News Type: Regular

Hello Derby Fans!

In honor of our upcoming bout this weekend, on Saturday the 17th (tickets are still available here!) our feature of ‘So You Wanna Derby’ will be talking about the basic rules of the game.

Last post, we discussed the different people you’d see on the track, so today we’re covering what the flip it is they’re all actually doing out there!

At a glance, derby is chaotic. There are people, limbs, skates, and who even knows what else, flying in every direction. But I promise, there *is* actually a method to all of this madness!

Let’s start at the beginning: flat track derby is played on a flat, oval, track (if you’re familiar with some older styles of roller derby, or some movies about roller derby, there is another style that is played on a banked track– more on that in a different post!). Play is split into two thirty minute halves with an intermission between those halves.

Within each half, play is further broken down into a unit called a Jam. A Jam lasts for a maximum of two minutes, and there are 30 seconds between each Jam.

All of the juicy stuff of roller derby- the full contact, high action, skating chaos- happens within the context of a Jam. During a Jam, each team is required to field five skaters. Four of those skaters are blockers, and one is the jammer (and one of the blockers has the special role of pivot!). If you’re feeling lost, check out my last post from this series where I discuss all the positions– I promise it’ll help. 🙂

During a Jam, the jammer is essentially the ‘ball’, that is, they are the one scoring points. Everyone else on the track is trying to help their own jammer score points, or prevent the opposing jammer from scoring points.

The jammer scores a point for every opposing blocker they lap, on each lap. However, they must make it through the pack (the group of blockers from both teams), then all the way around the track, to be initially able to score those points on opposing blockers.

In other words, when a jam starts, both jammers are trying their hardest to get out of the pack first, go around the track, and then go through the pack again to earn points for their team– all while the other players are playing offense, or defense, respectively.

There are some nuances to how exactly points are scored, and how jammers are different from other players, and what a lead jammer is– but that’s all for another post. Derby can feel really complicated and intimidating, but I’m hoping by breaking everything down into little bite sized chunks, I can make it easily understood to anyone stumbling- or seeking- out this blog.

The last thing I want to note about general derby rules is that we do play a full contact sport. However, there are VERY strict rules regarding safety, and where it is legal/illegal to make contact on another player. Play that is unsafe or illegal or just plainly against derby rules can result in a skater being given a penalty, which is served by 30 seconds in the penalty box. Those 30 seconds must take place during jam time, so if a player ends a jam in the penalty box, they will remain there until their time is up for the next jam.

You win a game of derby by having the most points at the end of the game!

PHEW, that was a lot of information I just threw at you. But as we say on the track, practice makes perfect, and I’d highly recommend bringing your newfound knowledge to our game! A huge part of learning derby is watching derby, and the more you watch the more it allllll starts to make sense. Take it from me; I’m still learning SO MUCH about derby every dang day, and treasure the times I get to watch my teammates play, and even better, ask them questions about it afterwards.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Hugs and Bruises,

Public Emily No. 01

Hello Derby Fans,

Two posts in two days? I know, what’s this derby blog coming to!

But never fear, today’s post brings some stellar news: we are launching a new learn to skate program! It starts in a few hours, but don’t worry if that feels like a tight timeline to you— we have loaner equipment available, so genuinely all you need to do is buy a ticket and show up!

This is a program focused on skating essentials. While it is through the lens of roller derby, it is focused on basic footwork and skating moves. You’ll learn how to skate forwards and backwards, how to safely fall and stop, and begin to develop skills like crossovers and transitions.

As someone who went through Jet’s learn to skate program, I genuinely cannot recommend it enough! The coaches were kind and well informed, with experience coaching skaters at all skill levels. When I began my program, it was my first time on skates in my entire adult life. A year later, I was drafted onto the home team roster! While I still have a lot to learn, and am continuing to get better at every practice, I wouldn’t be able to do it without the basic skills I learned in the training program here.  All that to say- if you’ve ever wanted to learn how to skate, for derby or otherwise, this program is a fantastic place to start.

You can find logistical details and tickets here. You’ll have practices typically on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays, with some additional practices happening on periodic Thursdays. We practice up at Lynnwood Bowl and Skate and the Edmonds Center for the Arts, and even though this introduction to skating has little to no contact, we still require full safety gear for all participants!

Hugs and Bruises,

Public Emily No. 01

Hello Derby Fans!

Today marks the beginning of a very special series: ‘So You Wanna Derby’ where I, your favorite derby guide, will be going over various tidbits, histories, guides, and maybe even lesser-known treasures, of our favorite sport.  Our inaugural session begins with the basics: who’s who on the track. (Before we begin, mostly everything I’ll be talking about in this series has to do with flat track derby- there’s also banked track roller derby, but we’ll save that for a future post!)

There are three playing positions in derby: blockers, pivots, and jammers. Each lineup for a jam consists of three blockers, one pivot, and one jammer, for a total of five players in a jam. Combined with the other team, there should be ten players on the track for each jam (barring any penalties of course!).

Jammers: This position wears a helmet cover with a star on it. The jammer’s goal is to pass opposing blockers, which scores that team points. There are some nuances to how points are scored, for example, jammers can only begin scoring on the second time through the pack, but in essence the jammer’s job is to get through all the players as fast as possible, over and over again.

Blockers: This position wears no helmet cover. They make up the essence of the pack, and are there to stop the opposing jammer from moving forward, while also helping their own jammer through the pack. They play both offense and defense

Pivots: A special blocker, this position wears a helmet cover with a stripe on it. While normally doing the duties of a blocker, the jammer may pass their helmet cover to the pivot, causing the pivot to become the new jammer. Once again, there are some nuances around how this pass must be made and potential repercussions, but the pivot exists to become a new jammer if needed.

There are all sorts of strategies and moves that players in these different positions can do, and a variety of ways to play derby. In my opinion, that’s what makes the game so fun- it’s reactionary and changes every time!

There’s one more group of people you might see wearing skates around the track: the Skating Officials (SO), or referees. They will always be wearing black and white striped shirts and skate around the outside or inside of the track to enforce rules of safe and fair game play. There are also non-skating officials (NSOs) who are the ones that enforce the penalties the Skating Officials call, time the match and the penalties, keep score of the game, operate the scoreboard, and so much more.  As their name implies, that group of referees are not on skates, but their role is just as essential in running a smooth derby game.

While the excitement of a derby game might have you focused on the players on the track, the officials are what enable us to play the game, and we are always grateful for the support of all our officials!! Speaking of games, we have one coming up at the end of April, and tickets can be found here! Could be a good time to put your newfound knowledge to work, and see if you can identify who’s who on the track.

Next week, I’ll be back to talk about our upcoming bout and our incredible sponsorship partner. Stay tuned until then!

Hugs and bruises,

Public Emily No. 01

Hello derby fans!

Public Emily No. 1 here, your friendly neighborhood derby player, and new body behind the blog.

I’ll be the one making posts and ‘pivoting’ this blog back into shape! And apologies in advance for any bad jokes or puns you’re going to have to put up with while I’m the one steering this airplane!

I started skating for the very first time in February 2024, and was drafted with Jet in December 2024 after completing the Pilot Program and Cadet Program. Jet taught me how to skate and how to play derby, and while I still have a lot to learn, I’m thrilled to be playing on a team– and, for the first time in my life, I’m actually excited about a sport?

Bear with me as I do a quick plug for derby: it is genuinely an amazing experience, and a fantastic sport. It is so refreshing to be in a space where there’s no such thing as a ‘sports body’ because no matter your build or size, all bodies are essential on the derby track! Plus, I feel so supported when I learn new skills. When you have wheels on your feet, you will inevitably fall, and fall again. But everyone falls (and I really do mean EVERYONE! Even at the highest levels people are falling all the time!) and falling means you’re learning. It’s the fastest way to figure out “Oh hey, I probably shouldn’t put my body there!”

Learning new skills as an adult can suck!! It can feel really hard and frustrating, and progress sometimes doesn’t feel like it’s happening. But with this group of people it felt incredibly encouraging and rewarding, and is also ridiculously fun. I genuinely can’t sing its praises enough! (And if you’re reading this and thinking huh… is derby for me? It totally is! Check out our Instagram for details about our next pilot program!).

On skates, I’m currently working on my lateral movements, and playing/watching as much derby as I can. I’m trying to internalize all the rules and pick up new play ideas to bring my own understanding of the game to the next level, and I hope to bring plenty of reports and rundowns back to you all here.

Speaking of reports, our next game is March, where we’ll be hosting our first ever tournament: the Rainy Season Rumble!!! Join us from the 21st-23rd for a full weekend of derby antics, and keep an eye out here for some special features coming soon.

Off skates I’m working on my cardio and thinking about the adage ‘we don’t play derby to workout– we work out so we can play derby!’

Thanks for reading and leave a comment if there’s any specific derby topics you’d like to see covered here. Either way, I’ll see you next month to talk more about the Rainy Season Rumble!

Hugs and bruises,

Public Emily No. 1