This is a compilation of my advice and advice from skaters from all over! Please checkout my review of the Riedell R3s and my full post on gear advice for more gear info or feel free to get in touch with me if you have questions. Experienced skaters please feel free to send your gear, attitude, and skills advice for new skaters this way as well.
Welcome to derby and enjoy!
New Skater Package Advice:
Bont Hybrid Boot $170 Pilot F-16 Eagle plate. $99 187 Pro Kneepads $55 187 FLY elbow pads $30 Suregrip Wrist Guards $16 Sisu mouth guard $20 Rollerbone Skate Bearings $23 Bauer 2100 Hockey Helmet $44 Tile Biters $95 in 92 and 96 or Backspin Revenge $68 in 90 and 95 PowerDyne skate tool $15 Bones bearing puller $16 Toe Covers $14
1. Everyone falls down. It never goes away. If you’re not falling at times, you’re not pushing yourself.
2. Progressing goes slowly. Focus on how far you’ve come.
3. If you think you’ve mastered a skill, you’ve stopped learning about it.
4. Going fast will become a joy not something to fear.
5. The quality of your gear totally makes a difference in your skating. But it isn’t everything.
6. Do both sides. Or you WILL regret it.
7. Watch footage. It will help with everything.
8. Listen to your trainers but do your own research. It’s your body, you know what feels right and how to make an action happen. There’s more than one way to do just about every skill.
9. Do away with that fear stuff. It doesn’t do you any good. It won’t keep you safe and it won’t make you better.
10. Right now you’re getting better tangibly every week even if basic things still frustrate you. Wait till you can do all those things and then you have to push really hard and then squint to find your improvements!
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“The number one most important thing every new derbier should know is that the way your mentor, big sister/brother, wife, captain, team, or league does things is NOT the only way to do things, nor is it necessarily the best way. Talk to people on other leagues or teams, and get involved in the larger derby community before you overinvest in anything.
By the same lights, if you don’t like something, you can change it. Don’t just accept something if it seems dumb or messed-up.
When you commit to things, keep your word, but if you’re not having fun, change what you’re doing. Don’t die trying to climb the summit of Mt. Derby. Derby can live without you.” –Drop Dead Gorgon, Green Mountain Derby Dames
“1. Get skates that fit right. 2. Fix your form at the beginning, don’t wait until after you have bad habits, it’s much harder to break them. Give yourself time to learn to just SKATE well before jumping into more advanced skills. 3. Don’t compare your progress to others and feel like you suck because others learned at a faster rate. Some of the very best skaters are the ones who didn’t get things quickly at the beginning but stuck with it.”–Rebecca Speedyrella Sheperd
“Off skates workouts are so important. I swear it’s the best prevention to derby injury. Squats, lunges, burpees, pushups, etc.
Don’t compare yourself to other skaters. You can never do something just like this person or that person. We all have our own style. Learn to be ok with how you do things and how you skate. Become the best you and embrace the skater you are.
Continue to cover the basics. You’re never too good for a drill. You can always improve your basic skills and tweak a drill to make it harder.” Fancy Schmancy, New Jax City Rollers
“1) this is a hobby, and you have a family, a job, pets…real things that need to get taken care of on a daily basis. If you get injured, give your body the time it needs to heal. Only you know what that involves. Don’t feel pressured to return before you are ready, because re-injuring the same thing only creates long range problems that could make your responsibilities hard to manage or could cut your overall derby career short.
2) Every single skater is different, and no one person is the end all on any subject….no matter how long they have skated, how many articles written, blog entries posted, or bouts or awards won. Second, third, and fourth opinions and perspectives will aid in your development.
3) A lack of follow through in any one area often can create an overall lack of faith in you amongst your league mates. It is unfortunate but well within the scope of reality. Be realistic with your level of commitment, to yourself and your league mates, whether that be for league production matters or on the track. Saying that you are going to pick up the fliers before practice and then not doing it and not asking for help can throw a big wrench into things…it can be that simple of a ball drop…big picture folks.
My name is Eloda Sarcasm, and I approve this message.”
“Be willing to take critiques, and self critique often!”–Mayday VaJJ, Green Mountain Derby Dames
“The one piece of advice I wish I had drilled into me when I first started would have been that it isn’t due to lack of skate skills that you find things difficult, it’s due to lack of leg/core strength. Suck it up, embrace the lunges, squats, planks, and burpees and the skate skills will come.”–Skary B. Cheezus
“I hadn’t been on roller skates for probably 20 years when I first started playing roller derby 2 1/2 years ago. I was also out of shape and fell down A LOT. I’m still not the greatest or fastest skater. That being said, here’s my advice:
1) Keep trying. Don’t give up.
2) Every time you fall down, GET BACK UP.
3) Ask the more seasoned skaters for advice and learn all you can.
4) Encourage your teammates. Don’t bring them down.
5) Check your ego at the door. YOU’RE ON A TEAM.
Advice from Pyra Storm, a not-so-great skater who doesn’t give up.”
“I have just one, really, and that’s to learn to skate really well! Go to speed, go to figure skating, go play with the jam skaters and skate outside as often as possible. The better you can skate, the easier learning roller derby will be.” –Psycho Sylvia, founder of Deraililng Darlings and currently guest coaching several leagues on technique
“Crazy big block toe stops- are great for a large framed skater.
Knee pads- don’t be cheap it should feel like falling on pillows- I like my killer 187’s
Wheels-try many till you find the ones for you- I am a fan of my wreakless mango 93’s…they are my go to wheel for ALL surfaces I trust them and they don’t fail me.” –Pumpkin CarvHer, Green Mountain Derby Dames
“1. You get out of it what you put into it.
2. Learn how and when to compromise (especially if you’re in a leadership position)
3. If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong. Take a break if needed, clear your head, and refocus on what it is that you love so much about derby.” –Bloodyknuckles Betty
“First, be patient. It’s a complex, challenging sport and very few of us know anything about derby in advance. Second, have fun! Third, seek as much opportunity as you can to get out beyond your own league. Derby is a great way to meet people of all types from near and far. NSO, volunteer, help support.” –Apple Corrie, Upper Valley Vixens
“Def work on core!!!
Believe in yourself…. Push yourself to your limits and beyond.
Ask for help from vets.
You will fall…you will hurt but you will skate on.
Keep a good attitude.
Don’t compare yourself to other skaters because everyone started as a newbie”–ZenaZom B Assassination City Roller Derby
“I’m a speed coach and speed skater quad and inline. All skaters don’t compare yourself to everyone else one step at a time. Control and technic. Makes better skaters just hitting just gets you on floor.”–Jack Study
1. Condition yourself on and off the track, just skating isn’t enough. 2. Every skater from the least skilled to the most advanced has their place on the team, every player remaining humble and guiding one another leads to strength on the track and an unstoppable force. (My belief why my league has continued to grow and just get stronger, we are all superstars) 3. Don’t ever say you can’t, being able to accomplish the most minor skill, strategy or goal begins with belief in yourself. –Brawly, Captain of Beckley Area Derby Dames, Beckley, WV
Have fun, only compare yourself to how far you have come and remember why you joined derby in the first place.–Wen~der Woman – Quad City Misfits
I have told new girls theres two things they have to develop. One is skating skills and the second is competitive spirit. The second one to me is more important. Can’t tell you how many good skaters have suffered my hits because they weren’t aggressive competitors.–Katie Cyphert
The Control Pad 