What is Roller Derby?
Roller Derby is a fast paced, full contact sport played on quad roller skates. This ain't no roller disco! This is flat track revolution revived by women in Texas in the early 2000s.
A Bout (game) is made up of two 30 minute halves. Each half is broken down into 2 minute jams (unless called off prematurely by the lead Jammer-don't worry, we will get to that).
Both teams have up to 5 players on the track:
4 Blockers and 1 Jammer during each jam. The 4 Blockers line up on the track, the Jammers line up behind them (and behind the jam line). On the whistle, the jam begins.
The Jammers attempt to power through the formidable defence of the opposition, using their strength, jukes and tricks to escape cleanly and quickly. Once through the pack, the Jammers sprint around the track and catch up with the pack to make their second pass through. They can then start scoring points on the opposing teams Blockers. Jammers score a point for every Blocker passed legally with their hips, and the team with the most points wins!
Jammers - Marked by a star on the helmet, they are the point scorers.
Pivots - Marked by a large stripe on their helmet. The Jammer may pass the star to this player to transfer Jammer status (but not lead Jammer status). This generally happens if a Jammer is not having much luck escaping that pesky pack.
Blockers - It's the Blockers' job to stop the opposing Jammer whilst helping their Jammer through the pack; a contact game of defence and offence.
Lead Jammer - This is the Jammer who clears the pack first (and legally; in bounds and without penalties) on their initial pass. This status is not retained if they go to the box or pass the star. The lead Jammer is able to call the jam dead at any point by tapping their hands on their hips, often VERY enthusiastically!
Officials - These are the cogs who keep the game moving. Non Skating Officials are usually identified by a solid colour top (grey, black or pink) and Ref's have distinctive stripy referee shirts and officiate whilst on skates!
Got all that? Jawsome!
Derby Names - In our unique sport you'll spot many players and officials partaking in Roller Derby under an alias. These are special names sometimes chosen by themselves, or given to them by their team. They are often entertaining in themselves!