Roller Derby 101
How the game works
Roller Derby is a competitive full-contact sport in which players’ race in formation around an oval track, pushing and pulling to get their team ahead. While the ultimate goal is to score as many points as possible,
heavy hits and positional blocking have become the defining features. Roller Derby has undergone dramatic transformations throughout its history, from the fist fights on skates in the 1970's, to the campy soap opera-esque reincarnation
of Roller Derby that came about in the early 2000's, to the international sport it is today. Women who skate in modern Roller Derby leagues have discovered the thrill of the competition over theatrics. This has enabled the formation of the official Women's Flat Track Derby Association, which provides leagues with the professional standards and rules that we adhere to today.
Roller Derby is a very intense offensive and defensive sport. Five (5) members from each team share the track at a time. Each team has a Jammer who is designated by a star she wears on her helmet. She is the only player that can score points on the team. Another member of the team is the pivot. The pivot wears a strip on her helmet; the pivot plays a crucial role and serves as somewhat of a captain or guidance leader for each jam. The other 3 members of the team
are the pack. The pack is responsible for slowing down the other team’s jammer so that she cannot score points, and to assist their own jammer so that she can score points. Points are scored after the initial pass through the pack, and one point is granted for each member of the opposing team that is passed legally.
Referees call out penalties with super tricked out hand gestures throughout the game. Major penalties require the skater to spend time in the penalty
box, and seven major penalties will get a skater kicked out of the game. We don’t particularly like when this happens, but hey, it is a rough sport.
To find out more about the rules of Roller Derby visit:
