Roller derby Facts for Kids

Roller derby is an exciting sport played on roller skates. It used to be played by both men and women. Later, women brought it back to life! Now, more and more men's and mixed teams are playing roller derby all over the world.

For a long time, some people thought roller derby wasn't a real sport. They believed it was like professional wrestling, with fake fights for TV. But in 2002, a group of women in Austin, Texas started playing it as a true game. There was nothing fake about it! A TV show called Rollergirls even showed some of these women. By 2006, women in big cities across the USA and Canada were starting their own roller derby clubs. Clubs also began in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

A jammer from the Windy City Rollers (Chicago, Illinois).

How Roller Derby Works
Images for kids
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How Roller Derby Works

Roller derby is played on an oval track. The track can be flat, or it can be "banked." A banked track means the outer edges are raised up.

Players and Their Roles

Each team has five players on the track at one time:

One jammer: This player scores points for their team. They race around the track, trying to pass the other team's players.
One pivot: This player often helps control the speed of the blockers. They usually stay near the front of their team's blockers.
Three blockers: These players work together to stop the other team's jammer. They also help their own jammer get through the pack.

Scoring Points in a Jam

Only the jammer can score points. A jammer earns one point each time they pass an opponent. To score, the jammer must play fairly and stay on the track.

A scoring period is called a jam. Each jam lasts for two minutes.

Starting a Jam

Before a jam begins, the blockers from both teams line up side-by-side. The jammers start a bit farther back, behind their own starting line. A whistle blows to start the jam. Then, everyone skates! Jammers and blockers work hard to get their jammer through the group of players.

The Lead Jammer

The first jammer to get through the pack without leaving the track becomes the "lead jammer." The lead jammer has a special power. They can put their hands on their hips to stop the jam early. Stopping the jam early can keep the other team from scoring more points.

Teamwork and Blocking

Blockers and pivots help their team's jammer get ahead. They also try to slow down the other team's jammer. When jammers are near the group of players, bumping is allowed. Players must be careful when pushing opponents. They can only push from the side. They must use their shoulders, upper arms, hips, or upper legs.

Rules and Penalties

Some actions are not allowed. Tripping, shoving, punching, or pushing players from behind will get you a penalty. If a player breaks a rule, they are sent to the penalty box. They must stay there for thirty seconds. This leaves their team with one less player on the track.

Safety in Roller Derby

Even with rules and safety gear, roller derby players can get hurt. Because of this, usually only adults play "full contact" roller derby. In full contact, players try to knock others down. There are also junior clubs for younger players. Some junior clubs play without trying to knock anyone down. Others, like the Quad City Orphan Brigade, play full contact.

Winning a Game

A roller derby game is called a match or a game. It has two halves, each lasting 30 minutes. Teams skate as many jams as they can until time runs out. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!

Images for kids

A Charm City All Stars (Baltimore, Maryland) blocker vs. a Rhode Island Riveter (Providence, Rhode Island) jammer (2008)
Two jammers (from the Oly Rollers and Rainy City) race from the jammer line (2011)
Lonestar Rollergirls in Austin, Texas, play on a banked track (2011). The jammer (wearing the starred helmet cover) is trying to pass a pivot (wearing a striped cover) with various blockers assisting.
A German pivot attempts to knock a Dutch jammer out of bounds (the yellow line) at a 2011 bout held in Essen, Germany.
Two Wellington skaters (in purple) form a wall, limiting their opponents' movement, while their jammer (leftmost skater in purple) takes a hip whip to accelerate past the pack
Teams competing in Hobart, Australia, in November 2010
Santa Cruz Derby Girls v Pacific Roller Derby at the 2011 Dust Devil tournament. Players wear a uniform shirt with leggings. Some wear short shorts and knee/thigh high socks.
EMTs and others tend to an injured skater.