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Wanna be a Gotham Girl?! Come strut your stuff!
When you watch bouts, is it all you can do not to jump on the track and join us? When you practice your skating do you picture yourself on the track with your future teammates? It sounds like you are ready for tryouts!
We hope you've been practicing 'cause we're ready for you. (And if you think your skills might be rusty, we have an answer for that, too!)
The Gotham Girls Roller Derby announces tryouts for the 2009 season on Saturday, December 6th from 2pm to 6pm. Here's the scoop.
We know that there are a ton of skills to work on before tryouts (and we totally understand having no place to skate), so GGRD wanted to lend a helping hand and offer four nights where you can come and have a little practice before tryouts.
Four Skill Nights will be offered where future derby girls can come and polish their skating before tryouts.
Skill Night Information:
When are the skill nights?
- Tuesday, October 28th, from 7pm to 9pm
- Friday, November 7th, from 7pm to 9pm
- Wednesday, November 19th from 7pm to 9pm
- Friday, December 5th from 7pm to 9pm
How much: $15 each night. Each Skill Night will be limited to 25 skaters an evening.
More info:
Please read the following FAQs and when you are ready, sign up for the skills nights here and if you want to tryout, sign up here.
SKILL NIGHTS FAQS:
Can I come to the Skill Nights even if I don't want to tryout?
You are welcome to come and skate with us and learn a little bit more, but we do hope you will tryout. If you don't think this is the year for you, maybe we can convince you to try out next year.
Do I have to come to all four nights?
Not if you don't want to. We understand work and life so come to as many or as few of the Skill Nights that you want.
But won't you be watching us on the Skill Nights?
Well, yes, but not in a structured format like we will be at the tryouts. The Skill Nights are meant to benefit both of us: you'll get more skating practice and we'll get to know you a little bit better than from just the hour or so of tryouts.
What will we do?
Led by a member of the coaching staff, the nights will be a little like one of our league practices, but with more focus on basic skills. They will be led by one or more members of the GGRD coaching staff. We will focus on skills like forward skating, falling safely, crossovers, power strides, and balance. We'll work on some derby skills like skating low, skating in a pack, plow stops and t-stops. And we will definitely do some endurance.
Who can come?
Females, 18 and older
What about insurance?
For Skill Nights, all skaters will be required to have primary insurance.
For tryouts, we will be required to sign this waiver. It is a very standard waiver and we'll have copies each night. Although you do not have to have your own insurance, we highly recommend it.
Although previously not required, Gotham Girls Roller Derby is currently considering requiring health insurance for the 2009 season. While this is still being discussed, we felt it important to inform all potential roller girls.
What should I bring?
You will be required to have a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards, mouth guard and quad roller skates. Unfortunately, we will not have skates or pads to loan out. You should also bring a bottle of water. Pelase come dressed to learn: comfortable clothes that you won't mind if they get dirty. We skate on sport court so please leave the super short skirt or shorts at home, sport court burn is nothing to laugh at. We have bathrooms so you can change when you get here. And don't worry, we'll supply the nametag!
If I come to the Skill Nights, am I guaranteed one of the open positions for GGRD in 2009?
No. No one is guaranteed any of the open slots; we don't roll like that. If you make the effort to come to the skill nights, and you want to tryout, we would be glad to save you a timeslot for tryouts, but we promise nothing after that. But having practiced your skating skills will certainly give you a leg up.
Where do I go?
We are super secretive, so we don't reveal our practice location. Once you sign up, we'll let you know where to go.
Register here.
OFFICIAL TRYOUT FAQS
Thank you so much for your interest in Gotham Girls! We are excited so many ladies are interested in throwing down with us on the track and working to help make all-girl roller derby back into the limelight!
When are tryouts?
Saturday, December 6th from 2pm to 6pm - (You'll receive a specific timeslot after you sign up).
How many skaters are trying out?
Tryout slots will be capped at 100 skaters. Please sign-up early to be sure to get a slot.
Do I have to be a seasoned skater try out?
Don't be too scared by the term "tryouts." Being a derby girl is a lot more than just being a good skater; although we will primarily be looking for basic skating skills, we also look at your potential as a derby girl. Through the tryout and call back process, we try to get to know you AND look at your skating skills.
How many open slots for GGRD will there be this year?
We are still working on a final count, but it will probably not be more than 15. We'll have a better idea at tryouts.
I've never seen a bout and I don't know how the game is played. Do I have any chance of getting one of the slots?
Although it does help if you understand the game, that is not a requirement. We do highly suggest that you come to one of the games before tryouts; it will make the tryout process make more sense. Go here for the upcoming bouts and here for a rules refresher.
When do you have practices? How much time is required from me?
League practices are Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. Each team also has a slot of two hours at another time during the week.
The Gotham Girls are DIY and proud of it. Every skater is required to join at least one committee and we all pitch in to put on our bouts. Attendance is required at every bout (whether you are skating or not). Expect to put in long hours loading and transporting our Sport Court floor on the bout days that you are not skating, as well as helping to put it back the following day.
Skaters are also responsible for helping with a variety of tasks that keep our organization going, everything from making public appearances, flyering to promote bouts to scrubbing the toilets at our practice space. We do this because we love it and it is all worth it to be able to skate.
I am a transfer skater from another derby league. Do I need to tryout?
If you are from a Roller Derby league with a practice space within 80 miles of New York City (basically the tri-state area), you will need to tryout. If you are from farther away then that, please contact Bonnie Thunders at Bonniethunders@yahoo.com.
Some of the specific things we will be looking for in tryouts are:
Basic skills:
- Forward skating
-Power stride (getting the most out of each push)
- Gliding on one foot at a time
- Crossovers
- Balance
- Squats
- Falls
Derby Skills:
- Skating low
-Plow stop
-T-stop
- Blocking strength
Endurance:
- Number of laps in 2 minutes
Other:
- Attitude
- Speed at picking up a new skill
- Basic knowledge of the sport
- Ability to listen and apply new knowledge
What do I need when I tryout?
Every skater will be required to wear a helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads mouth guard and quad roller skates. Unfortunately, this year we will not have skates or pads to loan out.
For insurance purposes, you will be required to sign this waiver for tryouts. (We'll have copies on the night of tryouts, too.)
I have 5 really perfect names picked out. Will I be put on a team and get a derby name as soon as I try out?
Skaters who are selected during tryouts will begin a three-month training period that culminates in a skills test and a written rules test. Once training is completed (and you've passed both tests) you'll be assigned to your team and you can claim your name and number. But remember: the sport is more than just a cool name and an awesome outfit. Worry about your name after you have the skating down pat.
I'm ready! Where do I sign up?
Right here.
Got more questions? Try our FAQ page for answers. Otherwise, e-mail us at ask@gothamgirlsrollerderby.com, subject: 2008 Tryouts.
We can't wait to see you on the track!
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![[ Gotham Girls Roller Derby ]](/images/header_b.gif)
