Roller derby: Difference between revisions
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'''Roller derby''' is a [[contact sport]] played by two teams of five members [[roller skating]] in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups ("jams") in which both teams designate a scoring player (the "jammer") who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team. The teams attempt to assist their own jammer while hindering the opposing jammer—in effect, playing both offense and defense simultaneously.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnFddETifY8 |title=Common Ground: the alternative sport of roller derby |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> Roller derby is played by approximately 1,250 amateur leagues worldwide, nearly half of them outside the U.S.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|last=Moffett |first=Matt |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324610504578278171721339976.html?fb_action_ids=10152543496805385&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582 |title=As the World Turns, So Do the Wheels of Roller Derby - WSJ.com |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=2013-02-03 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> |
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'''Hey sophi look, anyone can edit on wikipedia, therefore it is not a valid source and roller derby is not a sport!" |
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While the sport has its origins in the banked-track roller skating marathons of the 1930s, [[Leo Seltzer]] and [[Damon Runyon]] are credited with the basic evolution of the sport to its initial competitive form. Professional roller derby quickly became popular; in 1940 more than 5 million spectators watched in about 50 US cities. In the ensuing decades, however, it predominantly became a form of [[sports entertainment]] where the theatrical elements overshadowed the athleticism. This gratuitous showmanship largely ended with the sport's contemporary grassroots revival in the first decade of the 21st century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D01D520xcws |title=Roller Derby: The Fastest Growing Sport In America |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-02-26 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> Although some sports entertainment qualities such as player pseudonyms and colorful uniforms were retained, scripted bouts with predetermined winners were abandoned.<ref>Neale, Rick (June 24, 2008). [http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2008-06-17-female-roller-derby_N.htm "All-Female Roller Derby Elbows Its Way In as a Legitimate Sport"], ''[[USA Today]]''</ref> |
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Modern roller derby is an international sport dominated by all-female amateur teams, in addition to a growing number of male, co-ed, and [[junior roller derby]] teams, and was (as a [[roller sport]]) under consideration for the 2020 Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/07/04/will-roller-derby-be-included-in-the-2020-olympics/ |title=Will roller derby be included in the 2020 Olympics? | Olympics | Sports | National Post |publisher=Sports.nationalpost.com |date=2011-07-04 |accessdate=2012-03-06}}</ref><ref>http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/28/roller-sports-pitch-for-the-2020-olympics/</ref><ref>http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/30/three-sports-make-olympic-cut-for-2020-summer-games</ref> Most modern leagues (their back-office volunteers included) share a strong [[DIY ethic|"do it yourself" ethic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fragglepuss.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/spudtown-knockdown-3-an-interview-with-candyman-tournament-director/ |title=SpudTown Knockdown 3: An Interview with CandyMan, Tournament Director | Fragglepuss |publisher=Fragglepuss.wordpress.com |date=2012-08-29 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> which combines athleticism and elements from [[Camp (style)|camp]],<ref>[http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1755305 Norms-Based Regulation of Intellectual Property: The Case of Roller Derby Pseudonyms by David Fagundes :: SSRN]. Papers.ssrn.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-04.</ref> and [[feminist aesthetics]] consistent with [[third-wave feminism]].{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} As of 2014 the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, or [[WFTDA]], had 201 full member leagues and 101 Apprentice Leagues.<ref name="WFTDA Member Leagues" /> |
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==Game play== |
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[[Image:CharmvsRivet2639463631 aee9fd553e.jpg|right|thumb|280px|A [[Charm City Roller Girls|Charm City All Stars]] (Baltimore, Maryland) blocker vs. a Rhode Island Riveter (Providence, Rhode Island) jammer]] |
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Contemporary roller derby has a basic set of rules, with variations reflecting the interests of a [[#Associations and governing bodies|governing body]]'s member leagues. The summary below is based on a comprehensive rule set developed by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA),<ref name="WFTDARules">{{cite web|title=WFTDA STANDARDIZED FLAT TRACK ROLLER DERBY RULES - Updated May 26, 2010|url=http://wftda.com/rules/wftda-rules.pdf|publisher=Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)|accessdate=24 July 2012}}</ref> which is used by the vast majority of leagues. In March 2010, [[Derby News Network]] claimed that more than 98% of roller derby competitions were conducted under WFTDA rules.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/2010/03/dnn_releases_first_power_rankings_2010|title=DNN Releases First Power Rankings of 2010|publisher=Derby News Network|date=5 March 2010|accessdate=5 October 2011}}</ref> |
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For example, members of the [[United Kingdom Roller Derby Association]] are required to play by WFTDA rules,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ukrda.org.uk/?page_id=12|title=Join Us|publisher=United Kingdom Roller Derby Association|accessdate=4 October 2011}}</ref> while members of the Canadian Women's Roller Derby Association are encouraged to join the WFTDA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cwrda.ca/|title=Welcome to CWRDA|publisher=Canadian Women's Roller Derby Association|accessdate=5 October 2011}}</ref> Thus, the rules described below are WFTDA rules. |
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===Basics of play=== |
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Roller derby is played by two teams of five members simultaneously skating counterclockwise on a circuit track. Each team designates a scoring player (the "jammer"); the other four members are "blockers." One blocker can be designated as a "pivot"—a blocker allowed to become a jammer in the course of play.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|7}} The jammer wears a helmet cover bearing two stars; the pivot wears a striped cover; the remaining members' helmets are uncovered.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|7}} |
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The bout is played in two periods of 30 minutes.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|4}} Point scoring occurs during "jams": plays that last up to two minutes.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|5}} During a jam, points are scored when a jammer on a scoring pass (every pass a jammer makes through the pack after the initial pass) laps members of the opposing team.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|33}} Each team's blockers use body contact, changing positions, and other tactics to assist its jammer to score while hindering the opposing team's jammer. Certain types of blocks and other play are violations; referees call penalties and require violators to serve time in a penalty box.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|29}} |
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===Jams=== |
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[[File:TwoNorthWestJammers.jpg|thumb|Two jammers (from the [[Oly Rollers]] and [[Rainy City Roller Dolls|Rainy City]]) race from the jammer line]] |
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Play begins by blockers lining up on the track's starting line (the "pivot line"). The jammers start from the "jammer line," a second starting line 30 feet behind the pivot line.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|12}} Jams begin on a single short whistle blast <ref name="static.wftda.com">http://static.wftda.com/rules/wftda-rules.pdf</ref> where both jammers and blockers may begin engaging immediately. |
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The pack is the largest single group of blockers containing members of both teams skating in proximity, arranged such that each are within 10 feet of the next.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|11}} While blockers are required to maintain the pack, they are permitted to skate freely within the area of the track beginning 20 feet behind the pack and ending 20 feet ahead of it, an area known as the "engagement zone."<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|13}} The first jammer to exit the front of the pack, having legally passed all blockers at least once, earns the status of "lead jammer."<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|7}} Once earned, lead jammer status cannot be transferred to other skaters, but certain actions (notably, being sent to the penalty box) can cause it to be lost.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|8}} After the initial pass through the pack, each jammer scores a point every time they lap any member of the opposing team.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|33}} |
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The lead jammer can stop the jam at any time by signaling to the referees. This is done by repeatedly placing both hands on their hips.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|}} If the jam is not stopped early, it ends after 2 minutes.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|5}} If time remains in the period, teams then have 30 seconds to get on the track and line up for the next jam.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|5}} Team members typically rotate between jams from the 14 players on the team's roster. Designations may change between jams: a pivot in one jam might be the jammer in a later jam.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|7}} |
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===Positions=== |
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[[File:Texas Roller Derby Lonestar Rollergirls.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Lonestar Rollergirls in Austin, Texas, play on a banked track. This shows a Jammer (wearing the starred helmet cover) trying to pass a Pivot (wearing a striped cover) with various blockers assisting]] |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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!style="background: #efefef;"|Position |
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!style="background: #efefef;"|Helmet Cover |
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!style="background: #efefef;"|Responsibility |
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|- |
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|Jammer |
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|Stars |
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|Scores points by lapping opposing team members<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|7}} |
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|- |
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|Blocker |
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|None |
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|Assists the team's jammer to progress through the pack and hinders the opposing jammer by preventing them from passing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Derby 101|url=http://canberrarollerderbyleague.com/?page_id=154|publisher=Canberra Roller Derby League|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref> They are responsible for maintaining a pack.<ref name="parnavelas" />{{rp|18}} |
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|- |
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|Pivot |
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|Stripe |
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|A blocker who may be designated as a jammer during the course of a jam,<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|7}} if the jammer's helmet cover is correctly transferred.<ref name="parnavelas" />{{rp|29}} Establishes team strategy during play and broadly sets the pace of the pack.<ref name="parnavelas" />{{rp|19}} |
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|} |
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===Scoring=== |
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The jammer scores by passing opposition team members. Each jammer must first complete a non-scoring pass through the pack, which determines which jammer (if any) is the lead jammer. After this, the jammer scores a point the first time each lap that she passes each opposition team member, including the other team's jammer.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|33}} |
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===Blocking=== |
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[[Image:Roller derby, Amsterdam Derby Dames against the Ruhr Pott Roller Girls from Essen, Germany.jpg|thumb|220px|left| A German pivot attempts to knock a Dutch jammer out of bounds (the yellow line) at a 2011 bout held in [[Essen, Germany]]]] |
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[[File:BlockerOnPivot.ogv|thumb|An Idahoan blocker impedes a Utahn pivot at Spudtown Knockdown IV in 2013 in [[Garden City, Idaho]]]] |
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Roller derby athletes may attempt to knock their opponents out of bounds or impede their movements by blocking (actions which are not solely within the prerogative of the official blockers). Legal blocks follow certain rules. Contact by hands, elbows, head and feet are prohibited, as is contact above the shoulders or below mid-thigh. Furthermore, contact may not be from the rear, only from a player's front or sides.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|14}} |
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===Penalties=== |
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Referees determine penalties.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|36}} A player receiving a penalty is removed from play to sit in a penalty box for 30 seconds.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|29}} If a jam ends beforehand, the player remains in the penalty box during the subsequent jam until the penalty is completed.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|30}} Jammers are released from the penalty box earlier if the second jammer is sent to the box while the first is still seated. The second jammer's penalty is then only as long as the amount of time the first jammer spent in the box.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|31}} A player "fouls out" of the game upon the seventh time she is sent to the penalty box, and is required to return to the locker room.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|32}} |
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===Equipment=== |
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[[File:Roller Derby equipment check.ogv|thumb|right|Equipment check for the Surley Griffens of the [[Canberra Roller Derby League]] at [[AIS Arena]], [[Canberra]]]] |
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Players skate on four-wheeled ("quad") roller skates,<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|11}} and are required to wear protective equipment, including a helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads, and mouth guards. Additional gear that is acceptable though subject to individual team rules include padded knee length pants, similar to what aggressive skateboarders wear, and gender specific gear such as a hard case sports bra for female players and protective cups for males.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|39}} |
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===Strategy and tactics=== |
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Roller derby is a game where offense and defense are played simultaneously,<ref>{{Cite news |title=A Local Roller Derby Team Shows Its Toughness at a Saturday Bout but Doesn’t Get a Win |author=Brauns, Katie |newspaper=Bend Bulletin |date=2009-04-14 |accessdate=2011-12-12 |url=http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090412%2FSPORTS05%2F904120421%2F1041&nav}}</ref> a highly volatile aspect which considerably complicates strategy and tactics. Blockers, for example, may create a large hole for their jammer to pass through and score, but this same maneuver might also allow the opposing team's jammer to score.<ref name="vodoo1">{{cite web|last=Vodoo|first=Big Daddy|title=Roller Derby Strategies and Plays|url=http://bigarmy.net/index.php?topic=74.0|publisher=Little City Roller Girs}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Joulwan|first=Melissa|title=Rollergirl: Totally True Tales from the Track - p 94|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=wGizDBbRfjYC&pg=PA95&lpg=PA95&dq=jammer+handoff&source=bl&ots=IOXkdyq1QL&sig=8BoVO-A4DzYaML00gY5NNQkhlZc&hl=en&ei=mj99Tu_EF4O_gQfqwv1X&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster via Google Books}}</ref> |
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*'''Ending the Jam''': The lead jammer can end the jam at any time, thus she controls the opposing team's ability to score points. Ideally the lead jammer will attempt to score as many points as possible, and end the jam before the opposing team scores any.<ref>{{cite web|title=Game Play: Strategy|url=http://www.atlantarollergirls.com/site_admin/about/the-game/strategy|publisher=Atlanta Roller Girls|accessdate=22 September 2011}}</ref> |
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*'''Passing the Star''': The jammer for a team may "pass the star" to the pivot — that is, she hands the star helmet cover to the pivot, at which point the pivot becomes the scoring jammer for the team.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|9}} A jammer might pass the star because of fatigue, injury, penalty trouble, or because the pivot is in a better position to score.<ref>{{cite web|title=By the Position – Pivot/No. 1|url=http://fivepointgrandslam.blogspot.com/2011/07/by-position-pivotno-1.html|publisher=http://fivepointgrandslam.blogspot.com}}</ref> |
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*'''The Whip''': A blocker or pivot grasps her jammer's hand and swings her forward, thus transferring some of her speed and momentum to the jammer.<ref>{{cite book|last=Joulwan|first=Melissa|title=Rollergirl: Totally True Tales from the Track - p 95|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=wGizDBbRfjYC&pg=PA95&lpg=PA95&dq=jammer+handoff&source=bl&ots=IOXkdyq1QL&sig=8BoVO-A4DzYaML00gY5NNQkhlZc&hl=en&ei=mj99Tu_EF4O_gQfqwv1X&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster via Google Books}}</ref> |
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[[File:Roller Derby (22).jpg|thumb|right|Two [[Richter City Roller Derby|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]] |
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*'''Walling Up''': A basic "wall" consists of two blockers working together to take up as much space on the track as possible to make it difficult for the opposing team to maneuver. "Walling up" refers to creating a wall formation at a strategic time, so the opposing team (especially the jammer) has no time to respond. A wall can inhibit, slow down, and ultimately trap the opposing jammer, and may last an entire jam if they can effectively hold the opposing team. Variations on the strategy include setting up blockers to rotate through the wall positions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bump|first=Speed|title=Strategy 101: The Wall|url=http://www.rosecityrollers.com/blog/2010/09/strategy-101-the-wall/|publisher=Rose City Rollers|accessdate=22 September 2011}}</ref> |
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*'''Goating''': The pack is defined as ''the largest group of in bounds Blockers, skating in proximity, containing members from both teams.''<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|11}} In the "goatherding" tactic, one team surrounds a blocker of the opposing team (usually the strongest or best blocker), and then slows so that that group becomes the pack. The opposing team, skating ahead, are thus put out of play and thus cannot legally block the goatherders' jammer.<ref>{{cite web|first=Susie|title=Roller Derby Plays/Strategies|url=http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101207033856AATUgMG|publisher=Yahoo}}</ref>{{verify credibility|date=June 2012}} |
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*'''The Diamond''': A similar tactic, wherein four blockers form a rough diamond around the opposing jammer to prevent her from getting through the pack.<ref name="vodoo1"/> |
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*'''Other Strategies''': A newly developed "Western Style" strategy has been developed in which a blocker who bumps the opposing jammer off the track skates backwards, forcing the jammer to re-enter further behind the pack.<ref name=western-style>{{cite news| url = http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/western-style-roller-derby-windy-city-rollers/Content?oid=2592374| title = Game Changer| work = [[Chicago Reader]]| date = 21 October 2010| first = Ling |last = Ma| accessdate = 31 October 2010 |
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}}</ref> |
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==Officials== |
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Regulation WFTDA bouts are officiated by three to seven skating officials<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|35}} and a multitude of non-skating officials (NSOs). Due to the volunteer nature of the sport, many officiating positions are optional. Skating officials are usually referred to as referees and non-skating officials are called NSOs for short. Referees skate on the inside and outside of the track. They are in charge of calling penalties, awarding points, and most importantly ensuring safe game play.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|36}} Referees must be on skates (inline skates are allowed) and typically wear white and black stripes.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|38}} |
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===Referees=== |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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!style="background: #efefef;"|Type |
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!style="background: #efefef;"|Number |
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!style="background: #efefef;"|Responsibility |
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|- |
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|'''Head Referee''' |
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|1 |
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|Responsible for the general supervision of the entire bout and has final authority on all rulings.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|35}} The head referee will take the position of inside pack referee.<ref name="WFTDAStandardPractices">{{cite web|title=WFTDA Referee and Officiating Standard Practices - Updated July 2011|url=http://wftda.com/rules/wftda-officiating-standardized-practices.pdf|publisher=Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref>{{rp|1}} Along with the responsibilities of an inside pack referee, the head referee is also responsible for issuing expulsions<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|35}} and for announcing the results of official reviews.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|38}} |
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|- |
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|'''Pack Referee''' |
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|Up to 5 |
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|Located both inside and outside the track, pack referees are responsible for watching the skaters in the pack, pack definition and calling penalties.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|35}}<ref name="parnavelas">{{cite book |last=Parnavelas |first=Ellen |title=The Roller Derby Athlete |year= 2012 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] |location=London |isbn=978-1-4088-3239-4}}</ref>{{rp|29}} |
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|- |
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|'''Jammer Referees''' |
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|2 |
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|Skating on the inside of the track,<ref name="parnavelas" />{{rp|29}} jammer referees watch the jammers of a specific team and wear a wristband (and optionally a helmet cover) in that team's color to identify which team they are watching.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|35}} They award points for opponents passed by their jammer,<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|36}} and signal whether theirs is the lead jammer.<ref name="parnavelas" />{{rp|29}} |
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|} |
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===Non-skating officials (NSOs)=== |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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!style="background: #efefef;"|Type |
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!style="background: #efefef;"|Number |
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!style="background: #efefef;"|Responsibility |
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|- |
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|'''Scorekeepers''' |
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|2 |
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|Record points scored by jammers.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|36}} |
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|- |
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|'''Penalty Trackers''' |
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|1 (min) |
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|Record each skater's penalties<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|36}}. Notify the head referee of skaters in the current jam who are in danger of fouling out.<ref name="WFTDAStandardPractices" />{{rp|3}} |
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|- |
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|'''Penalty Timers''' |
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|2 (min) |
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|Ensure skaters sent to the penalty box serve their penalties<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|36}}; notify referees when a skater leaves the penalty box before her time is fully served.<ref name="WFTDAStandardPractices" />{{rp|3}} |
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|- |
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|'''Jam Timer''' |
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|1 |
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|Responsible for starting jams and for ending jams that run to two minutes, timing the thirty seconds between jams,<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|36}} and for calling an official timeout if the time between jams runs over 30 seconds.<ref name="WFTDAStandardPractices" />{{rp|36}} |
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|- |
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|'''Inside Whiteboard''' |
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|1 |
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|Maintains a whiteboard in the center of the track that shows each skater's accumulated penalties.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|36}} |
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|- |
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|'''Lineup''' |
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|2 |
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|Responsible for recording every player on track in each jam{{rp|5}} |
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|- |
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|'''Scoreboard Operator''' |
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|1 |
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|Update each team's score after every scoring pass.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|36}}<ref name="WFTDAStandardPractices" />{{rp|5}} |
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|} |
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==History== |
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===Professional endurance races=== |
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{{Main|History of roller derby}}<!--This SUMMARY is pulled from the History of roller derby article.--> |
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[[File:Roller Derby 1950.jpg|left|thumb|Two women's league roller derby skaters leap over two who have fallen in a 1950 bout in [[New York City]]]] The growing popularity of [[roller skating]] in the United States led to the formation of organized multi-day endurance races for cash prizes, as early as the mid-1880s.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Remarkable roller-skating feat|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=1884-04-13|page=10}}</ref><ref name=chicago-tribune>{{Cite news|title=A six-day roller skate race|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=1885-03-02|page=10}}</ref><ref name=NYT-1885>{{Cite news|title=On rollers for six days: beginning the race at the Madison-Square Garden. Thirty-six entries, including Frank Hart and several champions—cheering the start|newspaper=New York Times|date=2 March 1885|page=10}}</ref> Speed and endurance races continued to be held on both flat and banked tracks in the century's first three decades<ref name=Chicagi-Daily-1908>{{Cite news|title=Roller marathon thrills and jars: 100 boys meet with adventures and tumbles in West Side Boulevard race. Dodge cars and autos. But records are smashed by contestants in red tights, overalls, etc|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=27 November 1908|page=5}}</ref> and spectators enjoyed the spills and falls of the skaters.<ref name=NYT-52-1914>{{Cite news|title=Roller skating on banked track: old-time sport is revived with speed contests at the Garden|newspaper=New York Times|date=1922-12-17|page=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=24-hour roller race: Ollie Moore will be teamed with Willie Blackburn at Garden|newspaper=New York Times|date=17 December 1914|page=S2}}</ref> The term ''[[derby]]'' was used to refer to such races by 1922.<ref name=CDT-4-24>{{Cite news|title=Roller derby on tomorrow|newspaper=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=24 April 1922|page=20}}</ref>{{#tag:ref | “Roland Cloni of Akron, world’s champion roller skater, who yesterday tried out the track in the Broadway armory, where the national roller skating derby will be held this week, asserted new world’s records can be established for flat tracks. The derby will open tomorrow and run until Saturday.”<ref name="CDT-4-24" />|group="note"}} |
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===Evolution to contact sport=== |
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The endurance races began to transform into the contemporary form of the sport in the mid-1930s, when promoter [[Leo Seltzer]]{{#tag:ref | Sources disagree on whether it was Leo alone or with his brother, the skate maker Oscar Seltzer.<ref name=SF-book-79>{{Cite book|title=San Francisco Bizarro: A Guide to Notorious Sights, Lusty Pursuits, and Downright Freakiness in the City by the Bay|last=Boulware|first=Jack|year=2000|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=0-312-20671-2|page=79}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/cruz/07.24.97/rollerqueen-9730.html|title=Blood on the Tracks|last=Luker|first=Kelly|date=1997-07-23|accessdate=2008-07-13|newspaper=Metro Santa Cruz}}</ref>|group="note"}}{{#tag:ref | "Roller derby has entertained the masses in one form or another since the 1930s, when brothers Leo and Oscar Seltzer conceptualized the idea of a skating contest on a Chicago restaurant tablecloth."<ref name="SF-book-79" />|group="note"}} created the Transcontinental Roller Derby, a month-long simulation of a road race between two-person teams of professional skaters.<ref name="rasmussen">{{Cite news|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|last=Rasmussen|first=Cecilia|date=21 February 1999|title=L.A. Then and Now: The Man Who Got Roller Derby Rolling Along}}</ref> The spectacle became a popular touring exhibition.<ref name="time_feb1936">{{Cite news|magazine=Time|title=Roller Derby|date=1936-02-03|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,755740-1,00.html|accessdate=2008-07-13}}</ref><ref name="time_variations">{{Cite news|magazine=Time|date=1936-09-21|title=Variations|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,756673,00.html|accessdate=2008-07-13}}</ref> In the late 1930s, sportswriter [[Damon Runyon]] persuaded Seltzer to change the Roller Derby rules to increase skater contact.<ref name="rasmussen" /> By 1939, after experimenting with different team and scoring arrangements, Seltzer's created a touring company of four pairs of teams (always billed as the local "home" team versus either New York or Chicago),<ref name="deford_84">{{Cite book |
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|title=Five Strides on the Banked Track: The life and times of the Roller Derby|last=Deford|first=Frank|year=1971|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|page=84|isbn=0-316-17920-5}}</ref> with two five-person teams on the track at once, scoring points when its members lapped opponents.<ref name="NMRS_2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.rollerskatingmuseum.com/derby.htm|title=Roller Derby at the National Museum of Roller Skating|year=2004|accessdate=2007-06-08|publisher=National Roller Skating Museum|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20070222193457/http://www.rollerskatingmuseum.com/derby.htm|archivedate=2007-02-22}}</ref> |
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===Television=== |
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In 1948, Roller Derby debuted on New York [[television]]—broadcasting well before television viewership was widespread.<ref name=dedford-89>{{cite book|last=Deford|first=Frank|title=Five Strides on the Banked Track: The Life and Times of the Roller Derby|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|year=1971|isbn=0-316-17920-5|page=89}}</ref> The broadcasts increased spectator turnout for live matches.<ref name="rushin">{{Cite news|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1014779/index.htm|title=Air and Space: A Forward Roll: Dusted off and spiffed up, the Roller Derby is aiming to regain the hold it once had on TV|date=1998-12-14|periodical=Sports Illustrated|author=[[Steve Rushin|Rushin, Steve]]}}</ref> For the 1949–1950 season, Seltzer formed the [[National Roller Derby League]] (NRDL).<ref name=dedford-95>{{cite book|last=Deford|first=Frank|title=Five Strides on the Banked Track: The Life and Times of the Roller Derby|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|year=1971|isbn=0-316-17920-5|page=95}}</ref><ref name="KTVU">{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.ktvu.com/station/1854338/detail.html|title=Roller Derby|publisher=KTVU-TV|year=2004|accessdate=8 June 2007}}</ref> The NRDL consisted of six teams.<ref name=dedford-95/> NRDL season playoffs sold out Madison Square Garden for a week.<ref name="KTVU" /> During the late 1950s and 1960s, the sport was broadcast on several networks, but attendance declined. [[Jerry Seltzer]] (Leo's son), the ''RollerJam'' "commissioner", hoped to use television to expand the live spectator base. He adapted the sport for television by developing scripted story lines, and rules designed to improve television appeal; derby's popularity declined in spite of this.<ref name=dedford-no-page>{{cite book|last=Deford|first=Frank|title=Five Strides on the Banked Track: The Life and Times of the Roller Derby|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|year=1971|isbn=0-316-17920-5}}</ref> |
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1989 saw the debut of ''[[RollerGames]]'', a show which presented an even more theatrical variant of roller derby for national audiences, which ran one season for some of its distributors for syndication went bankrupt. It used a figure-8 track and different rules adapted for this track. [[Bill Griffiths, Sr.]] served as commissioner while his son, [[Bill Griffiths, Jr.]] served as manager for the L.A. T-Birds, who (according to the storylines) were seeking revenge on the Violators (led by Skull) for cheating in the Commissioner's Cup and stealing it from them when the Skull interfered with gameplay. The other teams included the Maniancs (led by Guru Drew), Bad Attitude (led by Ms. Georgia Hase), the Rockers (led by DJ Terringo and consisting of skaters that were also professional rock and roll musicians), and Hot Flash (led by Juan Valdez Lopez). |
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In 1999, [[Spike TV]] ([[The Nashville Network|TNN]] at the time) debuted [[RollerJam]], which used exactly the same rules on just a banked oval track as classic roller derby, but allowed for inline skates to be used (although some skaters went with traditional quad skates). Jerry Seltzer was commissioner for this version. |
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==Contemporary roller derby== |
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===Roller derby's worldwide amateur female revival=== |
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[[Image:Attacker (2222615188).jpg|right|thumb|A Windy City Rollers (Chicago, Illinois) jammer]] |
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[[File:NewZealandRollerDerby2010-11-27.jpg|thumb|250px|Teams competing in [[Hobart]], [[Australia]], in November 2010]] |
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Roller derby began its modern revival in the early 2000s as an all-female, woman-organized amateur sport. The revival initially began in [[Austin, Texas]],<ref name="ddan">{{cite journal|journal=New York Times|title=Pushing the Limit: The Dude of Roller Derby and His Vision|last=Brick|first=Michael|date=2008-12-17|accessdate=2008-12-17|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/sports/othersports/18devildan.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all}}</ref> and by August 2006 there were over 135 similar leagues.<ref name="nyt200811">{{cite journal|journal=New York Times|title=With Names That Could Kill, Women Rev Up Roller Derby|last=La Gorce|first=Tammy|date=2008-11-07|accessdate=2008-12-17|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/nyregion/new-jersey/09rollernj.html}} (New York print edition: 2008-11-09 p. NJ6)</ref> Leagues outside the U.S. also began forming in 2006, and international competition soon followed. There are over 1,200 amateur leagues worldwide<ref name="derbyroster">{{cite web|url=http://www.derbyroster.com/|title=Find a Roller Derby League|accessdate=29 September 2011|author=Roller Derby Worldwide}}</ref> in countries including, but not limited to, [[Canada]], [[Australia]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[France]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=kgpbPuVdVEo |title=Paris, les filles et le Roller Derby (Paris Roller Girls) |publisher=YouTube |date=2012-04-08 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> [[Brazil]], [[New Zealand]], [[Germany]], [[Belgium]], [[Finland]], [[Norway]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oslorollerderby.no/|title=Oslo Roller Derby|accessdate=30 Jan 2013}}</ref> [[Sweden]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.derbyroster.com/|title=Roller Derby Worldwide|accessdate=8 Sep 2011|author=Cat O'Ninetails|year=2011}}</ref> [[Denmark]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.copenhagenrollerderby.com/|title=Copenhagen Roller Derby|accessdate=|date=|author=|publisher=}}</ref> [[Singapore]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thechillipadis.wordpress.com/|title=Chilipadi Roller Girls|accessdate=|date=|author=|publisher=}}</ref><ref>[http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Sports/Story/A1Story20111219-316951.html New roller derby sport kicks off in Singapore]. News.asiaone.com (2011-12-19). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cprKMZhL82M |title=Roller Derby Singapore | CPDG | Teaser Video |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-04-01 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> [[Dubai]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Dani |url=http://www.dubairollerderby.com/1/post/2012/10/in-the-beginning.html |title=In the beginning |publisher=Dubai Roller Derby |date=2012-10-13 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeoutdubai.com/sportandoutdoor/features/38264-21-sports-in-dubai-this-week#.UPxsU325du0 |title=21 sports in Dubai this week - Sport & Outdoor Features |publisher=TimeOutDubai.com |date=2013-01-15 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> and [[Egypt]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.derbylife.com/articles/2012/11/close_and_personal_cairollers_cairo_egypt |title=Up Close and Personal with the CaiRollers of Cairo, Egypt |publisher=DerbyLife |date= |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jezebel.com/5963517/egypts-cairollers-have-best-name-ever-are-super-rad-rollergirls |title=Egypt's Cairollers Have Best Name Ever, Are Super Rad Rollergirls |publisher=Jezebel.com |date=2012-11-27 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rollerderbyjesus.com/2013/01/18/thoughts-on-the-start-of-the-12th-year-of-modern-roller-derby/ |title=thoughts on the start of the 12th year of Modern Roller Derby « Jerry Seltzer |publisher=Rollerderbyjesus.com |date=2013-01-18 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> (where, like many other international leagues, all of the gear and equipment must be imported).<ref>http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/03/13/cairollers-bring-roller-derby-to-egypt/</ref> Roller derby's contemporary resurgence has been regarded as an aspect of [[globalization]] which demonstrates "the speed with which [[pop culture]] is now transported by highly mobile [[expatriate]]s and [[social media]], while also highlighting the changing role of women in many societies."<ref name="autogenerated1"/> |
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A large number of contemporary roller derby leagues are amateur, self-organized and all-female <ref>{{cite web|last=Whittaker |first=Richard |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:921441 |title=Electric Skaterland: Austin births a Roller Derby revolution Austin Sports |publisher=AustinChronicle.com |date= |accessdate=2010-08-31}}</ref> and were formed in a DIY spirit by relatively new roller derby enthusiasts.<ref>{{cite video |date=2008-02-22 |title= The Dames: The Story of the Boston Roller Derby League|url=http://www.cctvcambridge.org/node/2495/play |format=QuickTime |medium= |publisher=Cambridge Community Television|location=Cambridge, MA|accessdate=2008-06-23 |time=26:50 }} See also the [http://www.cctvcambridge.org/thedames accompanying blog post].</ref> In many leagues (particularly but not exclusively in the U.S.), a [[punk subculture|punk]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/may/23/ussport.stevenwells|author=|accessdate=|title=Roller derby gets a good punking|date=2005-05-23|publisher=|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Steven|last=Wells}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourstage.com/blog/2009/11/13/punk-on-the-rocks-roller-derby-wreckers|author=|accessdate=|title=Punk On The Rocks: Roller Derby Wrecker|date=|publisher=}}</ref> [[aesthetics|aesthetic]] and/or [[third-wave feminism|third-wave feminist]]<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://youngerwomenstaskforce.blogspot.com/2006/10/roller-derby-uniting-younger-women-one.html|title= Roller Derby: Uniting Younger Women, One Bout at a Time|date=2006-10-26|accessdate=2008-06-18|last=|first=Jackie|publisher=Younger Women's Task Force|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}} (This is a post on the main YWTF blog.)</ref> [[ethic]] is prominent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uncleboise.com/feature.boi?a=167 |author=|accessdate=|title=Roller Derby - Some Chicks Have All the Fun|date=|publisher=}}</ref> Furthermore, roller derby teams are typically composed of members of various social strata such as stay-at-home mothers, lawyers, and nurses,<ref>{{cite web|last=Merkley |first=Brin |url=http://www.kulr8.com/sports/local/Local-Sport-Brings-Out-Wild-Side-162535966.html |title=Local Sport Brings Out Wild Side | KULR-8 News, Sports, Weather | - Billings, MontanaLocal Coupons | Local Sports |publisher=Kulr8.com |date=2012-07-16 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> and "Being gay/straight/bi/trans is simply no big deal, as long as you can skate." <ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lana-rapp/does-joining-roller-derby_b_2717566.html | work=Huffington Post | first=Ilana | last=Rapp | title=Does Joining Roller Derby Make You Gay? | date=2013-02-19}}</ref> Members of fledgling leagues often practice and strategize together, regardless of team affiliation, between bouts.<ref>{{cite web|first=Anonymous|title=Soldiers in the Roller Derby|url=http://armylive.dodlive.mil/index.php/2009/06/soldiers-in-the-roller-derby/|publisher=Army Live}}</ref> Most compete on flat tracks, though several leagues skate on banked tracks, with more in the planning stages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.renorollergirls.com/ |title=Reno Roller Girls |publisher=Reno Roller Girls |date= |accessdate=2010-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://derbydolls.com/la/ |title=LA Derby Dolls – What's New |publisher=Derbydolls.com |date= |accessdate=31 August 2010}}</ref> |
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Each league typically features local teams in public bouts which are popular with a diverse fan base;<ref>[http://wftda.com/sponsors/2011-demographic-information WFTDA 2011 Demographic Survey Results - Women’s Flat Track Derby Association<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> larger venues hosting audiences ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 are no longer unusual.<ref>[http://videos.nj.com/star-ledger/2011/04/new_jersey_roller_derby_packs.html New Jersey Roller Derby packs thousands into Convention Hall - Video | NJ.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Many leagues took advantage of the release of the roller derby [[feature film]] ''[[Whip It (film)|Whip It]]'' (2009), to increase awareness of the sport<ref>{{cite web|last=Loca|first=Chica|title=Whip It-Marketing Session|url=http://wftda.com/wftda-whip-it-marketing-rollercon2009.pdf|publisher=WFTDA|accessdate=24 September 2011}}</ref> (which has also received [[cinéma vérité]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Hud0r8fPtPg |title=Skater 26 |publisher=YouTube |date=2013-02-10 |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> and high definition [[digital movie camera]]<ref>http://austin.culturemap.com/news/innovation/06-07-13-texas-rollergirls-release-hard-hitting-campaign-filmed-on-a-phantom-hd-camera-and-using-real-fans/</ref> treatments). |
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As the sport has matured, successful local leagues have formed "travel teams" composed of the league's best players to compete with travel teams from other cities and regions. Furthermore, corporate advertising has used roller derby themes in television commercials for [[insurance]],<ref>https://www.youtube.com/embed/9xPFC5qkJ1k Mutual of Omaha TV ad</ref> a [[breakfast cereal]],<ref>{{YouTube|zDxFHNF8kTg|Cheerios TV ad}}</ref> and an [[over-the-counter]] [[analgesic]].<ref>{{YouTube|bm8BTcL-MQI|Aleve TV ad}}</ref> At the 123rd [[International Olympic Committee]] session in South Africa in February 2012, it was announced that roller derby was one of the eight sports under consideration for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Van |first=Samantha |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-10930615 |title=Roller Derby May Be Included in 2020 Olympics: A Female's Reaction - Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-06}}</ref><ref> |
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{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/video/?%2Fvideo%2Fsports%2F2012%2F05%2F11%2Fnr-baldwin-roller-derby.cnn#/video/sports/2012/05/11/nr-baldwin-roller-derby.cnn | work=CNN | title=CNN.com Video}}</ref> |
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===Aesthetics=== |
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[[File:2011-04-03 DustDevil (FoCo v Pacific)-1005.jpg|left|thumb|300px|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.]] |
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Most players in these leagues skate under pseudonyms, also called "[[derby names]]" or "skater names," many of which are creative examples of [[word play]] with satirical, mock-violent or sexual [[pun]]s, [[alliteration]], and allusions to [[pop culture]], some of which are the subject of some controversy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.derbylife.com/articles/2011/09/derby_names_not_ready_prime_time |title=Derby Names: Not Ready for Prime Time |publisher=DerbyLife |date=2011-09-14 |accessdate=2011-09-24}}</ref> |
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{| style="margin:22px; padding:22px; float:right;" class="wikitable" |
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|+ Examples of Derby Names<ref>{{cite web|title=Roster of Roller Derby names|url=http://www.twoevils.org/rollergirls/|publisher=twoevils.com}}</ref> |
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! Name!! Allusion |
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|- |
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| Clitty Clitty Bang Bang|| [[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]] |
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|- |
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| Vulva Display of Power || [[Vulgar display of power]] |
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|- |
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| Michelle O'BamYa || [[Michelle Obama]] |
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|- |
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| Mazel Tov Cocktail || [[Mazel tov]], [[Molotov cocktail]] |
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|- |
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| O Hell No Kitty || [[Hello Kitty]] |
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|- |
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| Sandra Day O'Clobber || [[Sandra Day O'Connor]] |
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|- |
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| Punky Bruiser || [[Punky Brewster]] |
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|- |
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| Slaybia Majora|| [[Labia majora]] |
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|- |
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| Princess Lay-Ya Flat || [[Princess Leia Organa|Princess Leia]] |
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|- |
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| Anna Mosity || [[wikt:animosity|Animosity]] |
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|} |
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New players are often encouraged to check their name against an international roster to ensure novelty and uniqueness of the alias before officially using it.<ref name="twoevils1">{{Cite book|url=http://www.twoevils.org/rollergirls/|title=International Rollergirls' Master Roster|date=2008-06-09|editor=King, April|accessdate=2008-06-15|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> Some players claim their names represent [[alter ego]]s which they adopt while skating.<ref name="derby brats">{{cite web|url=http://www.seattleschild.com/article/seattle-derby-brats-no-flash-in-the-pan1|title=Seattle Derby Brats – No Flash in the Pan|accessdate=2010-08-23|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}} ''"It's like your alter ego," Grianne says, "You don't want to be announced as Grianne Hunter. You want to be something tougher."''</ref> [[Referees#Roller derby|Referees]] may also choose to use derby names as well.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/blogs/justice_feelgood_marshall/2008/12/killbox_retires_sort|title=Killbox retires (sort of)|publisher=[[Derby News Network]]|author=Tracy "Justice Feelgood Marshall" Williams|date=2008-12-08|accessdate=2008-12-30|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denverrollerdolls.org/index.php/teams/mile-high-club/|title=Denver Roller Dolls — Teams — Mile High Club|accessdate=2009-07-19|quote=This season, 13 of the team’s members are making the switch from derby names to real names.|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> The phenomenon of roller derby aliases has attracted legal and sociological analysis within the ambit of [[intellectual property]] and [[trademark]] law as an indigenous activity.<ref>[http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1755305 Talk Derby to Me: Emergent Intellectual Property Norms Governing Roller Derby Pseudonyms by David Fagundes :: SSRN<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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The names of the bouts, tournaments, or double-headers themselves are typically just as sardonic and convoluted — for example, Nightmare on Hull Street ([[Nightmare on Elm St.]]), Night of the Rolling Dead ([[Night of the Living Dead]]), Are You There Blocker? It's Me, Jammer ([[Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret]]), Knocktoberfest ([[Oktoberfest]]), Spanksgiving ([[Thanksgiving]]), Seasons Beatings ([[Christmas and holiday season|Seasons Greetings]]), Grandma Got Run Over By a Rollergirl ([[Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer]]), Skate & Destroy Her ([[Search and destroy]], or [[The Faction (band)]]'s song Skate & Destroy), Mama Said Knock You Down ([[Mama Said Knock You Out]]), Cinco de May-hem ([[Cinco de Mayo]]), and War of the Wheels ([[The War of the Worlds|War of the Worlds]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treasurevalleyrollergirls.net/news.html |title=Treasure Valley Rollergirls |publisher=Treasure Valley Rollergirls |date= |accessdate=2010-08-31}}</ref> |
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Although some teams opt for a uniform [[livery]], the camp can extend to players' garb as well. Costumes (sometimes called "boutfits"<ref>Sophia Kercher, "[http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/29/image/la-ig-derbydolls29-2009nov29 L.A.'s Derby Dolls setting the fashion pace]", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 29 November 2009</ref>) are often inspired by or comparable with [[rockabilly]] or [[American burlesque|burlesque]] fashions,<ref>{{Cite news |
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|url=http://www.canada.com/cityguides/victoria/story.html?id=4c7b1508-324a-4843-b959-912e38994761 |
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|title=Thrills and spills on four wheels score a comeback |
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|last=Carey|first=Steve |
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|periodical=Victoria Times Colonist |
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|date=2008-06-12 |
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|accessdate=2008-06-15 |
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|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}} |
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}} ''Skating on old-time quad skates, the typical roller girl could be described as hard-rock, tattooed, new-wave-burlesque or rockabilly.''</ref> and [[tattoo]]s and [[Ballet tutu|tutu]]s are commonly in evidence, as are [[fishnet stockings]].<ref name="theaustralian1">{{cite news|author=Emma Tom|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/fishnets-and-mouthguards/story-e6frg8l6-1225857318797 |title=Fishnets and mouthguards |publisher=The Australian |date=2010-04-24 |accessdate=2010-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-181020113/roller-derby-queens-short.html |title=Article: Roller derby queens: short skirts, fishnets, and full contact. Inside the... | AccessMyLibrary – Promoting library advocacy|publisher=AccessMyLibrary |date=2008-07-01 |accessdate=2010-08-31}}</ref> In addition to the on-track competition, some leagues emphasize [[sports entertainment|entertainment]] with showy on-track behavior, [[half-time]] shows, and "penalty games" — unofficial competitive stunts between players such as [[arm wrestling]], [[wheelchair race]]s and the like.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mabe|first=Catherine|title=Roller Derby: The History and All-Girl Revival of the Greatest Sport on Wheels pp 86-87|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CV10Aq6uL_QC&pg=PA85&lpg=PA85&dq=roller+derby+%22penalty+games%22&source=bl&ots=F8KQlPykKU&sig=_CgMfH81rA2Xjn0dLxrsas2jnoo&hl=en&ei=s32ATu6eGsfHsQLAgcUk&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster via Google Books|accessdate=26 September 2011}}</ref> The extent to which such non-athletic stylizations are embraced varies from league to league, and continues to be a source of some contention.<ref name="bitchmag">{{Cite news |
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|url=http://bitchmagazine.org/article/holy-rollers |
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|title=Holy Rollers: Is roller derby the new burlesque? |
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|last=Oler|first=Tammy |
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|periodical=Bitch |
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|issue=30 |
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|date=Fall 2005 |
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|accessdate=2008-06-15 |
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|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}} |
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}} ''Like mud wrestling, roller derby has historically been seen as a way to entertain largely male audiences with hot, dirty catfights. And with its bad-gal costumes and prospect of girl-on-girl bruising, roller derby still skates a fine line between sport and spectacle. Though modern skaters have reimagined the sport as a form of self-expression and performance (not unlike the recent feminist revival of burlesque), as well as an athletic contest, the titillation factor threatens to undermine the legitimacy of the game. And not surprisingly, recent media coverage of the sport has focused on the novelty of sexy girls in fishnets on four wheels. ''Spin'' called the sport “the best catfight on earth,” while the ''Tucson Citizen'' quoted a male fan who opined, ‘“For some spectators, the chance of getting a roller derby girl in their lap is a part of the attraction.”''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://flavorwire.com/20127/exclusive-theres-no-crying-in-roller-derby|title=Exclusive: There's No Crying In Roller Derby! |publisher=Flavorwire |date=2009-05-04 |accessdate=2010-08-31}}</ref> |
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===Safety concerns=== |
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[[Image:DerbySpiralFractureFIXED.JPG|thumb|160px|[[Emergency medical technician|EMT]]s and others tend to a roller derby athlete who suffered a [[spiral fracture]] at her debut bout]] |
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In as much as roller derby is a contact sport, there is a risk of injury.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=How Roller Derby Works|publisher=HowStuffWorks, Inc.|last=Wilson|first=Tracy|url=http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/roller-derby6.htm|accessdate=2008-06-22|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> Injuries range from common bruises and sprains to broken bones and [[concussion]]s<ref>[http://www.nj.com/morristown/index.ssf/2008/11/anatomy_of_a_concussion.html Anatomy of a concussion | NJ.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://blog.timesunion.com/rollerderby/dain-bramage/393/ Dain Bramage - Roller Derby - timesunion.com - Albany NY<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and beyond.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2006-02-28/launder-rollerderbygirls|title=Women's roller derby leagues are bashing their way back into style|last=Launder|first=William|publisher=Columbia News Service|date=2006-02-28|accessdate=2008-06-22 |archiveurl = //web.archive.org/web/20080418185356/http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2006-02-28/launder-rollerderbygirls |archivedate = April 18, 2008|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}} ''"injuries range from sprained ankles and dislocated shoulders to torn eyelashes and “fishnet burn” from sliding across the floor of the rink."''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.helptequila.com/|title=HelpTequila.com|accessdate=2008-06-22|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}} (Web site calling for donations to help a roller derby player who suffered a spinal cord injury).</ref> As is the case with many sporting events and other large public gatherings, modern roller derby games are required to be played with [[Emergency medical technician|EMTs]] on hand.<ref name="WFTDARules" />{{rp|39}} Some leagues prominently display their injuries,<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.ratcityrollergirls.com/injuries.html|title=Injury Gallery|publisher=Rat City Rollergirls|accessdate=2008-06-22 |archiveurl = //web.archive.org/web/20071026040642/http://www.ratcityrollergirls.com/injuries.html |archivedate = October 26, 2007|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.mnrollergirls.com/photos/ |archiveurl = //web.archive.org/web/20070814113205/http://www.mnrollergirls.com/photos/index_SIMPLE.php?album=Pabst_Bruise_Gallery |archivedate = August 14, 2007|title=Pabst Bruise Gallery|publisher=Minnesota RollerGirls|accessdate=2008-06-22|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> and safety and injuries are a perennial topic on skating blogs and other forums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rollerderbydisorder.blogspot.com/2008/06/pcl-injuries-in-roller-derby.html|title=PCL Injuries in Roller Derby|last=Ryder|first=Kari|accessdate=2008-06-22|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref><ref>[http://www.skatelogforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5090 Derby injuries? – SkateLog Forum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=groups.groupProfile&groupID=102165397|title=Roller Derby Crutch Crew (MySpace group)|accessdate=2008-06-22|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> |
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===Expansion=== |
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Although the early 2000s revival of roller derby was initially all-female, some leagues later introduced all-male teams and co-ed games. Furthermore, as of May 2013 there were over 140 [[junior roller derby]] programs in the United States, and many more around the world.<ref>name=Roller Derby Worldwide/{{cite web|url=http://www.derbyroster.com/index.php|title=Roller Derby Worldwide}}</ref> Despite being viewed by some as risqué<ref>[http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011304039981 A nuanced appreciation of the "camp" aspect of roller derby]</ref> adult-oriented entertainment,<ref name="bitchmag"/> the positive empowering aspects of the sport are a draw for many youth.<ref name="derby brats">{{cite web|url=http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/edmontons+junior+roller+derby+league/video.html?v=2222790761#stories |title=Global Edmonton |publisher=Globaltvedmonton.com |date= |accessdate=2013-02-15}}</ref> |
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As the sport of roller derby expands, so does the media devoted to the sport. Viewing roller derby bouts is now possible via live online streaming and archived footage of previous bouts and tournaments. The WFTDA offers live streaming video of its tournaments at wftda.tv,<ref>name=WFTDA TV/{{cite web|url=http://wftda.tv/|title=WFTDA TV}}</ref> and WFTDA membership is a major goal of aspiring leagues.<ref>http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/8/13/4614248/roller-derby-wftda-profile</ref> The Derby News Network offers live streaming video and archived video of many more roller derby bouts, both WFTDA events and non-WFTDA events at www.derbynewsnetwork.com/live.<ref name="DNN video">{{cite web|url=http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/live|title=DNN Video}}</ref> |
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FiveOnFive magazine is devoted solely to covering the sport of roller derby, and covers diverse topics regarding the sport such as business, training, Junior roller derby and nutrition.<ref name="FiveOnFive Magazine">{{cite web|url=http://www.fiveonfivemag.com/|title=FiveOnFive Magazine}}</ref> |
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==Governance and organization== |
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{{Main|List of roller derby associations}} |
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The largest governing body for the sport is the [[Women's Flat Track Derby Association]], with 234 Full Member Leagues, and 89 Apprentice Leagues.<ref name="WFTDA Member Leagues">{{cite web|url=http://www.wftda.com/leagues|title=WFTDA Member Leagues}}</ref> Other associations support either coed or men-only derby; among them is the largest organization supporting the growing trend of male roller derby, [[Men's Roller Derby Association|MRDA]].<ref name=article1>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollerderbyinsidetrack.com/features/2011/the-state-of-derby-part-ii/|title=The State of Derby – Part II: OSDA and JRDA |
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}}</ref><ref name=article2>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollerderbyinsidetrack.com/features/2011/the-state-of-derby-part-iii-modern-derby-athletic-endeavor/|title=The State of Derby – Part III: Modern Athletic Derby Endeavor}}</ref><ref name=article3>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollerderbyinsidetrack.com/features/2011/the-state-of-derby-part-iv-mens-roller-derby-association/|title=The State of Derby – Part IV: Men's Roller Derby Association}}</ref> Within the United States, roller derby played by those under 18 is governed by the Junior Roller Derby Association, which uses the widely used rule set of the WFTDA, with modifications for players who are minors (such as no hitting, or accelerating into a block).<ref name="Junior Roller Derby Association">{{cite web|url=http://www.juniorrollerderby.org/|title=Junior Roller Derby Association}}</ref> Outside of the [[United States]] many roller derby leagues enjoy support from their national skate federations such as the [[Skate Australia]],<ref name=skate-australia>{{cite web|url=http://www.skateaustralia.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=7&Itemid=273|title=About Roller Debry}}</ref> the [[British Roller Sports Federation]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Roller Derby is now recognised as a sport in the UK, and UKRDA the National Association|url=http://www.euroderby.org/news/125-roller-derby-is-now-recognised-as-a-sport-in-the-uk-and-ukrda-the-national-association|work=Roller Derby Central|publisher=euroderby.org|accessdate=2 October 2011}}</ref> and [[Roller Sports Canada]].<ref name=skate-Canada>{{cite web|url=http://rollersports.ca/roller-derby/|publisher=Roller Sports Canada|title=Roller Derby}}</ref> In Europe, roller derby otherwise received recognition as a legitimate sport by the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS) in Paris in 2010; this organization reports directly to the International Olympic Committee. Although affiliation with a [[USA Roller Sports|national organization]] has been declined by American leagues who prefer governance on a grass roots level,<ref name=rejected>{{cite web|url=http://wftda.com/files/usars-reqest-for-endorsement.pdf|author=USA Roller Sports|title=To Whom It May Concern}}</ref><ref>[http://wftda.com/press/open-letter-to-usars Open Letter to USA Roller Sports - Press Releases - Women’s Flat Track Derby Association]. Wftda.com (2011-05-12). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.</ref> the WFTDA and USARS maintain a reciprocity agreement for insurance purposes.<ref name=reciprocity-agreement>{{cite web|url=http://usarollersports.org/roller-derby/usars-wftda-reciprocity|accessdate=12 October 2011|publisher=USA Roller Sports|date=24 June 2009|title=USARS / WFTDA Reciprocity}}</ref> Canada's national roller derby league works with the American federation.<ref name=rdaf-can>{{cite web|publisher=Roller Derby Association of Canada |accessdate=12 October 2011|title=Welcome to the CWRDA|url=http://www.cwrda.ca/}}</ref> |
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===Tournaments=== |
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Since 2006, the WFTDA has sponsored an annual championship. In 2008 this first took the modern form of [[WFTDA Championship|the "Big 5"]]: four regional playoffs, and a final championship tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=THE BIG 5 WFTDA SPONSORED TOURNAMENTS|url= http://wftda.com/The-Big-5|publisher=WFTDA|accessdate=15 November 2011}}</ref> The association also officially recognizes eligible tournaments hosted by member leagues.<ref>{{cite web|title=WFTDA Recognized Events|url= http://wftda.com/events|publisher=WFTDA|accessdate=15 November 2011}}</ref> E.g., the annual SpudTown Knockdown, which is held in [[Boise, Idaho]] beforehand, is "the Best of the Rest of the West." The [[Roller Derby World Cup]], an international competition, took place in Toronto, Canada, in December 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Blood & Thunder Roller Derby World Cup 2011|url=http://bloodandthundermag.com/WorldCup2011.htm|publisher=Blood & Thunder Magazine|accessdate=8 August 2011}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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{{Portal|Women's Sport|Feminism|Punk}} |
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* [[Bibliography of roller derby]] |
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* [[List of roller derby leagues]] |
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* [[List of roller derby associations]] |
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==Notes== |
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<references group="note" /> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|colwidth=30em}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
Revision as of 02:25, 25 April 2014
![]() From left to right, "The Alexorcist," "Margie Ram," "Chiquita WhamBamYa," "Bunz Bunny" and "Lady Shatterly" skate in a roller derby scrimmage in Utah. | |
Highest governing body | WFTDA, also see text |
---|---|
Nicknames | Derby |
First played | 1935, Chicago 2001, Austin, Texas |
Clubs | 1,200+ |
Characteristics | |
Contact | Yes |
Team members | 5 per side (14 on roster)[1] |
Type | Indoor, roller sport |
Equipment | Roller skates, helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, mouthguard |
Venue | Roller rink |
Presence | |
Olympic | Under consideration for 2020 |
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups ("jams") in which both teams designate a scoring player (the "jammer") who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team. The teams attempt to assist their own jammer while hindering the opposing jammer—in effect, playing both offense and defense simultaneously.[2] Roller derby is played by approximately 1,250 amateur leagues worldwide, nearly half of them outside the U.S.[3]
While the sport has its origins in the banked-track roller skating marathons of the 1930s, Leo Seltzer and Damon Runyon are credited with the basic evolution of the sport to its initial competitive form. Professional roller derby quickly became popular; in 1940 more than 5 million spectators watched in about 50 US cities. In the ensuing decades, however, it predominantly became a form of sports entertainment where the theatrical elements overshadowed the athleticism. This gratuitous showmanship largely ended with the sport's contemporary grassroots revival in the first decade of the 21st century.[4] Although some sports entertainment qualities such as player pseudonyms and colorful uniforms were retained, scripted bouts with predetermined winners were abandoned.[5]
Modern roller derby is an international sport dominated by all-female amateur teams, in addition to a growing number of male, co-ed, and junior roller derby teams, and was (as a roller sport) under consideration for the 2020 Olympics.[6][7][8] Most modern leagues (their back-office volunteers included) share a strong "do it yourself" ethic[9] which combines athleticism and elements from camp,[10] and feminist aesthetics consistent with third-wave feminism.[citation needed] As of 2014 the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, or WFTDA, had 201 full member leagues and 101 Apprentice Leagues.[11]
Game play
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/CharmvsRivet2639463631_aee9fd553e.jpg/280px-CharmvsRivet2639463631_aee9fd553e.jpg)
Contemporary roller derby has a basic set of rules, with variations reflecting the interests of a governing body's member leagues. The summary below is based on a comprehensive rule set developed by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA),[12] which is used by the vast majority of leagues. In March 2010, Derby News Network claimed that more than 98% of roller derby competitions were conducted under WFTDA rules.[13] For example, members of the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association are required to play by WFTDA rules,[14] while members of the Canadian Women's Roller Derby Association are encouraged to join the WFTDA.[15] Thus, the rules described below are WFTDA rules.
Basics of play
Roller derby is played by two teams of five members simultaneously skating counterclockwise on a circuit track. Each team designates a scoring player (the "jammer"); the other four members are "blockers." One blocker can be designated as a "pivot"—a blocker allowed to become a jammer in the course of play.[12]: 7 The jammer wears a helmet cover bearing two stars; the pivot wears a striped cover; the remaining members' helmets are uncovered.[12]: 7
The bout is played in two periods of 30 minutes.[12]: 4 Point scoring occurs during "jams": plays that last up to two minutes.[12]: 5 During a jam, points are scored when a jammer on a scoring pass (every pass a jammer makes through the pack after the initial pass) laps members of the opposing team.[12]: 33 Each team's blockers use body contact, changing positions, and other tactics to assist its jammer to score while hindering the opposing team's jammer. Certain types of blocks and other play are violations; referees call penalties and require violators to serve time in a penalty box.[12]: 29
Jams
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/TwoNorthWestJammers.jpg/220px-TwoNorthWestJammers.jpg)
Play begins by blockers lining up on the track's starting line (the "pivot line"). The jammers start from the "jammer line," a second starting line 30 feet behind the pivot line.[12]: 12 Jams begin on a single short whistle blast [16] where both jammers and blockers may begin engaging immediately.
The pack is the largest single group of blockers containing members of both teams skating in proximity, arranged such that each are within 10 feet of the next.[12]: 11 While blockers are required to maintain the pack, they are permitted to skate freely within the area of the track beginning 20 feet behind the pack and ending 20 feet ahead of it, an area known as the "engagement zone."[12]: 13 The first jammer to exit the front of the pack, having legally passed all blockers at least once, earns the status of "lead jammer."[12]: 7 Once earned, lead jammer status cannot be transferred to other skaters, but certain actions (notably, being sent to the penalty box) can cause it to be lost.[12]: 8 After the initial pass through the pack, each jammer scores a point every time they lap any member of the opposing team.[12]: 33
The lead jammer can stop the jam at any time by signaling to the referees. This is done by repeatedly placing both hands on their hips.[12] If the jam is not stopped early, it ends after 2 minutes.[12]: 5 If time remains in the period, teams then have 30 seconds to get on the track and line up for the next jam.[12]: 5 Team members typically rotate between jams from the 14 players on the team's roster. Designations may change between jams: a pivot in one jam might be the jammer in a later jam.[12]: 7
Positions
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Texas_Roller_Derby_Lonestar_Rollergirls.jpg/250px-Texas_Roller_Derby_Lonestar_Rollergirls.jpg)
Position | Helmet Cover | Responsibility |
---|---|---|
Jammer | Stars | Scores points by lapping opposing team members[12]: 7 |
Blocker | None | Assists the team's jammer to progress through the pack and hinders the opposing jammer by preventing them from passing.[17] They are responsible for maintaining a pack.[18]: 18 |
Pivot | Stripe | A blocker who may be designated as a jammer during the course of a jam,[12]: 7 if the jammer's helmet cover is correctly transferred.[18]: 29 Establishes team strategy during play and broadly sets the pace of the pack.[18]: 19 |
Scoring
The jammer scores by passing opposition team members. Each jammer must first complete a non-scoring pass through the pack, which determines which jammer (if any) is the lead jammer. After this, the jammer scores a point the first time each lap that she passes each opposition team member, including the other team's jammer.[12]: 33
Blocking
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Roller_derby%2C_Amsterdam_Derby_Dames_against_the_Ruhr_Pott_Roller_Girls_from_Essen%2C_Germany.jpg/220px-Roller_derby%2C_Amsterdam_Derby_Dames_against_the_Ruhr_Pott_Roller_Girls_from_Essen%2C_Germany.jpg)
Roller derby athletes may attempt to knock their opponents out of bounds or impede their movements by blocking (actions which are not solely within the prerogative of the official blockers). Legal blocks follow certain rules. Contact by hands, elbows, head and feet are prohibited, as is contact above the shoulders or below mid-thigh. Furthermore, contact may not be from the rear, only from a player's front or sides.[12]: 14
Penalties
Referees determine penalties.[12]: 36 A player receiving a penalty is removed from play to sit in a penalty box for 30 seconds.[12]: 29 If a jam ends beforehand, the player remains in the penalty box during the subsequent jam until the penalty is completed.[12]: 30 Jammers are released from the penalty box earlier if the second jammer is sent to the box while the first is still seated. The second jammer's penalty is then only as long as the amount of time the first jammer spent in the box.[12]: 31 A player "fouls out" of the game upon the seventh time she is sent to the penalty box, and is required to return to the locker room.[12]: 32
Equipment
Players skate on four-wheeled ("quad") roller skates,[12]: 11 and are required to wear protective equipment, including a helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads, and mouth guards. Additional gear that is acceptable though subject to individual team rules include padded knee length pants, similar to what aggressive skateboarders wear, and gender specific gear such as a hard case sports bra for female players and protective cups for males.[12]: 39
Strategy and tactics
Roller derby is a game where offense and defense are played simultaneously,[19] a highly volatile aspect which considerably complicates strategy and tactics. Blockers, for example, may create a large hole for their jammer to pass through and score, but this same maneuver might also allow the opposing team's jammer to score.[20][21]
- Ending the Jam: The lead jammer can end the jam at any time, thus she controls the opposing team's ability to score points. Ideally the lead jammer will attempt to score as many points as possible, and end the jam before the opposing team scores any.[22]
- Passing the Star: The jammer for a team may "pass the star" to the pivot — that is, she hands the star helmet cover to the pivot, at which point the pivot becomes the scoring jammer for the team.[12]: 9 A jammer might pass the star because of fatigue, injury, penalty trouble, or because the pivot is in a better position to score.[23]
- The Whip: A blocker or pivot grasps her jammer's hand and swings her forward, thus transferring some of her speed and momentum to the jammer.[24]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Roller_Derby_%2822%29.jpg/220px-Roller_Derby_%2822%29.jpg)
- Walling Up: A basic "wall" consists of two blockers working together to take up as much space on the track as possible to make it difficult for the opposing team to maneuver. "Walling up" refers to creating a wall formation at a strategic time, so the opposing team (especially the jammer) has no time to respond. A wall can inhibit, slow down, and ultimately trap the opposing jammer, and may last an entire jam if they can effectively hold the opposing team. Variations on the strategy include setting up blockers to rotate through the wall positions.[25]
- Goating: The pack is defined as the largest group of in bounds Blockers, skating in proximity, containing members from both teams.[12]: 11 In the "goatherding" tactic, one team surrounds a blocker of the opposing team (usually the strongest or best blocker), and then slows so that that group becomes the pack. The opposing team, skating ahead, are thus put out of play and thus cannot legally block the goatherders' jammer.[26][unreliable source?]
- The Diamond: A similar tactic, wherein four blockers form a rough diamond around the opposing jammer to prevent her from getting through the pack.[20]
- Other Strategies: A newly developed "Western Style" strategy has been developed in which a blocker who bumps the opposing jammer off the track skates backwards, forcing the jammer to re-enter further behind the pack.[27]
Officials
Regulation WFTDA bouts are officiated by three to seven skating officials[12]: 35 and a multitude of non-skating officials (NSOs). Due to the volunteer nature of the sport, many officiating positions are optional. Skating officials are usually referred to as referees and non-skating officials are called NSOs for short. Referees skate on the inside and outside of the track. They are in charge of calling penalties, awarding points, and most importantly ensuring safe game play.[12]: 36 Referees must be on skates (inline skates are allowed) and typically wear white and black stripes.[12]: 38
Referees
Type | Number | Responsibility |
---|---|---|
Head Referee | 1 | Responsible for the general supervision of the entire bout and has final authority on all rulings.[12]: 35 The head referee will take the position of inside pack referee.[28]: 1 Along with the responsibilities of an inside pack referee, the head referee is also responsible for issuing expulsions[12]: 35 and for announcing the results of official reviews.[12]: 38 |
Pack Referee | Up to 5 | Located both inside and outside the track, pack referees are responsible for watching the skaters in the pack, pack definition and calling penalties.[12]: 35 [18]: 29 |
Jammer Referees | 2 | Skating on the inside of the track,[18]: 29 jammer referees watch the jammers of a specific team and wear a wristband (and optionally a helmet cover) in that team's color to identify which team they are watching.[12]: 35 They award points for opponents passed by their jammer,[12]: 36 and signal whether theirs is the lead jammer.[18]: 29 |
Non-skating officials (NSOs)
Type | Number | Responsibility |
---|---|---|
Scorekeepers | 2 | Record points scored by jammers.[12]: 36 |
Penalty Trackers | 1 (min) | Record each skater's penalties[12]: 36 . Notify the head referee of skaters in the current jam who are in danger of fouling out.[28]: 3 |
Penalty Timers | 2 (min) | Ensure skaters sent to the penalty box serve their penalties[12]: 36 ; notify referees when a skater leaves the penalty box before her time is fully served.[28]: 3 |
Jam Timer | 1 | Responsible for starting jams and for ending jams that run to two minutes, timing the thirty seconds between jams,[12]: 36 and for calling an official timeout if the time between jams runs over 30 seconds.[28]: 36 |
Inside Whiteboard | 1 | Maintains a whiteboard in the center of the track that shows each skater's accumulated penalties.[12]: 36 |
Lineup | 2 | Responsible for recording every player on track in each jam: 5 |
Scoreboard Operator | 1 | Update each team's score after every scoring pass.[12]: 36 [28]: 5 |
History
Professional endurance races
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Roller_Derby_1950.jpg/220px-Roller_Derby_1950.jpg)
The growing popularity of roller skating in the United States led to the formation of organized multi-day endurance races for cash prizes, as early as the mid-1880s.[29][30][31] Speed and endurance races continued to be held on both flat and banked tracks in the century's first three decades[32] and spectators enjoyed the spills and falls of the skaters.[33][34] The term derby was used to refer to such races by 1922.[35][note 1]
Evolution to contact sport
The endurance races began to transform into the contemporary form of the sport in the mid-1930s, when promoter Leo Seltzer[note 2][note 3] created the Transcontinental Roller Derby, a month-long simulation of a road race between two-person teams of professional skaters.[38] The spectacle became a popular touring exhibition.[39][40] In the late 1930s, sportswriter Damon Runyon persuaded Seltzer to change the Roller Derby rules to increase skater contact.[38] By 1939, after experimenting with different team and scoring arrangements, Seltzer's created a touring company of four pairs of teams (always billed as the local "home" team versus either New York or Chicago),[41] with two five-person teams on the track at once, scoring points when its members lapped opponents.[42]
Television
In 1948, Roller Derby debuted on New York television—broadcasting well before television viewership was widespread.[43] The broadcasts increased spectator turnout for live matches.[44] For the 1949–1950 season, Seltzer formed the National Roller Derby League (NRDL).[45][46] The NRDL consisted of six teams.[45] NRDL season playoffs sold out Madison Square Garden for a week.[46] During the late 1950s and 1960s, the sport was broadcast on several networks, but attendance declined. Jerry Seltzer (Leo's son), the RollerJam "commissioner", hoped to use television to expand the live spectator base. He adapted the sport for television by developing scripted story lines, and rules designed to improve television appeal; derby's popularity declined in spite of this.[47]
1989 saw the debut of RollerGames, a show which presented an even more theatrical variant of roller derby for national audiences, which ran one season for some of its distributors for syndication went bankrupt. It used a figure-8 track and different rules adapted for this track. Bill Griffiths, Sr. served as commissioner while his son, Bill Griffiths, Jr. served as manager for the L.A. T-Birds, who (according to the storylines) were seeking revenge on the Violators (led by Skull) for cheating in the Commissioner's Cup and stealing it from them when the Skull interfered with gameplay. The other teams included the Maniancs (led by Guru Drew), Bad Attitude (led by Ms. Georgia Hase), the Rockers (led by DJ Terringo and consisting of skaters that were also professional rock and roll musicians), and Hot Flash (led by Juan Valdez Lopez).
In 1999, Spike TV (TNN at the time) debuted RollerJam, which used exactly the same rules on just a banked oval track as classic roller derby, but allowed for inline skates to be used (although some skaters went with traditional quad skates). Jerry Seltzer was commissioner for this version.
Contemporary roller derby
Roller derby's worldwide amateur female revival
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Attacker_%282222615188%29.jpg/220px-Attacker_%282222615188%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/NewZealandRollerDerby2010-11-27.jpg/250px-NewZealandRollerDerby2010-11-27.jpg)
Roller derby began its modern revival in the early 2000s as an all-female, woman-organized amateur sport. The revival initially began in Austin, Texas,[48] and by August 2006 there were over 135 similar leagues.[49] Leagues outside the U.S. also began forming in 2006, and international competition soon followed. There are over 1,200 amateur leagues worldwide[50] in countries including, but not limited to, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France,[51] Brazil, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Norway,[52] Sweden,[53] Denmark,[54] Singapore,[55][56][57] Dubai,[58][59] and Egypt[60][61][62] (where, like many other international leagues, all of the gear and equipment must be imported).[63] Roller derby's contemporary resurgence has been regarded as an aspect of globalization which demonstrates "the speed with which pop culture is now transported by highly mobile expatriates and social media, while also highlighting the changing role of women in many societies."[3]
A large number of contemporary roller derby leagues are amateur, self-organized and all-female [64] and were formed in a DIY spirit by relatively new roller derby enthusiasts.[65] In many leagues (particularly but not exclusively in the U.S.), a punk[66][67] aesthetic and/or third-wave feminist[68] ethic is prominent.[69] Furthermore, roller derby teams are typically composed of members of various social strata such as stay-at-home mothers, lawyers, and nurses,[70] and "Being gay/straight/bi/trans is simply no big deal, as long as you can skate." [71] Members of fledgling leagues often practice and strategize together, regardless of team affiliation, between bouts.[72] Most compete on flat tracks, though several leagues skate on banked tracks, with more in the planning stages.[73][74]
Each league typically features local teams in public bouts which are popular with a diverse fan base;[75] larger venues hosting audiences ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 are no longer unusual.[76] Many leagues took advantage of the release of the roller derby feature film Whip It (2009), to increase awareness of the sport[77] (which has also received cinéma vérité[78] and high definition digital movie camera[79] treatments).
As the sport has matured, successful local leagues have formed "travel teams" composed of the league's best players to compete with travel teams from other cities and regions. Furthermore, corporate advertising has used roller derby themes in television commercials for insurance,[80] a breakfast cereal,[81] and an over-the-counter analgesic.[82] At the 123rd International Olympic Committee session in South Africa in February 2012, it was announced that roller derby was one of the eight sports under consideration for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games.[83][84]
Aesthetics
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/2011-04-03_DustDevil_%28FoCo_v_Pacific%29-1005.jpg/300px-2011-04-03_DustDevil_%28FoCo_v_Pacific%29-1005.jpg)
Most players in these leagues skate under pseudonyms, also called "derby names" or "skater names," many of which are creative examples of word play with satirical, mock-violent or sexual puns, alliteration, and allusions to pop culture, some of which are the subject of some controversy.[85]
Name | Allusion |
---|---|
Clitty Clitty Bang Bang | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
Vulva Display of Power | Vulgar display of power |
Michelle O'BamYa | Michelle Obama |
Mazel Tov Cocktail | Mazel tov, Molotov cocktail |
O Hell No Kitty | Hello Kitty |
Sandra Day O'Clobber | Sandra Day O'Connor |
Punky Bruiser | Punky Brewster |
Slaybia Majora | Labia majora |
Princess Lay-Ya Flat | Princess Leia |
Anna Mosity | Animosity |
New players are often encouraged to check their name against an international roster to ensure novelty and uniqueness of the alias before officially using it.[87] Some players claim their names represent alter egos which they adopt while skating.[88] Referees may also choose to use derby names as well.[89][90] The phenomenon of roller derby aliases has attracted legal and sociological analysis within the ambit of intellectual property and trademark law as an indigenous activity.[91]
The names of the bouts, tournaments, or double-headers themselves are typically just as sardonic and convoluted — for example, Nightmare on Hull Street (Nightmare on Elm St.), Night of the Rolling Dead (Night of the Living Dead), Are You There Blocker? It's Me, Jammer (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret), Knocktoberfest (Oktoberfest), Spanksgiving (Thanksgiving), Seasons Beatings (Seasons Greetings), Grandma Got Run Over By a Rollergirl (Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer), Skate & Destroy Her (Search and destroy, or The Faction (band)'s song Skate & Destroy), Mama Said Knock You Down (Mama Said Knock You Out), Cinco de May-hem (Cinco de Mayo), and War of the Wheels (War of the Worlds).[92]
Although some teams opt for a uniform livery, the camp can extend to players' garb as well. Costumes (sometimes called "boutfits"[93]) are often inspired by or comparable with rockabilly or burlesque fashions,[94] and tattoos and tutus are commonly in evidence, as are fishnet stockings.[95][96] In addition to the on-track competition, some leagues emphasize entertainment with showy on-track behavior, half-time shows, and "penalty games" — unofficial competitive stunts between players such as arm wrestling, wheelchair races and the like.[97] The extent to which such non-athletic stylizations are embraced varies from league to league, and continues to be a source of some contention.[98][99]
Safety concerns
In as much as roller derby is a contact sport, there is a risk of injury.[100] Injuries range from common bruises and sprains to broken bones and concussions[101][102] and beyond.[103][104] As is the case with many sporting events and other large public gatherings, modern roller derby games are required to be played with EMTs on hand.[12]: 39 Some leagues prominently display their injuries,[105][106] and safety and injuries are a perennial topic on skating blogs and other forums.[107][108][109]
Expansion
Although the early 2000s revival of roller derby was initially all-female, some leagues later introduced all-male teams and co-ed games. Furthermore, as of May 2013 there were over 140 junior roller derby programs in the United States, and many more around the world.[110] Despite being viewed by some as risqué[111] adult-oriented entertainment,[98] the positive empowering aspects of the sport are a draw for many youth.[88]
As the sport of roller derby expands, so does the media devoted to the sport. Viewing roller derby bouts is now possible via live online streaming and archived footage of previous bouts and tournaments. The WFTDA offers live streaming video of its tournaments at wftda.tv,[112] and WFTDA membership is a major goal of aspiring leagues.[113] The Derby News Network offers live streaming video and archived video of many more roller derby bouts, both WFTDA events and non-WFTDA events at www.derbynewsnetwork.com/live.[114]
FiveOnFive magazine is devoted solely to covering the sport of roller derby, and covers diverse topics regarding the sport such as business, training, Junior roller derby and nutrition.[115]
Governance and organization
The largest governing body for the sport is the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, with 234 Full Member Leagues, and 89 Apprentice Leagues.[11] Other associations support either coed or men-only derby; among them is the largest organization supporting the growing trend of male roller derby, MRDA.[116][117][118] Within the United States, roller derby played by those under 18 is governed by the Junior Roller Derby Association, which uses the widely used rule set of the WFTDA, with modifications for players who are minors (such as no hitting, or accelerating into a block).[119] Outside of the United States many roller derby leagues enjoy support from their national skate federations such as the Skate Australia,[120] the British Roller Sports Federation[121] and Roller Sports Canada.[122] In Europe, roller derby otherwise received recognition as a legitimate sport by the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS) in Paris in 2010; this organization reports directly to the International Olympic Committee. Although affiliation with a national organization has been declined by American leagues who prefer governance on a grass roots level,[123][124] the WFTDA and USARS maintain a reciprocity agreement for insurance purposes.[125] Canada's national roller derby league works with the American federation.[126]
Tournaments
Since 2006, the WFTDA has sponsored an annual championship. In 2008 this first took the modern form of the "Big 5": four regional playoffs, and a final championship tournament.[127] The association also officially recognizes eligible tournaments hosted by member leagues.[128] E.g., the annual SpudTown Knockdown, which is held in Boise, Idaho beforehand, is "the Best of the Rest of the West." The Roller Derby World Cup, an international competition, took place in Toronto, Canada, in December 2011.[129]
See also
Notes
- ^ “Roland Cloni of Akron, world’s champion roller skater, who yesterday tried out the track in the Broadway armory, where the national roller skating derby will be held this week, asserted new world’s records can be established for flat tracks. The derby will open tomorrow and run until Saturday.”[35]
- ^ Sources disagree on whether it was Leo alone or with his brother, the skate maker Oscar Seltzer.[36][37]
- ^ "Roller derby has entertained the masses in one form or another since the 1930s, when brothers Leo and Oscar Seltzer conceptualized the idea of a skating contest on a Chicago restaurant tablecloth."[36]
References
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- ^ "Roller Derby: The Fastest Growing Sport In America". YouTube. 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ^ Neale, Rick (June 24, 2008). "All-Female Roller Derby Elbows Its Way In as a Legitimate Sport", USA Today
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- ^ http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/28/roller-sports-pitch-for-the-2020-olympics/
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- ^ a b "WFTDA Member Leagues".
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- ^ "Remarkable roller-skating feat". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1884-04-13. p. 10.
- ^ "A six-day roller skate race". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1885-03-02. p. 10.
- ^ "On rollers for six days: beginning the race at the Madison-Square Garden. Thirty-six entries, including Frank Hart and several champions—cheering the start". New York Times. 2 March 1885. p. 10.
- ^ "Roller marathon thrills and jars: 100 boys meet with adventures and tumbles in West Side Boulevard race. Dodge cars and autos. But records are smashed by contestants in red tights, overalls, etc". Chicago Daily Tribune. 27 November 1908. p. 5.
- ^ "Roller skating on banked track: old-time sport is revived with speed contests at the Garden". New York Times. 1922-12-17. p. 11.
- ^ "24-hour roller race: Ollie Moore will be teamed with Willie Blackburn at Garden". New York Times. 17 December 1914. p. S2.
- ^ a b "Roller derby on tomorrow". Chicago Daily Tribune. 24 April 1922. p. 20.
- ^ a b Boulware, Jack (2000). San Francisco Bizarro: A Guide to Notorious Sights, Lusty Pursuits, and Downright Freakiness in the City by the Bay. Macmillan. p. 79. ISBN 0-312-20671-2.
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- ^ Deford, Frank (1971). Five Strides on the Banked Track: The life and times of the Roller Derby. Little, Brown and Company. p. 84. ISBN 0-316-17920-5.
- ^ "Roller Derby at the National Museum of Roller Skating". National Roller Skating Museum. 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2007-06-08.
- ^ Deford, Frank (1971). Five Strides on the Banked Track: The Life and Times of the Roller Derby. Little, Brown and Company. p. 89. ISBN 0-316-17920-5.
- ^ Rushin, Steve (1998-12-14). "Air and Space: A Forward Roll: Dusted off and spiffed up, the Roller Derby is aiming to regain the hold it once had on TV". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ a b Deford, Frank (1971). Five Strides on the Banked Track: The Life and Times of the Roller Derby. Little, Brown and Company. p. 95. ISBN 0-316-17920-5.
- ^ a b "Roller Derby". KTVU-TV. 2004. Retrieved 8 June 2007.
- ^ Deford, Frank (1971). Five Strides on the Banked Track: The Life and Times of the Roller Derby. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-17920-5.
- ^ Brick, Michael (2008-12-17). "Pushing the Limit: The Dude of Roller Derby and His Vision". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
- ^ La Gorce, Tammy (2008-11-07). "With Names That Could Kill, Women Rev Up Roller Derby". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-17. (New York print edition: 2008-11-09 p. NJ6)
- ^ Roller Derby Worldwide. "Find a Roller Derby League". Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Paris, les filles et le Roller Derby (Paris Roller Girls)". YouTube. 2012-04-08. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ^ "Oslo Roller Derby". Retrieved 30 Jan 2013.
- ^ Cat O'Ninetails (2011). "Roller Derby Worldwide". Retrieved 8 Sep 2011.
- ^ "Copenhagen Roller Derby".
- ^ "Chilipadi Roller Girls".
- ^ New roller derby sport kicks off in Singapore. News.asiaone.com (2011-12-19). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ "Roller Derby Singapore | CPDG | Teaser Video". YouTube. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ^ Dani (2012-10-13). "In the beginning". Dubai Roller Derby. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ^ "21 sports in Dubai this week - Sport & Outdoor Features". TimeOutDubai.com. 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ^ "Up Close and Personal with the CaiRollers of Cairo, Egypt". DerbyLife. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ^ "Egypt's Cairollers Have Best Name Ever, Are Super Rad Rollergirls". Jezebel.com. 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ^ "thoughts on the start of the 12th year of Modern Roller Derby « Jerry Seltzer". Rollerderbyjesus.com. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ^ http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/03/13/cairollers-bring-roller-derby-to-egypt/
- ^ Whittaker, Richard. "Electric Skaterland: Austin births a Roller Derby revolution Austin Sports". AustinChronicle.com. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ The Dames: The Story of the Boston Roller Derby League (QuickTime). Cambridge, MA: Cambridge Community Television. 2008-02-22. Event occurs at 26:50. Retrieved 2008-06-23. See also the accompanying blog post.
- ^ Wells, Steven (2005-05-23). "Roller derby gets a good punking". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "Punk On The Rocks: Roller Derby Wrecker".
- ^ "Roller Derby: Uniting Younger Women, One Bout at a Time". Younger Women's Task Force. 2006-10-26. Retrieved 2008-06-18Template:Inconsistent citations
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- ^ Merkley, Brin (2012-07-16). "Local Sport Brings Out Wild Side | KULR-8 News, Sports, Weather | - Billings, MontanaLocal Coupons | Local Sports". Kulr8.com. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ^ Rapp, Ilana (2013-02-19). "Does Joining Roller Derby Make You Gay?". Huffington Post.
- ^ "Soldiers in the Roller Derby". Army Live.
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- ^ "LA Derby Dolls – What's New". Derbydolls.com. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ WFTDA 2011 Demographic Survey Results - Women’s Flat Track Derby Association
- ^ New Jersey Roller Derby packs thousands into Convention Hall - Video | NJ.com
- ^ Loca, Chica. "Whip It-Marketing Session" (PDF). WFTDA. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "Skater 26". YouTube. 2013-02-10. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
- ^ http://austin.culturemap.com/news/innovation/06-07-13-texas-rollergirls-release-hard-hitting-campaign-filmed-on-a-phantom-hd-camera-and-using-real-fans/
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/embed/9xPFC5qkJ1k Mutual of Omaha TV ad
- ^ Cheerios TV ad on YouTube
- ^ Aleve TV ad on YouTube
- ^ Van, Samantha. "Roller Derby May Be Included in 2020 Olympics: A Female's Reaction - Yahoo! Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
- ^ "CNN.com Video". CNN.
- ^ "Derby Names: Not Ready for Prime Time". DerbyLife. 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
- ^ "Roster of Roller Derby names". twoevils.com.
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{{cite book}}
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: CS1 maint: postscript (link) "It's like your alter ego," Grianne says, "You don't want to be announced as Grianne Hunter. You want to be something tougher." Cite error: The named reference "derby brats" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Tracy "Justice Feelgood Marshall" Williams (2008-12-08). "Killbox retires (sort of)". Derby News Network. Retrieved 2008-12-30Template:Inconsistent citations
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(help)CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ "Denver Roller Dolls — Teams — Mile High Club". Retrieved 2009-07-19.
This season, 13 of the team's members are making the switch from derby names to real names.
- ^ Talk Derby to Me: Emergent Intellectual Property Norms Governing Roller Derby Pseudonyms by David Fagundes :: SSRN
- ^ "Treasure Valley Rollergirls". Treasure Valley Rollergirls. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ Sophia Kercher, "L.A.'s Derby Dolls setting the fashion pace", Los Angeles Times, 29 November 2009
- ^ Carey, Steve (2008-06-12). "Thrills and spills on four wheels score a comeback". Victoria Times Colonist. Retrieved 2008-06-15Template:Inconsistent citations
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link) Skating on old-time quad skates, the typical roller girl could be described as hard-rock, tattooed, new-wave-burlesque or rockabilly. - ^ Emma Tom (2010-04-24). "Fishnets and mouthguards". The Australian. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ "Article: Roller derby queens: short skirts, fishnets, and full contact. Inside the... | AccessMyLibrary – Promoting library advocacy". AccessMyLibrary. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
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{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link) Like mud wrestling, roller derby has historically been seen as a way to entertain largely male audiences with hot, dirty catfights. And with its bad-gal costumes and prospect of girl-on-girl bruising, roller derby still skates a fine line between sport and spectacle. Though modern skaters have reimagined the sport as a form of self-expression and performance (not unlike the recent feminist revival of burlesque), as well as an athletic contest, the titillation factor threatens to undermine the legitimacy of the game. And not surprisingly, recent media coverage of the sport has focused on the novelty of sexy girls in fishnets on four wheels. Spin called the sport “the best catfight on earth,” while the Tucson Citizen quoted a male fan who opined, ‘“For some spectators, the chance of getting a roller derby girl in their lap is a part of the attraction.” - ^ "Exclusive: There's No Crying In Roller Derby!". Flavorwire. 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- ^ Wilson, Tracy. "How Roller Derby Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-22Template:Inconsistent citations
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- ^ Dain Bramage - Roller Derby - timesunion.com - Albany NY
- ^ Launder, William (2006-02-28). "Women's roller derby leagues are bashing their way back into style". Columbia News Service. Archived from the original on April 18, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-22Template:Inconsistent citations
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(help)CS1 maint: postscript (link) "injuries range from sprained ankles and dislocated shoulders to torn eyelashes and “fishnet burn” from sliding across the floor of the rink." - ^ "HelpTequila.com". Retrieved 2008-06-22Template:Inconsistent citations
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link) (Web site calling for donations to help a roller derby player who suffered a spinal cord injury). - ^ "Injury Gallery". Rat City Rollergirls. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-22Template:Inconsistent citations
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(help)CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ Ryder, Kari. "PCL Injuries in Roller Derby". Retrieved 2008-06-22Template:Inconsistent citations
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- ^ "Roller Derby Crutch Crew (MySpace group)". Retrieved 2008-06-22Template:Inconsistent citations
{{cite web}}
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- ^ A nuanced appreciation of the "camp" aspect of roller derby
- ^ name=WFTDA TV/"WFTDA TV".
- ^ http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/8/13/4614248/roller-derby-wftda-profile
- ^ "DNN Video".
- ^ "FiveOnFive Magazine".
- ^ "The State of Derby – Part II: OSDA and JRDA".
- ^ "The State of Derby – Part III: Modern Athletic Derby Endeavor".
- ^ "The State of Derby – Part IV: Men's Roller Derby Association".
- ^ "Junior Roller Derby Association".
- ^ "About Roller Debry".
- ^ "Roller Derby is now recognised as a sport in the UK, and UKRDA the National Association". Roller Derby Central. euroderby.org. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ^ "Roller Derby". Roller Sports Canada.
- ^ USA Roller Sports. "To Whom It May Concern" (PDF).
- ^ Open Letter to USA Roller Sports - Press Releases - Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. Wftda.com (2011-05-12). Retrieved on 2012-02-04.
- ^ "USARS / WFTDA Reciprocity". USA Roller Sports. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- ^ "Welcome to the CWRDA". Roller Derby Association of Canada. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- ^ "THE BIG 5 WFTDA SPONSORED TOURNAMENTS". WFTDA. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby, published by WFTDA on March 1, 2014
- Roller derby at Curlie
- Flat Track Stats – Statistical aggregation of WFTDA sanctioned roller derby
- International Rollergirls' Master Roster – International derby name and team registry