***If you are interested in interviewing, filming or photographing the London Rollergirls at training sessions, this must be arranged in advance. Please contact PR@londonrollergirls.com to let us know when you’d like to come along.
We are sorry, but we cannot accommodate press or PR visitors who haven’t first contacted us. ***
Where and when we train:
First Saturday of every month
Basic skills — this session is specially designed for first-timers and beginners to attend; you must attend one of these sessions before participating in League practices.
4:00 - 6:00pm
Mullberry Leisure Centre
Richard Street (off Commercial Road)
London E1 2JP
Map (http://www.leisure-centre.com/centredetails.php?RECORD_KEY(centres)=ID&ID(centres)=22)
Transport: The nearest tube station is Shadwell on the DLR, or Whitechapel and Aldgate East stations on the Hammersmith and City or District lines.
Tuesdays
League practice — for anyone who has participated in at least one basic skills training session with us before
8:00 - 10:00pm
City of London Academy
240 Lynton Road
London
SE1 5LA
MAP: http://www.cityacademy.co.uk/map.html
NOTE: If you are walking South from Bermondsey, you will see CoLA on the left at the intersection of St. James and Lynton–don’t go in that direction. Take a right on Lynton, and you should see an open gate next to some basketball courts and a big park that leads into the sports hall.
Transport: The nearest tube station is Bermondsey, which is on the Jubilee line.
Thursdays
League practice — for anyone who has participated in at least one basic skills training session with us before
8:30 - 10:00pm
Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre
Brentfield
Harrow Road
NW10 0RG
MAP (http://maps.google.co.uk/)
Transport: Stonebridge Park Station is served by the Bakerloo Line, and London Overground Services from Euston. There are also buses.
Sundays
League scrimmage practice — for skaters who have passed their minimum skills assessments and been cleared to scrimmage only.
5:00 - 8:00pm
Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre
(See Thursdays for location details)
**We occasionally host special events (such as bouts, socials, charity events, etc..) on days when we have scheduled training, if you are planning on coming for the first time, please contact us to join our training email list which always has the most up to date information about our sessions.
If there are any changes to the regular training venues we will post them here.
Please be on time or early to allow us to take attendance, and collect dues in time to begin skating promptly.
If you are not on monthly dues the cost to skate is £5
New recruits or simply curious folks wanting to know more about LRG are welcome to join us at practice. If it’s your first time and you want to skate, please bring skates, protective gear and a mouth guard if you have it. If you don’t have protective gear yet, you will not be able be to participate in all the drills and exercises. Don’t worry if you’re rusty or have never skated before; we are at all different levels and we teach beginners. If it’s your first time skating with us, please come only to one of our Basic Skills practices. Even if you’re already an awesome skater.
Equipment: You’ll need quad skates, kneepads, elbow pads, wristguards, a skate helmet and a mouthguard. You want good quality thick ‘aggressive’ pads - you’ll be relying on them a lot! We can’t emphasize enough the value of good pads. Your knees will thank you… Tailbone protector pads are available but optional. There are posts on the forum about the kind of thing you need, or you can download our What You Need document.
Also have a look at our stretching guide.
FAQ:
Q: I want to come see what roller derby is all about but I don’t have skates ?
LRG: Come anyway. Just throw us an email info(at)londonrollergirls.com and let us know when you are coming down. We don’t keep gear to lend, but we recommend you just come and chat to us and watch for the first time to get a better idea of what we’re about anyway. If you really need to borrow some kit, some girls will lend out old skates/pads etc, but you need to arrange this with them individually (try asking on the forum)
Q: What if I have never skated before?
LRG: Don’t worry - every practice we have new skaters and skaters who are just learning. We always split the training so that more beginner skaters can be taught the basics, even if that means just standing up. We run Basic Skills practices on the first Saturday of every month - if you’ve never skated before or just never skated with us these are where you should start.
Q: Can I come on rollerblades ?
LRG: You can and we do allow training on rollerblades, but roller derby is a quad skate sport so if you want to get involved fully you will have to make the switch. (But once you do you never go back, QUADS RULE!)
Q: I see it costs £5 for a practice, why ?
LRG: This charge is to cover the cost of hiring out the venue. But you don’t have to pay if you are coming down just to see what we are about or this is your first practice.
The first practice is free, also visitors/spectators coming down to support you don’t have to pay. Just let us know that they are coming.
Q: I am not sure what equipment to buy ?
LRG: Good quality protective pads are the most important thing. You do get what you pay for with pads and it’s worth paying a little extra for the protection - you WILL fall a lot! You need kneepads, elbow pads, wristguards, a helmet and mouthguard. Also come onto the forum and you can ask the girls for advice before you purchase anything. Or just come along to a practice and chat to us - we’re always happy to help a new girl get started.
Q: The sport looks pretty rough, will I get hurt?
LRG: Well, it is a full contact sport, on wheels, and injuries do happen, but we do wear padding (knee, elbow and wrist), helmet and mouth guard as protection. We constantly practice falling techniques and strength training so that we don’t hurt ourselves or each other. Also we have at least one trained First Aider at practice always and carry the correct First Aid supplies.
Q: Can I bring my friend or boyfriend/girlfriend down to watch ?
LRG: Of course, just let us know when and who is coming down. This is just so we know what to expect. We are always looking for more non-skaters to get involved with refereeing, score keeping, cheer leading, announcing, water boys etc. There are a whole load of other things that need people who don’t have to be doing the sport or skating.
If you have any more questions about anything contact us or better, come onto the forum and ask us there.
