What Is Roller Derby?
Roller derby is a fast-paced, full-contact team sport played on quad roller skates. Governed internationally by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA), and Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA), modern flat-track roller derby combines athleticism, strategy, and teamwork in a highly competitive environment.
South Bend Roller Derby is a member of WFTDA.
A standard WFTDA roller derby game is played between two teams, each consisting of up to 15 skaters. During gameplay, teams send five skaters onto the track at a time: one jammer (the primary scorer) and four blockers, who work together to stop the opposing jammer while helping their own jammer score. Games are divided into short, intense segments called jams, each lasting up to two minutes.
The objective of the game is for a team’s jammer to score points by passing opposing blockers while skating counterclockwise around the track. Blockers use legal body contact, positioning, and strategy to impede the opposing jammer or create openings for their own. Physical contact is regulated by WFTDA rules to emphasize safety, fairness, and skill.
Athleticism and Strategy
Roller derby is a demanding sport that requires speed, strength, endurance, balance, and agility. Skaters train extensively in skating skills, agility drills, gameplay strategy, and teamwork. While the sport is known for its intensity and contact, it is also deeply strategic—requiring communication, situational awareness, and coordinated team play.
Every position on the track plays a vital role, and success depends on collective effort rather than individual performance alone.
WFTDA and the Modern Game
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is the international governing body for women’s flat-track roller derby. The WFTDA establishes standardized rules, safety protocols, officiating guidelines, and competitive structures that are used by member leagues worldwide. This ensures consistency in gameplay and promotes athlete safety and equity across the sport.
WFTDA is skater-governed and is committed to values of inclusivity, diversity, and respect. The organization supports competitive play at all levels, from recreational leagues to international championships.
Community and Inclusivity
Modern roller derby is built on a strong foundation of community. Leagues are typically skater-run and volunteer-driven, with opportunities to participate not only as skaters, but also as referees, non-skating officials, announcers, volunteers, and supporters.
WFTDA roller derby welcomes adult skaters of varied backgrounds and experience levels. Many athletes join the sport with no prior skating experience, learning through structured training programs focused on skill development, safety, and confidence.
More Than a Sport
Roller derby is more than competition—it is a culture rooted in empowerment, teamwork, and mutual support. Through athletic challenge and community engagement, WFTDA roller derby leagues foster leadership, resilience, and connection both on and off the track.
