The NashVillains Keep the Hits Coming

By Lauren Means | Photos Courtesy of the Nashville Junior Roller Derby

When I say roller derby, you probably envision a tough bunch of athletes rolling around a rink on eight wheels who are ready to give and take hard hits to make a win. When I say junior roller derby you should picture the same energy coming from a group of teens and preteens.

The Nashville Junior Roller Derby (NJRD), also known as the NashVillains, is the youth affiliate team of the Nashville Roller Derby (NRD). They were founded in 2010 and have now celebrated 12 years of the sport. The NJRD league is open to youth of any gender ages 8 to 17. They are always recruiting new skaters, referees, coaches, and non-skating officials.

We spoke with current skaters to find out how they feel about the sport and what they have taken away from their time with the NJRD.

Queen Bee/Brigid (she/they)

How did you get started in Roller Derby? My dad showed me a roller derby documentary when I was nine, and ever since then, I wanted to do it.

Does the NJRD ever interact with the NRD? Yes! This year we’ve grown our relationship with the adult team tremendously, which has been so nice! Especially because a handful of skaters (including me) will be graduating this year and moving up to the adult derby.

How does the NJRD positively impact your daily life outside of the league? Roller derby has made me a stronger person outside of the sport. It makes me confident, it’s given me great friends and communities, and given me a passion that I can put my time into.

Have you ever had any bad injuries? If yes, did it make you question continuing? Only one in my eight years of derby, which was a minor concussion. Always wear your helmet!!

Any other information you would like to include? Come to one of our practices and try it out! No experience is required!! We teach you how to skate, and then we teach you how to play derby.

Lethally Blonde/Maisy (she/her)

How did you get started in Roller Derby? My dad had a coworker who played on the adult team and when we looked into it, NJRD allowed people to come and watch practices. So me and my two sisters went to a practice and we knew that it was something we wanted to do.

Does the NJRD ever interact with the NRD? Yes, all the time!! Our relationship with the adult team is wonderful. Many of our coaches are players on NRD and they help us out so much. The majority of our home games are followed by the adults playing a game as well, so it’s like a two-for-one if you come to a game.

How does the NJRD positively impact your daily life outside of the league? After joining the team I feel like I’ve become overall healthier. Whether that be physically or mentally. Not only do I get to be active during the school year, I’ve made incredible friendships.

Have you ever had any bad injuries? If yes, did it make you question continuing? A couple of years ago during practice, I sprained my ankle and during games, I get bad bruises, but I’ve never questioned whether or not I want to stop playing. I think joining roller derby you kind of have to understand that it is a tough sport and maybe sometimes a little dangerous, but honestly, I like it like that.

Any other information you would like to include? No experience is required, NJRD is always looking for new skaters, even if you’ve never skated in your life. We have wonderful coaches who help the newbies learn the basics of not only the game but also skating.

Poison Ivy/Ivy (she/her)

How did you get started in Roller Derby? My dad had a past coworker who was a member of the adult team and got us interested in joining the junior league.

Does the NJRD ever interact with the NRD? Yes, all the time! Many of the adult members come in and help coach the junior team, teaching us techniques and drills they learn in their practices. We also schedule many of our games on the same day so people can see both teams play.

How does the NJRD positively impact your daily life outside of the league? After joining the team I have formed amazing relationships and strong bonds with the members. Roller derby is a team sport meaning everyone must work together to play the game which has strengthened my skills of teamwork.

Have you ever had any bad injuries? If yes, did it make you question continuing? I once got a concussion during a game however I never once questioned continuing. Even though it hurt, my teammates and coaches were there for me and showed me that giving up was not necessary.

Any other information you would like to include? You do not need any prior experience to join. Many skaters have never been on wheels before coming and we have wonderful coaches that can help you learn. We would love for anyone interested to reach out and come and check out the team. We are always open for new skaters!

Little Devil/Sofia (she/her)

How did you get started in Roller Derby? A former teammate was talking about it at my old school. I asked questions and talked about it to my parents, we went to a practice and I fell in love.

Does the NJRD ever interact with the NRD? Our coaches are all from the Nashville or Chattanooga adult teams. They teach us the drills that they have used to learn.

How does the NJRD positively impact your daily life outside of the league? The team gives me a community. I can be passionate and put all of my emotions into playing the game and getting better, which helps me be the person I want to be outside of practice.

Any other information you would like to include? If you want to join, come to a practice! You’ll meet everyone and watch us play. All you need from there are quad skates, protective gear, and a positive attitude. We will teach you everything!

Mighty Duck/Abby (she/her)

How did you get started in Roller Derby? My best friend’s mom used to play and coach for the juniors so she trained me up

Does the NJRD ever interact with the NRD? Yes, the juniors and the adults interact quite often. The members of the adult team help coach the juniors’ practice and help out a ton during games. A lot of the juniors are close to the adult skaters.

How does the NJRD positively impact your daily life outside of the league? I joined the derby seven to eight years ago and it’s helped me gain so much confidence and meet people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I’ve met people that I love and call my best friends.

Have you ever had any bad injuries? If yes, did it make you question continuing? I haven’t yet, thank goodness!

Any other information you would like to include? Roller derby is an extremely inclusive sport and anyone and everyone is welcome. It might seem complicated at first but with the help of your teammates, you’ll figure it out!

For anyone interested in checking out a match or a game, visit the NJRD website or email their director at [email protected].