If you want to see a fast and challenging sport in an electric ambiance with punk rock music then roller derby is for you. Let’s have a look at that crazy sport, with the London Rockin’ Rollers…
Modern roller derby is an international sport dominated by all-female amateur teams, which is being considered for inclusion in for the 2020 Olympics. Most modern leagues share a strong “do it yourself” ethic which combines athleticism with elements from punk, camp, and feminism.
Roller derby is played in two periods of 30 minutes by two teams of five members, roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short match-ups (“jams”), point scoring occurs during “jams”: plays that last up to two minutes in which both teams designate a “jammer” who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team. Each team attempts to assist its own jammer whilst hindering the opposing jammer — effectively attacking and defending at the same time.
Generally, a jammer scores four points each time she makes it through the pack within bounds and five points if she laps the other jammer! Like any sport, roller derby has many fine print detailed rules, penalties and strategies!
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. And obviously, the team with the most points at the end of the game wins!
“I just love everything about it,” said Jackie Mason, who goes by the name Jack Attack # 101, and is clearly the London Rockin’ Rollers’ shining star. “It keeps you fit and out of trouble and it’s a fun sport to play. I met so many awesome friends that I never had before.”
The London Rockin’ Rollers were formed in 2007. At the time, there were only two other roller derby teams in the United Kingdom.
Punk and Rockabilly fans are well represented in the roller derby competitions. “A lot of the roller derby players like that sort of music,” Chris, the DJ for numerous bouts, said.
More and more girls are coming into British roller derby teams to be part of this unusual sport. For Jackie, who also represents England, everyone can play and everyone is welcome: “Just come and give it a go: it’s not as scary as it looks”.