Roller Derby

General Rules

The Roller Derby teams consist of 15 players, but only five players are on track at any one time. These include one jammer, the only member of the team who can score points. Four blockers aim to block the opposition jammer, lapping them and eventually score points. Some general rules are as follows-

• Roller Derby matches are played in teams over two equal periods of 30 minutes.
• The track of roller derby is an oval-shaped skating course with a flat surface. At the beginning of a match, the blockers from opposing team skate together as one single unit around the track. A whistle is blown as a signal after the pack passes the starting line and the last member of the trail is 30 feet from it.
• When the whistle is blown, the jammers skate as fast as possible so that they may be able to fight and make their way out through the pack (a group of blockers). If the jammer can break through the pack, scores are awarded.
• Each jammer gets an equal opportunity to score points as they race around in an oval track and perform their lapping over the members of the opposite team. If the jammer passes any other player from the opposing, they score one point.
• Blockers are allowed to use any kind of physical force so that they can prevent the opposition jammer from passing them. This also helps them to avoid the opposing team from gaining extra points.
• The jams are conducted for at least 2 minutes during the match.
• Penalties are issued in case of tripping, blocking players above shoulder or when they are out of bounds, sticking below the elbow.
• Any team with the highest points scored at the end of the match is regarded as the winner.

History of Roller Derby

In the mid-1880s, the endurance races began to transform into the contemporary form of the sport by 1930s. Later, promoter Leo Seltzer created the Transcontinental Roller Derby, for professional skaters. Gradually, roller derby began to popularize in another form as "sidewalk skating" in various countries. 

On 29th November 1948, Roller Derby was first time broadcasted on New York television. Later, a massive number of spectators was recorded watching the live matches of roller derby. During the 1949-1950 seasons, Seltzer formed the National Roller Derby League (NRDL), which comprises six teams. 

But, in 1999, Jerry Seltzer enhanced the sport and used the standard rules with a banked oval track. Inline skates were prominently allowed in the new matches, debuted in TNN (Spike TV). Roller derby then followed its modern revival in the early 2000s as an all-female women-organized amateur sport in Austin, Texas. After six years of the sport commencement, 135 similar leagues were conducted globally. Till today, there are over 2000 amateur leagues that are played worldwide in various countries, including Canada, Australia, France, Brazil, Germany, Norway, UAE, Egypt, etc. In February 2012, Roller Derby was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as an official sport and later included it in the eight games of the 2020 Olympics. By May 2013, there were over 140 roller derby programs in the United States.

Roller derby championships are now streamed online, and there are archived videos of past sessions and tournaments. The WFTDA offers live streaming videos on Derby News Network. The FiveOnFive magazines cover, roller derby and diverse aspects such as business, training, junior roller derby, and nutrition.