Join BBRD
Want to be part of the fastest growing sport of the century? Want to play hard, skate fast, and build a family of athletes? Ready to commit to the time it takes to play a team sport? Awesome! Here’s how:
Who May Join the Burlington Bombers?
Anyone of any gender who is at least 18 years of age may join our league. Members who wish to work towards playing on one of our team rosters will be required to meet certain practice requirements. This takes a level of financial (gear, dues, travel expenses) and time (practices, meetings, committee work) commitment.
Members who would like the benefit of on skates-training but have less weekly time to commit might consider becoming part of our Flight Crew and being a referee. Referees require just as much gear but typically half as much practice time as skaters who wish to participate on our teams.
Members who love derby but may not have the ability or interest to commit to skating are needed in areas of volunteers, bout production, public relations, announcing, statistics and officiating.
While we do restrict membership to this full contact league to adults only (18 and older), you’re never too old to play roller derby!
How Do I Join?
Come to one of our recruiting nights listed here in the news section of our web site or get announcements via Facebook. If you have quad roller skates and protective gear, please bring it. At our recruiting night we’ll cover orientation and outline your practice schedule. Your first visit is free. (NOTE: At this time, all practices are open recruiting – although we request you RSVP to bionichic@burlingtonbombers.com before showing up).
Skaters (rostered or referees) are required to get their own skates and protective gear (helmet, mouth guard, elbow and knee pads, and wrist guards). You are welcome and encouraged to attend our orientation before making the investment, but you may also bring your skates and gear to your first practice.
Where do you practice?
Our current practice locations are with the Sports and Fitness Edge in South Burlington and Essex Junction..
When do you practice?
This winter, Bombers practices are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Please RSVP to rollerderby@burlingtonbombers.com to find out when our open nights are for new recruits.
What is Roller Derby like? Isn’t it dangerous?
Roller derby, like any other highly active sport is not without its risks and injuries. Like other aggressive sports, it is important to have proper gear that fits well and is designed for your body shape and size as well as your skating style. It is also important to constantly work on your physical fitness and stamina. Joining a roller derby league like the Bombers is your first step toward getting the kind of training you need to make derby safe, sane, and fun.
Speaking of fun, roller derby is life changing! Ask anyone who plays derby how its changed them and you’ll hear things like “it saved my life”, “I’ve never had so much fun”, and “every day I play I get two days younger.”
The only way to really know what roller derby is like is to come on out to one of our practices. If you’re itching to give it a try and a recruiting night isn’t posted, please drop us an e-mail and we’ll get back to you right away with a date and time you can visit one of our practies.
Isn’t roller derby just for women?
Heck NO! From Leo Seltzer’s first Transcontinental Roller Derby in 1935, roller derby has always been a skating sport open to and showcasing both men and women. As it grew into a contact sport, the men and women would have separate teams and alternate periods on the track.
In the last decade, roller derby has grown in popularity and participation by the introduction of a “flat track.” With leagues needing only a large, flat, open space to play, roller derby can be practiced and played in nearly any community. The majority of the growth in the past decade has been through women-only leagues. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association writes and maintains the rule set played by more teams than any other rule set in the world.
In 2008, a group of men’s derby teams, some playing in independent co-ed leagues (like the Bombers) and others who share resources with local women’s WFTDA leagues, formed the Men’s Derby Coalition. As the popularity of flat track derby has grown, so has the interest in leagues with both men’s and women’s teams. Here at the Bombers, with our mission that “anyone can play” we really mean anyone can play derby and participate in the role they practice for – roster or referee, regardless of gender.
We practice together because we believe by working together we build the strongest league, the most cohesive family, and the best skaters. When it comes time to play our bouts, our men’s team will play other men’s teams and our women’s team will play other women’s teams.
Is this a real sport?
It sure is! Roller derby employs the strength and stamina of speed skating, the strategy and teamwork of hockey, and the full-contact aggressiveness of rugby all on a track that is about 100′ long and 55′ wide. We skate on quad roller skates (for agility, blocking resistance, and cornering power). Our bouts are real, competitive events following internationally accepted rules. As we develop as a league we will be ranked against the leagues and teams we compete against.