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ABOUT GSORD

Greensboro Roller Derby (GSORD) was founded on February 3, 2010.  From the ground up, a group of strong-willed, dedicated, beautiful humans have turned what was once a dream for many, into a reality.  Practicing 3 times a week (sometimes more), Greensboro Roller Derby has successfully set out on a path for total Derby domination.

Greensboro Roller Derby has two interleague teams: the Gate City All-Stars & Greensboro CounterStrike, and three intraleague teams: the Battleground Betties, the Elm Street Nightmares, and the Mad Dollies.

At each of our events, we donate a portion of proceeds to charity. We could not do this without the support of our fans, as well as many local artists and business owners.

What is flat track roller derby?

Flat track roller derby is a fast-paced contact team sport that requires speed, strategy, and athleticism. The flat track version of the sport evolved in 2001, and has quickly grown to encompass more than 400 leagues worldwide. This is in large part due to the ease of setting up a flat track–it can be done on any flat surface that is suitable for skating, such as skating rinks, basketball courts, parking lots, and even airplane hangars. This greatly reduces the capital needed to start up a roller derby league, and allows small groups of people to get a fledgling league off the ground. The DIY spirit that drives the sport allows roller derby leagues to create their own unique identities and adapt their structures to reflect their local communities.

What is the WFTDA?

The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the governing body for women’s flat track roller derby, and a membership organization for the leagues to collaborate and network. The organization develops and maintains the standardized rules for roller derby, in use by WFTDA member and non-member leagues internationally. The WFTDA also serves as the sanctioning body for flat track roller derby games, hosts regional and national tournaments, sets safety standards, provides roller derby insurance to athletes and leagues, and serves as a networking venue for flat track roller derby leagues to share resources and get advice. There are currently 197 WFTDA member leagues and 98 leagues in the Apprentice Program.
Learn more about the WFTDA here.

What are the rules of Roller Derby?

The most current rule set can be downloaded from the WFTDA Rules Central website.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN?

Skaters must be at least 18 years old and identify as either female, a trans woman, an intersex woman, or gender expansive. Skaters will be required to pay monthly dues and purchase supplemental insurance from the WFTDA.

ARE YOU A POTENTIAL TRANSFER SKATER FROM ANOTHER LEAGUE?

Welcome! We have a few options for transfer skaters that are new to the area or are looking to be a part of GSORD. Please email membership@greensbororollerderby.com with more details on your situation and we’ll get back to you with more information.

WHEN IS YOUR NEXT FRESH MEAT CLASS?

Freshmeat tryouts are held twice a year. Check out our Facebook Page for our next Interest Fair and Freshment Bootcamp events. E-mail membership@greensbororollerderby.com for additional details and to be added to our interest meeting mailing list.

I WANT TO SKATE, BUT CONTACT ISN’T FOR ME, OR I DON’T IDENTIFY AS FEMALE.

Referees are an essential component of roller derby. Without referees, there would be chaos on the track and no one would know what the score is. Referees must also be at least 18 years old, and can identify as male or female. Referees practice alongside the skaters and are also required to purchase supplemental insurance from the WFTDA. Referees do not pay monthly dues, and to date, have never lost a bout. We call our ref crew Team Undefeated, everyone wants to be on a winning team.

I STILL WANT TO BE INVOLVED, BUT SKATING JUST ISN’T FOR ME.

There are lots of other ways that you can be involved. It takes a large staff of non-skating officials (NSOs) to put on a successful bout, everything from stats collection, to penalty box management, to running the time clock. NSOs get in to bouts for free and pay no dues. We call our NSO crew the Gate City Engineers, they keep our derby train running smooth and on time! We are also looking for mascots and other folks to pump up the crowd, announcers, track crew, you name it!

CONTACT US!

Please email John Xena, our head of membership, if you are interested in joining Greensboro Roller Derby.

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