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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Roller Derby?

Roller derby is a contact sport made up of two teams of five members, all skating in the same direction around a track. The game (Bout) consists of a series of short matchups (jams). Each team has 1 scoring player (the "jammer") who gets points by lapping members of the opposing team. The teams attempt to assist their own jammer whilst hindering the opposing jammer — in effect playing both offense and defence simultaneously.

Where do you train?

We train 3 times per week at the following venues:

Main League -

Monday 8pm-10pm - St James Sports Centre, Summer Lane, Exeter EX4 8NN

Tuesday 8pm-10pm - Culm Valley Sports Centre, Meadow Lane, Cullompton EX15 1LL

Thursday 7.30pm-9.30pm @ Castle School, Wellington Road, Taunton TA1 5AU

So how do I join?

Get in touch! Contact us at SWAT_rollerderby@yahoo.co.uk, click the CONTACT US tab or check out our social media pages!


Check out the new skater intake page on Facebook to be kept up-to-date with the details for the 2020 Intake, starting early September!

A basic level of skating ability is required to join our New Skater intake (i.e. Being able to skate around a sports hall with confidence and unaided, basic strides and ability to stop), this is so that over the 16 week minimum skills course we can build on your current skills and introduce specific Roller Derby techniques. 


If you are a complete beginner we still want you though! Head along to our Sponsors 'ReBoot Roller Discos' Skate Club in Exeter - here you can learn to skate and get some practice in before joining our New Skater Intake!

What should I wear to my first session?

Wear a short-sleeved t-shirt or sports vest with leggings, long or cropped or shorts. Please do not wear jeans! Don’t forget a pair of socks in warmer weather. You may also choose to wear a bandana under your helmet.

Bring a bottle of water also!

What safety equipment will I need?

Quad skates (not inlines), knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and a helmet are mandatory. When you start contact work you are also required to wear a mouth guard.

 

We have kit hire available for the first 8 weeks in our New Skater sessions to give you a chance to see if you like the sport and want to invest in your own starter kit and skates. Our advanced skaters will be more than happy to let you try their kit on for size and point you in the right direction of where you can buy from. We know where the best discounts and customer service can be found!

How much does it cost to join?

The subs are currently £30 per month.

What if I join and pass my skills but don’t want to play in open games / do contact work?

That’s fine! We hope that your training will give you the confidence and knowledge to do so but it is entirely up to you. You are more than welcome to carry on with Roller Derby in a recreational manner or become a referee or NSO (non skating official) 

Where can I watch you play?

We hold open games (public bouts) locally during the roller derby season, which generally runs from March to October. If you are on Facebook please be sure to ‘like’ our page where you will be kept up to date with any upcoming events and find links to ticketing. All roller derby events are family friendly and are an affordable, fun day out

Don't fancy skating but still want to get involved?

NSO's (Non skating officials) are an important part of Roller Derby. There are a wide variety of positions such as: penalty tracker, scoreboard operator, penalty box timer, scorekeeper, jam timer, etc so get in touch. We need you!

Okay! I'm hooked on skating - what else can i do?!

1) Check out instructional skate videos on YouTube Certified Skating Instructor Rowland Cook (Reckless Rowly) along with SWAT Roller Derby produced some excellent videos on basic skills that you can use for recreational skating, as well as the foundation for your derby skills. Check out our channel here There are also thousands more instructional videos to learn from!

2) Reboot Roller Disco's in Exeter hold weekly public skating sessions and also adult only skate club teaching basic to more advanced skills. Nearly all of the Reboot Instructors play for SWAT Roller Derby, so can give you lots of great support.

3) Learn the rules and gameplay Throughout the season, we always need enthusiastic individuals to join SWAT's NSO Crew, an off skates crew that are essential to Roller Derby bouts. You will be given full training and it’s an excellent way to learn the rules – not least gaining you free entry to games and often the best seats in the house! If you have a smart phone download the Roller Derby Test O Matic app – a free, fun app with multiple choice questions on the rules of derby. Watching WFTDA (Womens Flat Track Derby Association) footage of games from all over the world will let you see the pace of the sport – you will be amazed at how quickly you pick things up and notice various tactics to use on track.

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