Roller Derby: High Energy Workout

A few years ago not many people would have heard of Roller Derby, and if you were one of the few that had, you'd have been hard pushed to find a team or league in your area. This has changed and the sport has been spreading like wildfire world-wide, and its devotees are enjoying it as a high energy workout as well as a way to unwind and escape day to day stresses. While there are men's teams, the sport is mainly dominated by women, as are many of the fitness crazes that have taken off lately, such as Pole Fitness and Zumba. A lot of the women state that these classes appeal to them because they provide a way to get fit, have fun and make friends at the same time.

Roller Derby Rules

Roller Derby is played between two teams of five. All of the players wear roller skates, and the teams are made up of one jammer, one pivot and three defensive players called blockers. The blockers stick together in a pack-like formation to try and stop the jammer getting through.The jammer scores one point for each opponent they pass. The pivot is a bit like the pace car in motor racing and controls the pace of the team. It is also the pivot's job to keep a watch out for the jammers, decide her team's moves and act as a blocker. In most leagues the players wear different helmet designs to reflect their positions. It is common for jammer to have stars, pivots to have stripes and for blockers to wear plain helmets. As you can imagine Roller Derby is a very physical game, but it does have strict rules against tripping, hitting, grabbing and pulling other players. The experience is far from dull, in fact it's thrilling and nerve wracking just to watch the skaters fall over and collide with each other. Have a look at the highlights from the first European women's flat track roller derby tournament to give you an idea of the excitement involved.

You can find out more info about Roller Derby and look for leagues in your area at the UK Roller Derby Association.

Am I fit enough to take part?

You'd be mistaken if you thought that Roller Derby was only for the super fit and young, in fact it is enjoyed by players of many ages and all different shapes and sizes. Many leagues have the same approach to new players, their shape, size, age and fitness is not important, and a lot of new players have not worn skates since their childhood. Most leagues hold training sessions where you will build up strength in your legs, improve your balance and control of your body. When the team is confident that you can compete safely you will be able to join the competitions. During training you will learn the essential skills you need to compete such as dodging, squatting, jumping and falling safely.

Bouts and Jams

Roller Derby competitions are called "bouts", with the game being a series of races between the two teams. These races are called "jams" and each jam lasts up to 2 minutes. The pivots and blockers assemble in formation on the starting line at the beginning of the jam. When the referee blows the whistle they begin to skate as a pack, when the pack has skated 20 feet the referee will blow the whistle again signaling that the jammers can start to skate. The jammers will then try to catch up with and pass through the pack.

In the first lap no points are scored, but the first jammer that overtakes their competing team's pivot becomes the "lead jammer". The lead jammer can stop the race before the two minutes by putting her hands on her hips, this is known as "calling the jam". Once the lead jammer has called the jam or the two minutes has passed the play ends and the scores are worked out.

I hope that this intro to Roller Derby has tempted you to give it a try. I'm Caitin and I am a dance and fitness nut. I've been doing Roller Derby for a year and I was very wobbly when I first started and always falling over, but with practice I got better and now I love it. I write for www.poledancingpoles.info when I'm not skating or hanging upside down on my pole (which is my other passion). You should be able to find a Roller Derby team in most towns and cities now and remember everyone is welcome to play. Even if your local team is full, you may still be able to join friendly matches and training.

Your Opinion Counts

Have any questions or comments? Participate in the discussions today. Use the "Post new comment" form at the bottom of the page to ask your questions and share your ideas. Use the correct spelling and grammar.