If you are female, 18+ and ready to rock and roll with us, we’re waiting for you! We welcome skaters of all abilities, so if you think you’ve got the commitment to become a roller derby girl get in touch at recruitment@londonrockinrollers.co.uk.

Even if you’re not confident skating, you can still be a part of the team. We are a skater-run organization and always welcome people willing to help us organise and promote our events, or take vital NSO (Non Skating Official) roles on bout day. We also welcome men to become referees and NSOs.

What if I am a total beginner at roller skating?

Don’t worry! We teach skating from scratch, plus all the beginner roller derby skills you need, in our 12-week Fresh Meat program. All you need is commitment, and your own gear.

When are the next tryouts for new skaters?

Our last tryouts were April 2013 – the next tryouts are planned for autumn.

To sign up, just email us at recruitment@londonrockinrollers.co.uk to register yourself for our new recruits list – we’ll then keep you updated with the what, when and how of trying out. If you haven’t already, we do encourage potential skaters to attend a few of our bouts and events to see what roller derby’s all about and learn some of the rules of the game.

Although we are an all-female team, we accept men to our Fresh Meat program who are interested in becoming referees for the league. Come and learn to skate, then in the 6th to 8th week of the program you will join regular league practices to learn referee skills.

What happens after I try out?

Skaters who are selected to join the league will begin a three-month “Fresh Meat” training programme. At the end of this period you will have a skills test and a rules test, which will determine your entry point to the league. Many of our skaters will progress to the Wreck League, which is our casual weekend session, before trying out for a travel team if they feel ready to make that commitment.

What equipment will I need?

To play roller derby you’re required to wear the following equipment;

- quad roller skates
- a helmet
- a gum shield
- wrist guards
- elbow pads
- vert knee pads

If you’re a new skater, you must have all this kit for tryouts. Our very own Von Bitch runs the skate shop Skate Attack and can give you advice on all the essential roller derby gear either in person or through the Skate Attack website.

If you’re on a budget there are several groups on Facebook where you can get second-hand derby gear. You can also try the ‘for sale/wanted’ section of the London Rockin’ Rollers forums - though we rarely have full sets of gear to loan out, you never know who might be letting go of their old skates!

How often do you train?

The amount of time commitment to training varies depending on your level of play within the league. Currently our training schedule is;

• Wreck League (recreational roller derby) Sundays 4-6pm
• Regular League (travel team players and candidates) Wednesdays 8-10pm and Sundays 12-4pm

Like every roller derby league, we are entirely run by our members, so if you are in the regular league or travel teams your time commitments will also include some non-skating duties. You will be expected to work at bouts and take on a committee role to help with the running of the league. There is also a monthly membership fee to cover our operating costs like hall hire, uniforms, etc.

What if I already have derby experience?

We consider all transfer skaters from other leagues on an individual basis – if you want to become a London Rockin’ Roller just get in touch via recruitment@londonrockinrollers.co.uk or enquire on our forums.

There are no formal skills tests for transfers, but you will be assessed over a period of time by our coaches. All transferring skaters are subject to a three-month probation period as with any other member of the league.