‘Anybody can play’: Reading Roller Derby team stresses community, inclusivity

The Reading Roller Derby team, which has its first game of the season on Sunday, is one of 19 Pennsylvania teams competing in The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.

When Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar moved from out of state to Reading two years ago for a job, she wondered how she would establish a social life as an adult in a new place, and find an outlet for regular exercise.

Through the Reading Roller Derby team, she’s found both.

“When we show up for practice two nights a week, we’re there to play this game, we’re there to be physical,” Bruninga-Socolar said. “But a lot of it is just being able to take this collective mental and emotional breath from the weight of what’s going on in all of our days. The team is so supportive. You can show up in whatever mood you’re in with whatever baggage you’re bringing in from that day or that week, and you always go away feeling better. You’ve got people who’ve got your back and are ready to go to bat for you. It’s a really lovely aspect of it.”

Bruninga-Socolar had never participated in roller derby — a full-contact sport traditionally played by women in which players circle a flat oval track on rollerskates, blocking and evading each other to score points — but the flyer she saw seeking new members for the Reading Roller Derby team made it seem appealing. 

Now, as Bruninga-Socolar gets set to kick off her second season with the team on Sunday in a bout against Brandywine Roller Derby, she said she’s found more than just a social life and a way to stay in shape. She feels as though she’s part of a true community where all are welcome.

“We have all kinds of diversity on our team,” said Bruninga-Socolar, who serves as the team’s spokesperson. “That includes political diversity, and players who identify as queer and other orientations along that spectrum. In terms of the team and the atmosphere we want to foster, everybody shows up willing to make that community happen despite any difference of opinion that might occur off the track, or (differences) we have in our personal lives. When we come to derby, we get to have a really welcoming and supportive space.”

A Safe Space

Roller derby is widely recognized as an inclusive sport, with leagues and teams striving to create safe spaces for all players, regardless of sexual or gender identity, race, ethnicity, or ability. The Reading Roller Derby team is one of 19 Pennsylvania teams that competes in the NA Northeast division of The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), an organization known for its commitment to inclusive and anti-discrimination practices regarding transgender women, intersex women, and gender-expansive participants. 

Bruninga-Socolar said that the spirit of inclusivity extends beyond the track.

“There are a lot of online roller derby communities that are inclusive and supportive as well,” Bruninga-Socolar said. “All the roller derby teams are connected via social media, and in this political climate, there’s been a couple of instances of specific players or teams running into issues and just receiving an outpouring of support from other teams from around the country and around the world. The attitude of the sport is just so welcoming.”

Another way players get to be themselves is through their “skate names,” the creative monikers players use to reflect their personalities. Bruninga-Socolar, a redhead, goes by the skate name Electric Red, and skates alongside teammates Lezbhonest, Slaying Mantis, and Hot Mess Express. As her team has bonded over time, she said it’s been fun to watch teammates emerge from their shells.

“We have a few extroverts but a lot of us seem to be on the introverted side,” Bruninga-Socolar said. “And some of the people who started out as the most quiet are now some of the most integral to the team. They’re taking leadership at practice, they’re joining committees for the team. People feel more at home being themselves.” 

‘Anybody Can Play Roller Derby’

Bruninga-Socolar stressed that roller derby is for anyone who wants to play, regardless of age, background, profession, or body type.

“We’re all women, we all deal with the pressure that society places on women’s bodies,” Bruninga-Socolar said. “And roller derby is fantastic because it’s all about strength. It’s all about this thing that you can do with your body. And there’s space for every body type on the team. Anybody can play roller derby. If you’re willing to show up and practice, there’s a space for you.”

Reading pivot Unsweetened blocks the opposing team’s jammer. (Photo: Andrew Keyes, Derby Photography)

Bruninga-Socolar pegged the average age of her teammates as “mid-30s,” with a range that stretches from early 20s to early 60s. The range of day jobs among teammates is just as vast.

“Name a field that’s in Reading and we’ve got someone doing it,” said Bruninga-Socolar, who works for a consulting firm by day. “We’ve got food service workers, educators, graphic designers, vet techs, contractors, you name it. And we’re all pulling together.”

Reading Roller Derby hosts Brandywine Roller Derby Sunday, 7 p.m., at Skateaway-Shillington (2275 Lancaster Pike, Reading). Women in education get free admission for Women’s History Month. Get tickets here.