Junior Roller Derby

What has 8 wheels and tons of fun? Roller skating!

So what do you think about roller derby?

The Hel’z Belles Roller Derby Team of Helena, Montana invites you to join us!  Here’s the essential information you need to get rolling.

Hel’z Belles Roller Derby team wants you to come and join the fun of roller skating.  The team has a new junior league (for female and male) skaters up to age 18, and wants you to come and give roller skating a try.  Juniors have official practice on Mondays and Thursdays from 5:45-6:45 pm, with an amazing set of coaches who skate with the competitive Belles team. Juniors can come and skate for other open skate days as well.  Hel’z Belles junior derby coaches focus on teaching all skaters safe skating techniques, and no contact is allowed before a skater has passed skill testing.  When basic skating skills are mastered, skilled skaters may join the non-contact all age new skater sessions on Thursday nights from 7-9.

What is roller derby?

Roller derby is a fast-paced roller sport played on quad roller skates (the kind with four wheels arranged in pairs.  Inline skates are not allowed, except for refs.).  Two all-women teams compete for points in competitions called ‘bouts.’  A bout is made up of ‘jams.’ In a jam, a ‘pack’ of skaters composed of four players from each team skates in a group while two ‘jammers’—one from each team—attempt to skate through the pack.  The skaters in the pack try to help their own jammer through while impeding the jammer from the opposing team.  A jammer scores one point for each opposing player she passes.  Roller derby is a full-contact sport, but rules govern legal forms of contact in modern roller derby.  Fighting and dangerous hits are strictly not allowed.

What about juniors?

Young skaters are welcome to join Hel’z Belles. Contact (hitting) is prohibited between adults and juniors and female/male skaters.  Juniors (male and female) are encouraged to come and learn how to skate, and be part of junior derby as skaters (with their peers), referees and volunteers.  Our program is developing, and we currently encourage juniors to skate during open skate (Mon, Wed, and Thurs 5:30-7:00) and to skate with the juniors team Monday and Thursday from 5:45pm to 6:45pm.  We are recruiting for a full junior team, so please pass the word!

What do I need to get started?  Just a desire to skate.  No skill necessary.  As for gear, you’ll need roller skates, a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wristguards and a mouthguard.  Hel’z Belles has skates and loaner gear for new skaters to try.  The Belles require that all skaters use protective gear (helmets, wristguards, elbow and knee pads) while skating.  No prior skating experience is needed.

Hel’z Belles Mission

Hel’z Belles is a ‘by the skaters, for the skaters,’ grass-roots, non-profit, athletic and social organization.  Our goal is to inspire women, young and old, to form healthy body image, live an active lifestyle, and gain empowerment through learning the sport of roller derby in a safe and supportive environment.  We are committed to our community by skating local, buying local, and supporting local business and community organizations.

As a Belle, you can expect to be treated as a sister (and brother) in derby and a valuable asset to the team at any level of skating skill.  Skaters are expected and encouraged to contribute to the league outside of skating time including volunteering for the league, supporting fundraisers, and taking part in community outreach projects.

Questions?  For more information: [email protected]   •  Interested in being a Sponsor? [email protected]  •

~~~ Bring this COUPON  ~~

Watch the Hel’z Belles play Electric City!

April 27 @ 7pm, L & C Fairgrounds

Kids under 10 free; ½ price tickets for youth 10-18.

***Come to a Skater/Parent Information Session before the bout at 6:30 and

admission is FREE for youth 10-18 with purchase of an adult ticket!***

www.helzbelles.org or find us on facebook!

Hel’z Belles, PO Box 1000, Helena, MT 59624