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Milford, Del. —
Roller derby, a once-popular pastime of the 1970s, is making a comeback in Delaware. However, this is not the roller derby of the past that the women of the Southern Delaware Rollergirls are playing at today.
Gone are the days when you’ll see scantily clad ladies circling the rink doling out bloody noses and black eyes. Today’s roller derby is all about safety and athleticism, especially at the Milford Skating rink where the team practices.
Organized in April, the Southern Delaware Rollergirls, an all-female flat-track roller derby league established in Sussex County, are still honing their skills and learning an extensive set of rules that will get them ready for what organizers hope is the team’s first scrimmage in April, with real bouts to follow after that.
The team is made up of women in their 20s and 30s from all over Sussex County who have all sorts-of professions. Representing towns like Milford, Georgetown, Millsboro, Lewes, or Rehoboth, these women might be teachers, counselors, students, or small business owners.
And, whether they started with the team in April or last week, everyone starts as a level one, also known as tot or fresh meat. This level ensures that the skater has basic skating skills. Level two skaters practice things like pack definition, jamming, hitting, whipping, hopping and jumping. Level two skaters must also take a written test on the rules as well as a skills test that will rate each skill between one and five before they officially become a senior skater.
The successful completion of level two testing sees another milestone in a skater’s derby life: picking and possibly registering her derby alter-ego name.
The Southern Delaware Rollergirls have several senior skaters who have registered names like Gorelee Girl, Adora Bully and KC Bomber. The names are registered online at www.twoevils.org/rollergirls/.
In addition to officially registering team and individual names, most leagues also adhere to the rules and regulations of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, the international governing body of women’s flat track roller derby.
Angie Colone, who is 25-years-old and president of the Southern Delaware Rollergirls, is adamant about adhering to the WFTDA rules that promote safety at the rink.
“The structure is set up to make sure that you have the skills you need to participate in scrimmages and bouts,” Colone said. “But, it’s a common misconception that you will get beat up in this sport. However, there are no elbows, we can’t forearm people. It’s athletic but not dangerous.”
Roller derby, a once-popular pastime of the 1970s, is making a comeback in Delaware. However, this is not the roller derby of the past that the women of the Southern Delaware Rollergirls are playing at today.
Gone are the days when you’ll see scantily clad ladies circling the rink doling out bloody noses and black eyes. Today’s roller derby is all about safety and athleticism, especially at the Milford Skating rink where the team practices.
Organized in April, the Southern Delaware Rollergirls, an all-female flat-track roller derby league established in Sussex County, are still honing their skills and learning an extensive set of rules that will get them ready for what organizers hope is the team’s first scrimmage in April, with real bouts to follow after that.
The team is made up of women in their 20s and 30s from all over Sussex County who have all sorts-of professions. Representing towns like Milford, Georgetown, Millsboro, Lewes, or Rehoboth, these women might be teachers, counselors, students, or small business owners.
And, whether they started with the team in April or last week, everyone starts as a level one, also known as tot or fresh meat. This level ensures that the skater has basic skating skills. Level two skaters practice things like pack definition, jamming, hitting, whipping, hopping and jumping. Level two skaters must also take a written test on the rules as well as a skills test that will rate each skill between one and five before they officially become a senior skater.
The successful completion of level two testing sees another milestone in a skater’s derby life: picking and possibly registering her derby alter-ego name.
The Southern Delaware Rollergirls have several senior skaters who have registered names like Gorelee Girl, Adora Bully and KC Bomber. The names are registered online at www.twoevils.org/rollergirls/.
In addition to officially registering team and individual names, most leagues also adhere to the rules and regulations of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, the international governing body of women’s flat track roller derby.
Angie Colone, who is 25-years-old and president of the Southern Delaware Rollergirls, is adamant about adhering to the WFTDA rules that promote safety at the rink.
“The structure is set up to make sure that you have the skills you need to participate in scrimmages and bouts,” Colone said. “But, it’s a common misconception that you will get beat up in this sport. However, there are no elbows, we can’t forearm people. It’s athletic but not dangerous.”
Deanna Lewis, a 21-year-old student and veterinary technician, is the fresh meat coach, which means it’s up to her to teach tots the skills they need to progress to level two. She also wants people to know that the brutal showmanship of the 1970s is not what the sport is about now.
“It’s not a brutal WWF kind of thing,” Lewis said. “We’re not going to elbow you in the face or throw you down on the floor by your helmet. It’s really regulated and our refs make sure we stay safe and don’t get hurt.”
Many women on the team also echo feelings of camaraderie or gratefulness for a unique way to be get in some exercise.
Elayne Jones, a teacher, loved roller-skating as a kid and longed for an interesting way to add exercise to her routine.
“I wanted to get more physical and while I don’t like to exercise, I do like sports,” Jones said. “I also love the idea of strong women competing together.”
Jen White, the 32-year-old owner of Downtown Cowgirl in Rehoboth Beach, never played sports but after watching one practice thought the team might be a good way to simultaneously get out some aggression during tourist season while also getting some exercise in.
“I like being a part of a team and the girls are awesome,” White said. “But, we wouldn’t be here three days a week if we weren’t having fun.”
According to White, the women of Southern Delaware Rollergirls also try to give back to the community.
“We have meetings about charity and donate things to the SPCA or do food drives for the food bank,” White said. “So, it’s a really good way to be involved with the community and give back as a team.”
