Looking for ‘fresh meat’
The Bootleg Betties need more players for a full team
Jerica Devos has played three seasons with the Charlottetown roller derby team called the Bootleg Betties, but the team is facing a crisis.
There's a lack of what's known in the sport as "fresh meat".
Without more players, the team won’t be able to play a bout — roller derby-speak for a game — during their upcoming season in May.
To address the crisis, the Betties started a 12-week learn-to-skate program on Jan. 14, which has drawn two new members and enticed two former players to return, said Devos.
“Learn-to-skate this year has been awesome. The recruits that we have are exceeding our expectations, but our numbers are still low. We’re still looking.”
If those members stick around, the team might have just enough for a game, she said.
“You wouldn’t want to play a bout without at least 10, and that’s even pushing it a little.”
The problem started last year, when all but one of the original members — who started seven years ago — retired, leaving only three members, though they managed to get another three recruits.
Gillian Webster was one of those new recruits. Due to the shortage, she didn’t get to play a bout, she said.
“Through the summer, we just kind of kept practising and (they) kept teaching us new skills and all about roller derby.”
She’s hopeful the team will be able to find enough members, but she feels like the first bout is fast approaching, she said with a laugh.
“It seems really soon. When Noami (the team captain) first mentioned May, we were like, ‘oh, that’s ages away,’ but it’s really not.”
For Devos, recruitment is about more than just the Betties, she said.
“We want to grow the sport of roller derby on Prince Edward Island. We will take everyone. We want to share what we know and keep it going.”
It’s a sport unexpectedly close to her heart because of how empowering it is, said Devos.
“Roller derby means so much to me. It’s a huge part of my life. It has bettered my life more than I could have ever imagined, and I just want to share that with everyone.”
And it’s unique in how opposing teams interact with one another, she said.
“I’ve never played a sport where you beat each other up for a game, then go off to a party and have a dance-off.”
If they can’t recruit enough players, Devos and Webster expect the Twisted Sisters would help fill out their roster or let some Betties play in their bouts, which is what happened last year.
For more information about the team, check out their Facebook page @BootlegCityRollerDerbyPEI, website at www.bootlegcityrollerderby.com or by emailing the team captain, naomic37@gmail.com.