#hertsbreakers

So Saturday was tough, it was hot and the majority of the team probably felt as sick as I did that morning. The run up to this bout has had me super worried. I’m a pretty small person all round and if you’ve seen the Killer Hurtz you will know I didn’t stand a chance against them. 

So we played the bout with only 10 players on the team (we were the smallest team there on the day) and we lost 2 members; one to an injury in the first half and the other fouled out. It made it harder for us but in the end we were strong as a team. In previous bouts we haven’t really been set for the game and our team moral was really low. This one we weren’t ready but we were ready to try. We knew we would lose but we were there for the fun and the experience. Loads us agreed this was the best game we played as a team. even if it was our worst loss.

The second game was also pretty good but coming down from the high of just surviving our game made me not pay much attention to it. But spending time talking to team mates and meeting other people. 

We also had a mens game where suffolk roller derby played against a mixed team (top gun) made up from men of all the teams there on the day. 3 FMRD members joined and they were fantastic it was so good to see them play. It’s really cool to actually be able to stand there and cheer on for your friends in an environment that isn’t at training. They all did so well (also one of our guys got MVP). 

We're recruiting men and women to join our CoEd Roller Derby League to field new players for our Women's team ‘Herts Breakers’ who are currently debuting in the British Championships and for our Men's team ‘Ironborn Rollers’. Members of these teams will form the CoEd ‘A Team’.

Our 6 week basic skills course will teach new recruits the very basics of roller skating and roller derby skills, and an offer to become a member of FMRD.

For more info on dates, equipment needed and more on the course email us on [email protected]

So everyone joins roller derby for a reason. Some do it for fitness, some for something to do, some for company and the list is endless. I joined roller derby for loads of reasons but there is one reason that keeps me going, 

Roller derby turned me into a more confident person. Before I joined I had a massive run of bad luck and I still have bad luck happen, everyone does. I was full of anxiety when I joined and I was sent into counselling through the college. I was told I had social anxiety as I told them I didn't feel comfortable talking to people I don't really know, Roller derby has given me that chance to put myself out there and talk to people and it really has given me the confidence to approach people. Recently I have been having more trouble with more of my anxiety and not training literally drives me crazy. It's the thing that made me feel better and happier and having that taken away from me makes me feel quite upset. Why? Because my job is so male dominated (I am literally the only woman who works in the kitchen) I don't get the chance to talk to other women. That may sound stupid but I get bored of all the male discussions of chatting up girls and what they did to their girlfriend that night and how women are useless and stupid. This makes me feel really uncomfortable and insecure. So being able to chat with the other girls and interact with them is great. 

Just rolling on my skates makes me feel much better. I don't need to hit people or do transitions and really cool tricks to feel better, I just need to roll. Just for a moment because it takes away the stress and anxiety I get every day. Being able to laugh when someone does something silly and being able to skate with my team mates and my friends is great. We all look out for each other and I will take that environment over the kitchen environment any day.