Summer 2009 Boot Camp & Tryouts

For Rosebuds tryout info, visit the Rosebuds page.

July 4th to August 4th, 2009

RCR wants YOU to play derby!

This summer Portland area women interested in playing roller derby and joining our league will have a special opportunity to train with the Rose City Rollers' Fresh Meat program. During the month of July, all Fresh Meat training sessions are open to women 21+ who wish to hone their derby skating skills in order to enter the competitive arena of Rose City's local and national play.

No prior skating experience is necessary to take part in this training program. We'll help you build the skills and know-how to keep up with the RCR's fastest and toughest.

At the end of this training camp, all participants who meet basic requirements will be eligible for permanent inclusion in RCR's Fresh Meat training program in preparation for the Fall 2009 Team Drafts- your best opportunity to skate for an RCR home team in the upcoming 2010 season.

Boot Camp is not a requirement for trying out, but it's a big help. Skaters transferring from other roller derby leagues should contact us about their options and are welcome to take part in this training program.

Want to participate? Just show up during the clinic dates listed below.

RCR Boot Camps, Practices, and Tryouts are not open to the public outside of participants. No spectators, family, cheering sections, or pets please.

Skill & Experience

No prior skating experience necessary to participate in this boot camp. We'll help you learn to skate and play derby from the floor up. We highly recommend you start skating NOW to build some basic skills on your own before the boot camp- so get out there and skate as much as you can!

Minimum age requirement is 21, but nobody's too old to play derby.

Gear

All participants must supply their own...

• skates (quads, toe stops encouraged)
• sports mouth guard
• helmet
• knee & elbow pads
• wrist guards

Also a good idea: Water, check book (for initial fee), blister pads/bandages, crash pads, primary health insurance, good attitude, preparedness to kick a$$.

Curious about gear? Oaks Park Skate Shop, Excel Skates, and Rebel Skates are sponsors of our league and know what rolls. You're also welcome to contact us with questions. Skates you find at a department store, resale shop, or free bin probably wont cut it.

Fees & Legal Stuff

The following will be required of all participants in order to skate:

• Signed RCR waiver and release of liability form
• $25 insurance and facility fee
• Legal identification proving age (21+)

Participation

All participants are expected to be geared up and ready to skate by the start of practice time and skate the full two-hour session. Latecomers may be excluded from participation. If your personal schedule does not allow you to attend the scheduled practice times please contact us or consider delaying your participation in our program until conflicts don't exist.

Participants are not required to take part in every activity or drill. Skate at your own speed and comfort level, but be ready and willing to push yourself.

While attendance at any and every boot camp session is not required, participants are expected to skate at 80% or more of the sessions and will be required to meet this expectation in order to be considered for permanent inclusion in RCR's Fresh Meat program. Anyone who fails to attend the 7/4 and/or 7/11 introductory clinics may be denied entrance to the boot camp.

2009 Summer Boot Camp will last roughly four and a half weeks from Saturday July 4th to Tuesday August 4th, 2009. Sessions are one to two hours long and happen every Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday at RCR's Oaks Park practice hangar. All participants are invited to take part in all sessions.

Session Times:

• Saturdays 11:00am to 1:00pm
• Sundays 5:00pm to 6:00pm
• Tuesdays 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Session Schedule:

• Saturday 7/4 & Saturday 7/11 - basic skating clinics & new participant introduction, perfect for absolute beginners; it is highly recommended everyone wishing to participate attend one or both of these sessions.
• Saturdays 7/18-25 - regular boot camp practice, Fresh Meat level skills & drills
• Sundays (all) - endurance skating
• Tuesdays (all) - Fresh Meat level skills & drills

Tryouts

League tryouts for permanent placement on the RCR Fresh Meat program will be held on August 4th during the Tuesday 7:00-9:00pm time slot. Tryouts are open to those who did not participate in the boot camp.

What you need to know about being a Rose City Rollers
New girls joining the Rose City Rollers will go on to our RCR Fresh Meat team and will train with a group of amazing derby coaches. How long a girl stays on the RCR Fresh Meat team before being recruited on to one of the Rose City Rollers four bouting teams will vary. Some very skilled skaters may get on a team rather quickly, while it is entirely possible for others to be RCR Fresh Meat team for six months to a year.

As a member of RCR Fresh Meat team, you must initially be able to attend practices on Tuesdays from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Saturdays from 11:00am-1:00pm and Sundays 5:00-6:00 p.m. Once your skill level progresses, additional practices will be added (including Wednesday evenings. Please take this into consideration if you already have commitments at these times (school, job, hobbies. etc.). In addition to these weekly practices, all league members are expected to attend league meetings and donate time to help further the league (for example serve on a committee, help with fundraisers, or set up and tear down at bouts).

If you cannot make these clinics or tryouts, please keep checking the website or listening at events for new dates. We hold tryouts approximately every 3-4 months. In the meantime, practice practice practice!

Thank you for your interest in skating with the Rose City Rollers and good luck. We look forward to meeting you.

Remember ladies: good potential, along with a great attitude, will take you a long way!

QUESTIONS:
Go to our contact page and select Tryouts (for 21 and older) or Rosebuds (for 14- 17 years old) in the "to" field of the form.