FAQ

What is Roller Derby?
It’s a full-contact team sport played on quad rollerskates. In a nutshell: five skaters from each team skate around an oval track. Only one skater from each team (the Jammer) can score and they gain a point each time they lap an opposing player. The team with the most points wins!

Who plays Roller Derby?
“Rollergirls” come from all walks of life. Professionals, students, parents, teachers, you name it! Most roller derby leagues are all-female, although there are a few co-ed and male leagues too.

What if I can’t skate?
We’ll teach you how! Most of us are new to the sport or have no skating background at all so we’re all learning something new. If you find that playing derby isn’t for you but you’re still keen to help out, there are many opportunities for referees, non-skating officials (NSOs) and other volunteers.

What about the guys?
We will always need a great team of referees and officials (on or off-skates) to support our skaters. Because we’re a relatively new league we are focused first and foremost on our premiere women’s team, the Harbour Harlots. As we gain more interest, we look forward to adding men’s and even mixed teams to the fold. In the meantime, our male referees are always welcome at training and our Harlots enjoy practising their blocking skills on them!

Where/when do you train?
All training sessions are held at Merchants Academy Sports Hall, Gatehouse Avenue, Withywood. Training is currently closed to new intake in order to concentrate on training the current members (over 70 skaters in total).

What kind of gear will I need?
Speed-style quad rollerskates; these are low-profile skates that look a bit like trainers on wheels. “Aggressive” style skates with hard plastic boots are not recommended for roller derby. All skaters need good knee, wrist and elbow guards, a skate helmet and mouthguard. On top of all this, a positive attitude is mandatory! We can provide beginners with protective gear and helmets free of charge for use during training sessions, though it is recommended that they invest in their own. We have an area of our forum dedicated to Skates & Gear for reviews and advice from our more experienced skaters. Don’t be afraid to ask for any kind of advice; we’ve discovered many of the what/where-not-to-buys firsthand.

Who runs Bristol Roller Derby/Who are “we”?
We started as a small group of women who met with the mutual desire to bring this incredible all-female sport to Bristol. We are now an unincorporated association with a dedicated committee and many workgroups who together (with much time, effort and passion) make everything happen. Like most leagues, we are skater-owned and operated. We are a democracy so, by joining and actively participating, you’ll get to have your say in league decisions and in how Bristol Roller Derby will evolve too.