MARS follows the Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA) rules and skills assessments. JRDA divides skaters into 4 levels:

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Level Beginners: Beginning skaters are learning how to skate and practice basic safety, skating, stopping, and falling. They do not play derby, but focus on learning basic skating skills and the very basics of derby.

 

Level 1: Level 1 skaters are becoming masters of their skates, learning basic gameplay and teamwork, and beginning to scrimmage and bout positionally. They are beginning to learn more advanced rules and strategies. Level 1 skaters typically play exhibition games within their own league.

 

Level 2:  Level II skaters are playing using pushing contact only in scrimmages and games. They are also learning advanced teamwork, rules and regulations, and strategic play; practices emphasize fluidity of motion and building skeletal muscular strength and endurance.

 

Level 3: Skaters who pass the Skill Level III Assessment demonstrate adult level competency on skates and with the rules. Level III skaters practice, scrimmage and play using full-contact rules.

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LEVEL 1 – NOVICE SKILLS

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Skills taught in Level 1 that will need to be successfully met to move into upper levels are:

1.     Good skating posture

2.     Confident steady stride

3.     Stops

• Left/Right plow stop

• Both legs plow stop

• Left/Right T-stop

• Left/Right 180 toe stop

4.     Falls

• Left/Right knee falls

• Double knee fall

5.     Balance/Agility

        -Must be able to do the following without loss of balance:

• Stepping from a standstill

• Forwards to backwards

• Move side to side

     -Squatting

• Can squat and coast through an entire straightaway and/or turn

• Squats and propels self on straightaways and turns

6.     Speed: 7 laps in 2 minutes on track

7.     Rules: Completes written test with fewer than 20 questions wrong

 

LEVEL 2 – INTERMEDIATE SKILLS

 

Skills taught or reinforced in Level 2 that will need to be successfully met to move into Level 3 are:

 

1.     Inclusive of Level 1 skills

2.     Footwork

• Shuffling

• Quick feet

• Grapevines

• Lateral movement

• Cross-track cuts

3.     Weaving

4.     Roller derby pack awareness

5.     Positional awareness, including positional blocking

6.     Whips/Assists

• Arm whips

• Hip whips

• Pushes

7.     Speed: 15 laps in 3 minutes on track

8.     Rules: Completes written test with fewer than 15 questions wrong

 

LEVEL 3 – ADVANCED SKILLS

 

Skills taught or reinforced in Level 3 that will need to be successfully met to move into full contact are:

 

1.     Inclusive of Levels 1 & 2 skills

2.     Full contact body checks

• Hip hits

• Booty blocking

• Shoulder checking

3.     Offensive and defensive strategy

4.     Full ruleset play