Amsterdam Derby Dames

Hey, all you derby fanatics out there!

We asked you a couple of weeks ago to block your diaries for the weekend of 7th – 8th September, to participate in the already legendary Scrimmathon that the Amsterdam Derby Dames are organising. After a lot of planning and puzzling on how to put this huge event together, we now can give you all the details you need to take part.

Although most us will primarily like the idea of having a 24-hour roller derby session, we cannot stress enough that we don’t just do this to please the derby-minded: Sk8 The Netherlands is all about raising a fist against sex trafficking. It may seem like something that doesn’t affect us or our friends directly, but sadly enough, it happens on a huge scale, and right under our noses. We are sure you get our drift when we say that Amsterdam is not just the capital of the country…

Luckily most of us can only imagine how it would feel being forced to sell your body. In a foreign country. Your passport taken away from you. Not getting paid. This contravenes everything roller derby stands for. That is exactly why the Amsterdam Derby Dames are trying to take a stand against sex trafficking, together with Dom City Dolls and the American initiators of Sk8 The Netherlands: Sum Mo Payne and PBR.

Most of all, we need all of YOU to make this happen. We need NSOs, referees, skaters, announcers and volunteers. Louder than ever we say: THE MORE THE MERRIER! We hope you can all find your way to Sporthallen Zuid in Amsterdam on 7th September 12:00 (noon) sharp to go on for 24 hours.

We are going to have two tracks filled with non-stop derby action. We’re looking for women’s and men’s teams to all play 4 scheduled scrimmages on the ‘team track’. Your team not taking part? No problem! With an individual skater ticket you can sign up for fun challenge bouts and participate in open scrimmages on the second track. Also you will receive an awesome t-shirt and a ‘Drills & Skills’ manual free with your ticket!

For the officials crew we proudly present our event Head Refs: Cherry Fury and Fluke Skywalker. And our event Head NSO’s: Off Track and Mazuzu.

We hope you are all as excited as we are about this special event, as we cannot do without our wonderful officials. (Note: officials that also want to skate, fill in your officials registration first. You will then get explained what to do if you also want to skate)

We need to raise some proper funds to call a halt to the gruesome reality of sex trafficking, which is why we have to ask all participants to contribute. Please do remember that all profits go directly to Fier Fryslan and Centrum Kinderhandel en Mensenhandel (CKM). These are the charities supported by Sk8 the Netherlands.

Are you just as stoked as us to be a part of this amazing charity event? Then check out the links below, and get involved!

Officials

Teams

Announcers

Volunteers

Individual skater ticket

Can’t skate and just want to watch? No problem, you can buy your ticket HERE

Contact info

General info: info24scrimmage@gmail.com
Team/skater registration: skaters24scrim@gmail.com
Sponsors: sponsor24scrim@gmail.com
Media/PR: PR24scrim@gmail.com
Volunteers: volunteers24scrim@gmail.com
Officials: officials24scrim@gmail.com

Not only were we out in full battle array with wheels and ADD T-shirts for the SlutWalk held last Saturday, but some of us got good local media coverage from major Dutch news site nu.nl to tabloids like Ad.nl (view video)

How very fitting that the first roller derby team of the Nethelands participated in the very first European Slutwalk. Well done!

Tomorrow, on 4 June 2011, ADD will participate in the Slutwalk Amsterdam. In the past months, similar events were organised all over the globe to protest about people being judged by the way they dress, their sexuality and feeling unsafe as a result. As the www.slutwalk.nl website puts it into words: ‘We are tired of being oppressed by slut-shaming; of being judged by our sexuality and feeling unsafe as a result. Being in charge of our sexual lives should not mean that we are opening ourselves to an expectation of violence, regardless if we participate in sex for pleasure or work.’

This is an event that works towards peace, bodily freedom and equality for all. Amsterdam Derby Dames obviously strongly supports these values.

It doesn’t matter who you are, what you are or what you wear, we just like to meet you all in Amsterdam, at the Homo Momonument at 16:00 tomorrow!

“Along with the sport, volunteer and charity work are a central part of what we do.  We care deeply about the world we live in, whether it’s regarding the environment, human rights or animal well-being, locally or internationally.”

You might not have known this but, as part of our official mission statement, the Amsterdam Derby Dames takes it’s place in the community very seriously.  As a group of self-proclaimed strong, feisty and intelligent women from all walks of life, we realize that we have the potential to have a positive impact on our communities and the world around us.  If you know of a non-profit organization where we can help out, please contact us at info@amsterdamderbydames.nl