Scenic City Roller Derby, a new flat-track roller derby league forming in the Chattanooga area, will host a recruiting event at Chatt Town Skate Park April 2 from noon to 3 p.m.
League organizers include veteran skaters Natalie Mason and Carly Hahn and Mario Parino, former head referee with the Chattanooga Roller Girls.
Scenic City Roller Derby is seeking experienced athletes to participate in a new flat-track league through a recruitment event to be held at Chatt Town Skate Park April 2 from noon to 3 p.m. Top row from left are Laura Gill, Brittny White and Holly Graham; bottom row from left are Natalie Mason and Carly Hahn.Mason said the league is seeking members who share the goals and values of its board of directors, which include Women’s Flat Track Derby Association certification, unity, motivation and honor.
“It would be nice to have women who are experienced athletes, because coordination is extremely important,” she said. “We have to have a core group of athletes motivated and dedicated enough to be considered national-championship material.”
The team will practice three times a week at Chatt Town Skate Park. Mason will serve as assistant coach under head coach Parino.
“We don’t take this as a joke,” said Mason. “We’re here to compete.”
Scrimmages will begin once the league has the 14 players necessary to form a team, but she said they would like to have enough for A, B and C teams.
SCRD will compete against southeastern regional teams, focusing on teams which are WFTDA certified. In order for SRCD to obtain its certification, the league is participating in an apprenticeship program in which it is observed and guided by WFTDA-certified teams.
“It’s a community type of sport – you only learn by playing with other teams,” said Mason. “With the amount of support we have from sister leagues, we are definitely being trained by the right people.”
The league facility in Hixson features a sport court, or square rubber pieces that snap together to form a surface ideal for roller derby, complete with scoreboard and bleachers for fans. The closest team with a sport court is in Atlanta, said Mason.
League events at the facility will benefit from beer sales and catering from sponsors such as Terminal Brewhouse, she said.
WFTDA requires all leagues to make a charitable contribution, and Mason said SCRD has secured sufficient sponsorship to make its contribution through a donation as opposed to community-service hours.
Potential members will receive information regarding fees and necessary equipment at the recruitment event, she said.