How to Play Roller Derby

During a bout, two teams of five skaters face off on a flat track. Each team consists of a pivot, three blockers and a jammer. The pivot sets the pace and the blockers stay with them, guarding each other in what is called "the pack." The jammers are the scoring skaters and start 20 feet behind the pack. A first whistle blows and the pack begins skating. On the second whistle, the jammers take off and start fighting their way through the pack. When the first jammer makes it through the pack legally, she is designated the "lead jammer". Subsequent to the jammers first lap, they begin to score points as they legally pass players of the opposing team. A "jam" lasts a maximum of two minutes, but the lead jammer has the right to call off the jam by putting her hands on her waist repeatedly. The rest of the team tries to stop the opposing jammer from passing them and scoring. At the same time, they knock around the opposing team's blockers to help their jammer score. A bout usually consists of two 30-minute periods. At the end of the bout, the team that has accumulated the most points wins

Roller Derby and TRD Fact Sheet

• Roller derby was started in 1935 by sports promoter Leo Seltzer.

• It began as a simulation of a cross-country roller skating race in that participants circled the track thousands of times to "cover the distance" between Los Angeles and New York City. Of course, there were occasional collisions, and as Seltzer realized the excitement involved with the crashes, he "tweaked" the spectacle to maximize the contact nature of the event.

• Why flat track roller derby? It allows the game to be played in almost any facility for less cost and allows fans to get closer to the action.

• Is roller derby real? The latest version of roller derby is a genuine sport and the skaters take their sport very seriously. They skate 2-5 organized practices a week plus individual skating and workouts in their free time. The scoring as well as the action is real.

• Modern-day roller derby is a DIY, grass roots effort. The leagues are organized, run, and in part financed by the female skaters who participate in the sport.

• The TBDD/TRD league was established in October 2005 and is now entering their 8th season with 60 skaters and three bouting league teams, the Black Widows, Switchblade Sisters and Cigar City Mafia.

• In addition to the 3 home teams, TRD has an all-star travel team (the Tampa Tantrums) and two other teams. The Aces on Eights is a league farm team for new, developing skaters and skaters coming back from injuries. The Bruise Crew is a B-leveled travel team who will take on teams from other leagues around the state.

• Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is derby's governing body and in August 2007, TRD was accepted into the organization.

• There are over 130 leagues in the US and around the world that are part of the WFTDA. Each year, countless start up leagues are organizing around the world.

• TRD's all-star travel team, the Tampa Tantrums, are ranked 24^th in the country and finished 4^th in the South Central Regionals last year.

• This season the Tantrums will travel to play teams from Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Denver and more.

• TRD also has a junior roller derby team, Tampa Derby Chicks. Junior derby is for girls ages 8-17.

• Our mascot is Frank the Flamingo. He has his own Facebook page, and you can see him in our logo and in person at the bouts!

• Our leage was originally called the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins from 2005-2011, but in 2012 we decided to rebrand ourselves as Tampa Roller Derby, complete with a brand Frankin' new logo!