“UNOFFICIAL GUIDE” TO ROLLER DERBY
Roller Derby is a game played on roller skates with mandatory protective gear (helmets, mouthguards, kneepads, wristguards & elbowpads).
You are not expected to know how to skate to join. It is a very different sport than inline or ice skating. All new team members are first taught how to skate on roller skates in order to safely play the game.
Things new players learn are;
- to fall safely without hurting themselves (or other players)
- how to perform various stops, turns and skate backwards
- Game rules and strategy
Safety is first – Players must be competent skaters before they can participate in games or scrimmaging so as not to cause injury to themselves or others.
Junior players develop their skills and are testing through a ‘Benchmarking’ process. This is a skill evaluation tested by Coaches. Skills are rated at Level 1 to 3 as their skill at skating and playing the game grow. Skaters must pass the skill test for each level to be classified as that level.
Skaters are welcomed to learn at their own pace – there is no ‘right’ timeline for them to become a competent skater and benchmark their levels, and roller derby culture embraces the fact that everyone learns at their own pace.
- LEVEL 1 – Skaters can fall safely, stop safely, stability on skates
- LEVEL 2 – Skaters learn gameplay, advance stops, advance maneuvering on skates, skate backwards and blocking
- LEVEL 3 – Skaters learn advance skills & gameplay, play full contact
It will be expected for skaters to practice their skills at home and outside of practice. The more a skater practices, the more confident a skater they become and more quickly they will learn a new skill.
TEAMS
Currently there are four Vancouver Island teams: The Stone Cold Stella’s (Comox Valley), The Rotten Apples (Victoria), The Tempest (Salt Spring Island) and Cowichan Valley (Reapers of Malice).
There are junior roller derby teams all across, BC, Canada, the United States and the rest of the world. Vancouver Island teams can play each other or mainland teams, and some times there are occasional Bootcamps and Scrimmages for kids to participate in on top of team practice.
HOW A ROLLER DERBY ‘GAME’ WORKS
Roller derby is a fun, action packed sport & an exciting game to watch. The basic rules are fairly simple, once you pick up the lingo!
A roller derby game is called a BOUT. The object of the game is to score the most points by passing opposing team members on the track. A Bout is played in two periods of thirty minutes (with a half time).
Each Bout consists of multiple ‘JAMS’. A ‘Jam’ is a 2 minute period in which teams attempt to score points. 5 players from each team are on the track for each Jam.
The five players on the track at that time are called a ‘PACK.”
Pack positions:
- 1 Jammer – This is point scorer
- 3 Blockers – They play defense. They block the opposing teams Jammer and help their own Jammer.
- 1 Pivot – Plays defense with the other Blockers and may switch to become the Jammer.
Jammers wear a helmet cover with a star and the Pivot wears a striped helmet cover. The Pivot & the Blockers make up the Pack – their job is to stop the opposing team’s Jammer from breaking though the Pack & scoring, all the while helping their own Jammer advance.
To make things tricky, all blockers must stay within 10 feet of the pack at all times.
*Kids learn/play all positions of gameplay.
GAME PLAY: WHAT HAPPENS ON A JAM
Derby is played on an oval track with two competing teams. Blockers from both teams skate together on the track to form a single Pack. A whistle is blown to start the play & the Jammers begin to skate.
The Jammers must skate and muscle their way through the pack and completely exit it to gain the ability to score points. The Blockers job is to strategically try to stop the opposing Jammer from passing, while staying together as a Pack.
Once the Jammers fight their way out of the pack, Jammers then race around the track in order to lap the pack. Each time the Jammer passes a member of the other team, they score one point for their own team. The first Jammer that legally passes through the pack first wins the status of Lead Jammer.
A Jam ends when the two minute time period is over or the Lead Jammer calls off the jam. Then the next Jam starts. Teams alternate players for every jam so each player is fresh.
BLOCKS & PENALTIES
Official rules & limitations that are enforced for safety. For example, skaters receive penalties for all of the following: blocking with any part of the arm below the elbow, tripping, charging from behind, making a block above the shoulders, or blocking a pla yer who is out of bounds (i.e. off the track).
Junior roller derby players are not allowed to play full contact until they are skilled enough to safely do so as determined by their Coaches. Skaters are tested and benchmarked at different skill levels from Level 1 (positional blocking only, no contact), Level 2 (some contact) and Level 3 (full contact).
See some of a Junior Roller Derby Game Here!
TEAM CULTURE
Roller derby has a noticable culture, and is known for being an inclusive sport. Stone Cold Stellas is a co-ed team, as most junior teams on the island are. Negativity, foul language and swearing are not permitted from skaters or parents.
Not all skaters will be comfortable with playing contact. Refs are a valued skating position and not only valued and required at every game, but get more skate time than other players! Kids can also use their newly learned skating skills towards jamskating (roller dance) and bowls (skate parks).