BY THE SKATERS
EAST VIC ROLLER DERBY
FOR THE SKATERS
Freshies FAQ
If you've got a question about starting your skating journey, odds are it's answered here!
1
When do we train?
The times below indicate the time we need to be geared up and on track. Please arrive 15 minutes before the session starts to stretch and get geared up. Lets be ready to roll (literally) by the times listed below.
2
Where do we train?
We train and play on unceded Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung country. EVRD acknowledges the traditional owners of the land we train and play on, and pay respects to elders past and present.
On Sundays and Mondays we train at The Shed - Skate Victoria: Exhibition pavillion, Greaves Reserve, Dandenong, VIC, 3175.
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On Thursdays we train at in the gymnasium at Scoresby Secondary College. We recommend navigating to Cavell st, Scoresby for the right gate access.
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3
Can I bring people to training?
Yes! Children are welcome to sit on the sidelines and watch, as are parents, grandparents, and any other dependents.
They can’t come on track because of safety and insurance, but they are welcome to come along.
4
How do I pay?
You can pay in cash on arrival, or make a bank transfer into our account:
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East Vic Roller Derby
BSB: 013223
Account: 248996286
Reference: your full name
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Bonus points if you send a screenshot of proof of payment to evrdfreshies@gmail.com and evrdtreasurer@gmail.com.
5
Testing
At EVRD, we want to ensure the safety of all skaters before adding contact into the mix. To do this, we assess skaters’ skills to make sure they can participate safely and confidently, without risk of hurting themselves or others.
When a skater is successfully assessed, they can move up to the next level of skating. We have a lovely Testing Coordinator who manages all of this at our club.
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For Freshie skaters, we have a ‘rolling assessment’ model of testing, where your coaches assess your skills throughout the term, thereby avoiding the pressure of ‘testing day’.
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For skaters in levels above Freshie level, testing is held on the last day of term. Assessors will observe your proficiency in core skills for each level and determine whether you can safely graduate to the next level. Read on to understand about levels.
6
Levels
There are four levels at EVRD: Freshies, White star, Yellow star, and Purple star. Purple star skaters can skate in full contact drills and scrimmages, and if they meet certain other club criteria may be eligible to participate as a ‘bouting’ skater on the Witches of East Vic team.
7
Scrimmage
On Sundays at 6.30pm, we have ‘scrimmage’ - an in-house game between members of the club. This is a great way to build skills in footwork, packwork, communication and at upper levels hitting, as well as a way to truly grasp the rules. Even when you are a Freshie skater, you can participate in scrimmage.
8
Gear
Best local: We recommend going into Bayside Blades in Highett. The staff there live and breathe roller skating and blading. Matt, in particular, is an expert and can get you the right size, make and model of any piece of equipment. Bladeworx in Braeside or SoCal Skates in Richmond also accommodate roller skaters and are worth checking out.
Online:
Second-hand:
Handy Links
Skate boot: Boot buying guide, reddit forums
Plates: Plate buying guide
Wheels: Durometer guides here and here, Bayside Blades offer wheel hire so you can try before you buy
Toe-stops: Toe Stop Me Now buying guide
Wrist guards: Use this link to see the difference (not to purchase, it’s a US site)
Mouthguard: How to fit a Sisu mouthguard. Buy them from EVRD for $30!
Arm bands: Spank alley, Mathesar88 on eBay
Skate in-soles: RIEDELL R-Fit Footbed Kit
9
The Rules
Why do we only skate one way? And what’s a jammer? Does their existence presuppose the presence of a peanut-butterer? Get a handle on the basics of roller derby game play at the WFTDA website.
10
The Basics
When you start derby it’s not only the rink and the gear you’ll have to navigate, it’s the terms and the rules too. Here’s a quick and dirty vocab lesson ​ Bout: derby speak for ‘game’ or ‘match’ - 60 minutes split into two 30-minute halves. Played interleague. ​ Scrimmages: the term we use for in-house matches, typically used for practice, game play and practicing strategy in preparation for a bout. ​ Blocker: a skater whose job is to stop or block the other team’s jammer from passing while also enabling their own team’s jammer to score. Each team can field four blockers, including the pivot. ​ Jammer: the skater on the track who can score points. The jammer is identifiable by the star on their helmet. The jammer starts each jam behind the pack. After they have lapped the pack once (known as a non-scoring pass), they are eligible to score points for each subsequent skater they lap. ​ Pivot: a blocker who has the unique ability to, via a star-pass, exchange places with the jammer. The pivot can be identified by the stripe on their helmet. ​ Helmet cover: a stretchy helmet cover that is used to designate the jammer (with a star) or a pivot (with a stripe). ​ Jam: a two-minute period during which the action happens. The jam may last less than two minutes if the lead jammer decides to call off the jam. There may be any number of jams in a bout. ​ Lead jammer: the first jammer to emerge from the pack cleanly (that is, without incurring a penalty) is designated by the referee as the lead jammer. They then have the advantage of being able to call off the jam if they choose to. ​ Penalty: a rule-breaking offense observed and called by a referee. ​ Penalty box: when skaters commit a penalty, they must serve 30 seconds in the penalty box, which is timed by an NSO. ​ NSO (Non-Skating Official): NSOs undertake jobs like timing penalties in the penalty box, tracking penalties, keeping track of points, and collecting data for later statistical analyses.
11
Derby Names and Numbers
Choosing your derby name is a rite of passage for all derby players and is unique to the sport. When you start to play on the team you’ll need a derby name and number that’s unique to you. Stay tuned to the Freshie Five Newsletter, where we’ll go into more detail about how to choose a derby name and number that makes you feel strong!
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If you’ve got a name and number in mind, get in touch with our Membership Coordinator to check they’re free: evrdmembership@gmail.com
12
How else can I be involved?
If you decide that competitive derby is not for you but still want to be part of this fantastic community, you can become a referee or Non Skating Official (NSO) Referees are skating officials that keep the game safe and fair for skaters. They have a great understanding of the rules, and still get to be on skates and working in a team of officials.  After you have passed your Yellow Star, you are able to train with the referees at Sunday night scrimmage. This training is available to those who want to dedicate themselves to refereeing, or those who want to keep playing while picking up additional game and rules knowledge. Non Skating Officials help keep the game moving by timing, score keeping, and penalty tracking. These roles are a lot of fun and a great way to watch and learn about the game.  All skaters, including freshies, are welcome to NSO at Sunday scrimmage after their own training. Remember to bring a (healthy) snack to training if you plan to NSO, because you’ll be starving after your own training session, and wear or bring warm clothes when NSOing in the colder months (hand-warmers never go astray).