It's just a bit different than your typical team sport. The Roller Derby revival is going strong, and young players are lacing up the skates for some full contact fun. NY1’s Roger 'Bad News' Clark decided to give it a whirl, too.

It's a cross between football and hockey, without a ball, puck or stick.

"My dad brought me to a rink and he was like, ‘Look!’ And I was like, ‘What is this?’ And then I fell in love with it,” said Clare “Clare Beware Higgins of Gotham Girls Junior Derby of East Williamsburg.

Now she is part of the Gotham Girls Junior Derby, a three-year old program of Gotham Girls Roller Derby, which has been providing excitement on skates since 2003. Girls 8 through 18 get can sign up and learn the finer points of this fast moving contact sport.

"We'll teach you how to skate, we'll teach you everything you need to know for Roller Derby,” said Bonnie Thunders, Gotham Girls Junior Derby coach.

Including of course the rules: point scorers called "jammers" try to skate laps around the opposing team.

Their teammates guide them while also trying to stop the other team's jammer. It all happens during hour long games called "bouts." 

"It's very full contact. There's a lot of hitting, there's a lot of containment, it's very fun to watch,” said Thunders.

Thunders says the sport attracts girls who find that traditional team sports are just not their cup of tea.

In keeping with the sport's traditions, each girl even gets her own nickname.

"I don't play any other sports and I probably wouldn't otherwise so this is good for keeping in shape,” said Lola "Rough Tuft" Hagen.

"There's so much strategy and I think it's a great sport for people who are not typically athletic. And it includes everybody,” said Lily "Kim Carcrashian" Slivka.

Except boys. Though the girls made an exception to give me tips on stopping, hitting, and then an all-out mini-jam where I gave myself the player approved roller derby nickname, “Bad News.”

The girls took it easy on the old reporter guy, though I'm pretty sure I was outjammed by my opponent, known as "Badittude.” They said I skated okay but needed to…

“Get low. You have to bend your knees so that you can have a center of gravity and stay balanced,” said Maya "Kharem of the Crop" Kharem.

Roger: So I wasn't that low?

“You were standing straight,” said Kharem, laughing.

For more information on Gotham Girls Junior Derby, go to GothamGirlsRollerDerby.com.

During the month of February, Time Warner Cable News is committed to informing our viewers of the sometimes alarming trends facing our kids' health as well as provide helpful tips for busy parents.  Get more information on Fit Kids February, including the Fit Kids Challenge, healthy shopping suggestions and ways you can get involved to help make you and your children healthier!