Those wanting to cross playing on a roller derby team off their bucket list can check out the Anthracite Derby Dames, a Schuylkill County all-female team in the making.
“We thought about a local team because all of the all-women leagues are about an hour away so I couldn’t play,” Katlyn Blevins, 25, of Pottsville, said.
Blevins skated on a new recruits team called Dutchland for six months learning to stop, hit and fall before she moved to Schuylkill County, where there was no team.
Now, the team is searching for members to scrimmage.
“Before you can even scrimmage, you need to have everyone pass a minimum skills test... it’s just to keep everybody safe,” Blevins said.
She said there needs to be a minimum of 14 people on the roster to begin practices and scrimmages. The season is normally from spring to fall and there are at least five people on each team, four blockers and one jammer.
“The jammer scores points while the blockers have to keep the other team’s jammer from getting through to score points,” Blevins said.
Blevins said they started to spread the word in March of the Anthracite Derby Dames. After playing around with team names like the Pottsvillains, they decided on the Anthracite Derby Dames.
“We originally thought of the Pottsville Derby Dames, but we wanted something that people all around the area could relate to,” Blevins said, in reference to the type of coal in Schuylkill County.
Blevins said they are looking for a place to practice. They tried the Roller Roost 2, Pottsville, and the Simon Kramer Institute, New Philadelphia, but neither place would allow them to practice there.
Blevins said there are guidelines in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association on what can be worn, especially for safety reasons.
“You can’t have anything on your helmet that can fall off... you can only wear quad skates, you have to wear a mouth guard, stuff like that,” Blevins said. “WFTDA is the NFL of roller derby.”
While Megan Omahaboy, 27, of Saint Clair, is a member of the Anthracite Derby Dames, she also plays in Hamburg for a co-ed group with no rules, also called a renegade, where she is a rookie. She has been playing for about six months.
A roller derby team with no rules means they do not have to abide by dress codes.
“You’ll see people with stuff on their helmets like giant mohawks,” Omahaboy said.
Blevins said some people take nicknames.
“That’s the cool thing about roller derby. You kind of get to take on this alter ego,” she said. “Some girls decide ‘I wanna wear a tutu,’ and other girls say they want the face paint and the gore.”
The traditional booty shorts and fish net stockings are becoming more uncommon as more people play.
“People are moving more towards sport than show,” Omahaboy said.
Roller derby is a rough sport and there are other safety percussions in place.
“I’m not going to lie, there are injuries,” Blevins said. “With the training, you learn how to hit properly... so you don’t hurt yourself.”
“But there aren’t any fights like in hockey,” Jack Riley, 34, of Pottsville, added. “You can get hurt just like you can get hurt walking out of your house.”
Riley runs many of the behind-the -scene processes, like designing logos and just helping out where needed.
Blevins said there is great sportsmanship.
“When you see a girl hit another one and send them flying, most times you’ll see them go over and smack hands,” Blevins continued.
“Both teams support each other,” Ohmahaboy said.
“Everyone smacks hands from both sides after a game,” Jack said. “It’s cool.”
Blevins said they have to deal with roller derby stereotypes often.
“It’s commonly thought of as played by... tough girls with tattoos,” Riley said.
“At the end of the day, it’s girls on skates hitting each other in cute outfits” Blevins added.
Brianna Holmes, 20, of Schuylkill Haven, a member of the Anthracite Derby Dames, said she doesn’t worry about stereotypes.
“It’s already been a great experience so far,” she said. “I just find the entire idea of roller derby empowering.”
“A great thing about roller derby, too, is that it empowers women to have this strong attitude,” Blevins said.
The roller derby community is tight knit too, they said.
“There’s such a community, almost like a family thing,” Riley said. “You can definitely count on certain people. There’s a lot of friendship there, they’re like sisters.”
Riley said many teams are charity oriented.
“We want to hold a Halloween party and other events for charity, like a toy drive for kids in need,” Riley said.
Blevins said being a part of a roller derby team is “fun and exciting.”
“You’re entire world will begin to evolve around roller derby,” she said.
“You’re going be part of something that’s going to be huge one day ... you wanna be a part of that,” Holmes said.
Holmes is a recent recruit for the Anthracite Derby Dames and hasn’t played yet.
“I was always kind of interested in roller derby ... I didn’t really see anything about it but I was really into the idea. Jack actually messaged me about it ... and I was like ‘yeah let’s go for it.’ ”
Blevins said you’re never too old to play.
“There’s no age discrimination — I’m a mom,” Omahaboy said.
“Someone contacted us and said ‘I’m 50, I don’t know if I’m too old,’ ” Blevins said. “That’s never a problem.”
Those interested can send a message to the Anthracite Derby Dames Facebook page, www.facebook.com/AnthraciteDerbyDames, or call Blevins at 570-728-5037 or Riley at 570-728-8462.
“Even behind the scenes people are welcome. We need men and women for coaches, referees, stuff like that, even if you don’t skate,” Riley said.
“For every girl we basically need three people behind the scenes,” Blevins said.