Typically, our season runs approximately April to September, but occasionally we have games at other times of year. We just played our last game at Mayflower Curling Club on Monaghan Drive, and have no more home games scheduled in 2024. Unfortunately, it is very hard to get space in Halifax where we can host fans. We hope to be welcoming folks to watch our games somewhere in the city in the spring/summer of 2025.

We don't usually allow spectators at our practices, for space and safety reasons and for the comfort of our skaters. If you're interested in joining the league, sometimes we have open houses where you can see what a typical practice is like. Watch our social media and event pages for more info about upcoming events. Sometimes we can accommodate watching a practice with advance notice. If you'd like to do this, please contact us at anchorcityrollers@gmail.com

We typically host games in Halifax between April and September; if an opportunity to host a game comes up (and we can find space!) we will definitely be shouting about it on our events page and social media.

Absolutely! We try to regularly run 10-12 week Intro to Roller Derby sessions where folks can learn the basics of roller derby and skating, and how to participate safely. We also welcome transfers from other leagues and "graduates" from junior roller derby. If you haven't ever played or learned about roller derby before, we'd still love to have you involved! We are always in need of NSOs (non-skating officials) and other volunteers at our events, and welcome everyone to our social occasions. You can choose to join an Intro to Roller Derby session in the future, or just be part of the community. Contact us on social media, or at anchorcityrollers@gmail.com

We have skaters of all ages, and there is room for everyone. The average age in the league varies, but we have folks at all stages in life. Wherever you are, you won't be the only one. You must be 18 years of age or older, though folks 16-18 are eligible to take part in our Intro to Roller Derby program. Our Junior Derby friends at Electric WhEels accept participants aged 8 to 17.

No. Roller derby is a sport for all genders. We welcome participants of all gender identities and expressions. Our goal is to create an inclusive and supportive environment. Read the WFTDA Statement on Gender.

Sometimes. Roller derby is a fast paced full contact sport, which, although highly regulated, does pose risks to participants. We do the best we can to prepare skaters and to referee and make things safe, but sometimes things happen. Serious injuries are rare, but they do occur.

There are no tryouts to be a part of the league! Anchor City Rollers is a WFTDA member league and holds annual tryouts for their WFTDA-level team, the Harbour Grudges. Other tryouts may be held for other (B-level, home) teams if the size of the league membership requires. We try to have at least a few opportunities for all skaters approved for contact (seasoned skaters) to play roller derby throughout the year, whether in home games or in tournaments for fun. Our practice time usually includes some time for scrimmages.

If you are between 8 to 17 years old, we encourage you to join Electric WhEels, the Junior Roller Derby league associated with ACR. All genders and skill levels are welcome. Find out more information by contacting electricwheels.president@gmail.com.

Our 2024 Intro to Roller Derby session will run for 10 weeks starting October 6th. We have sessions at least once a year, usually beginning in the fall. Check our events page or social media for upcoming programs, or email us at anchorcityrollers@gmail.com

Intro to Roller Derby is a 10-week program, two hours a week on Sundays from 5 to 7pm. Participants are invite to continue on after the program concludes, in the 2-hour practice that is appropriate to their skating level. We usually take a break over the December holidays, and on some holiday weekends where practice attendance would be low.

The Intro to Roller Derby program is $150, which covers 10 weeks of practice, and is used primarily for the rental of practice space for the program. The rest of the fee goes towards administrative costs directly related to the program (pylons, helmet covers, tape, first aid supplies, etc.) and towards keeping the league running. This fee is due before the first practice and the easiest way to pay it is by e-transfer to acrc.exec.treasurer@gmail.com If you wish to continue skating with the league after the program is completed, dues are $40/month. Dues are to be paid at the beginning of the month and can be paid by e-transfer, as mentioned above.

No, we will teach you to skate, and all the skills that are required to play the game.

We do! As of 2024 we are proud to say we have 15 sets of gear we can loan to get people started. Let us know you need to borrow gear when you sign up.

No. Roller derby attracts all kinds of people with all kinds of backgrounds. If it appeals to you, come.

Definitely! We teach you by beginning with low-contact approaches to the sport and you don't ever have to play full contact derby if that's not your thing. We have low-contact opportunities after Intro, or you can choose to referee (all of the skating!) or become a non-skating official or volunteer. There will be a place for you in the league. If you want to talk about starting as a ref or NSO right away, contact us at acrc.officials@gmail.com - there are plenty of jobs to do while you learn.

We have sessions at least once a year, usually beginning in the fall. Sometimes we have more! Check our events page or social media for upcoming programs, or email us at acrc.training@gmail.com. If we don't have another session coming up soon, please get in touch and join our community anyway! We have lots of options for volunteer and social time, whether or not you're on skates.

Check out our section on picking the right roller derby gear for you, and let us know when you sign up if you need to borrow gear. You'll need complete gear in order to participate in practice. In addition: wear comfortable clothing for exercise (gym shorts, pants or capris, tshirt or tank top) bring running shoes for off-skates work your mouth guard! Be sure to take it out and use the instructions to mold it properly for your mouth bring proof of your CRDI insurance (printed or on your phone) water You might also want to have in your bag: hockey tape skate tools if you have one/them for adjusting your wheels and toe stops a small towel for sweat snacks

It can take a while to learn how to skate and learn the rules of roller derby. Everyone progresses at a different pace, but you probably won't be on a team for at least a year. You will still have opportunities to learn the tactics and the strategy, and even to scrimmage sooner than that.

Yes, you can pick your name with or without help from your league mates. Names are usually chosen when you move from Intro to Roller Derby to an Intermediate Skater status, but you can start thinking about it now.

You've decided to join us! Yay! Here are the steps you need to complete before your first practice: Complete the league registration form Complete the Intro to Roller Derby registration form E-transfer the program fee to acrc.exec.treasurer@gmail.com Sign up for WFTDI Canada membership (insurance)

We do have loaner gear! We have about 15 sets of equipment in various sizes that folks can borrow. Details will be sorted out as you sign up for Intro to Roller Derby, but come to one of our Open House sessions if you want to try stuff on! Check our events page or social media for upcoming Open House / Information events, or email us at anchorcityrollers@gmail.com to talk directly.

You'll need quad skates - old fashioned roller skates with low-top ankles. If you have high-top quad skates already, you are welcome to use those, but keep in mind that some of the skills we will be learning will be more difficult to perform because of the reduced ankle maneuverability of high-top skates. If you wish to continue playing roller derby after the completion of the program, you will probably need to have low-top quad skates. We really recommend buying skates from skate shops, either online or in person, and not from a general big-box store like Canadian Tire or Amazon. Having quality, purpose-built skates for the job will save your feet and improve your enjoyment of the Intro to Roller Derby program.

No. Roller blades are meant for a different type of skating that won't give you the type of agility and movement needed for roller derby. You need quad skates (think old fashioned roller skates). The ones meant for derby typically have a lower ankle boot, but if you already have the high-boot kind, you can start with those and upgrade later.

Your helmet must be certified for roller skating: either skateboard or hockey style. Look for the ASTM F 1492 certification (for skateboarding and trick roller skating) and that the helmet meets the CPSC safety standard for skateboard helmets. You can also use a hockey helmet, if you prefer. Helmets that are only certified for bicycling are not appropriate and will not adequately protect you. If you’re using a used helmet, it should be in good condition, and there should be no visible damage or cracks.​ While you should replace your helmet after any major fall or blow to the head, safety organizations doing testing assume that skateboarders and roller skaters will generally bump themselves around more than, say, cyclists, which is why we’re looking for more than just a bike helmet. A safe roller derby helmet normally has a hard plastic shell, a thick Styrofoam layer, and then smaller foam sizing pads inside. Skateboard and roller skate helmets are also designed to cover more (and lower) on the back of your skull than a bike helmet - since it would be unlikely that a bike would tip you directly back onto the back of your head, but it’s totally possible on roller skates.

Mouth guards are available through roller derby supply shops, sport stores and online at the big retailers. Generally, skaters tend to prefer the ones that go over upper teeth, and are made of a thinner material, like those made by SISU. They have to be molded to your mouth using hot water and the package instructions, so please don't forget to do this before your first practice! Dentists can also fit you with a custom mouth guard, and folks often get these after they're comfortable that roller derby is for them.

In addition to the quad skates, helmet and mouth guard, you must also have: Knee pads (if you splurge, splurge on these: your knees will thank you!) Wrist guards Elbow pads Optional Gear Many people get toe guards for their skates to avoid scuffing them People with pre-existing knee problems often find the extra protection of knee gaskets helpful Many new skaters get padded shorts, like those used by ringette players. Protective bras are allowed Shin guards are allowed, but you won't really need them for Intro Hockey tape comes in handy Please, please, PLEASE, for your own safety and for your continued enjoyment of skating (since falling on flimsy knee pads and wrist guards is NOT fun), spend the few extra bucks to get appropriate safety gear (S One, 187 Killer, Smith Scabs, and Triple 8 are all good brands). If you're not sure about a brand you're considering, feel free to ask us at anchorcityrollers@gmail.com.

Yes, if you like. Some new skaters choose to use the padded shorts like those worn by ringette players.

Unfortunately, Coffin Skate Shop has recently closed their Halifax store, but they still have some equipment available online at www.coffinskate.com. There are a number of other online suppliers as well, like www.rollergirl.ca and www.skatepro.ca. Keep an eye on shipping times and try to order your skates and/or gear as soon as possible: you’ll want to have your skates and gear for the first practice. Looking for used gear? There is a large community of skaters and players in the Maritimes. You can sometimes find good lightly used gear on the East Coast Roller Derby Buy and Sell Facebook page. If you have used or older skates, get one of the trainers to check them, as the wheels often come loose over time. If you cannot find what you need, or it won’t arrive on time, ACR also has a supply of skates and gear that we can loan to skaters for the Intro Program. If you have any questions about gear or your skates, Roller Girl has a helpful FAQ. And please ask us at anchorcityrollers@gmail.com – protective gear is so important, and we want to make sure that you get the right stuff!

All members of the league are bound by the Code of Conduct. This should be reviewed yearly, at least, but all members of ACR.

The 2024 Anchor City Rollers Board: President: Saf Haq, acrc.president@gmail.com VP External: RebStu Stuckey, acrc.vicepresident@gmail.com VP Finance: Erica Siba, acrc.exec.treasurer@gmail.com VP Admin: Ashley Beairsto, acrc.exec.secretary@gmail.com VP Internal: Lyndsay Anderson, acrc.humanresources@gmail.com Director of Bout Planning: Paniz Khosroshahy, acrc.boutdirector@gmail.com Director of Merch: Sade Stacey, acrc.funding.merch@gmail.com Directors of Public Relations: Daphne Sleigh & Lauren Mosher , acrc.prdirector@gmail.com Director of Training: Lyndsay Anderson, acrc.training@gmail.com Director of Officials: Katie Amber, acrc.officials@gmail.com

Our league is a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), which requires all skaters to have appropriate insurance. In order to skate with the league, you must sign up for and purchase a WFTDI Canada membership, which includes accident insurance for you and general liability coverage for the league. Membership is $50 plus tax for 365 days from the day you sign up. Sign up here: https://www.wftdicanada.ca/join Once you have purchased a membership, please add the league you belong to (i.e. Anchor City Rollers) on the WFTDI Canada website, so that we can verify your membership. You can do this by logging onto the website (https://www.wftdicanada.ca) at the top right corner using the same email and password you used to purchase a membership. Once logged in, your name should be displayed in the top right of the screen. It is a dropdown menu where skaters can edit their profile, including which league they belong to.

Dues are essential to keeping our league running! They go towards paying rent on our training space and game space, providing travel reimbursements, and many other things. ​ How to Pay Dues Dues are paid by e-transfer to acrc.exec.treasurer@gmail.com. You can do this through online banking. Dues should be paid at the beginning of each month. Reminders will be posted on various groups, but you are responsible for making sure you pay them in a timely manner. How Much to Pay Learn to Skate: Your registration fee covers the first 10 weeks of practice. Once the 10 weeks are over, you will begin paying monthly dues of $40. Your trainers will let you know in practice and in the Facebook group when you need to begin paying monthly dues. ​ LoCo & Seasoned Skaters: $50 a month. ​ Still unsure? If you aren't sure about your dues amount because you are a board member/in a supporting role/a referee/or for any other reason, contact the league Treasurer (acrc.exec.treasurer@gmail.com) and they will help you figure it out. Leave of Absence You may request a leave of absence if you will not be able to attend practices. Unless you complete the leave of absence form, you are expected to pay dues. Dues Relief Anchor City Rollers offer dues relief on a case by case basis. Please fill out the Dues Relief Form. Please read the full disclaimer before filling out the form.

You may request a leave of absence if you will not be able to attend practices. Unless you complete the leave of absence form, you are expected to pay dues.

We are always happy to have visiting skaters at our practices! To help us welcome you, please fill out this google form. ​ Visiting skaters will be charged a drop in fee amounting to $12.50 (by e-transfer) per practice. E-transfers should be directed to acrc.exec.treasurer@gmail.com. Use the security question "what is the best sport?" and the answer rollerderby (all lower case). Use the memo area to provide your name and indicate that you are paying a drop-in fee. ​ If you have any questions, contact us at acrc.training@gmail.com or get in touch via social media.

Joining us from another league? We can't wait to meet you! Whether you're a veteran skater, a graduating junior, a transfer from another intro program, or a ref or NSO, we have a spot for you with ACR! Please get in contact with us at anchorcityrollers@gmail.com and tell us a bit about yourself and your experience with roller derby. We'll be able to decide together what practice is right for you. Rusty? No problem, we'll get you started again (don't forget to get insurance!) and a trainer can help assess your skills and gameplay knowledge.

The game of Flat Track Roller Derby is played on a flat, oval track. Play is broken up into two 30-minute periods, and within those periods, into units of play called “Jams,” which last up to two minutes. There are 30 seconds between each Jam. ​ During a Jam, each team fields up to five Skaters. Four of these Skaters are called “Blockers” (together, the Blockers are called the “Pack”), and one is called a “Jammer.” The Jammer wears a helmet cover with a star on it. ​ The two Jammers start each Jam behind the Pack, and score a point for every opposing Blocker they lap, each lap. Because they start behind the Pack, they must get through the Pack, then all the way around the track to be eligible to score points on opposing Blockers. ​ Roller derby is a full-contact sport; however, Skaters cannot use their heads, elbows, forearms, hands, knees, lower legs, or feet to make contact to opponents. Skaters cannot make contact to opponents’ heads, backs, knees, lower legs, or feet. ​ Play that is unsafe or illegal may result in a Skater being assessed a penalty, which is served by sitting in the Penalty Box for 30 seconds of Jam time. ​ The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. ​​ A common Jam might go like this: Blockers line up behind the Pivot Line and in front of the Jammer Line. Jammers line up behind the Jammer Line. At the Jam-Starting Whistle, the Blockers skate forward and compete for superior position. The Jammers skate forward and try to get through the Pack. Each Blocker simultaneously tries to prevent the opposing Jammer from getting past, and to help their own Jammer get through. One Jammer exits the Pack and is declared Lead Jammer, earning the right to end the Jam when they decide. This Jammer races around the track to get into scoring position. The same Jammer begins to work their way through the Pack for the second time, and the opposing Jammer makes their way out of the Pack for the first time. As the second Jammer to escape the Pack comes around into scoring position, the first Jammer calls off the Jam. The first Jammer has scored points (up to four), and held their opponent at zero points. Meanwhile, the opposing Jammer (by getting into scoring position) held the first Jammer at only those points, as they could have scored more points on subsequent passes. Want to know more? All the rules are available on the WFTDA Rules Site.

Uh, well, yes...and no. Jammers score points by getting through the pack, and blockers prevent points from being scored by preventing the opposing jammer from getting through. A lot of strategy goes in to making sure you score points when the other team doesn't - if you both score the same points, you just wasted a lot of energy for a tie, not a win!

Very funny. Points are scored when the jammer passes the hips of an opposing blocker. No ball (or puck) needed for the amount of highly structured chaos occurring on the track.

Televised roller derby and entertainment leagues did exist in earlier eras, with scripted bouts and pre-determined winners. A revival of the sport began in the early 2000s in Texas, and quickly spread. Modern roller derby is a real, competitive, contact sport with a set of rules to keep play fair and as safe as possible. Players still have a subversive flair and use derby names, but the game is played seriously by over 500 leagues worldwide. You can read more about the history of roller derby on Wikipedia.

There are still a handful of banked track leagues, but the majority of the world plays flat track for a variety of reasons, the largest one being availability of space for practice and games. If someone wants to build us a permanent structure with a banked track, we'll consider it! Just kidding, we would still skate flat track roller derby with the WFTDA (Women's Flat Track Derby Association) and the 500 other leagues around the world. In 2020, there were only eight banked-track leagues still active.

Yes, yes we have. She was a roller skating legend, and will be missed. She passed away in 2018. This is possibly the question most asked of every single skater has been asked when they tell friends and family they've taken up roller derby. We're glad she made such a lasting impression on the Canadian psyche.

No. Well, yes sometimes, but usually not on purpose, and then we have to serve a penalty for it. If we're unsafe or willfully dangerous (or unsporting) on the track, the referees expel us and we don't get to play at all. If you want to learn more, check out the Contact Penalties section in the WFTDA Rules.