Minnesota Frostbite Winter 2026 Session, Ages 10-17*
*age as of 9/1/25
Please read all the following information about the Minnesota Frostbite junior roller derby program!
Registration is open through Thursday, January 29th!
Required Equipment
Participants **MUST** obtain and wear all of the following gear to rollerskate in our venue, no exceptions:
1. Roller skates (no blades / in-lines)
2. Dual-certified helmet (see our helmet guidelines)
3. Thick foam-cushioned knee pads with hard shells
4. Elbow pads with hard shell
5. Wrist guards with hard plastic protection
6. Mouthguard that has been molded & fitted at home
Please check out > this section < of the MN Frostbite Skater Handbook for specifics about the gear required for roller derby!
Additionally, for ALL practices or games, these young athletes will need:
- Non-glass, sealable water bottle, labeled with the skater's name
- Clothing that allows full range of athletic movement
- No dangly/hoop jewelry or other potential safety hazards
- Athletic shoes (occasional for practices, and always for games)
Some decent quality and relatively inexpensive options for youth safety gear available at Target are:
- Pads: Multi-color or black 3-piece set (Eight Ball brand)
- Helmets: Multi-color or gray (Eight Ball brand), teal with dry erase markers included (Wipeout brand)
- Mouthguard: For youth without braces (Shock Doctor brand). Here's a mouthguard for those with braces available on Amazon.
Also, if equipment cost is a financial burden, our booster club, Minnesota Frostboosters, maintains a limited gear lending library with a partially-refundable deposit.
- To confirm availability in the sizes you need, be sure to ask in advance.
- At the first practice of each session, there will be an opportunity to get fitted and "check out" equipment from the Frostboosters library.
- If a skater forgets their gear at home for a practice or game, there may NOT be a backup option available.
Skater Handbook
We encourage all new skaters to read our Skater Handbook! This contains all the detailed information about our program and tips for getting started as a skater.
Practice Details
The first practice of the 2026 Winter Session is Sunday, February 1st, 2:00-4:00pm in the Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
*** A PARENT / LEGAL GUARDIAN NEEDS TO ATTEND THEIR SKATER'S FIRST PRACTICE OF THE SESSION ***
What to expect at the first practice:
- Introductions & FAQ
- Review practice expectations & code of conduct
- Verify registration materials completed
- Skaters may get fitted for & borrow equipment from Frostboosters library
- Participants: Gear check & time to skate, if time allows
- Parents/Guardians: Introduction to Frostboosters
Practices are typically held in the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, RiverCentre Exhibit Halls, or RiverCentre Meeting Rooms located in downtown St. Paul (175 Kellogg Blvd, St Paul, MN 55102). If we don't have space on a regular practice day, we may make alternate plans, though not guaranteed.
Announcements with upcoming practices/events will be emailed weekly. Last-minute reminders and updates may be sent via Slack. Practice dates may be further subject to change due to weather, space availability, etc.
Season Overview
Practices for ages 10-17* are scheduled Sundays 2:00-4:00pm and Thursdays 6:00-7:30pm.
- Fall Session: mid-September through mid-December
- Winter Session: February through late April
- Spring Session: Depending on our game scheduling and postseason plans, eligible skaters may continue through sometime in May/June/July. In 2026, we will likely wrap up before July, if not sooner.
Generally, either a social event or skating mixer/competitive game -- in lieu of a Frostbite practice -- is planned for the Sundays after MNRD adult bouts, during a session in progress.
Post-bout Sundays in 2026 during the Winter Session are February 15th, March 29th, and April 26th.
Skill Levels and Placement for Ages 10-17*
NOTE: Skaters do not self-select their skill level, nor do they automatically progress upon completion of a session or even a full season. There will be periodic assessments for skill level placement / progression, or at coaches' discretion aligned with JRDA Skill Level Assessments. Everyone starts their roller derby journey at a different place, and learns at a different pace! Coaches support the skaters, provide feedback, and help celebrate successes along the way!
- Intro (Level 0): Learn basic skills and how derby works, before being able to play non-contact derby.
- Level 1: Basic skills for non-contact derby
- Level 2: Intermediate skills for light contact derby
- Level 3: Advanced skills for full contact derby
Attendance Expectations
It is not required to attend all days to participate; however, we ask that you notify us if there will be / has been more than 2 or 3 consecutive practices.
For Frostbites who intend to play in competitive games, we expect at least 50% practice attendance. This is important for building team cohesion, skills proficiency, and safety to create the most fun, rewarding team sport experience for everyone!
Costs
If participation costs present a barrier/hardship, MNRD will work with families to help make these great experiences accessible to everyone. You may request a fees accommodation request when filling out the Skater Information Form or by emailing frostbite@mnrollerderby.com, and choose the corresponding "ticket type" below.
Additional costs for uniforms, travel, etc. may apply. MNRD is volunteer-run and skater owned and operated. We all contribute resources and energy to make this awesome sport happen!
Minnesota Frostboosters, the newly formed 501(c)(3) booster club helps defray costs of gear, uniforms, travel, etc., and contributes to strengthening Minnesota Frostbite. And they need family members' involvement to make cool stuff happen!
We are SO VERY excited to have you skate with us! Please direct any questions to frostbite@mnrollerderby.com. Thank you!
***FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION ***
STEP 1: Be in the loop
A parent/guardian **MUST** join and reliably receive information from Groups.io and Slack. Also, please add emails from ...@mnrdfrostbite.groups.io to your safe/recognized list, so they don't end up in spam/junk folders.
STEP 2: Review policies. By completing registration, participants & family members acknowledge and agree to all program policies linked in the "MN Frostbite Policies" subfolder of MN Frostbite Program Information.
STEP 3: Complete Eventzilla Registration
Find the blue "Register Now" button, and proceed through this Eventzilla site to finalize payment or financial accommodation if needed. If you're having problems connected with PayPal, login to PayPal first, then once again open the Eventzilla link (to this site).
STEP 4: Skater Information Form & e-sign documents
AFTER completing the Eventzilla, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to our Skater Information Form. A parent/guardian **MUST** complete this Skater Information Form **AND** e-sign the documents that follow (waivers, media release, and code of conduct) once each annual season. These waivers must be completed if your skater wants to rent gear from our lending library! If the Skater Information Form was completed for a skater for Fall 2025 Session, it does not need to be done again for Winter 2026.
*** ANY PARTICIPANT'S REGISTRATION IS NOT BE CONSIDERED FINALIZED UNTIL STEPS 3 AND 4 HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ***
*** Please select only 1 ticket per participant, for the session indicated. Click the "Register Now" button to proceed. ***
