Q. How is derby played?

A. Roller derby is a high-speed, high-impact clash of wills. Teams are made up of 5 skaters; a jammer, a pivot, and three blockers. The Jammer, who is the point-scorer, races around the track while the pack, made up of the blockers and pivots from each team, tries to simultaneously assist their own jammer while stopping the oppsoing team from scoring. A point is scored for each opposing team's skater the jammer legally passes. A bout consists of two 30-minute halves divided into 2-minute jams. (There is a great video on our videos page that explains the game.)

Q. Do you get hurt a lot?

A. We sure try not to! We wear elbow pads, knee pads, wristguards, helmets and mouthguards, and spend a lot of time practicing blocks and falls until the correct, safest way to play becomes second nature. Because we never want anyone to perform outside their comfort level, skaters do not scrimmage until they pass a skills assessment.

Q. Is it real? Are the fights staged?

A. It's completely real. There's nothing staged about modern roller derby. We play towards national rankings, or at least bragging rights, and we rarely compromise that by fighting. But when that happens it's real, too.

Q. Why don't you play on a banked track?

A. Most roller derby you come across these days will be flat track. Originally it was because we are owned and operated by ourselves, and building and storing a bank-track can be really expensive. Since the inception of flat track derby teams have popped up all over the world, which provides a lot of options as far as teams to play and places to hold bouts, and most competitive tournaments and rankings are for flat-track teams. There are very few bank-track teams in contemporary roller derby.

Q. Who owns the teams?

A. Modern derby is for the skaters by the skaters. Leagues are either non-profits or are owned by league skaters. We all pay to play and support our leagues by having events like fundraisers and bouts. We all volunteer our time to run our business, and we all share in our success.

Q. How do I get involved?

A. Come to a bout! Come to a practice! Join the league, become a volunteer, or support an existing skater! There are many ways to get involved with roller derby. Check out our So Ya' Wanna Roll page for more details.

Q. Am I too old / young / tall / short / big / small to play?

A. Absolutely not! One of the wonderful things about roller derby is our need for all shapes and sizes. We need strong, solid women to play defense. We need small, agile women to slip through the pack. The only thing we require is dedication. All ages and levels of skate skill are welcome! The single most important thing is that you love it and want to push the boundries of your abilities, build confidence, and achieve things you never knew were possible!