Frequently Asked Questions
What is roller derby anyway?
Roller derby is a full contact sport played on roller skates! The first roller derby competitions were endurance races and over time has evolved into a the full contact sport we know and love today.
Where do you play?
Home games take place at the Everett Arena in Concord.
Who can play roller derby?
Anyone over age 18 can play Roller Derby! No prior experience with roller derby, skating or athletics is required.
What is your gender policy?
As a WFTDA (Women's Flat Track Derby Association) member league, we follow their gender policy which is copy and pasted from their website below. If you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out.
"An individual who identifies as a trans woman, intersex woman, and/or gender expansive may skate with a WFTDA charter team if women’s flat track roller derby is the version and composition of roller derby with which they most closely identify."
What gear do I need to play roller derby?
When you start playing roller derby, there is some standard equipment that will be required. This includes roller skates, kneepads, elbow pads, wrist guards, a helmet and a mouth guard. Safety equipment and skates designed for other skating styles will likely not be suitable for roller derby. The closest roller derby gear shop is Bruised Boutique in Nashua, NH and all GSRD members get 10% off. If you're interested in playing with GSRD, we also have loaner gear you can use to try the sport before investing in equipment. The initial cost of equipment varies but the range for most is between $450-$650.
Do you have a junior roller derby league?
Unfortunately we do not have a junior roller derby team at this time. However Monadnock Roller Derby and New Hampshire Roller Derby both have amazing juniors programs!
How do I begin playing roller derby with GSRD?
If you are brand new to skating and roller derby, you will need to wait for a new class of rookie training to begin. Rookie training lasts about four months and culminates with an assessment of your skills to determine if you are ready for the next level of skating. Don't worry though, if you do not pass assessments you will still be able to continue learning and skating with our team. Those with skating experience may not need to wait for a new rookie class, but this is fully dependent on your specific experience so just reach out if this is you!
I don’t have any experience with skating or sports, can I still be part of the league?
One of the biggest misconceptions about roller derby is that you need prior skating experience and that is absolutely untrue.If you are interested in participating as a player or skating official, you still don't need skating experience and we will teach you everything you need to know! Want to get involved but not skate? We need Non-Skating Officials (NSO's) and volunteers as well. Volunteering could be helping with the business side of things, advertising, selling tickets, helping to organize events, setting up and breaking down events, announcing at games and more.
When does your season start and end?
Competition season goes from early spring to late summer, however the league is active with practices and events all year long!