Basics of roller derby strategy

Watching a bout can be overwhelming just because there is so much going on. The resurgence of derby is fairly recent, so we try to help the crowd know the rules by doing a "slow jam" at the start of each game that explains the positions the girls are playing and how points are scored.

Each team has five players on the track at a time (assuming no one's in the penalty box): four blockers and one jammer.

Jammers are the skaters you will see with the star on their helmet. They are the ones who score the points. Their job is to get through the pack of blockers. The whistle blows to start the jam (a two-minute period), and the blockers take off. After the second whistle, the jammer's role is to catch up to the pack and make their way through. After that, they try to make it around as many times as possible. On the second pass through and every pass after that, they get a point for every skater they pass on the opposing team.

The first jammer to make it out of the pack on that initial pass is designated the lead jammer. Being lead jammer is advantageous because she is the only one who is able to call off a jam should she or the coach decide it's time. For example, if the opposing jammer is coming up behind the lead jammer, the lead can call off the jam to keep the other team from being able to score more points. The signal to watch for is the lead jammer touching both hands to her hips repeatedly.

If for some reason the jammer feels she cannot continue to jam or it would be strategically advantageous, she can "pass the star" to the pivot, who then becomes the jammer for the rest of that jam. She literally removes her helmet cover and hands it to her team's pivot.

It's the blockers' jobs to get their team's jammer through the pack while keeping the other team's jammer from getting through. This is where all the hitting and pushing and leaning and falling comes in. Basically, these players put themselves in the way of the opposition to, well, block them. Sometimes this is done positionally, by simply staying in front of the other skater. (Why doesn't the skater simply shove her out of the way, you ask? Well, she can, but if she hits her in the back, that's an illegal play and she could do some time in the penalty box.) Sometimes it's done by moving them where you want them with a hip or shoulder.

It may not always be obvious, but each blocker plays a different position.

Pivot

The pivot is the skater wearing a stripe on her helmet. It's her job to help her teammates by giving some direction regarding strategy (speed up, slow down, opposing jammer coming up on the outside, etc.). The pivot is also important because she is the only skater who can accept the star if a jammer tries to hand it off.

Power blocker

The power blocker can be found at the rear of the pack, trying to keep the opposing jammer from even entering the pack. The longer she can hold off the opposing jammer, the better the odds that the her team's jammer can become lead and gain the upper hand.

The other two blockers usually start out with a designated position, either assisting the pivot or the power blocker.

I hope this helped! Now you can impress your friends when you come see our next bout (ahem--Nov.12--ahem).

Roller Derby FAQ

Cape Girardeau Roller Girls

CGRG on Facebook and Twitter