Who Goes to RC?
RollerCon is organized by female derby players from the new generation of DIY leagues, and is 99% attended by the same.
In recent years, derby has gotten more popular with skaters who don’t fit that categorization, and RollerCon attendees reflect that growth in popularity. Old School skaters & Renegades have always attended RollerCon (in small percentages). Every year the small percentage of male and junior skaters grows a little, too. As derby grows overseas, every year brings in more international players, as well. Our attendees pretty accurately reflect the actual derby population, really.
RollerCon does not discriminate or exclude any sub-group of derby, and is open to every insured skater regardless of age, gender, track preference, “school,” league or governing body affiliation, rules preference (or lack thereof), or any other classification that can be applied to derby.
RollerCon skating events are played by the current version of the standardized rules.
MEN:
Men must meet all the safety gear, skill level and insurance requirements that apply to all skaters, including holding USARS “competitor” level membership (or a USARS event pass). Men with officials or other non-competitive memberships will need to get the event pass. All RC events are open to men, though women (being the largest majority of derby skaters), may choose (and are encouraged) not to skate with and against them if they have concerns. When its an issue, alternating jams will be offered, so that no one is excluded or uncomfortable. Men have attended RollerCon every year (and skated with women) since 2006, and have been very understanding & hypersensitive to concerns regarding their participation. Our experience has been that most male derby players prefer to play with other men and will not play contact with women unless they are absolutely certain the women feel comfortable with it (hint: if you do like hitting dudes, it helps to goad them, call them names & knock them down frequently so they are absolutely sure you want to play them. Jokes about athletic cups are particularly effective).
As long as all parties keep communication open, we’ll continue to organize events casually and let the parties skating work out their participation. Coaches are free to limit events to participants of a specific skill level, and if they choose to exclude men, their classes will be labeled. If you are a woman who DOES NOT want to play contact with men, please express your concern to officials or coaches and they will alternate jams or find you a female partner for drills so everyone is happy. It doesn’t have to be a big deal - and the organizers (and the men) are willing to work very hard to make sure everyone has fun.
Men may organize Merby / Dangle seminars and training, if they choose, as well: http://www.rollercon.net/help-wanted/
JUNIORS:
Juniors have attended RollerCon starting with 2009. Juniors must meet all the safety gear, skill level and insurance requirements that apply to all skaters, and their parents must sign a different waiver. So far, Juniors have only attended WITH parents, and the parents signed waivers with RollerCon Managers witnessing. If Juniors wish to participate in larger numbers, we’ll work with parents, coaches and insurers to be certain we offer the Juniors and their parents the safest and best event we can.
Because Juniors play very low-contact derby, there are some skating events they can’t participate in. Underage people will not be allowed to attend the Black n Blue Ball, can’t go to the social events at the Double Down, and are likely be excluded from other adult social events in Las Vegas.
Juniors WILL be welcome to participate & attend events at the LV Sport Center. Kids are also welcome (and encouraged) to volunteer to work for our Green Shirt Army.
Generally speaking, Juniors are welcome at all seminars - the only exception is anything to do with announcers. Trust us, you don’t want your kids within 20 feet of that. Juniors are welcome at on-skates training that does not include contact. Coaches that typically coach juniors are welcome to come up with Junior on-skates classes and as long as we have enough juniors attending, we’ll schedule them. Juniors may apply to schedule a Lunchtime Bout if they meet the participation requirements & minimums. Juniors were (and will be) welcomed at adult and mixed scrimmages in low contact Junior-rules jams in 2009. Juniors rules (and participants) were announced to the participants in advance, and the jams were mixed with adults. Unfortunately, USARS has decided that’s too risky, so this year Juniors may not have any contact with adult skaters at all, and only limited light contact with other juniors. However, we’re still working on them. And if there are enough juniors attending that wish to participate in juniors-only jams during open scrimmages, we can alternate jams for them, as well. Juniors are welcome to participate in Challenges (with each other), as well.
To submit a Junior class or seminar, or to volunteer for the Green Shirt Army:
http://www.rollercon.net/help-wanted/
Please note that you are a junior so you are considered for a junior-appropriate job.
Renegades and Old School Derby
All skaters (regardless of affiliations) are welcome at RollerCon. They must meet all the safety gear, skill level and insurance requirements that apply to all skaters, and are welcome at all events. Anyone that skates with non-standard rules may ask to schedule challenges with their rules & officials by sending their request to planning@rollercon.com for safety review. RollerCon refs and NSOs are trained in the Standardized rules, and may not be willing or able to officiate at events that are approved, so please include contact information for pre-staffed refs & officials that can. No unsafe behavior will be tolerated, and the RollerCon Head Ref will attend and monitor any non-standard events for safety. RollerCon organizers and USARS are the final word on what is or isn’t safe. The RollerCon Head Ref or his alternate may stop any event or remove any skaters that they feel are potentially hazardous.
Questions about a group not represented on this page? Please send your questions to info@rollercon.com.