The HRD Recreational League, known as the Machete Betties Boot Camp, was founded in 2007. This group has become an organized team of committed skaters. Rec League is a place for training for new skaters, rehabilitating injured skaters, supporting Houston Roller Derby, and allowing retired HRD players to retain their skills and enjoy derby.
Beginner Boot Camp Class
Where: Dairy Ashford Roller Rink
Currently, we are accepting new skaters to our rec league classes. Beginning July 13th, we will meet from 7:00pm-8:30pm every 2nd and 4th Tuesday (please show up 20 minutes early if it's your first time). We begin promptly at 7:00 and if you aren’t in skates and fully padded by 7:15pm, you may not be able to participate that night. The cost is $8 to participate and FREE if you just want to watch. Everyone must start in the beginner group so that we can assess your level. Even the best speed skater must learn the basic stops and falls so that they can be better prepared for derby drills. Girls from all levels of skating ability come to us, so do not fret if you have never been on skates!
Minimum Age: 18
What To Expext
The beginner class is split into a 2-week course, the first session being offered on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays and the follow up session being offered on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. You must attend the first session before you can move on!
For your first session, you will be instructed to go to the new girl group after filling out paperwork, and then get paired up with a "buddy" to get acquainted with your skates and gear. If you have your own quad skates and pads, great! If not, we have all those to loan out on a first come, first served basis. Once in the new girl group, we will start you out by simply skating back and forth and getting you acclimated to proper skater form. From there, we will do a series of drills that will teach you how to stop, slow down, fall, and turn around safely. You will practice these drills with our trainers until 8pm, when the beginner group will then break to stretch with the intermediate and advanced groups. After stretches, a review of what you learned, and a quick Q&A session with your trainer, you may leave OR you may stay to watch the advanced group do their drills/ scrimmage.
On your 2nd week (the 1st or 3rd Tuesday) you will be instructed to go back to the new girl group and your trainer will review all that you learned on your first week. After your review, you will then learn some intermediate skills before being assessed. If you pass your basic skills assessments, you will be invited to attend our intermediate classes on the following Tuesday! If you do not meet the requirements, do not fret! You will start over in the new girl group on the following Tuesday and as soon as you master your basics, you may move on to the intermediate group, which meets every Tuesday at 7:30pm.
These fundamental skills will prepare you for the weeks to come, when you will begin to learn the more advanced derby skills: blocking, jamming, assists, and fancier things!
What To Bring
Please wear comfy work-out clothing such as gym shorts, yoga pants, leggings with shorts or a skirt over them and a tank top or t shirt. Bring well-padded socks. They will help protect your feet against the hardness of the rink skates. Double up if you have to. Also, we ask that you somehow put your name on the back of your shirt so we can identify you easier in the group as you are skating. We have markers and tape that we can write your name on, but a lot of the girls end up ironing on or fabric painting their names on their shirts once they come to a few practices. Bring a bottle or two of water to keep hydrated and a bandana or something to keep your hair out of your face.
Husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, kids and parents are better left at home, but we understand if you must bring them along with you for whatever reason. They must be well behaved and stay in the snack bar area of the rink. At no time are they allowed onto the rink for any reason. If you have to attend to your guest/ child, you must leave the rink area and go to them. We have a lot of drills to cover and do not want our practices disrupted.
Thank you for your interest in Houston Roller Derby’s recreational league!
Rec League FAQs
Email Scar Wars at recruitment@houstonrollerderby.com for more details! |