Roller Derby

Roller Derby is on the rise! This action-packed, full-contact sport is the fastest growing female sport in America. Have you heard of it? Chances are you know a roller girl, are a roller girl or have at least seen Whip It. If your curiosity is peaked, read on for a quick intro to this wildly popular sport and links to more resources.

History
-The birthday of Roller Derby is August 13, 1935, the day that Chicago promoter Leo Seltzer debuted The Transcontinteal Roller Derby. It was initially started to compete with the Dance Marathon mania and was meant to be an endurance test. Teams of one man and one woman took turns skating 57,000 laps. It caught on in a flash, attracting 20,000 viewers in just the first week.
-Roller Derby was transformed in 1938 when New York sportswriter Damon Runyan saw some competitors get jumbled up during the race. He mentioned to Seltzer that making the event full-contact and keeping score might increase audience numbers.
-During the 1950s, television helped add to the popularity of Roller Derby. The show's fan base increased and legends were made out of competitors such as Midge "Toughie" Brasuhn.
-Roller Derby's popularity lagged in the '70s, while the gas crisis and overhead costs caused Leo Seltzer's son (who had taken over the business) to shut down the show. Several promoters tried to revive Roller Derby, but none had any staying power.
-The game was successfully resurrected several years ago, through the tenacity of all-girl leagues rising up around the country. Today's Roller Derby is more of a sport, with female athletes paying to play, training throughout the week and following a fixed set of rules, enforced by referees.

Rules
Roller Derby has a defined set of rules. Here is a brief summary:
-Teams are made up of ten players, with no more than five players on the track per team - One Pivot, three Blockers and one Jammer.
-The Jammer has a star on her helmet and her role is to score points by passing opponents.
-The Pivot has a stripe down the middle of her helmet and sets the pace for the pack.
-The Blocker sets up plays to help her teammates or sets up blocks for opposing Jammers.
-There are a total of four referees - two Jammer Referees and two Penalty Referees.
-The game consists of four eight-minute periods.
-Play begins when the first whistle blows and starts the pack. The Jammers begins when the second whistle blows. Jams can last up to 60 seconds or when the lead Jammer calls it off.
-There are rules regarding leaving the track, penalties, legal and illegal blocks.

Resources
-Pamela Ribon, author of Going in Circles (which she amusingly refers to as Eat, Cry, Shove), wrote a very interesting article for Oprah's website called Show Me Who You Really Are: How Roller Derby Can Save Your Life. The article discusses her experiences playing roller derby, especially in conjuction with her divorce.
-A&E has a site devoted to its show Rollergirls, where much of the information for this post was found. It includes a history of the sport, rules, lingo and profiles of some real roller girls.
-The Women's Flat Track Derby Association has a comprehensive website featuring info about leagues around the country, FAQs, news, stats and more.
-Get to know the local Roller Derby organization - the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls - by visiting their website.
-Check out Whip It, Drew Barrymore's directorial debut starring Ellen Page. This movie is about a small-town girl with big dreams who finds an outlet on the Roller Derby rink.