The Game
Roller derby is a fast, full-contact sport, but the basics of the game are surprisingly easy to learn and incredibly thrilling to watch.
A game is called a 'bout'. A bout runs for 2 halves of 30 minutes. This is broken up into 'jams' of 2 minutes. The object of the game is to score the most points by passing members of the other team on the track during these jams.
Each team has 15 skaters, 5 of which participate in a jam. 1 is the jammer (indicated by a star on their helmet) to score the points, and 4 blockers to prevent the other team's jammer from getting through. 1 blocker is a pivot (indicated by a stripe on their helmet) whose job it is to set the pace of the pack.
When the whistle blows each jammer has to get through the pack once, with the first emerging jammer named "lead jammer". Once they have done this, both jammers score points for each time they pass a member of the opposing team. The "lead jammer" has the ability to call off the jam at any time.
Unlike our banked-track predecessors, today's roller derby is not an all-out rough-up. Referees are there – in part - to make sure blocks (also called 'hits') are safe and legal.
To learn more about the game, you should watch this great video put together by WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association).
A game is called a 'bout'. A bout runs for 2 halves of 30 minutes. This is broken up into 'jams' of 2 minutes. The object of the game is to score the most points by passing members of the other team on the track during these jams.
Each team has 15 skaters, 5 of which participate in a jam. 1 is the jammer (indicated by a star on their helmet) to score the points, and 4 blockers to prevent the other team's jammer from getting through. 1 blocker is a pivot (indicated by a stripe on their helmet) whose job it is to set the pace of the pack.
When the whistle blows each jammer has to get through the pack once, with the first emerging jammer named "lead jammer". Once they have done this, both jammers score points for each time they pass a member of the opposing team. The "lead jammer" has the ability to call off the jam at any time.
Unlike our banked-track predecessors, today's roller derby is not an all-out rough-up. Referees are there – in part - to make sure blocks (also called 'hits') are safe and legal.
To learn more about the game, you should watch this great video put together by WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association).