For real, what is roller derby?

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Roller derby is a game where one skater (known as a Jammer) laps as many of the opposing team's skaters as they can to score points.

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The other skaters act as defense and offense, stopping the other team from scoring points, and helping their team mate score as many points as they can.

THE GAME:
 

• A game or bout, is divided into two 30 minute halves. Each half is broken into jams.  A jam is a maximum of 2 minutes!
   

• To start the jam, jammers are positioned behind the blockers.  The whistle blows, and the jammers attempt to push through the pack.  
   

• After breaking through the pack, the jammer scores one point for every member of the opposing team they pass.
   

• The blockers work together to stop the opposing team's jammer.  Any time contact is made between players, it is called a block.  Blocks must be delivered to legal target zones using only legal blocking moves.

• The lead jammer may call off the jam by moving their hands to and from their hips.

THE PLAYERS:

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Each team has 5 players on the track at a time.  These 5 players consist of:

• 1 Jammer (designated by a star on their helmet cover):  they score one point for every time they lap a member of the opposing team

• 3 Blockers:  they are players who attempt to stop the opposing jammer from gaining points

• 1 Pivot (designated by a stripe on their helmet cover):  they are a blocker that has the ability to become the jammer when passed the jammer’s helmet cover

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Together, the blockers and pivots from both teams form the pack.

PENALTIES:

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• A penalty is 30 seconds, and begins when the player has taken their seat in the penalty box.  The penalty clock stops between jams.
   

• Jammers may serve less than 30 seconds if the opposing jammer takes a seat in the penalty box.  In this case, the opposing jammer is only required to serve the same amount of time for their penalty.

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