Saplings! Photo courtesy Arcata Photo Studios
Hardly an eye stayed dry at Redwood Acres last Thursday. There, in Francesci Hall, the legendary tough ladies of Humboldt Roller Derby‘s Redwood Rollers turned into mother hens as their young charges – aka Saplings – began their “Friends and Family” bout, complete with announcer Jason calling the action.
The girls, 11-17, negotiated the pack, blocked the jammers, took hits, avoided falling – or, perhaps most profoundly, fell, then clambered back to their feet and kept skating. That’s one of the lessons: Not only can girls kick ass, but they can take getting knocked down, bruised up, and still, keep on rolling toward victory.
The Saplings program repeats in the fall. Check the site for sign-ups – and donations are always welcome!
Next regular bout is July 24. Get your tickets early!
HRD All-Stars vs. Sac City Capital Punishers & Redwood Rollers vs. Sac City Folsom Prison Bruisers
This article appears in DA Trials.
“Not only can girls kick ass, but they can take getting knocked down, bruised up, and still, keep on rolling “
Sexist comments of course. Why wouldn’t this be so, because they have vaginas? I actually am always surprised that boys can manage as much as they do with their dangly bits flopping out all over. Talk about dangerous to sexual organs..
This article isn’t about roller derby, it’s obviously about GIRLS roller derby.
Get with the program and write an un sexist article, like they were boys.
Substitute “boys” where “girls” is in this article and you can see how ludicrous and demeaning this is. Srsly, has any progress been made since Title IX?
Humboldt Roller Derby coaches were so generous with their time for the Saplings, giving up their own practice time and who knows how many hours of paperwork and preparation to make things happen. Still, as a parent all I can do is beg for more, please. I’m so happy to hear that they’re preparing to move forward in the fall.
Wowza, Sarah… check your keyboard. It’s burning up. Looks like the story is very much about GIRLS roller derby since there is presently no boys roller derby in the area. Unfortunately Title IX didn’t bring any full-contact sports to Humboldt County for young women to participate in. Maybe some girls who participated in Saplings weren’t previously aware – as most boys are provided the opportunity to learn – that they can get knocked down and get back up. If so, seems like a good thing, as this very brief sketch notes.
So why aren’t articles about football about BOYS football??????? among many many others.
No they are just about football, wrestling, etc. even though there aren’t any girl teams either?????
Boys can get knocked down and get back up!!
Yeah, girls don’t know that they can get back up after being knocked down..you are the PROBLEM!! That is ridiculous? Why wouldn’t girls know that?
If they were just treated as athletes, rather than GIRL athletes, more girls might be interested in joining. As it is, they are pointed out as being girls, as if that’s something special.
My whole life I have done things “unusual” for girls. Instead of just letting me do these things, it was constantly pointed out to me that I was a girl, as if I didn’t know that, and as if that made a difference ( it doesn’t).
Let us be and do and stop making sexist comments.
Football season isn’t till fall, when there will be lots of stories about boys football. Most of the youth football leagues refer to themselves as boys leagues, although at least a couple local youth teams have female players, too. Most coverage of high school sports certainly identifies the team as girls or boys… soccer, tennis, volleyball, etc.
My PROBLEM is that between your excessive punctuation and all-caps, I can’t really tease out a meaning in what you’re communicating.
But the Saplings are a good thing and I’m glad to see Jennifer Savage wrote about it. Rather than titting for the tatting with Shevett, I think I’ll ask a Saplings participant what she got out of it.
sweeeet sweeet sarah, I like your attitude. You can knock me down and kick my ass anyday! Please? mmmmm-mmmm martha, I’d love you to do “unusual” things to me all night long. Neither of you are really into the whole roller derby culture thing, are you?
Sorry for your experience, Martha. That was the point of creating the Saplings: to have contact sports available for every kid, female and male.
It’s so strange that someone could turn this article into something negative. Sure, one could be picky about the wording but if you open your eyes to the big picture, you will see that this is exciting, positive and inspiring for our community. If the persons who are offended with this article would like to contribute, I suggest they do it in a proactive way. Perhaps the reason they are so down on it is because they are uneducated about the organization?
Way to go, Humboldt Roller Derby!
Getting children and teens participating in a sport, learning team building, being active and boosting their self esteem is a generous contribution to this community.
These kids represent our future. It’s so exciting to think that they will grow up and run this league. They will be the ones making large donations to non-profits, fostering new skaters, connecting this community.
What a fantastic article!
Believe me I am all about supporting the roller derby, but not because it’s for girls, but because it’s awesome!
And yes, it’s not called “boys football”. Male is the default in our society.
Why isn’t it Lumberjacks and Lumberjills? No it’s Lumberjacks and “LADYjacks”. I suppose because Lumberjacks are male?
The article mostly wasn’t about our youths, it was about “wow, girls can do that?”
And “mother hens”? Open your eyes, people..
This much passion and hostility would be a great addition to Humboldt Roller Derby. Newbie practices are Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Skates and pads are available to borrow.
When my kid was playing little league baseball (there were a couple girls playing baseball instead of opting for girls softball) I always wondered why the adults ruined the fun by inserting themselves or living vicariously through the onfield action. Frequently, the adults seemed to be replaying their personal experiences from many years ago. The kids wanted to play a game. Some of the adults had an agenda.
And I wonder why people sigh and say “oh, boy” when they see a conversation is going nowhere instead of “oh, girl.”
it’s all so clear now…Jennifer Savage is either a self-loathing throwback to victorian-era patriarchy or a lesbian pedophile! NOOO!!! How could I have been so blind!
Honestly, I think the negative comments are pretty funny, and the last thing I expected to read after the article. Silly internet.
“Sexist comments of course … because they have vaginas…”
Wouldn’t ovaries be the salient organs, as in “roller derby takes ovaries“?
Kids should be getting home from school about now. Probably heard something about their sport getting coverage online. So awesome that they can read grown ups bickering about the political implications of roller skating and sex organs.
Comment of the year.
Thank you to the Journal for covering the Saplings. This is such a great thing for our community on so many levels. I wish I had this when I was growing up! I also appreciate the women of Derby taking time out of their busy lives to coach them weekly.
Keep the stories coming! The community is clamoring for more roller derby coverage.
Great article, about a great program! I agree with
Hank’s “Comment of the Year” award to Terrence too. How many sundaes is that, Hank?
As one of the coaches for the Redwood Saplings I’d like to say a big thank you to all the support the community has given us. And a big thank you to Jen Savage for her positive coverage of us. This has been a wonderful and empowering experience for all involved and am very proud to have the opportunity to teach what I have learned to others. I hope that as we progress into the future we can show our community that this has nothing to do with sexism, and has everything to do with empowering women.
Guess what, girls and boys ARE different and thats OK……….
Yo, Terrence…lame politics and porn, eh? The sooner the kids figure out that’s all they’re wasting their time on by staring at the internet, the better.
Good point.
I wrote neither “lame politics” or “porn,” anonymous blog commenter. You’re off topic, like most anonymous blog commenters.
Saplings rock! I loved the tough derby girls (the women) taking the saplings (girls) under their wings. (Sometimes the chick thing works, and hens too). It’s not just female, it’s generational. What a great sport–celebrates individuality and teamwork, diversity and cooperation. I gotta love derby, especially Redwood Rollers! I so appreciate the love, sweat, and tears that went into the Saplings, and thanks Jennifer for the article!
as a sapling (and a 15-yr-old girl) i dont think saplings is sexist; it’s the complete opposite.
its not about us having ovaries and vaginas, its about girls having a chance to play and excel at a sport that lets us express ourselves as women and as athletes.
sarah: saplings isn’t demeaning, and this article isn’t demeaning, but your comments are.
Wow, it sounded to me like the article was 100% complimentary of girls and their athletic abilities. It references the common misconception that girls aren’t as tough, but in no way agrees with it. It’s just great coverage of a sport we don’t hear much of around here, which is a FANTASTIC thing. I’m all about derby and gender equality, and can find nothing offensive about this story. People searching for something “sexist” to complain about is what offends me as a female. Not all of us have our panties in such a twist!
OOH! OOH! Let’s add some scandal to this episode! Did anybody else catch the dialog @ 50 seconds in the video above? Is Jennifer Savage a gate crasher? Did she use the ol’ “I’m writing an article for the newspaper” excuse? Will these little saplings be devoured in a forest fire of controversy fueled by old growth?!?!?