Below are just some of the basics for Roller Derby.  To find out more just click on the links below! 

Check out the River Demons on www.facebook.com

(type in search: River Demons)

- www.derbynewsnetwork.com

- www.youtube.com :  search for Roller Derby.  

Many excellent videos explaining the rules and regulations for Roller Derby

- www.wftda.com :  This is the official Woman's Flat Track Website. 

Here you will find information on regulations and most important Referee hand signals.

Or click the links below to see the WFTDA Rules and Regulations Manuals:

- WFTDA Minimum Skill Requirements

-WFTDA Referee Hand Signals

-WFTDA Rules

A lot of people are under the impression that the Roller Derby of today is the same as it was in the early 1970's.  The professional banked track teams of the past were more theater than sport.  Today's Roller Derby is very structured.  There are specific detailed rules covering all aspects of Roller Derby.  One of the goals of Roller Derby is to provide maximum entertainment value with safety as its biggest concern.  All skaters have to pass minimum skills required.

In more conventional sports they tend to run themselves.  You show up and you play.  In Roller Derby team members often have to learn or re-learn to skate.  They have to recruit, raise money, practice and the list goes on and on.  It's a constant effort to be an Ambassador for their sport.  It's also not as natural as throwing or running in Roller Derby.  You have to learn to function at a high level while having your natural balance taken away.  Keep in mind you will have opponents trying to help you lose balance at the same time!

Roller Derby is not difficult to understand.  It moves as a very fast pace.  Here are some of the basics of Roller Derby.

• Each team has 5 skaters on the track consisting of: 1 Pivot, 1 Jammer, and 3 blockers.

• Pivot:  Pivot sets the pace of the pack and is her team's last line of defense. Pivots are easy to spot because they have a stripe on her helmet.

• Jammer:  Jammer is the only skater who scores points for her team and is marked with a star on the helmet.

• Blockers:  Blockers act as both defenses to hinder the other team's Jammer and they assist their Jammer to score.

• The Bout's are made up of 2-30 minute halves divided into Jams that last a maximum of 2 minutes.

• The Pivots line up at the starting or Pivot line.  The Blockers behind them and the Jammers are 20 feet behind the Pivot line.  Play starts on the Referee's whistle.

• The Pivots and  Blockers start forward.  Once they all cross the Pivot line a double whistle signals the Jammers to start.  The initial pass is only to determine the lead Jammer.  No points are scored at this time.

• It is a penalty for the Pivots and Blockers not to maintain the integrity of the pack so the Jammers are the only ones skating at full speed.  Once the Jammers make their first pass through the pack they can start to earn points.  They do this by passing the other teams Pivot and Blockers.

• The advantage of being the lead Jammer is she can end the Jam at any time if she feels she's not in the position to outscore the other Jammer any further.

• Both minor and major penalties can be assessed.

• 4 minors penalties equals 1 major penalty

• 1 major penalty equals one minute in the penalty box