Last night over twenty women tried out for The Long Island Roller Rebels. Potential recruits, waited patiently outside the doors of United Skates, while current league members got things prepped for registration. A huge bag of extra gear was stationed near the entrance, ready for newcomers without any. As the women slowly made their way through the registration process, the coaching and recruitment committees gathered together to prepare for the night.
Practice started with a safety check on gear, a warm up and then the potential new skaters were tested. As they performed a series of skills, us coaches took notes and grades to help us decide who would make the cut. We saw a lot of good skaters out there with determination and great potential. The girls, some in derby skates, some in rentals, all worked their way around the track showing us who could crossover, who could hit and who could listen and follow direction. The girls also met with the recruitment committee to discuss what becoming a part of the league entails.
Once tryouts ended, the coaches and recruitment committees gathered together to discuss who made it. We are happy to welcome a lot of new members, and to all of those who didn't make it this time, we urge you to be a part of the league by becoming a volunteer or NSO. Keep practicing, there's always next year!
These next few months will be a test for our newcomers. While we openly welcome our Fresh Bloods, we will continue to assess skills, attitude and commitment. Being a part of the Long Island Roller Rebels is surely an experience you will remember forever and we look forward to the new players for our 2011 season!
The Rebel Yell - Official blog of The Long Island Roller Rebels
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
25 Random Facts
I can remember when this Roller Rebel first became a part of the league 1 and a 1/2 years ago. She started out as an NSO and then went on to become a skater. As one of the most determined Fresh Bloods I've seen, she put in every single effort to learn each skill and learn it well. Her leadership qualities, willingness to always help, and her unconditional love for roller derby resulted in her being voted in as Captain of The Rock-A-Betty Bruisers, Assistant Manager of the All Star Team AND Recruitment Manager. She takes on these roles with passion and commitment and does this all in addition to holding down a full-time job! Let's learn a little bit more about this truly dedicated skater, ShadowboxHer!!
1. My middle name is Joy because my parents felt so much “joy” when I was born, or so the story goes.
2. For 3 years I taught Introduction to Feminism at the University at Albany.
3. I teach elementary school Physical Education to gifted children.
4. I have an older sister, and a younger brother who are both 4 years apart from me.
5. When I was young I used to have to try out the soap of every restaurant I entered!
6. I am a second degree black belt in the martial art of Chinese Kenpo.
7. I have a secret desire to be Xena Warrior Princess.
8. I have an extreme aversion to chewing gum.
9. I am dating a Villain.
10. I have read the book Stone Butch Blues, by Leslie Feinberg, over 30 times (no joke).
11. My favorite comic book character is Mystique from X-Men.
12. I was Missy Elliot for Halloween one year.
13. I have the best derby big sister out there!
14. I aspire to gain a PHD in Women’s Studies.
15. I dream of owning a farm with; three horses, a goat, a pond, and a weeping willow. Oh and of always wearing a cowgirl hat!
16. I have THE corniest sense of humor, and if you don’t believe me just ask my students.
17. I don’t get scared, I get startled.
18. I am extremely competitive, and always have been.
19. I would be perfectly content playing roller derby every waking hour…sometimes it feels like we do!
20. There is nothing in my life that can’t be cured with chocolate.
21. I played the saxophone my entire elementary/middle/high school career.
22. My favorite flower is a sunflower, every year I pledge to plant them.
23. I can read your aura!
24. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through was my black belt test. At 14 years old, I fought 12, 3 minute, full contact rounds against all men…BRUTAL.
25. Roller Derby has awarded me with the introduction to; some of the most amazing women I’ve ever met, the most thrilling, intricate, competitive sport out there, and some of the most memorable experiences of my entire life. I feel so fortunate to have stumbled upon the Long Island Roller Rebels!!! BOOM/BAM
1. My middle name is Joy because my parents felt so much “joy” when I was born, or so the story goes.
2. For 3 years I taught Introduction to Feminism at the University at Albany.
3. I teach elementary school Physical Education to gifted children.
4. I have an older sister, and a younger brother who are both 4 years apart from me.
5. When I was young I used to have to try out the soap of every restaurant I entered!
6. I am a second degree black belt in the martial art of Chinese Kenpo.
7. I have a secret desire to be Xena Warrior Princess.
8. I have an extreme aversion to chewing gum.
9. I am dating a Villain.
10. I have read the book Stone Butch Blues, by Leslie Feinberg, over 30 times (no joke).
11. My favorite comic book character is Mystique from X-Men.
12. I was Missy Elliot for Halloween one year.
13. I have the best derby big sister out there!
14. I aspire to gain a PHD in Women’s Studies.
15. I dream of owning a farm with; three horses, a goat, a pond, and a weeping willow. Oh and of always wearing a cowgirl hat!
16. I have THE corniest sense of humor, and if you don’t believe me just ask my students.
17. I don’t get scared, I get startled.
18. I am extremely competitive, and always have been.
19. I would be perfectly content playing roller derby every waking hour…sometimes it feels like we do!
20. There is nothing in my life that can’t be cured with chocolate.
21. I played the saxophone my entire elementary/middle/high school career.
22. My favorite flower is a sunflower, every year I pledge to plant them.
23. I can read your aura!
24. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through was my black belt test. At 14 years old, I fought 12, 3 minute, full contact rounds against all men…BRUTAL.
25. Roller Derby has awarded me with the introduction to; some of the most amazing women I’ve ever met, the most thrilling, intricate, competitive sport out there, and some of the most memorable experiences of my entire life. I feel so fortunate to have stumbled upon the Long Island Roller Rebels!!! BOOM/BAM
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Mr & Mrs Roller Papi
As many of you know, I met my husband through roller derby. Over the years he has been a part of the Roller Rebels - as a friend, a sometimes coach, a mascot one night and a half-time show performer.
On August 13th, in front of family and friends we were married by The Roller Rebels' very own Eve L. Taco aka Reverend Eve L. The day was filled with happiness, good times, chilled Colt 45 forty ounces, yummy food and LOTS of dancing. It was the very best day of my life! I waited a long time for this wonderful man to come along and he was well worth the wait!
Though we don't have any of our professional photos yet, I thought I'd share some images taken by a few of our guests.
On August 13th, in front of family and friends we were married by The Roller Rebels' very own Eve L. Taco aka Reverend Eve L. The day was filled with happiness, good times, chilled Colt 45 forty ounces, yummy food and LOTS of dancing. It was the very best day of my life! I waited a long time for this wonderful man to come along and he was well worth the wait!
Though we don't have any of our professional photos yet, I thought I'd share some images taken by a few of our guests.
The photo on our invitation was taken by Beth Dixson and the invitation was designed by Renee Michele Andolina aka Dedly Weponz.
Me and my Matron of Honor, my sister. You can't see, but I've got red shoes on, a gift from Sleeping Booty.
I cried (happy tears) walking down the aisle
Here we are at the ceremony with Reverend Eve L.
Our first kiss as bride and groom.
We did it!
It wouldn't be an entrance at all if we weren't on our skates
Our first dance
A day I won't ever forget!!
- Etta
A day I won't ever forget!!
- Etta
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Try Outs
Every year in the Fall, for one night only, a huge group of women, brand new skates and gear in hand, nervously line up at the entrance of United Skates. While they fidget and anxiously wait to be checked in, they secretly scope out their competition. Some are sweating with anticipation, others are calm and in control. There are beginners and a few with some experience under their belts. They are all sizes, shapes, races and ages. They have different educations and different backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common; They all want to play roller derby. This great night in October is better known as The Long Island Roller Rebel Try Outs!
Recruitment night is one of the most exciting and important nights for our league. As coaches, we take it all in. Watching strides and skills of our newcomers to determine if they have what it takes to be a part of the team. It's our job to pick and choose who will be a strong player in order to improve the performance of our league as skaters, as teammates and as a family.
I personally love this time. It's inspiring to see where our new girls start off and if they make it, where practice eventually takes them. Teaching the girls and watching them progress to bout level skaters is such a rewarding experience. That being said, I can't wait to meet all of you new skaters!
Interested in trying out? Here's what you need:
- Experience is not required, but a good attitude and willingness to learn is.
- A registration fee of $50
- You must be 21 or older
- A photo ID
- Quad roller skates (if you don't have your own they are available for rental)
- All of the proper safety gear; Helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards and mouth guard
For more information, see the flyer below. Good luck and see you there!
Recruitment night is one of the most exciting and important nights for our league. As coaches, we take it all in. Watching strides and skills of our newcomers to determine if they have what it takes to be a part of the team. It's our job to pick and choose who will be a strong player in order to improve the performance of our league as skaters, as teammates and as a family.
I personally love this time. It's inspiring to see where our new girls start off and if they make it, where practice eventually takes them. Teaching the girls and watching them progress to bout level skaters is such a rewarding experience. That being said, I can't wait to meet all of you new skaters!
Interested in trying out? Here's what you need:
- Experience is not required, but a good attitude and willingness to learn is.
- A registration fee of $50
- You must be 21 or older
- A photo ID
- Quad roller skates (if you don't have your own they are available for rental)
- All of the proper safety gear; Helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards and mouth guard
For more information, see the flyer below. Good luck and see you there!
Friday, September 16, 2011
What's In Store
Hello Rebel Yell Readers!
I hope that you all had a fantastic summer and that you have many memorable moments from this year's derby season so far. I know all of us Roller Rebels do! One recent moment that comes to mind, is our girls winning three out of five bouts at the 2011 Empire Skate Showdown!!
The end of summer does not mean that the fun is over though! We still have a lot more events that we're really looking forward to and we hope to see you at them!
Coming up this weekend, Saturday, 9/17 and Sunday 9/18, we will have a table full of Roller Rebel merchandise available for sale at The 25th Annual Bellmore Family Street Festival. Come on down and say hello!
Stay tuned here because I have a lot of other exciting news to share with all of you.
Til then,
Etta
I hope that you all had a fantastic summer and that you have many memorable moments from this year's derby season so far. I know all of us Roller Rebels do! One recent moment that comes to mind, is our girls winning three out of five bouts at the 2011 Empire Skate Showdown!!
The end of summer does not mean that the fun is over though! We still have a lot more events that we're really looking forward to and we hope to see you at them!
Coming up this weekend, Saturday, 9/17 and Sunday 9/18, we will have a table full of Roller Rebel merchandise available for sale at The 25th Annual Bellmore Family Street Festival. Come on down and say hello!
Stay tuned here because I have a lot of other exciting news to share with all of you.
Til then,
Etta
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Spread The Word
Below is an important letter from B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls that I would like to pass on.
Dear friends:
Saturday, July 9, was an evening of mixed blessings for the B.A.D. Girls. After a successful Championship event at the Craneway Pavilion on the Richmond Harbor, league members who were transporting the money raised from the event were robbed at gunpoint.
Thankfully our league members were not injured. However the robbery was not only a shock to our community, but it took our entire financial reserve and profit for the event, totaling thousands of dollars that would have gone towards both future events and our practice venue.
The B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls is a 501(c)(3) and has been entirely volunteer-run since inception. To be robbed of badly needed funds is devastating; to have our league members’ lives threatened is irreparable.
Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot release further details on the case but we have absolute confidence in the San Francisco Police Department to bring us justice.
While the SFPD works on the investigation, the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls are in dire need of fundraising. We have always depended on the kindness of our fans and our community. In this time of need, we are reaching out for your generosity once again. Like the strongest jammers, we do not fall after one hit, and we have no intention of allowing thieves who would steal from a non-profit organization to stop us from rolling. If you can please donate to the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls to recoup some of these financial losses, we would greatly appreciate any amount. Your donation will be fully tax-deductible. In addition, if you can donate items for us to raffle or venue space for us to hold a fundraiser, we promise to make it worth your while and continue to bring you the best roller derby in the Bay Area.
Like the community that we all practice and play in, we are strong. We have always been a league of extraordinary women who are undaunted by obstacles. Roller derby is a sport that embraces challenges, enables resiliency, and celebrates the spirit of the best in humanity. We intend in honoring that spirit and moving forward from this crime toward a much brighter future with all of you. Thank you again for your support. It means more to us now than it ever has before.
To support the B.A.D. Girls, please donate by clicking the "Donate" button on our home page at http://www.bayareaderbygirls.com. Your donation is tax deductible. You can also support us by attending our upcoming Golden Bowl tournament, Aug. 12-14 at the Oakland Convention Center. http://www.bayareaderbygirls.com/aug-12-14-the-golden-bowl-3-day-ro...
To donate a product or venue space, please email pr@bayareaderbygirls.com
For press inquiries, please contact katy@bethechangepr.com; +1 415 375 0663
Dear friends:
Saturday, July 9, was an evening of mixed blessings for the B.A.D. Girls. After a successful Championship event at the Craneway Pavilion on the Richmond Harbor, league members who were transporting the money raised from the event were robbed at gunpoint.
Thankfully our league members were not injured. However the robbery was not only a shock to our community, but it took our entire financial reserve and profit for the event, totaling thousands of dollars that would have gone towards both future events and our practice venue.
The B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls is a 501(c)(3) and has been entirely volunteer-run since inception. To be robbed of badly needed funds is devastating; to have our league members’ lives threatened is irreparable.
Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot release further details on the case but we have absolute confidence in the San Francisco Police Department to bring us justice.
While the SFPD works on the investigation, the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls are in dire need of fundraising. We have always depended on the kindness of our fans and our community. In this time of need, we are reaching out for your generosity once again. Like the strongest jammers, we do not fall after one hit, and we have no intention of allowing thieves who would steal from a non-profit organization to stop us from rolling. If you can please donate to the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls to recoup some of these financial losses, we would greatly appreciate any amount. Your donation will be fully tax-deductible. In addition, if you can donate items for us to raffle or venue space for us to hold a fundraiser, we promise to make it worth your while and continue to bring you the best roller derby in the Bay Area.
Like the community that we all practice and play in, we are strong. We have always been a league of extraordinary women who are undaunted by obstacles. Roller derby is a sport that embraces challenges, enables resiliency, and celebrates the spirit of the best in humanity. We intend in honoring that spirit and moving forward from this crime toward a much brighter future with all of you. Thank you again for your support. It means more to us now than it ever has before.
To support the B.A.D. Girls, please donate by clicking the "Donate" button on our home page at http://www.bayareaderbygirls.com. Your donation is tax deductible. You can also support us by attending our upcoming Golden Bowl tournament, Aug. 12-14 at the Oakland Convention Center. http://www.bayareaderbygirls.com/aug-12-14-the-golden-bowl-3-day-ro...
To donate a product or venue space, please email pr@bayareaderbygirls.com
For press inquiries, please contact katy@bethechangepr.com; +1 415 375 0663
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Ready, Set, Showdown!
Is it really August already? Before we blink, summer will be winding down and we'll be starting to get ready for holiday shopping. UGH - did I really just say that? Of course, we do have a lot of great things to look forward to and one of the biggest events is our Second Annual Empire Skate Showdown!
Let me sum this event up very simply:
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011
9 New York Teams
17 Bouts
2 Tracks
DJ Joe Jack
Long Ireland Beer
Tons of Vendors
Tons of FANS!!
The showdown was a huge success last year and we just can't wait to do it all over again! For more information on where to buy tickets or to become a part of the event, please visit our website.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Build Your Own Monster
Attention all monster lovers! Now you can look like one any time you want! These adorable and somewhat scary skull caps are just the way to showcase your inner monster!
Not only are the hats fun to wear, but once you take a look at the uniquely designed order page on her website, the fun sketches and drop down boxes will have you stocking up for the whole family in no time! Each hat is individually made to perfection, right down to the fang-toothed grins. A few of the Roller Rebels have been seen sporting these and they rave about them.
Check out Anne's creative designs at her website My Monster Hat and order yours today.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Try and Catch This Villain!
The Roller Rebels are proud to have one of our newest league members featured in The Merrick Herald.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)