FAQ

 

What is the Fresh Meat program?

Fresh Meat is a program that takes ordinary, everyday people and turns them into roller derby players. You will learn the minimal skills you need to be safe on track. The program is 12 weeks long and will conclude with a minimal skills test.
 

What will I learn?

Pink Peril Roller Derby trains all of its skaters to the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) standards. With commitment from you and guidance from your coaches, by the end of Fresh Meat, you will be a proficient skater who will be able to skate confidently forwards and backwards, stop in multiple ways, jump, and more. You will also be able to fall safely, hit and take hit safely, and get an understanding of roller derby strategies.

We will first start with how to skate, brake, and fall safely. Once that has been covered, we’ll work our way up to the next set of basic skills. This  includes transitioning to different directions, jumping, and skating in a group (pack skating). You will develop your derby voice, learn to work as a team, and learn to help each other on track.

In addition to all of this, each lesson includes both endurance and strength training. The difficulty of these trainings is built up slowly, keeping everyone’s skills and limitations in mind. 
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Finally, physical contact is added into the mix! At first we focus on how to keep your balance on skates and how to use the right body posture to handle contact. Together with the other course participants, you will start contact and learn about blocking (preventing other skaters from getting past you) and jamming (trying to pass the blockers to score points).

 

How much does it cost?

The first try-out session is free of charge.  The Fresh Meat program runs every Wednesday (in Maastricht) and Friday (in Heerlen) for 12 weeks and costs €135. During this time, you may purchase your own gear, or borrow our loaner gear for a refundable deposit of €50.
Payment must be completed at the start of the program.  After these 12 weeks, the monthly dues are €35.
​Payment details : NL82RABO0168750449 Pink Peril Roller Derby in Heerlen
 

What do I need to be able to play?

You will need to have basic equipment.  This includes: kneepads, a helmet, elbow pads, wrist guards, a mouthguard and of course your own set of skates.  Although it’s recommended to get these as soon as possible, you can participate the Fresh Meat program by borrowing most equipment from the league until you have your own.  You will need to purchase your own mouthguard before contact begins (we recommend a Sisu Aero mouthguard). 
 

Are there funds or other subsidies available for those with less to spend on sports?

Yes! There are two programs that we are aware of that you can check out.  You can work directly with the providers to see about available funding. 

Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur and Volwassenenfonds Sport & Cultuur Limburg

What are the age restrictions?

Everyone 18 and up is welcome to join our program.  Participants 16 & 17 years of age must have a parental waiver on file (this is to be signed by the parent or guardian on the first day of try-outs). Minor Skaters (12-15 years old) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian during all practices.  This adult is responsible for the skater during practice and is expected to, under the guidance of coaches and trainers, help to provide a safe learning environment for the Minor Skater.

 

I don’t have any gear of my own yet, where can I get it?

If you don’t have skates and gear when you start, we offer loaner kits for a refundable deposit of 50 euros. When you decide to follow the Fresh Meat program you, will eventually need to get your own skates and gear. There are a lot of online shops that sell Roller Derby Gear, but we recommend trying on skates and gear before buying them. We are sponsored by Roller Derby House and Sucker Punch Skate Shop where every Pink Peril member gets a discount. You can also find second hand skates and gear online.  Don’t be shy, our veteran teammates are always here to give advice. 

 

Where can I find you?

We train twice a week at two different locations: 

Wednesday: 7:00pm – 9:00pm at Sporthal Belfort,
Beeldsnijdersdreef 21, 6216 CW Maastricht

Fridays: 7:30pm – 9:30pm at Sporthal de Varenbeuk,
Hei Carisborgweg 19, 6414 NL Heerlen.

 

Is there anything else I should know?

As a small, member-run organization, we rely on the time, energy, and commitment of every member to keep our league running and thriving.  All members are expected to contribute through volunteer participation in league activities, whether that’s helping at bouts, supporting events, assisting with administration, or taking on other roles behind the scenes. 

Every contribution makes a difference.  By sharing the workload and supporting one another, we help create a stronger, more successful league for everyone.

For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]