The Game

Roller derby rules vary from league to league, but in general, the sport is played as follows:

Two teams of five skaters, wearing protective gear such as helmets, mouth guards, and pads, take up positions alongside each other in a pack formation. Each team consists of either four blockers and one jammer, or three blockers and two jammers. Helmet colours or designs are typically used to differentiate between player roles.

A signal is given and the jam commences. All skating is performed anti-clockwise on a small, narrow track. Most professional roller derby type games use a banked track, whilst new leagues generally use use a standard flat skating rink. Once scoring commences, a point may be scored if an opposing team's player goes out of bounds.

Blockers start skating at the first signal; a second signal is given to launch the jammers, who must catch up to the rear of the pack. Leading the pack are special blockers known as pivots, who may not be passed by other blockers; their role is to set the pace and keep the pack relatively tight. Jammers navigate through or around the pack, then lap around the back of the pack. The first jammer to get through the pack is dubbed lead jammer and may call off the jam at any time.

Scoring commences when the jammers lap around the back of the pack and go through for a second time. One point is scored for each member of the opposing team passed by a jammer. Blockers try to stop the opposing jammer from passing them, while defending their own jammer, whom they can assist by pushing or pulling (whipping) them in an attempt to advance them through the pack. The jam concludes after a fixed period of time or when the lead jammer calls off the jam.

Calling off the jam early is a strategic move to prevent the other team from having the opportunity to score. For example, it can be helpful if the lead jammer's team is at an unexpected disadvantage (due to good defence by the other team, or falling or penalised players on the jammer's team), or it can be used to solidify a lead when the jammer's team is doing exceptionally well.

Physical contact between players is frequent and sometimes violent. Body blocking is allowed, and elbowing is allowed in some leagues, but participants are not allowed to trip or intentionally punch other players. Violence can appear to leave the track and may include striking opponents with available objects; however, a certain degree of showmanship ensures that most fights are staged. Further, some of the athletes who compete in roller derby adopt stage names and gimmicks, evoking comparisons to professional wrestling.