NEO Roller Derby: Rollin’ in the Real

It’s not a sport; it’s entertainment.

That was the consensus from people around town when asked their thoughts on roller derby as a sport.

And at first glance, you can’t blame them.

A roller derby uniform consists of a jersey, fishnet tights, short shorts and skirts, extreme makeup and not much else. Team members have campy names like BF Goodbytch, Mayhem ‘n Legs, and Cross Bone Cutie. In television and movies (like 2009’s Whip It), roller derby  girls are portrayed as brutal competitors intent on injuring others through staged fights, akin to wrestling.

But for the women of the NEO Roller Derby team Rock ‘n’ Roller Girls, their sport is not for show.

“I always tell people we’re not entertainment, we’re a real sport,” explained Stephanie Carestia, 30, of Cuyahoga Falls. Known as Cross Bone Cutie on the track, Carestia has been skating with the NEO Roller Derby team for two years. “There are rules and safety measures put in to place to protect the athletes that we are. Yeah, it’s a game and it’s fun, but it’s also a sport.”

“People think it’s over the top,” said First Year Team Member Kristin 'Mayhem' Herring, 35, of Cuyahoga Falls. “When I talk about derby people always ask, ‘Do you throw elbows and break people’s noses?’. I’m like, yeah if I want a penalty! It’s a sport; we’re not intentionally hurting anyone out here.”

Valerie Walker, 40, of Cuyahoga Falls, is a founding member of the NEO Roller Derby, which began in 2005. Known to her teammates as BF Goodbytch, she said that because people look at roller derby as entertainment, they think the bouts and the hits are staged.  “People automatically think of the roller derby that was on TV in the [80s]; that it’s like pro wrestling, with theatrics overshadowing the athleticism. Today’s flat track roller derby is nothing like that.”

Roller Derby Today

Women’s flat track roller derby emerged in the early 2000s through a grassroots movement; today there are 400 Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) leagues worldwide. WFTDA is the governing body of women’s flat track roller derby, setting the rules for play and guidelines for starting a league.

What makes today’s roller derby different from styles popular in the 1960s through the 80s is the use of a flat track to compete. Early tracks had raised walls, ideal for flipping opponents over. There were also very few safety regulations in place.

“Today there is no clothes lining, fist fighting, throwing of elbows, tripping…nothing like that,” said Michelle Woodard, 30, of Cuyahoga Falls. Competing under the derby name Phantom Fox, she says the referees are good about calling penalties, known as minors in the derby dictionary. Too many minors and you’re in the penalty box and your team is down one person on the track.

But make no mistake, roller derby is a full contact sport with hard hits and hard falls coming all the time. Legal blocks are delivered via the hips, butt and shoulders, and a successful block will leave an opponent on the track. And despite the safety equipment—knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and helmets—the bodies take a beating.

“Roller derby is by far the most demanding sport,” said Carestia, a lifelong athlete. “Our bodies take a physical beating on a regular basis. Ice, a heating pack and ibuprofen are my best friends.”

Practice Makes Perfect

Whether it is at practice or a bout, the women of NEO Roller Derby go hard every time they hit the track. The team practices three times a week for 2 ½ hours each and participates in one bout a month for five months straight.

“Training is a lot of learning how to skate and falling down and getting back up. You have to know how to take a hit and how to get back up from a hit. Once you learn that, it’s easier to go because you’re not scared of falling down,” Woodard added.

With the essential skill for the sport mastered, the women can turn their focus to the endurance and agility needed to skate and play at a competitive level.  

“Roller derby is all about training your body to be comfortable in positions that most normal people would not feel comfortable in. And that position is the derby squat,” Carestia said.

To be successful at roller derby, players need to learn how to skate in a continuous squat position for two minutes at a time. While in the squat position, they need to have the agility to avoid fallen players, the strength to carry out a block while maintaining the squat, and the stability to take a hit and remain upright on their skates.

“It’s not comfortable, it is not easy and it’s very tiring for all your muscles.”  

“That’s why training is so important,” added Herring. “We’re all encouraged to do things on our own outside of practice. I know I have to work on my agility and picking up my feet, so I’ve got a personal trainer who I go to twice a week who works those particular muscles needed for those movements.”

Other girls take Cross Fit classes, compete in Warrior Dashes, run, take yoga, and do aerobics.

Being physically prepared for what this sport throws at you is crucial because the threat of injury is so real. The most common injuries for roller derby girls include ankle sprains and breaks (there have been three on the team so far this year), pulled muscles, dislocated joints and torn knee ligaments. All the girls agree that being injured is hardest, because “we hate to be off our skates.” Their goal is to have their bodies in the best physical shape possible to avoid those injuries all together.

Mental Toughness

The mental aspect of the game is just as important to the sport as the physical aspect.  “Any [body type] can play roller derby,” Woodard explained. “You have small girls who get underestimated. And you have big girls who don’t even have to hit anybody to be a threat; they [other players] just see [a big girl] coming and get out of the way. So the mental preparedness of the player is a big part of it.”

Walker said the mental part of knowing where you are in the pack and remembering the plays is what she loves about the sport.

“Not only do you have to be able to do the sport physically but you also have to be mentally ready. Playing offense and defense at the same time is not easy.”

Herring echoed her thoughts.

“When you’re on the track your mind is just go, go, go. You have to have your head in the game, be eyeing up your partner, running plays in your head and looking for your next move. Your mind has to be sharp, because every three seconds you have to turn your head to the left or right and know what’s going on all around you.”

For Carestia, the mental development has built over time, along with her confidence. “The first time playing against another team, I remember I was just shaking. That first match was all about surviving for me. Now, I’m the hammer, not the nail,” she said with a laugh.

“When it comes to roller derby you have to have the confidence to be aggressive, to take the initiative, to see the play and to do the right thing for the team.”

No 'I' in Team

And the team is what it’s all about for these women.  All four women agree that the camaraderie and the sisterhood is what make this sport so unique for them. Walker admits that while you see friendships form in every sport due to the team mentality, roller derby girls do have that something special.

 “Everyone looks out for each other and has a lot of respect for each other,” Herring said.

“There is no 'I' in team. We know we can’t do it alone. So when a girl goes down in practice or a bout, everything stops until we know that teammate is OK,” added Carestia.

“Because it is a serious sport and people do get seriously hurt, we know the consequences. The confidence that this team gives each other, just knowing that your teammates have your back and will be there for you makes this sport that much more special.”

You can see what makes this sport so special for these women and their fans when the 2011 NEO Roller Derby season kicks-off this weekend. You may just find your new favorite contact sport. 

Click here to see videos from the team's YouTube page .

The NEO Roller Derby Rock 'n' Roller team is greater Akron’s only WFTDA team. All home bouts are held at the Summit County Fairgrounds Arena, located at 1100 North Avenue in Tallmadge. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, with all proceeds going to local charities that support and empower women and children.

The first bout of the 2011 season will be held May 7 at 6 p.m., when the Rock ‘n’ Roller Girls take on the Burning River’s (Cleveland) All-Stars. All proceeds from this bout will go to support Family & Community Services, Inc. To see the full 2011 schedule, visit their website, www.neorollerderby.com.

To see the team's 2011 promo video, click here.