Summer Boot Camps and Tryouts
We will be holding our next open tryout session on July 11 at Foothill Skate Inn from 10am to noon. This will probably be the last opportunity in 2010 to join the Sac City Rollers as a new skater. Anyone interested in joining, either as a competitive skater or as a referee should read all of the following information carefully. Feel free to email our coaches for information on things you can do to prepare yourself for tryouts.
Please arrive before 9:30 as we have some paperwork for you to fill out before you can start skating.
The cost to attend a boot camp or tryout session is $10. Money received goes toward the rental of the rink and the cost of printing New Skater information packets. Skaters who have attended and paid for a boot camp session will not need to pay for tryouts.
Our practices are closed to the general public, but please check our calendar for dates and times of practices, and email our coaches if you would like to schedule a visit.
While you're waiting for the next Boot Camp or tryouts, why not take a look at the rules of the game and familiarize yourself with the sport?
What to Bring
Please wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move easily. We will be performing several drills that will test your flexibility and you will need to be able to move your arms, legs, and hips freely. A pair of shorts or sweatpants and a tee-shirt is all you'll really need.
We will have loaner skates provided by the rink for anyone who does not have their own. Roller Derby is played on Quad-style skates only, so leave those in-line skates at home! We have a VERY limited supply of loaner helmets, wristguards, and knee and elbow pads available, and recommend that you bring your own.
Read the Newbie Checklist over on Fracture to get an idea of what you should be thinking about in terms of attire and equipment.
League sponsors Bruised Boutique and Sin City Skates provide package deals (pads, skates, and wheels) at a savings over the combined cost of the equipment, and SCR skaters receive great discounts on equipment and clothing through these and many of our other sponsors.
BRING A MOUTHGUARD! We cannot stress how important this little piece of gear is to your safety. We do not have any mouthguards to loan out, so it's very important that you bring one with you to the tryouts. You can find them in any Sporting Goods store in the Football aisle. They come in various sizes so check the packaging to make sure the one you choose will provide a good fit. Many brands can be custom-fitted by dipping them into a pot of boiling water and then inserting them into your mouth and biting down to leave an impression as the mouthguard cools. We highly recommend this type of mouthguard to those that can't be custom-fitted. It'll cost a few dollars more, but your teeth will be much better protected.
What to Expect
During a Boot Camp or Tryout practice, you will be asked to try all of the basic skills that we will be teaching, such as:
- Proper "Derby Stance" - Knees bent, back straight, head up
- Skating Form - Long strides, smooth transitioning between feet
- Stopping - T-Stops and Snowplowing
- Falling - Falling to a single knee, falling to both knees, "falling small" (tucking in arms and legs)
- Balance - Skating on one foot, crossover turns, walking in skates
- Maneuvering - Weaving, skating while keeping all eight wheels on the floor
Safety is extremely important in any sport, so we teach all of our skaters the basic skills and make sure they can perform them correctly and can skate safely before we allow them to participate in full-contact drills and competitions. That said, Roller Derby is a contact sport and there is always a chance of injury, even during tryouts.
Current Practice Schedule
New skaters practice times are Sunday mornings from 9am - 11am and on Wednesday nights from 9pm to 11pm. Once you've completed your basic skills training and the coaches believe that you are able to compete safely, you'll be eligible to practice with the league's veteran skaters on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Is Roller Derby (and the Sac City Rollers) Right for You?
No matter what your skill level or experience with sports or roller skating, we want to encourage you to try out. Roller Derby is not for everyone, but you'll never find out until you try.
Our practices are tough and many skaters drop out along the way to finishing their training, but those that perservere will find the rewards worth the effort. We have two teams that compete against other leagues, both in Sacramento and around the rest of the state. There are also two intraleague teams - The Rude Girls and The Sweaty Betties - that compete against each other a few times each year.
You'll be expected to work very hard during practices and play hard at bouts, but after all of that's said and done, NOBODY parties harder than a pack of Roller Girls!