They are at it again. The Pottstown Roller Derby League has kicked off their Fresh Meat program for 2015; the first of two sessions is underway.
“I was drawn to the Fresh Meat program because of their enthusiasm. When you start derby-anyone-you get addicted. Derby gives you a sense of strength and empowerment like no other. Here are a bunch of other women, getting out there, strapping wheels to their feet and doing things that put them outside of their comfort zone,” said Fresh Meat Coach Deirdre “Bomb DiggaDee” Stanton-Kelly of Boyertown. “The awesome thing about derby is that it is accepting of everyone, so anyone can come out and give it a go.”
The goal of the Fresh Meat program is to prepare skaters for the league. Held twice a year, the program runs in 12 week sessions. Women of all ages can enroll in either session, and can do so as many times as needed.
League member Ashley “Spring Bean Jean” Flor of Fleetwood is serving as the match-maker for the Big Sister program which pairs individual league skaters with skaters in Fresh Meat.
“‘Big Sister’ started last year. It’s about connecting new skaters with league skaters-setting them up with a familiar face so league isn’t intimidating,” said Stanton-Kelly.
“In Fresh Meat-some [skaters] are more experienced and for some it’s their first time,” said Flor.
The coach echoed that idea, adding “These girls who come out for Fresh Meat are so dedicated. For some of them, this is their second or third session and they keep coming back and giving it all they have-improving more and more every time.”
When asked how she went about the match-making, Flor says “I came to fresh meat practices and watched them.” She also distributed an online survey in order to set up matches based on interests and hobbies in addition to skills and level of dedication.
“Those new to derby are matched with those that are extra encouraging,” Flor said, offering examples of the matches. The skaters found out their matches on Sunday, Feb. 8, during Fresh Meat practice at Ringing Rocks Roller Rink in Pottstown.
“She’s done a great job,” said Stanton-Kelly about Flor. “The big sister program is an important piece to Fresh Meat.” She explained how the match-making offers a support system to skaters.
The Fresh Meat program itself is broken into three sections which split the skills into four week increments-each section works into the next in order to build a “progression of skills,” according to the coach.
Serving as Fresh Meat coach and also as a league skater, Stanton-Kelly dedicates several nights a week to the league.
“We often laugh about life getting in the way of derby,” she said, noting it can “sometimes” be difficult balancing derby with life. “The difference between being the coach and being the skater, as a skater if you can’t or don’t want to go to practice, you don’t; as the coach you have a responsibility to be there.”
With previous experience coaching Field hockey and lacrosse, she started coaching the Fresh Meat program last year with Tamrin “Splinch” Jenison.
This is Stanton-Kelly’s fourth season with the league. She says a friend told her “this is so up your alley,” and from there, she started asking questions and began following the league on Facebook.
“Next thing you know, I see a posting to come out and meet the Rockstars,” she said. “I had never skated before. Maybe once as a kid, but that was it. I don’t know what possessed me, but I bought skates on a Monday and went to the tryouts that Thursday. I was nervous and awful, but all the girls were so accepting and supportive.”
She continued, “That is what I want to make sure these new girls have: a group of accepting and supportive people. Derby was the best decision I ever made and it would never have happened if the support wasn’t there.”
“I always knew that as long as I’m a part of PRDR that I would want to be involved with the Fresh Meat program, it’s just evolved to where I am now,” she said. “I loved coaching with Splinch last year; we work really well together and we made three [section] program what it was together.”
While she misses her co-coach, she says “we needed her [Splinch] to be our league head coach and I knew where I needed to be.”
Once skaters complete the program, their skills are assessed to see if they qualify for the league.
The second session for the Fresh Meat program will be held in the spring. Check out the Pottstown Roller Derby on Facebook for updates.
