The Greater Manchester league has been around since 2008 and competing under its current name since 2016, having rebranded from Rainy City Roller Girls to be more inclusive.
Its three teams skate against others from all over the country, and the world, at competitions governed by the Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association (WFTDA).
Played on quad skates, roller derby is a full contact sport that can be played anywhere there is a big enough flat surface.
Self-identification is the only factor they consider when assessing someone’s gender, and players do not even have to disclose which specific gender they identify with.
Their gender only has to be one which is marginalised, and they are welcome to strap on a pair of skates and get on track with RCRD.
According to the WFTDA marginalised genders include women, non-binary, and trans people.
Identity for anyone involved with roller derby is self-determined in fact, with skaters often adopting derby names that better reflect who they want to be in the sport.
Hypersmacktive, a skater from RCRD, said: “It’s been an incredibly welcoming space, and I think that’s both because of the people involved in it, but also from the very top.
“The policy from WFTDA is to just be as inclusive as possible of all different kinds of gender identities and expressions.
“As long as you feel that you fit with women’s flat track roller derby, you can play it.”
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