Please note: Tryouts for the 2013 season have not yet been scheduled. Join our mailing list here to stay informed!
When are tryouts?
Tryouts for the 2012 Gotham Girls Roller Derby are Saturday, November 19, 2011 with call backs on Sunday, November 20, 2011. Please go here to sign up.
What are tryouts?
There are two steps: the initial tryout where you will be evaluated on skates with a small group of skaters, and a call back session that is both on skates and includes a very brief interview.
After callbacks, selected skaters will enter a three week training period. At the end of this probationary period, another cut will happen. Selected skaters will then go on to the official three month training phase to become full members of GGRD.
Do I have to be a seasoned skater to try out?
Not necessarily. Being a member of Gotham Girls Roller Derby is a lot more than just being a good skater. Yes, we will primarily be looking for skating skills, but we also look at your athletic potential.
How old do I have to be to skate for Gotham?
You must be 18 years of age.
How can I get ready for tryouts?
First off, get to know the league! Come see our bouts to gain an understanding of what's involved. Get to know the rules. Join our mailing list to keep up with our activities. Volunteer to find out how we pull it all together.
Throughout the year, we offer different levels of training in our recreational league. To find out more information, sign up for our Basic Training Yahoo group.
It's also important that you are in decent athletic shape, as roller derby is a sport that takes lots of endurance. Working on cardio and strengthening your quads, glutes and core muscles will help you to be ready for tryouts.
Additionally, there are a few rinks in the New York City area with open hours for the public where you can work on your skating basics — the Riverbank State Park in upper Manhattan and RollerJam USA in Staten Island are two of them. And if you don't mind a little time in the car or on the train, Inline Morristown offers speed skating classes.
What do I need to be able to do at tryouts?
You will need to have strong basic skating skills. Some of the things we will be evaluating in tryouts are:
Basic skills:
- Forward skating using crossovers
- Power stride (getting the most out of each push)
- Gliding on one foot at a time
- Balance
- Squats
Derby Skills:
- Skating low
- Plow Stop
- T-stop
- Blocking strength
- Three types of falls
Endurance:
- Number of laps in two minutes
Other:
- Attitude
- Basic knowledge of the sport
- Ability to listen and apply new knowledge
- Ability to picks up new skills quickly
- Time commitment and availability
What equipment will I need for tryouts and the Recreational League?
Every skater is required to wear a helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads, a mouth guard and quad roller skates. We do not have gear to loan out.
Will I be put on a team if I'm selected at tryouts?
Skaters who are selected to join the league will begin a three-month training period that culminates in a skills test and a written rules test. You will be known as "fresh meat" during this time period. Once training is completed (and you've passed both tests) you'll be assigned to a team and you can claim your derby name and number.
How much of a commitment is required to be a Gotham skater?
Skating with Gotham Girls Roller Derby is a big commitment: it's like another full-time job. You'll be expected to attend league practices (two hours twice a week) in addition to team practices which are two to three hours once a week.
In addition to practices, everyone is expected to work at bouts and other official events and fundraisers. We are a skater run organization, so we also require you to work on a committee and attend meetings to remain an active member. There are also monthly dues for each skater that help to pay for the league's operational costs.
If the commitment is too much, maybe being a skater isn't the right fit for you right now. But there are plenty of ways to join in: you can volunteer to work at a bout, join our awesome Jeerleaders, or become a referee.
Despite the time commitment, any skater will tell you that it is completely worth it. And you instantly have over 50 sisters in NYC and over 16,000 around the world!
Are there a lot of injuries?
Injuries happen, but we work really hard to prevent them by training to skate safely and work on injury-preventative exercises. As mentioned above, full protective gear is required for all skaters. Although primary health insurance is not currently required if you want to skate with us, it is still strongly recommended. For insurance purposes, you will be required to sign a waiver for tryouts.
If I have more questions, who do I ask?
Please feel free to email us at tryouts@