The Roller Derby Team

Roller derby is a fast-paced, full contact team sport played on quad roller skates.

The game consists of two minute periods called “jams”.

At the start of each jam, each team sends five players onto the track. There are two types of players: jammers and blockers.

The Jammers

Jammers are the point scorers and can be recognised by the star they wear on their helmet. The jammers must break through the pack of blockers on an “initial pass” and lap it before scoring. The first one to do so is the lead jammer who now controls that “jam” and can call it off at any time to stop the opposing team scoring. Jammers score a point for each opposing player they legally pass on the track.

The blockers

The four blockers on track have two jobs to do simultaneously: stopping the opposing jammer and helping their own jammer to score. They can do this by hitting opposing players with their shoulders, chest or hips knocking them to the ground or off the track.

What does the pivot do?

Each team has one blocker who wears a stripe on their helmet. These are the pivots. They can take over from the jammer at any time if the jammer passes the star on their helmet to them.

Want to see some derby action? Come along and see us play!

How it works in action

This short video will help make it much clearer for you.