13 Things You Didn’t Know About Roller Derby

1. Roller Derby traces back to “skating marathons” in the 1930’s.

Originally, the goal of the sport was to complete a particular amount of laps around the track. In the 1940’s it began to evolve into a competitive contact sport.

Source: Al Aumuller, World-Telegram / via: commons.wikimedia.org

2. There are three positions in roller derby: jammer, blocker, and pivot.

The Jammer laps the opposing team members. The blockers help create a pack that protects the Jammer. The Pivot is a blocker who can be designated as a jammer during a jam as long as their helmet colors are transferred over properly, they can also act as a temporary captain to the pack.

Source: Minette Layne / via: flickr.com

3. Points are awarded by the jammer passing opposing team members.

Source: Daniel Stockman / via: flickr.com

4. There are two different helmet covers: stars for the jammer and stripes for the pivot.

Source: thelondonrollergirls / via: flickr.com

5. Team members usually have neat “skater names”.

Some of these awesome pseudonyms include things like Michelle O’BamYa, Punky Bruiser, and Princess Lay-Ya Flat.

Source: Christopher Neugebauer / via: flickr.com

6. Names of bouts and tournaments also tend to be really awesome.

Bouts tend to have fun, clever event names like “Night of the Rolling Dead” or “Knocktoberfest”.

Source: Christopher Neugebauer / via: flickr.com

7. Roller derby hit its peak in the 1970’s.

In 1972, 50,118 fans broke the record for the highest turnout to a game.

Source: Gary Paulson / via: flickr.com

8. ‘Rink rash’ is when a skater falls and skins their legs.

Source: Kristina D.C. Hoeppner / via: flickr.com

9. These ladies are fearless.

The chest is usually the number one target zone in roller derby. Other areas that are allowed are the hands, hips, abdomen and front/sides of the player’s legs. The neck, back, and leg below the thigh are illegal target zones and can result in a penalty.

Source: Earl McGehee / via: commons.wikimedia.org