Join the Ventura County Derby Darlins!

Now you might be asking yourself, will I fit in?  The Darlins come in all shapes and sizes and from all different backgrounds and ages ranging from 18 to 45+.  We are teachers, bartenders, 9 to 5ers, accountants, stay at home moms, waitresses, and business women.  But we all have one thing in common… we love this sport!  Whether you want to be the Star Jammer or the one throwing them in the box, there’s a place for you!

Skaters

The Ventura County Derby Darlins will be having four tryout / open enrollment nights for the 2010 season. The dates are as follows: January 4th, April 5th, July 8th, and October 4th. Following enrollment, newbies will begin an intensive 10 week training course, after which their skills will be assessed.

This decision has been made in attempt to strengthen and solidify our fresh meat training program, and focus attention on one training group/level at a time.

We are always looking for new derby girls! If you’ve missed the most recent tryouts and don’t want to wait around for the next, please feel free to come to practice and check out how things run. We invite you to become a league affiliate, which includes access to all of our events, information and a chance to help us out and run things behind the scenes. Get to know the Darlins by giving us a hand! Please email membership@vcderbydarlins.com for affiliate details and rates.

Downloadable PDFs (print, fill out & bring with you to practice):

• Membership Application
• Info Sheet on Gear & Skates
  

We look forward to seeing you on the track!

Gear and Insurance

We aren't going to lie to you; this is a FULL contact sport. That means that although we do wear full protective gear, people do actually get hurt. For that reason, we suggest, but do not require, that you have primary medical insurance to cover any injuries you may incur while out on the track. You will be required, however, to be a USARS member.  You can print the USARS application, or get the form on your first day of practice.  Because of the risks involved in skating, we also require that all VCDD members be at least 18 years or older.

Here is a list of what you can expect to purchase:

Quad skates* (Sorry, no in-lines / roller blades allowed)
Appropriate Wheels**
Helmet
Knee Pads***
Elbow Pads
Wrist Guards
Mouth Guard

Optional Additional Gear:
Butt Pads
Shin Guards

In addition to purchasing your own skates and gear, all skaters pay dues for rink time and membership in VCDD. 

Interested in becoming a skater for VCDD?  Come check out one of our practices and ask for Membership director, Vicious Ticious or email her at Membership@vcderbydarlins.com.

REFS and VOLUNTEERS

No sports team would be complete without the stripes!  Our refs don’t just blow whistles at the games, they’re participating members of the league, attend practices and skate right along with the skaters.  If you’re observant, outgoing, like being in charge (and aren’t afraid to be the “unpopular one” sometimes at games) this may be for you. 

There are a ton of different positions on the ref team that include “on-skate” refs and “off-skate” refs.  On-skate refs must also purchase their own equipment and are held to the same safety standards as skaters (see above for info on purchasing skates and gear).

And again, experience is not necessary!  We’ll train you!  Skating refs who don't have skating experience spend time with the fresh meat, learning the basic skills and falls.  Refs must also pass an assessment, including a rules test.  Once passed, skating refs generally get put into an outside pack ref position and work their way into the middle for inside pack ref or jam ref (that’s where all the real action is!).

As far as non-skating refs, or “off-skates” refs, these are the ones do all the official stuff… basically everything except calling penalties.  Tracking penalties, penalty box timer, jam timer, scoreboards, white boards, 3 board and positional stats.  They are the glue that makes everything run smoothly and gives the league information after the bouts. 

So what makes someone a Volunteer vs. a Ref?  Anyone who is on skates must pay dues for rink time and membership in VCDD, that includes on-skate refs.  Off-skate refs and/or volunteers have the option to pay dues or not… but only paying members get a voice in league business.  The choice is up to the individual whether they want to pay dues, or remain a volunteer.

Interested in being a ref?  Come down to check out one of our practices and ask for head ref, Daddy Dykalicious or email her at Referees@vcderbydarlins.com.