2010.
How can people get involved with WIRD?
WIRD is currently accepting female skaters who meet the ‘Basic Skills’ component of the WFTDA Minimum Skill Requirements to train as derby skaters. We also encourage male skaters to join up as referees and officials. Potential skaters will need to be referred by a WIRD member and are encouraged to join our Facebook group, attend a Meet and Greet (check home for more info) or email our Newbie Coordinator.
From August 2009 we will also need volunteers to assist with staging bouts, promotional activities and general riff raff. To jump on the volunteers’ list email wirderby@gmail.com.
WIRD FAQs
What is roller derby?
Roller derby is a fast-paced skate sport where women compete for points and glory. It is played on a flat oval track between two teams and players wear quad style roller skates.
How is roller derby played?
A game, or bout, is broken down into two 30 minute periods, with each period divided into two-minute point-scoring segments called Jams.
Each team has five players on the track, with two of these filling special roles while the remaining three are called blockers and make up the pack. Skaters can be swapped out or change positions between jams.The skater at the front of the pack with the stripe on her helmet is the pivot blocker. It is her job to set the pace for the pack, keep up communication between her blockers and act as the last line of defence to stop the other team scoring. In special circumstances she may take on the role of point scorer.
The point scorer is known as the jammer and is identified by the stars on her helmet. She races the opposing team’s jammer and points are scored for each legally passed blocker. The hardest part of her gig is getting through the pack, good teamwork and communication can mean the difference between a fast lap and a slow crawl in the middle of the pack. The first jammer through the pack without any penalties can be made lead jammer which gives her the right to call off a jam before the end of the two minutes.
Isn’t roller derby a pretty aggressive game? Aren’t you worried about getting hurt?
Old school roller derby competitions and popular movies have represented roller derby as a violent and aggressive ‘fake’ sport where rules are ignored, hits, blocks and fights are staged and players’ safety is given little to no consideration. WIRD does not play this kind of roller derby.
Modern roller derby revolves around healthy athleticism, fair competition and the value of good teamwork and community building. A globally recognised body, the Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association, sets official rules for the sport. Breaches of these rules are punished by a trip to the penalty box, while violence, maliciousness and blatantly unsafe behaviour can be punished by ejection from the game, season or league.
The potential for serious injury exists in roller derby, as it does in many sports. To counteract this WIRD skaters wear a full complement of safety gear including: regulation quad roller skates; a multiple impact helmet; a fitted mouthguard; wrist guards, as well as elbow and knee pads. Players are also trained to skate, stop, and fall in ways which minimise the risk of injury to themselves or other skaters.
Where do WIRD skate?
As you may already know, all of the skating rinks in the Illawarra have been closed down over the last decade. This made things a little tricky to begin with and WIRD started out skating in carparks but since April 2009 have moved to training in a Community Centre hall.
One day WIRD intends to compete in the WIN Entertainment Centre though until then we are exploring several potential venues for bouts.
WIRD skaters can also be found skating in a variety of carparks and on bike tracks around the region. They appreciate happy greetings and cheers of encouragement if you see them out and about on their skates.
Who do WIRD skate against?
WIRD is still in developmental training and has not yet split into teams. When competition commences we expect to start with two teams playing a season against each other and then move onto playing other teams in the state.
There are currently six independent leagues in NSW and the Act: Sydney Roller Derby League; Canberra Roller Derby League; Newcastle Roller Derby League; Western Sydney Roller Derby League; Byron Roller Girls, and Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby.
All of these leagues are at different stages of development and there are plans to commence state-wide interleague competitions when all leagues are skating at the same approximate standard.A national inter-league roller derby tournament cannot be more than a few years off and by the time this starts WIRD intends to offer some serious competition to the roller derby skaters of Australia.
When can we come watch WIRD compete?
WIRD will begin short bouts or scrimmages for family and friends towards the end of 2009 and will be holding a gala event to launch our season in the first few months of 2010.
How can people get involved with WIRD?
WIRD is currently accepting female skaters who meet the ‘Basic Skills’ component of the WFTDA Minimum Skill Requirements to train as derby skaters. We also encourage male skaters to join up as referees and officials. Potential skaters will need to be referred by a WIRD member and are encouraged to join our Facebook group, attend a Meet and Greet (check home for more info) or email our Newbie Coordinator.
From August 2009 we will also need volunteers to assist with staging bouts, promotional activities and general riff raff. To jump on the volunteers’ list email wirderby@gmail.com.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Great Venue Experience
Yesterday Neena SheMoan, Drop Bear and I headed off to look over another venue and chat to the manager about our skates vs their floors. Couldn't be more different to the slightly creepy trip a few weeks ago. Neena had made the contact for our rollerskating retrospective next year and it's also shaping up as a nice potential bout venue. We've already sent these guys copies of references from venues given to other leagues in Aus and this meeting is a chance for us to show the guy our skates and pads and check out the courts.
Neena got there a bit early to keep us covered and was drinking coffee from the kiosk when we arrived. Good PR move by her - our queen of subtle! By the time our contact turned up we were all there, huddled around, looking a bit derby and gawking at the beautiful acres of polished wood floors. I love those floors. The were covered with netballers and basketballers and so we didn't actually get to skate on them but the look perfect and have a lot more room around the track than we are skating with now.
So anyway, the venue wants our first skate to be in front of some floor specialists who will judge our impact from our impact. Amazing and rational. We're getting a date organised and then will have a special training sess while the floor dudes observe. Socks over the kneepads for this one!
All round it was a great meeting, we were excited, he got excited. Derby deserves floors like those!
Neena got there a bit early to keep us covered and was drinking coffee from the kiosk when we arrived. Good PR move by her - our queen of subtle! By the time our contact turned up we were all there, huddled around, looking a bit derby and gawking at the beautiful acres of polished wood floors. I love those floors. The were covered with netballers and basketballers and so we didn't actually get to skate on them but the look perfect and have a lot more room around the track than we are skating with now.
So anyway, the venue wants our first skate to be in front of some floor specialists who will judge our impact from our impact. Amazing and rational. We're getting a date organised and then will have a special training sess while the floor dudes observe. Socks over the kneepads for this one!
All round it was a great meeting, we were excited, he got excited. Derby deserves floors like those!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Great venue response
"Dear WIRD,
"Following our recent Board Meeting we would like to invite you to meet with the Board at 6.30pm, prior to our next meeting on July 6th to demonstrate your sport and perhaps overcome any concerns we may have regarding damage to our floor. Please let us know if these arrangements are suitable to you."
Lessons learned from this: Sometimes a bad experience can give you the oomph to make a great one; charming people for derby is so worth it; and nothing beats a good letter.
It's a beautiful floor!
It's a beautiful floor!
"Following our recent Board Meeting we would like to invite you to meet with the Board at 6.30pm, prior to our next meeting on July 6th to demonstrate your sport and perhaps overcome any concerns we may have regarding damage to our floor. Please let us know if these arrangements are suitable to you."
Lessons learned from this: Sometimes a bad experience can give you the oomph to make a great one; charming people for derby is so worth it; and nothing beats a good letter.
It's a beautiful floor!
It's a beautiful floor!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
WIRD's first roster
Submitted to the master roster at http://www.twoevils.org/rollergirls/
Cyclone Tracy - 739
DropBear - 505
Hoopanova - 369
Janis Drop’em - 80085
Kay Ottick - 818
Neena Sh’Moan - Three
Penny Nartsy - 187
Shelby Unkonshus - 138
She'Na Nigans - 909
Cyclone Tracy - 739
DropBear - 505
Hoopanova - 369
Janis Drop’em - 80085
Kay Ottick - 818
Neena Sh’Moan - Three
Penny Nartsy - 187
Shelby Unkonshus - 138
She'Na Nigans - 909
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