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Roller Derby is a fast-paced contact team sport that requires speed, strategy, and athleticism. The flat track version of the sport evolved in 2001, and has quickly grown to encompass more than 1000 leagues worldwide.
Roller Derby's popularity and massive resurgence is in large part due to the ease of setting up a flat track - it can be done on any flat surface that is suitable for skating, such as skating rinks, basketball courts, parking lots, and even airplane hangars. This greatly reduces the capital needed to start up a roller derby league, and allows small groups of people to get a fledgling league off the ground. The DIY spirit that drives the sport allows roller derby leagues to create their own unique identities and adapt their structures to reflect their local communities. The Bay City Rollers play in accordance with the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) rules. |
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How the game is played
The aim of the game is for the jammer from each team to make her way through the pack twice - on her second pass she scores points for every opposition player she passes.
The jammer that emerges from the pack first is given ‘Lead Jammer’ status which enables her to call off the jam whenever she likes, she does this by hitting her hips with her hands.
Skaters can use their shoulders, hips and booties to hit opposing skaters and assist their jammer through the pack.
Each bout is made up of 2 minute shifts called jams. They can be called off early when the lead jammer signals by touching her hips.
The Sin Bin
Certain types of blocks and other play violate the rules and referees can order offenders to spend time in the penalty box (normally 30 seconds).
Skaters can go to the sin bin for: cutting the track, skating too far in front of or behind the pack, elbowing, pushing, tripping and many other offenses!
If a skater makes seven trips to the penalty box during a bout they are ejected from the game (so it pays to skate clean).
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