Update!

Just thought we should give you all a quick update (apologies for the lack of communication recently).
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Firstly, we have finalised our logo, as you can see! This will be available on T-shirts and badges that we will be selling to raise funds for insurance, hall hire and other set-up costs.

Secondly, we will be selling the merchandise at our "big sister" league's first home bout on November 17th. Details on the bout are below. If you've never seen roller derby before, I strongly recommend you come and check it out. We will be there to answer any questions you may have :-)

On Saturday 17th November, Fierce Valley Roller Girls' Parma Violents will play host to Wirral Whipiteres Roller Derby in For Whom the Skate Rolls!

The Peak, in Stirling will be the venue for our first home bout, and we are hoping to make the Metallica-themed day one to remember!

Tickets are priced at £7 on the door, or £5 in advance if you buy online from Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/283751 Children are welcome to attend - under 14s go free when accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 2pm.

Thirdly, if you're wondering when we'll be starting then we're aiming for Feb/March 2013. We know this is a while away, but starting an Under-18s roller derby league has been more challenging than we first envisaged. We are the first league of its kind in Scotland, so have been doing this alone. We want to make sure that everything is set up properly before we start coaching your loved ones (some of our own kids will be joining too, so we understand the need to have all the i's dotted and t's crossed). Policies and constitutions are currently being written along with our training plans, and we hope to be able to furnish you with these at the start of 2013.

Fourthly, our coaches have all passed the WFTDA (Women's Flat Track Derby Association) mimimum standards for derby skaters and are all experienced rollerskaters. Our coaches are all enhanced PVG checked.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to e-mail us or send us a message on Facebook.

 

Frocky Horror

All go...

The committee is deep in prep mode for this Saturday's Craft Emporium (come along - Masonic Temple, Lint Riggs, Falkirk, 12-4pm!) where we'll have a stall of games and goodies, plus skaters on hand to answer any questions.  Frocky Horror and Evil Moogle have been hard at work producing these great documents: What is junior roller derby, an equipment checklist, and FAQs - all found on our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/fiercevalleyrollercubs/app_119178388096593

We're also the subject of a great article from Scottish Roller Derby: http://scottishrollerderby.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/the-fierce-valley-roller-cubs-are-coming/  Big thanks are due for that, we're so excited that other people are taking such an interest!

Moving forward...

We have a couple of things on the go just now - those of us that wish to be coaches have now been approved and accepted as PVG scheme members, which enables us to work with children.  This is a huge step for us as this had to be in place before doing anything else.  We're all very excited (and reassured to know that we're not working alongside any secret criminals...)!
Interest in the Cubs continues to grow, Scottish Roller Derby has been very supportive and taken an interest in what we're doing - watch out for an article in the future!
Finally, we're busy planning for our stall at the Fierce Valley Roller Girls' Craft Fayre (Masonic Temple, Falkirk, 28th April, 12-4pm).  We'll be on hand to spread the word about the Cubs and answer as many questions as we can.  We'll also have a few games and competitions, as well as some yummy treats.  It'll be our first fundraising effort too so we hope to see loads of people there!

FAQ

Calling all parents! As a further part of promoting the Cubs, we're hoping to have leaflets at the upcoming Craft Fayre explaining a little more about Junior Roller Derby. We thought it'd be a good idea to include a Frequently Asked Questions section and thought who better to ask for suggestions for this than you guys! If you could help us out and post up any questions either here or on our Facebook page that first sprang to your mind about the Cubs, we'd be extremely grateful, thanks!

The all-consuming world of derby...

Those of you already involved with roller derby will know that it takes over a huge chunk of your life.  We’re quickly discovering that thinking and planning for junior derby will consume whatever is left.  There’s a baffling range of information available on insurance policies.  We’ve found a number of funding opportunities, all with their own specific conditions to meet.  How will we start fundraising?  Should we have kit available for the kids?  Who’s going to coach?  How involved will the parents be?  It’s hard to go into a hall without thinking “Ooh, I wonder what this floor’s like for skating” (and harder to convince people that we won’t ruin their floor).  You work hard to get your 12 year old niece to tell all her friends about it (eventually bribing her with a FVRG t-shirt).  You may even use your own children as guinea pigs.  Youtube is your most visited website.  You check the Facebook page to see how many likes you have.  You spend free moments at work updating the blog…  And it will all be worth it the very first time we have our Cubs together on skates!