about us
Established in 2014 Albany Roller Derby League is a club that fosters the development of roller derby in the Albany region.
We skate during the winter indoors and have an annual intake of new skaters and welcome officials, transferring skaters, and supporters all season.
We welcome skaters aged from 8 years and above and all genders are welcome in our programs.
ARDL is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination and welcomes people irrespective of ethnicity, ability, faith, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Our VALUES
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Our mission is to promote and develop roller sports in the community by providing inclusive and diverse spaces.
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We will encourage people of all ages and genders to skate
We will create a competitive and social skating community in the Great Southern
We will nurture the skills of roller skaters and other non-skating participants
We are committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination and we welcome people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity
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Adaptable: We adapt to rapidly changing situations on and off the track. We work together as a team with our adaptable mindset to problem solve.
Resilient: When faced with adversity we rise to the challenge.
Dynamic: We are a force that creates positive change.
Leaders: We are leaders in roller sports and we pride ourselves in advocating for people in sport.
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Established 17 May 2017
Albany Roller Derby League have adopted the WFTDA Gender StatementAlbany Roller Derby League (ARDL) is committed to inclusive and anti-discrimination practices in relation to all transgender women, intersex women, and gender expansive participants, and aims to ensure that all skaters’, volunteers’, and employees’ rights are respected and protected.
“Transgender” refers to an individual whose gender identity does not match their assigned birth gender (Reference).
“Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male (Reference).
Trans women and intersex women are individuals who self-identify as women.
“Gender-expansive” is an umbrella term used for individuals that broaden commonly held definitions of gender, including its expression, associated identities, and/or other perceived gender norms, in one or more aspects of their life. […] Some individuals do not identify with being either male or female; others identify as a blend of both, while still others identify with a gender, but express their gender in ways that differ from stereotypical presentations. (Reference).
Albany Roller Derby League recognizes that identifying as transgender, intersex, and/or gender expansive is not in any way related to an individual’s eligibility for participating as a volunteer or employee. An individual who identifies as a trans woman, intersex woman, and/or gender expansive may skate with a Albany Roller Derby League team if women’s flat track roller derby is the version and composition of roller derby with which they most closely identify.
Albany Roller Derby League will actively work to promote a climate that is welcoming and inclusive of transgender, intersex, and gender expansive participants. Any conduct, which fosters a hostile environment for any participant on the basis of gender identity, will not be tolerated. In addition, Albany Roller Derby League will continue to increase its knowledge of trans, intersex, and gender expansive issues through ongoing education for volunteers and staff. The gender identity of any and all Albany Roller Derby League participants is considered confidential and private.
Albany Roller Derby League run an annual intake of new skaters early each year. From here, we teach people how to skate and how to play roller derby. We welcome skating members from 8 years of age in our learn to skate program. We offer roller derby for ages 10 to 99. We have a competitive team, and we follow the WFTDA ruleset.
The sport of roller derby was first conceived in the 1930s and was played on a banked track and was popular in the United States until it fizzled out in the 1970s. In the early 2000s, modern women’s roller derby got its start in Austin, Texas. Today, hundreds of leagues exist all over the world.
While the original version of the sport eventually became more of a spectacle with fights and other staged theatrics, today’s roller derby is a legitimate sport played by true athletes.
Roller derby is a body-neutral, positive, and welcoming space for all people. We welcome new members and encourage you to contact us with any questions about roller derby or our club.