Central vermont roller derby

What is flat track roller derby?. "Flat track roller derby is a fast-paced contact team sport that requires speed, strategy, and athleticism. The flat track version of the sport evolved in 2001, and has quickly grown to encompass more than 400 leagues worldwide. This is in large part due to the ease of setting up a flat track--it can be done on any flat surface that is suitable for skating, such as skating rinks, basketball courts, parking lots, and even airplane hangars. This greatly reduces the capital needed to start up a roller derby league, and allows small groups of people to get a fledgling league off the ground. The DIY spirit that drives the sport allows roller derby leagues to create their own unique identities and adapt their structures to reflect their local communities." (http://wftda.com/resources/rollerderby101)

A roller derby bout is played between two teams of five skaters each: a pivot (striped helmet), three blockers, and one point-scoring player, the jammer (star helmet). Blockers from both teams skate together in a pack and are continuously lapped by the jammers. Jammers are sprint skaters, and score points each time they pass an opponent. Bouts are divided into two 30-minute periods composed of an unlimited number of jams, which can last up to two minutes.

To make things easier Roller Derby Lingo:

• Bout: The match. composed of 2 teams fighting to score points.
• Jam: The individual sessions of play. may last up to 2 minutes.
• Jammer: the point scorer. designated by a star on the helmet
• Blocker: the defensive players. they form the pack
• Pivot: the lead blocker. At the head of the pack, they designate speed and communicate with their teammates. designated by a stripe on the helmet.

• A Roller Derby Bout is played in two 20 (or 30) minute periods broken into Jams.
• In each jam the two teams put 5 players on the track: 1 Jammer, 3 Blockers, and 1 Pivot.
• At the beginning of the Jam the blockers and pivots line up together and form what is known as the pack.
• The Jammers start 30 feet behind the pack.
• At the whistle signaling the start of the jam, the pack begins skating. A few seconds later, the whistle blows again and the Jammers are off.
• The goal of the Pack is to prevent the opposing team's Jammer from navigating through the pack while assisting their own Jammer.
• The goal of the Jammer is to break through the pack in order to score points for his or her team.
• After a Jammer has successfully broken through the pack the first time, he or she skates around the track to catch up with the pack and break through again.
• The first Jammer to pass through the pack cleanly is awarded "Lead Jammer" status. Lead Jammer status is retained for the entirety of the Jam.
• The first jammer is not always the first jammer to emerge from the pack.
• If neither jammer is able to pass through cleanly, there is no Lead Jammer and the Jam will be played for a full 2 minutes.
Points are scored for each opposing player the Jammer passes upon the second pass. Both Jammers can accumulate points in this fashion for the duration of the Jam for each opposing blocker or pivot they pass legally.
• The lead jammer can make the strategic decision to end the jam at any time before the two mintues are up. She signals to the referees that calling off the jam by placing her hands on her hips and will often do this to prevent her opponent from scoring points.
Players are allowed to check members of the opposing team using their shoulders and hips. Pushing, tripping, blocking from behind and hitting with any part of the arm from the elbow down are all illegal and may result in minor penalties.
• If four minor penalties are assessed on a given player, that player will be sent off the track for 1 minute. Players can be removed immediately for major offenses such as fighting or gross misconduct.
• At the end of the second period, the team with the most points is declared the winner. After shaking hands with the opposition, skaters from the victorious team are required to perform several victory laps during which they will pump their fists in the air and/or blow kisses to the cheering crowd.