Top 10 Derby Questions
Top 10 Derby Questions
10. Ah. So you Rollerblade?
We actually skate with quad roller derby skates. Referees have the option to use inline skates, but are strongly encouraged to use quads instead.
9. Don’t you need dyed hair and tattoo’s to play roller derby?
Many of our skaters are “normal” looking with natural hair color and some are clean slates (so to speak). During the East Coast Derby Extravaganza earlier this year, there was a Challenge bout called Tats vs No-Tats. I think Tats won, though. I could be wrong.
8. Where / how do you practice?
We practice at Haygood Skating Center 1036 Ferry Plantation Road Virginia Beach, VA 23455 (757) 460-1138. Practices usually consist of drills, endurance, scrimmaging, and speed.
7. So do ever get thrown over the rail?!
The Dominion Derby Girls are a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association(WFTDA) http://www.wftda.com/ We skate on a flat surface as opposed to a banked track. So no, we don’t get thrown over a rail, but we do, occasionally, land in the crowd.
6. DO YOU GET TO CLOTHES LINE PEOPLE?
As per WFTDA rules, infractions such as “clothes lining” or “throwing elbows” are prohibited and will get you sent directly to the penalty box; or even worse, ejection from the bout.
5. Do you ever get into fights with the other girls?
Fighting is an automatic ejection for all participants and may result in a suspension (WFTDA rule 6.2.14)
4. Doesn’t that hurt? /Don’t you get hurt?
Roller Derby girls are constantly practicing. We practice falling, hitting, tripping, and stopping so that when we do happen to get hit really hard or fall really bad, our muscle memory takes over and we fall in the correct way as so not to hurt ourselves. We also wear the required padding: helmets, mouth guards, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. Occasionally, some girls will succumb to an injury, but with the skill levels increasing, the tendency of those occurrences are decreasing.
3. I didn’t know they had that around here.
Well we’re glad you know now!
2. Are you serious? Do people still do that?
Yes and Yes! Roller Derby is the fastest growing sport in the Nation with coverage from CNN, ESPN, USAToday, MSNBC, NPR, and other respected media outlets, not to mention numerous books and even a movie in production directed by Drew Barrymore.
And the Number One answer we most likely get is:
I use to watch that on Saturday mornings when I was a kid!
Now’s the time to go and watch your local Roller Derby League bout on a Saturday or Sunday night! Support your local Roller Girl and especially The Dominion Derby Girls!!!
Uncategorized | Old Skool Beatdown | 
November 28, 2008 7:17 pm
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