Fridays After 5 Featuring Jayne Niemann

Grab your margarita and elbow pads because we are five days away from Cinco de Mayo and International Roller Derby Day! In honor of International Roller Derby Day, we are delighted to introduce you to SDA’s very own Roller Babe - Aimee ArmaLite or “AR” as she’s known on the track!

When not on the track, “AR” is known as Jayne Niemann, CDFA. Jayne is the office diva at Acquilano in Colorado. Before that, she spent 13 years at RB+B Architects in Fort Collins, CO. She has a business administration degree from Colorado State University-Global Campus. 

How did you get started with roller derby? 

A coworker took me to a game in the Spring of 2009, and I was hooked! I joined in June for training, worked my way through the grueling training program, and skated in my first game in October. As a volunteer, I joined the board of directors as the PR Head in 2010 and then as Treasurer starting in 2012. I officially retired from competition at the end of 2014, but I still skate for fun and volunteer to this day!

What’s the name of your league? Have you played on more than one team?

I’ve always been with the same league. We used to be FoCo Girls Gone Derby and changed to FoCo Roller Derby a while ago. As far as the teams go, I’ve played on the following teams within the same league:

• Chanel Cartel
• Deathrow Dolls
• Cinderhellas
• Punchy Brewsters
• Micro Bruisers

We’ve gone through a few rebrands over the years. The current teams in our league are:

• Growlers (home team)
• Ale Marys (home team)
• Punchy Brewsters (B team competitive)
• Micro Bruisers (A team competitive)

Team huddle on the track before a game.

What’s the age range of the members of your group/team?

Our league is an adult league - ages 18 and up. Our oldest skater is in her early 50s, and there are older skaters in other leagues.  There are many junior derby leagues as well - typically ages 6 - 17.

What’s your favorite thing about it? Anything surprising?

My favorite thing about roller derby is the sense of community and camaraderie, not just within my league but with other leagues throughout the world. It's amazing how you instantly become friends with everyone that has/does skate.

Something that surprises me, still to this day, is that all leagues are skater-operated by volunteers. There are less than a handful of paid league members in the entire world!

How often do you practice? How long is a season? 

COVID has put a severe damper on roller derby. The WFTDA has been praised for its stringent return-to-play guidelines. We're hoping to get back to play this fall, though.

Typically, we would offer practice four times a week - a total of 9 hours! Our new skaters and non-competitive teams generally skate 4 hours of those, and our competitive teams skate 5+. Seasons typically run from February to December.

Jayne, in blue, blocking a Jammer's path.

How do you stay in shape to do this? Is there a unique training program you follow? Does season differ from off-season?

Practice, practice, practice. If you're on the competitive team, add to that gym time, nutrition, and serious self-care. Our league has a training program for new skaters that typically takes six months (it varies depending on the individual). After that, you are thrown in with the rest of the scrimmage-eligible folks and put on a home team. Then there are tryouts for the competitive (travel) team. We don't really have an off-season, but when we have a few weeks off for summer/holidays, you can bet a lot of yoga is involved!

What do you do to keep safe? Is there special equipment? Referees?

All of the above! For equipment: helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards, mouth guard. Each league has its own crew of volunteer referees that attend scrimmages and games to keep us in check. Another big part of safety for us is training! We must learn how to fall, take hits, and strengthen our bodies for derby.

Jayne, far left with "AR15" on her shoulder at a pre-game greeting of the opposing team.

Any particular sources for gear and roller derby fashion?

I ordered a lot of my gear through our local roller rink, then through our local skate shop, and sometimes online. Your local skate shop is super helpful in trying on the equipment before you buy!

Uniforms have come a long way since 2009. We used to skate in whatever themed costume we could come up with - mobsters vs. prisoners, heroes vs. villains, mermaids vs. skeletons, you name it! Most of these were homemade or purchased from the Halloween store. :D The trend now is to scrap this style for a more competitive look. Now our teams are stocked with athletic uniforms from roller derby-specific vendors.

How many games are in a season? Can you describe to me how a derby works?

My league, FoCo Roller Derby, typically has 7-9 games per season and 2-3 tournaments for our travel teams. 

A typical game is a lot like going to a hockey game - we've got concessions, merchandise, fan activities, sometimes mascots, a half-time show, and more! My favorite non-competitive, themed game is our annual Black & Blue Ball in October - think of it as a homecoming game. The skaters are team black vs. team blue, and skaters (and refs and fans!) dress up in formal wear.

Does your team engage in any other activities? Do you parade?

We do! We often participate in local parades and events - on skates when we're allowed! We usually have a booth for recruitment, ticket sales, and engagement. 

Any advice on how to find a club nearby?

Anyone looking for roller derby in their area can either search roller derby near their town OR visit www.wftda.org, click on Leagues, and search the worldwide list of leagues! WFTDA is the international Women's Flat Track Roller Derby Association. Don't let the name fool you, though; it’s all-inclusive.

What advice would you give another SDA member if they were considering this? 

Go for it! You will NOT regret it. Leagues take people of every age/size/skill level and train you into the badass derby person you know you can be. 

Can’t get enough? Neither can we!

See Jayne skate! Look for AR-15 in blue. Sadly they didn’t win. : (

Jayne, in blue with a star on her helmet, playing the Jammer position on the team.

The video below is of the founder of the league and the person who inspired her to join roller derby. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2yiBPw1xPQ

Not a video of Jayne, but of her inspiration for joining the team. Watch for the 

player with  the star on her helmet. That's the Jammer.