St. Louis Junior Roller Derby was established in 2017 as the brainchild of Arch Rival skater Aceta Menacin’ (aka Coach Ace). Ace saw the opportunity in St. Louis to develop a new generation of skaters so she spearheaded a program to teach kids how to play this unique and exciting sport. Fellow Arch Rival skater ShortStack (aka, Coach Shortz) joined Ace early on to get STL JRD off the ground with a series of bootcamps that focused first on building solid skating skills. With the support of Arch Rival and Gatekeepers skater-coaches, STL JRD grew year over year, training junior skaters and building the foundation for this group to compete on the national level. In 2023, the STL JRD Level 3 team began their first travel season - making friends, building confidence and having fun playing this hard-charging sport!
As part of the Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA), we help skaters through each phase of learning how to skate and play roller derby.
Level 0: skating basics. Many skaters come to us never having strapped on a pair of wheels so don’t be shy!
Level 1: positional play. Level 1 skaters are non-contact (so no hitting!), but they continue to improve skating moves like different stops and backwards skating. Our level 1s start to learn the rules of the game and how to move their bodies to be most effective on the track.
Level 2: pressure contact. Level 2 skaters are still not hitting, but they can lean in to block - after gentle initial contact is made, skaters may apply force to all the legal target zones. They continue to improve those skating moves and learn more roller derby strategies.
Level 3: full contact roller derby! Level 3 skaters have mastered stops, safe falls, lateral movements, backwards skating, jumps and more in addition to the rules of the game. They are fierce and ready to compete at FULL DERBY LEVEL!
Follow our Junior Derby adventures on Facebook and Instagram!
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We practice on Sunday mornings from 8:30-11:00am.
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Monthly dues are $30/skater.
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COVID-19: All participants are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Participants are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after the second Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shot or two weeks after the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen shot.
Insurance: We have recreation insurance for each of our practices with Athos, through the Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA). Personal health insurance is also required for all participants.
Background Checks: Every coach, volunteer, and official has passed a background check, administered through the Junior Roller Derby Association.
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Roller derby is a full-contact sport, and we want to make sure the skaters are fully protected. The gear below can be found online (there are so many online roller derby stores) and a few places locally. The St. Louis branch of Turn Left Skate Shop is operated by local skaters (referee Ninja Sass’em and Spin Diesel of the Gatekeepers) and Jolly Roger Skateboards in Belleville also carries a bunch of derby gear (though you might need to pre-order certain junior sizes). If you have any questions about what brand/style/size, please ask! We know it’s so disappointing to get something that isn’t quite right, and we can definitely help you figure it out or direct you toward someone who will know. We understand that gear is expensive – if you need assistance please contact us and we will see if there is anything we can do to help.
Helmet: Concussions are a risk in roller derby – weird falls can happen and we want to do everything we can to protect the brain. The most common helmets used are made for multiple impacts - S-One and Triple Eight are the most common brands. Hockey helmets are also a very safe choice. DO NOT use bike helmets – they are single impact and would need to be replaced very frequently to remain safe.
Mouthguard: Most ARCH and GK skaters use SISU mouth guards – they’re durable, but thin enough that they don’t get in the way of breathing, drinking water, or talking. There are cheaper brands that can be found in the average sporting goods store that work just fine, but are much more bulky. Mouthguards play an essential part in concussion prevention. Dentists and orthodontists also make custom mouth guards for kids with braces.
Wristguards
Elbow pads
Knee pads: Knees take a lot of impact in roller derby, so skaters usually invest a little more to get a set of knee pads that will really protect the joint. While the more cushioned knee pads might look bulky at first, they don’t get in the way of the low derby skating stance. Common brands are S-ONE, Triple Eight, Scabs, 187, and Pro-Tec.
Skates: There are so many different types of skates!! We know it can be overwhelming. Every adult skater can talk at length about his or her own skate setup. But don’t be intimidated or feel like you need to learn every part of a roller skate to get the right pair. Most beginner skaters do just fine with a starter package. Just make sure that they have adjustable trucks (the metal or vinyl part attached to the boot) so toe stops and wheels can be swapped out and you’ll be fine.
Wheels: Different floors have different textures, and changing wheels help skaters adjust. Most beginner packages come with 88s. Depending on the floor, size of the skater, and skating style, harder (toward 100) or softer (toward 70) wheels might be preferred. However, to start, the standard wheels should be fine. If your child wants to skate outside (in the park, driveway, etc.) we do recommend getting a set of outdoor wheels, which are much softer so gravel and debris don’t get in the way.
Want to learn more about STL Junior Roller Derby?
Email us at: stl.juniorderby@gmail.com
