Image courtesy of Manish Gosalia
If you're seeking more ways to get to know your league, look no further! We stay very active on social media and have a very snazzy website, if we do say so ourselves. Check 'em out!
Who:
You will be trained by highly qualified BSB trainers. Don't worry if you have never skated before. You will be in good company! Most folks in our league never skated before joining. Know that everyone will progress at different paces. That's the whole point of how we run our program.
You will also be paired with a "skater buddy." This person will be your sage of the derby world. This skater or official has completed the New Recruit program and is there to answer any and all questions you may have. You will meet a lot of people in the first few weeks of joining. We know this can be overwhelming! Your skater buddy is there to help you navigate in any way you may need.
What:
The "New Recruit Bootcamp" is a sixteen-class non-contact skating and derby skills training. Some of the skills you will be working on include, but are not limited to:
Plow stops, T-stops, and speed moderation
Derby stance, balance, and stability
Crossover form
Falling safely
Where*:
Summer: Wallace Civic Center, 1000 John Fitch Hwy, Fitchburg, AM
Winter: Roller Kingdom Hudson, 5 Highland Park Avenue, Hudson, MA & Assabet Valley Collaborative, 57 Orchard Street Marlborough, MA
When (typically)*:
Summer: Sundays 10:00AM- 12:00PM; Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:30-9:30 PM
Winter: Sundays: Non-contact 9:30-11:00AM; L1 + 11:00AM-12:30PM; Thursdays: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
We suggest getting to practice 15 minutes early to give yourself time to gear up and get on the floor. Recruits must attend 50% of the program's practices to be eligible for Level 1 Assessments (make-ups are available).
Why:
We run the New Recruit Program as a slow introduction to roller derby. In short, this keeps you - and us - safe! This program builds the muscle memory you will need skating in or officiating the heck out of some games.
How much? Check out our page on "The Cost of Derby" for more information
We encourage you to wear whatever makes you comfortable. Some folks like to wear booty shorts while others like athletic pants. It's up to you!
Bulky sweatpants or long sleeves may get in the way of your pads fitting properly
If you'd wear it to the gym, you can wear it to derby
Remember you'll be squatting... a lot
Invest in good athletic socks if you're prone to blisters
We love SISU mouthguards they aren't as bulky as those ones you remember from youth soccer
Skates (skaters need quad skates; officials may wear inline, but quads are most popular)
Helmet (skateboard or hockey; no bike helmets)
Mouthguard
Elbow pads
Knee pads
Wrist guards
Most of us shop at The Bruised Boutique. We are lucky enough to have a short drive to Nashua, NH to do our derby shopping! This is wonderful because we get to try on our gear, chat with the experts, and we even get a 10% league discount! They have great discounted packages for new skaters, too!
Reach out to our recruitment team at join@baystatebrawlers.com!