So you have your tickets in hand for today’s bout between the LVRG Hissy Fits vs. Central New York RG (6pm at Independence Family Fun Center in Schnecksville) and if this is your first roller derby bout you may be wondering how this sport is played and scored. Well have no fear, we’ve got you covered! Welcome to Roller Derby 101.
The Track
The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls derby on a flat track as opposed to a banked one. Flat track roller derby enables teams to compete on any flat surface suitable for skating such as traditional roller skating rinks, gymnasiums, parking lots and even airplane hangars! This flexibility enables teams to become established quicker and at a much lower cost than constructing a banked track. According to the WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association), the sanctioning body of the league, flat track derby evolved in 2001 and now boasts more than 400 leagues worldwide.
Playing Positions
There are five members of both teams on the track during a bout and each one has a specific role. The positions are Pivot (1) Blocker (3) and Jammer (1). The team member who is tasked with scoring points is called the jammer. You can recognize the jammer by her helmet cover which is marked with a large star. Her goal is to pass the opposing team’s blockers and emerge from the pack quickly. The first team’s jammer to leave the pack without committing any penalties will gain the power to stop the jam at any time by placing her hands on her hips. The jammer must lap the pack once before she can start scoring points. Once she has lapped the pack she scores one point for every opposing team’s blocker she passes legally. The jammer can also score points against players who are in the penalty box and she gains an additional point by passing the other team’s jammer.
The blockers have both offensive and defensive roles and frequently switch between the two depending upon the situation at hand. Their goal is to block the opposing team’s jammer from passing. You will recognize the jammers because they do not wear helmet covers.
The pivot blocker serves as the leader of the pack, she is also a blocker and is the last line of defense if the opposing jammer manages to get past the other three blockers. You will recognize the pivot by her striped helmet cover.
In short the object of a roller derby bout is for the blockers to enable their jammer to get through the pack while blocking the opponent’s jammer from passing.
Real or sports entertainment?
Contrary to what you may have been exposed to in television or film, roller derby is 100% legit. Outcomes of bouts are not predetermined; this is a sport where the best team wins. Spills, hits and attitude are all real and that’s why it is called a bout rather than a game, it’s a fight to the finish.
Now that you have a basic overview of the sport of roller derby, come out and put your newfound knowledge to use. Tickets still remain for today’s bout at the Independence Family Fun Center. Class is adjourned.
Information in this article was compiled from WFTDA (www.wftda.com).
¬by Deb Boylan, Lehigh Valley Rollergirls Correspondent
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
There’s a banked track in near by Philly you girls can skate on!
PJRD
Come on Down!
May 14th there is a banked track workshop