Few people know what roller derby truly is. In fact, most sports fans aren’t too familiar with the details of the sport either. Past the eye-catching uniforms and cool roller skating, what do most people really know about roller derby?
Despite public confusion, roller derby continues to rise in popularity. You might think that only women play this sport. However, more and more people are trying it out and, almost expectantly, falling in love with the roller sport.
If you’re interested in learning more about the sport, then read on for every beginner’s guide to roller derby. From its rules, team compositions, and equipment, here are the basics of roller derby!
What is roller derby?
To put it in simple words, roller derby is a type of contact sport. Some people think it is ice hockey on roller skates and without the ice. It is, in a way. However, roller derby differs from any other roller skating sport out there.
Like most sports, roller derby comprises two competing teams. These two teams face each other in a series of jams wherein each team has a jammer (known by a star on their helmet) who races through the track counter-clockwise. The goal of the opposing team is to block the jammer from passing their members. Of course, whoever scores the most points wins.
It can get a little difficult to understand at first, so let’s break it down a bit!
How did roller derby begin?
Roller derby is a relatively young sport. People credit the start of competitive roller derby to Leo Seltzer. In the 1930s, he created the Transcontinental Roller Derby. This was the first competitive opportunity for roller derby players in Chicago. Before then, roller derby was only beginning to take form. People would organize small-time roller skating races, and some even had audiences. It was in the late 1800s when roller skating became popular.
It then turned into a contact sport. The Transcontinental Roller Derby became successful, and the media started televising the game. Audiences increased in number, and a National Roller Derby League (NDRL) was formed in 1949. Unfortunately, this popularity sizzled. Professional roller derby took a backseat to other favored sports during the late 1900s. However, the flame didn’t go out. Come the 2000s, roller derby resurfaced in Texas as an all-female amateur sport.
Today, there are now more than 2,000 amateur roller derby leagues. From Texas, roller derby also became popular in Canada, Australia, France, and many other countries. In 2009, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) arose. It is the international governing body for roller derby.
What equipment do you need to play roller derby?
As with any other sport, roller derby has its own sports gear. Without them, players will not be allowed on the track. These include skates, helmets, and other protective gear.
Skates
In ice hockey, they have rollerblades. In roller derby, they use roller skates. Players must use quad roller skates. These are roller skates with four wheels, two in the front and two in the rear. Women’s roller skates are usually “fashion over function.” Thus, it is important to find those that are durable. When shopping for a pair, it is important to specifically look for roller derby skates and not ordinary ones.
The USA Roller Sports specifies players can only use quad roller skates. This is to ensure their safety. First, quad skates provide better balance on the track. Second, it places less stress on a player’s feet and ankles. Last, they provide more grip, which is important for skating laps.
There are other kinds of skates, such as inline roller skates. Inline skates have 2 to 5 wheels in a single line in the middle. However, only referees can wear inline skates. Even so, referees usually opt for quad skates too.
Protective Gear
All skaters have to wear a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads. They should be the right size. Otherwise, these gears won’t be secure, and the skater will be at risk for injury. Wrist guards are also important to protect the wrists in case you fall wrong. Like football, skaters should also wear a mouthguard. Some skaters will also wear hard-case sports bras for extra protection. Men also wear protective cups.
Uniforms
While this isn’t exactly “equipment,” uniforms do play a big role in roller derby! Teams will often have their colors and logos. Some teams will wear a uniform shirt with leggings while others pair their uniform shirts with shorts and thigh-high socks.
How do you play roller derby?
With the history out of the way, it’s time to learn the rules and gameplay of roller derby. To make things easier, let’s look at the basics terms for gameplay, the players of a team, those who officiate, and the general strategy and tactics that occur in the game.
In roller derby, each team can have up to 15 players. However, only five of them can be on the field during a “jam.” A jam is what each round is called in roller derby. It usually lasts for 2 minutes. Meanwhile, a complete game is split into two 30-minute periods.
The Track
Roller derby is an indoor sport. As you might have guessed, a roller rink is where the magic happens. However, not every roller rink will do. For official games, roller rinks must adhere to the guidelines set by the WFTDA.
The track must have the correct dimensions, with boundaries marked off clearly. This is to help skaters stay within bounds. Skaters should also be able to easily spot the pivot and jammer lines. That way, they can keep track of where the laps begin and end. The track must also be flat and clean.