LVRG Season Opener Feb. 16th

Mark your calendars now for February 16^th because the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls (LVRG) are opening up their new roller derby season in the Lehigh Valley with a Pink versus Black rematch.  Get your tickets early - it’s only three weeks away and sure to be a sell out!

Helen DaRink, LVRG President

The 2013 roller derby season will be an exciting one with the newly released revision of the WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) rules for the new year. Fans will be getting their first taste of the invigorating changes with Lehigh Valley's Pink versus Black season opening intra-league bout on February 16th. Fans should expect thrilling new twists to the normal standard game play as our strategies have had to adjust to the elimination of all minor penalties. We have also had to accommodate for a faster paced one whistle jam start. If you thought you knew derby, guess again! This season will change the way both blockers and jammers maneuver around the track. Expect to see more backwards skating, increased aggressiveness and more strategic play to adapt to the new rules.  The fans should expect to see a strong returning veteran roster including stealth jammers Ginga Railed U, Betty Switch and Lauranimal. Also, returning again this season is the LVRG blocking iron curtain including Rose Beef, Lin Diesel, Levilin' Levi, Loogie Vuitton, Daisy Destructo, Chikki Sixx, Evol Kitty and Hell Rasin' Hussy. This is going to be an exciting year for derby in the Lehigh Valley.

Leading the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls this year is their President, Helen DaRink.  We sat down with LVRG’s President to ask her a few questions about the new season, and to find out about her goals for the team for the 2013 season.

1.      What is your outlook for the 2013 season?

Helen DaRink stated that her goals include “having a winning season and taking advantage of the loop holes in the new rule set from the WFTDA!”  Helen DaRink has worked closely with her Board of Directors members and coaches to fine tune a progressive and strategic approach to this upcoming season.  There has already been a notable increase in skill and strategy implemented in pre-season game play.

2.      How long have you been with the league and what exactly does it mean to be President?

Helen has been with the league since July 2007, 2013 will be her seventh season skating with the league.

She explained that the main duty of being the President of LVRG is keeping the business running as a non-profit organization.  She is responsible for keeping all legal paperwork up to date and filing all the taxes for the league.  She is one of nine Board of Director members, which is LVRG’s governing body.  She helps out on all of the committees and fills any vacant position.  She also attends the WFTDA conference to keep up to date on business practices concerning roller derby.

3.      How do you feel the new rule changes are going to affect the season?
      
Helen stated, "I think that the changes from the WFTDA will make the bouts more exciting to watch from a fan's point of view.  The change to a single whistle start will get the jam going quicker and will change the structure of derby play in many ways. The removal of minor penalties will also improve the flow of the game."

4.      We all know that there is more to you than just derby, what else can you tell your fans about your life outside of roller derby?

“I am a mother of four, three boys and one girl in that order!  I have been married for 18 years to an ultra-runner.  I was in the US Army for eight years.  Lastly, I currently work as a mainframe programmer for a world-class battery manufacturer.”

LVRG is proud to have Helen DaRink as our President and we look forward to an exciting 2013 season.

Think you are up for the challenge and want to become a Rollergirl? Find out more information by contacting us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com to attend our Fresh Meat Orientation.  Fresh Meat Orientation is on February 28, 2013.

We are also looking for some new officials. Skating Refs, Non-Skating Officials, Volunteers, we need them all!  You can get more information about officiating by contacting us.

Tickets to our February 16th bout can be purchased here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/317692

Season tickets can be purchased here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/309495

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

Lehigh Valley Rollergirls' TRYOUTS

Fresh Meat Christie Winkler in action

Sugar and Spice and everything nice? 

What makes a roller girl is perseverance, physical strength, and the mind of chess player.  

Do you think you have what it takes to tear up the track, knock down the opposition, and join a great fun loving sports family? 

Here’s all the information you need for the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ tryouts:

January 28^th – 7:00p.m.  Fresh Meat Orientation

You’ll be introduced to some of the skaters and get a synopsis of what is expected at practice. You will learn a little bit about our history, our practices and of course, you will see a demonstration of what to expect at tryouts.

February 4^th -7:00p.m. Fresh Meat Tryouts

Here’s what you should expect to perform to be accepted into our Fresh Meat program:

 - Balance (Skate around the track balancing on one leg on the straight aways)
 -Cross Overs (Skating in good stance while performing cross overs)
 -One Knee Falls (Showing a proficiency in falling safely on one knee and returning to a good skating stance)
 - Plow Stops (Showing a proficiency in stopping safely using a plow stop and returning to a good skating stance)
 - 2 Minute timed laps (Minimum 8 laps)

Any skater who passes the tryout with proficiency will be invited to the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls Fresh Meat Boot Camp Training.

February 11th - First Day of Fresh Meat Boot Camp Training

What does our boot camp entail? It is approximately 7 weeks of training a long side our veterans teaching you all the basics and advanced moves and skills to become a roller girl. It is intense and rewarding. In no time, after completing the training, you will be scrimmage eligible and able to make rosters for game play.

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

Think you are up for the challenge? Find out more information by contacting us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com to attend our Fresh Meat Orientation. 

We are also looking for some new officials. Skating Refs, Non-Skating Officials, Volunteers, we need them all!  You can get more information about officiating by contacting us. 

Tickets to our February 16th bout can be purchased here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/317692

Season tickets can be purchased here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/309495

LVRG 2013 LVRG Season Schedule and Our New Captains

The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls are proud to announce their 2013 season schedule, listed below.  And, with the start of the 2013 season shortly approaching us, we would like to take the time to introduce the Captain of the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ (LVRG) Hissy Fits, Lin Diesel and the Captain of the Special Vixens Unit, Wayward Stay. We asked them both a few questions about their start with LVRG and asked them to give us their insight into the new season.

Lin Diesel, Hissy Fits Captain

Lin Diesel, now entering her 6^th season on the team and Wayward Stay, entering her 4^th season, are both strong role models as captains because they lead by example.  Lin Diesel started with the team because she saw an article in the local GO Guide with full color pictures of the team in all their glory and she said to herself, "I have to do this." Wayward Stay started with the team when a friend asked her to join her in learning how to do some basic derby skills at a local clinic. She hasn’t stopped skating since.

Both women have held board of director positions with LVRG, and actively hold other professional careers. Wayward Stay is the photo director for a local bicycling magazine, and Lin Diesel is the transportation manager for the Active Learning Center and Lehigh Valley Martial Arts.

Wayward Stay, Special Vixens Unit Captain

When asked what it meant to be the Captain of their respective teams, this is how they responded. Wayward Stay stated “it means a lot to know that my teammates trust me with the responsibility.”  Lin Diesel responded by saying “being the captain means I can bring my positive influence to practice every time and try to keep my teammates motivated to be the best players they can be. I can encourage everyone to learn the new rules and we can implement them as we learn together.”

Every year, the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls hold open recruiting for new skaters. Here is the advice that both captains have for our new recruits.  Wayward Stay said “don't give up.  It may seem scary at first, but after you fall a few times, you realize it's not so bad.  Don't be intimidated by the vets on the team.  They are your greatest resource for learning the game.  And mostly, give it a try!  Nothing is worse than a missed opportunity.” Lin Diesel added, “my advice for the new recruits is you can do anything you put your mind to. If you do not know the game, we will teach you. It will be up to you to push yourself forward but you do not have to do it alone. There are multiple resources for you to learn, and with commitment and dedication, you can move forward and become part of this great organization.”

The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls are excited to have both women as our captains and look forward to them leading us to many victories this season. For information about ordering season tickets, please email us at : contactus@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

2013 LEHIGH VALLEY ROLLERGIRLS SEASON SCHEDULE

2/16/13:           HOME --Pink vs. Black (Interleague bout)

3/09/13:           HOME --Hissy Fits vs.  Ithaca

4/06/13:           HOME --Hissy Fits vs. Mother State

4/27/13:           HOME --Special Vixens Unit vs. Black Rose

6/15/13:           AWAY -Special Vixens Unit vs. Iron Mtn

7/13/13:           HOME --Hissy Fits vs. New River Valley

8/10/13:           AWAY --Special Vixens Unit vs. Ithaca

8/24/13            HOME - -Hissy Fits vs. Salisbury

9/07/13:           HOME --Special Vixens Unit vs. Iron Mtn

9/28/13:           AWAY-- Hissy Fits vs. Cape Fear

10/19/13:         HOME -Pink vs. Black (Interleague bout)

11/9/13:           HOME --Battle in the Valley Tournament

The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls Give Back to the Community

The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls (LVRG) are dedicated to providing an opportunity for women athletes to achieve their maximum potential, both athletically and intellectually through the sport of roller derby.

However, LVRG does more than just skate; we give back to the community. Our members are proud to be positive role models in the community through our continued volunteer efforts on and off the track. 

This season, the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls teamed up with the Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem.  LVRG members visited the club throughout the year, interacting with the children by playing games with them, by doing crafts together and by spending the much needed quality time they deserve.  Also, many of the Boys and Girls Club members were our special VIP guests throughout the season and came to watch our games. They each had front row seats to all of the hard hitting action.

Throughout the season to continue our efforts to support the Boys and Girls Club, LVRG collected items for donation such as toys, toiletries and other necessities. The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls also were able to raise $1000 through fundraising, and presented a check to the foundation during the final bout of the season. The Boys and Girls Club indicated that the financial donation from LVRG will not only keep the electric on at the club during the winter months, but it will allow them to run the heat while the children are there as well.  The donated items will be the children’s Christmas presents this year.

This season, the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls also participated in a charity event called “Together We Can,” sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Conference of Churches. This event is a major fundraiser for their soup kitchen, which just fed over 300 people during the week of super storm Hurricane Sandy.  The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls were the skating models for the events’ fashion show.  Each girl modeled two outfits, and many of the attendees purchased the clothing we modeled to donate to the cause.  All the clothing was purchased from local thrift stores - the message was that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to be fashionable.  In addition to the fashion show, there was an art auction and a person who played the harp.  A $40 ticket to the event fed 150 people, so the $32,000 that was raised will feed 120,000 in the Lehigh Valley.

The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls believe in supporting our community and we look forward to continuing these efforts in the 2013 season.

WFMZ News Article on "Together We Can"

~New WFTDA Rules for the 2013 Season~

    Just when you thought you knew derby, the rules CHANGE!  Starting January 1^st, 2013, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is adapting a revised roller derby rule set. You can find the rule set in length here: http://wftda.com/rules/20130101

Here are some of the big changes you will see in the 2013 season:

LVRG Head Referee,  Bob Lloyd

1.      One whistle will start game play simultaneously for both blockers and jammers. This will eliminate the slow play starts we have been seeing in the past.

2.      There will be NO MORE MINOR PENALTIES!  Instead, some minors from the old rule set will now be upgraded to MAJOR penalties. Some of these include direction of play blocking, and cutting one opposing blocker or more than one of your own teammates. 

3.       Hands, touching and different contact: with the elimination of the no minors ruling, players may now touch opponents for up to 3 seconds (without changing their relative position or knocking them off balance).

      So who is in charge of enforcing all of these WFTDA rules? The referees, or as we call them, our zebras.  This year, our zebra pack is lead by WFTDA Certified [head] referee Bob Lloyd. We sat down with  Bob Lloyd and asked him a little bit about the refereeing aspect of derby and how he stared with the team:

Tell us about your history with the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls (LVRG):

      I started officiating women's flat track roller derby back in June of 2008.  I went to high school with Tortellina Temptress, a member of LVRG, and came to watch her play.  I had been to a few games, and really enjoyed what I saw.  One day, I saw an advertisement on MySpace (yeah, THAT long ago!) that LVRG was looking for volunteers, referees, and officials.  Right away I sent a message to the league saying I wanted to come help out.  I hadn't been on roller skates in about 15 years, but I really wanted to try something new.  4 years and 80 some bouts later, here I am!  Since I started, I've learned to skate, learned the sport inside and out, and met hundreds of new, interesting people I would have never met, otherwise, best of all - I met my wife, Heather, through roller derby!

How long does it take to be eligible to be certified? What makes up the qualifications?  

     There really isn't a time that it takes to become certified, it depends on how actively you pursue it, and how well you officiate.  The WFTDA has minimum requirements, which they publish on their website (WFTDA.com/officiating), but those are really some bare-minimum requirements.  It took me about 2 1/2 years of working actively towards certification, until I felt that I met the requirements, and the expectations of the WFTDA skaters and officials.  Some officials may take less, or even more, time until they earn their certification.

     Officials are considered qualified for a certification level based on their performance, experience, and ability. Officials are reviewed by their peers through evaluations that are submitted for the official when he/she works a regulation or sanctioned (ranked) bout.  These evaluations are reviewed by a referee certification committee (made up of skaters and officials from many different leagues) who votes to award certification to an official, in addition to the official passing a rules and skating test.  Higher level certifications are available for officials who excel and have a large amount of high level officiating experience (at tournaments, for example).

What advice do you have for someone who is intrigued by becoming a Roller Derby official, but is not sure on how, what, or why they'd pursue such?

      Just get out and do it!!  It's so much fun!  - Seriously though, we will be having recruitment and meet and greet sessions at the beginning of the 2013 season, and are always looking for good, dedicated volunteers.  Keep your eye out on Lehigh Valley's home page for more details about meet and greets and officials recruitment sessions.  If you just can't wait, you can contact the recruitment e-mail for Lehigh Valley and someone will get in touch with you.

Why would someone want to be a roller derby official?  

     Most likely, they're a glutton for punishment!  After that, it's the excitement, the fast paced action, and the challenge of officiating the hardest sport to officiate.  Period.  Roller Derby is a unique sport in the way it's officiated (it doesn't stop for penalties, like hockey or football do, for starters), and that challenge is what keeps me coming back for more each season.  Also, the ability to meet so many great people, travel all over to officiate in so many different places, and to challenge and push yourself are all great reasons why someone would get into officiating roller derby.       At the end of the day, it's rewarding to know you've done a good job, called a fair and even bout, and given the skaters the best bouting experience possible. I am definitely proud to be a WFTDA official, and to be affiliated with Lehigh Valley.  But at the end of the day, I know I've done a great job if no one's noticed me.  Part of being a great official is letting the skaters be the stars of the show, it's their bout, their sport, I'm just there to make sure it all goes smoothly.  Though, I definitely rock my WFTDA track jacket when it's getting a little chilly outside. 

To learn more about officiating for the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls, please contact us at: join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com