About Us

The Gems is an amazing organization of girls aged 10-17, their parents, and the adult roller girls who coach them.

In our first season, the Gems had 30 committed skaters. Our second season was a success with both new Gems and old sharing in the rewards of a growing league. In season 3, we had a full contact division for regular season, and continued to grow our all-star travel team whose season is opposite of the regular/intra-league season. For our 4th regular season, we expect to have 2 modified contact teams (positional, no hitting) and 2 full contact teams, allowing for more balanced intra-league play.

Roller Derby: What it is

Roller derby first became popular back in the 1930s. Back then, it was done on a banked track and was more theatrical than athletic. Teams and venues were owned by businessmen and the skaters were hired to play. Today, derby is done on a flat track and emphasizes endurance, accuracy, and control.

We strive to promote sportswomanship, athleticism, and sisterhood between women and now we offer that to the younger generation.

Studies show that girls who participate in physical fitness and sports have reduced teen pregnancy rates, fewer chronic diseases and fewer problems with substance use and emotional disruption.

Todays roller derby is empowering, competitive, challenging, and supportive of all body types and levels of ability.

About Us

In 2008, the Emerald City Roller Girls created the Junior Gems, a roller derby league for girls aged 10-17. In their first year, the Gems practiced hard, honed their skills, and played teams from all over the Pacific Northwest, toppling their competitors and showing just how tough girls can be.

The Emerald City Junior Gems (ECJG) league is skater-owned and operated. Skaters and their parents are involved in every aspect from playing to event production and participate in at least 2 league training sessions a week. We are grateful to be staffed by volunteer ECRG skaters, refs, and junior derby parents; many of whom work professionally with youth as teachers, counselors, and outreach workers.

The Emerald City Junior Gems play a modified version of the big girl game that uses positional blocking, rather than full hitting. The regular season runs until mid-March. In the spring, the Gems will hold try-outs for the full-contact travel team, which will play teams from Portland, Seattle and beyond, and will play through June.