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How roller derby works

Katjusa Cisar  —  5/08/2008 6:06 am

The Mad Rollin' Dolls describe derby as the love child of "hockey, track, show choir and Quidditch (the fictional sport in the Harry Potter series)."

Here's how it works, basically:

Teams face off in "jams" that can last up to two minutes. Skating always runs in a counterclockwise direction around the oval track. One whistle blow starts a pack of eight skaters around the rink. Two whistles set off the two "jammers," one skater from each team with stars on their helmets. The jammers must pass through the pack once before accruing points in order to determine who has "lead jam." The first jammer through the pack legally is designated as the "lead jammer." The lead jammer then has the option to end the jam at any time by putting both her hands on her hips. Jammers accrue a point for each pack member they pass legally after the first run through the pack. Passing is defined as "the jammer's hips breaking the plane created by the pack member's hips" -- but to do it legally, the jammer can't elbow, hit or otherwise "trick" her way through.

During the jam, pack members play offense and defense by helping their jammer get through or trying to block the opposing jammer. Refs call penalties for a variety of offenses, everything from tripping to false starts. Four minor penalties or one major penalty sends the offending skater to "the box."

Derby refs have their own subculture and Yahoo groups where they network and discuss rules. A debate is going right now on whether players are allowed to "flick off refs" for doling out penalties they don't like, said Cherie Hohs, aka Busta Crimes.

Each roller derby player makes up a name for herself when she joins -- most are wordplays or sassed-up versions of original names: Hell Kat, Stevie Knocks, Vanna Whitetrash, Britnee Smears, Princess Die. No two names in the world of derby can be the same, so players have to register their names with the national Women's Flat Track Derby Association.

-- Katjusa Cisar

Katjusa Cisar  —  5/08/2008 6:06 am