ANTWERP ROLLER DERBY

THE PLAYERS
Two teams play against each other. Each team can have 14 players at most for an entire game, but there can only be 5 players (of each team) on the track, at the same moment.

• 1 jammer: You can recognise the jammer by the star on their helmet. A jammer is the only skater who can score points by passing the opposing blockers. 
• 3 blockers: They have to play defense and offense on the other team. They try to stop the opposing jammer.
• 1 pivot: This is a special kind of blocker who can be recognised by the stripe on their helmet. This player can turn into a jammer. 

THE GAME
A roller derby game consists of two halves of 30-minutes. These halves are divided into “jams”: these jams are maximum 2-minutes each. Inbetween every jam each team has 30 seconds to field 5 players.

Roller derby is played on an oval track where jammers start behind the blockers (behind what is called the “jammer line”). After the start signal (whistle) the jammer tries to push through “the pack”: all blockers on the track. Blockers will help their jammer move forward but will also block the opposing jammer. Once a jammer is through the pack and completes their first round on the track, they can start to score points. Scoring points is done by passing blockers of the opposing team. Each blocker passed is 1 point scored. The team with the most points at the end of the second half wins.

CONTACT AND RULES
Roller derby is a full contact sport. This means that hits are allowed but there is a clearly defined set of rules that lists what type of contact is and isn’t allowed. In addition to hits there are other rules as well that define illegal actions gameplay procedures. Skaters can get penalties when making mistakes such as doing illegal hits or cutting the track (going out of bounds and going back in bounds in front of another player) and will have to sit out a penalty in the penalty box for 30 seconds.

When you start training with us, you’ll learn all about the rules!