ROLLER DERBY DEMOGRAPHICS: Results from the Second Annual Comprehensive Data Collection on Skaters and Fans.” WFTDA.com. Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. Mar. 2011. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.
WFTDA’s latest roller derby survey contains numerous statistics about fans, skaters, and officials involved with roller derby.
“OSDA Flat Track Rules.” OldSchoolDerbyAssociation.com. 28 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Sep. 2011.
The Old School Roller Derby Association’s Flat Track Rules offers a great deal of information about old school flat track roller derby. It provides game definitions, game parameters, track requirements, positions, officiating signals, and much more. It offers good examples to compare with today’s flat track derby.
“Roller Derby Worldwide Roster.” Derbyroster.com. N.d. Web. 23 Sep. 2011.
DerbyRoster.com gives a list of all current amateur roller derby leagues in the world.
“Roller Derby Timeline.” RollerDerbyHallofFame.com. National Roller Derby Hall of Fame. N.d. Web. 24 Sep. 2011.
This roller derby timeline offers great insight as to how and when certain game-changing events occurred.
“America’s Roller Derby Roots.” BayCityBombers.com. N.d. Web. 21 Sep. 2011.
The Bay City Bombers have been one of the most prominent leagues in roller derby history. This website offers great information about how old school derby was played.
“Men’s Roller Derby Association Rules.” Mensderbycoalition.com. 1 June. 2011. Web. 26 Sep. 2011.
This helpful PDF provides a set of rules followed by the men involved in men’s roller derby, very similar to the women’s sport.
McWilliam, Bryan. “Roller Derby World Cup is Here!” AVClub.com. 1 Dec. 2011. Web. 4 Dec. 2011.
This article offers a lot of information about the Roller Derby World Cup 2011, like the teams involved, the location it was held, and how it was played to sold-out crowds.
Bugby, Janet. “A Brief History of Roller Derby.” ArticleBase.com. 17 Feb. 2009. Web. 25 Sep. 2011.
Bugby describes the decline of roller derby in the late 70s very thoroughly. She provides some great information about the RollerGames teams.
Wilson, Tracy V. “How Roller Derby Works.” HowStuffWorks.com. Roller Derby: Girls on Wheels. N.d. Web. 24 Sep. 2011.
The writer gives accurate details about roller derby’s roots and how it became the sport it is today.
“Rose City Rollers’ Officials.” RoseCityRollers.com. N.d. Web. 26 Sep. 2011.
Like the rollergirls, Rose City’s officials have funny names, too.
“WFTDA Rules Central.” Wftda.com. 26 May. 2010. Web. 23 Sep. 2011.
WFTDA.com is the official website for the most up-to-date rules and regulations for all Women’s Flat Track Derby Association sanctioned bouts.
“WFTDA Mission Statement.” Wftda.com. N.d. Web. 24 Sep. 2011.
WFTDA’s mission statement provides an example of roller derby’s do-it-yourself (DIY) spirit, and explains that roller derby leagues are all skater-owned and skater-run organizations.
“WFTDA History.” Wftda.com. N.d. Web. 24 Sep. 2011.
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association has useful tidbits of information regarding derby’s history.
“W.O.R.D. Banked Track Roller Derby Rules Version 1.3.” RenoRollergirls.com. 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 23 Sep. 2011.
Provides rules and regulations for the World Organized Roller Derby Association sanctioned bouts.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Modern Day vs. Old School
Since first appearing in 1935, roller derby has undergone numerous changes. In it’s peak of popularity during the 1950s and 60s, old school roller derby was a hugely popular sport that rivaled most other American sports. A decade later, after a last-ditch effort to gain popularity by using outlandish dramatics, roller derby became virtually nonexistent. Modern-day roller derby reemerged in 2001 and has experienced its own transformations; the rules have changed, the skaters have changed, and the sport itself has adapted to accommodate a new breed of men and women.
Old school roller derby was very much a legitimate sport. Skaters focused more on racing rather than physical contact. Bouts were skated on a flat track in 8 periods of 10 minutes each (OSDA 1). Men and women skated in alternating teams (Bay City Bombers 1), creating a common bond amongst both male and female spectators. Men and women gathered in the thousands to watch roller derby bouts. It was reported that bouts in Madison Square Garden played to sold-out crowds of 10,000+ (Derby Timeline 1). It was around this time when derby was first broadcast on network television channels, like ABC, reaching even more fans across the country (WIKI 1).
During derby’s peak of popularity in the 1950s, the National Roller Derby Association had only 83 skaters amongst its six franchised teams (WIKI 1). In the 1960s, Jerry Seltzer, son of Leo Seltzer, the founder of roller derby, took over the family business. Roller derby began to gain a reputation for being somewhat violent, and drama between rival teams increased (WIKI 1; How Roller Derby Works 2). To compete with Seltzer’s growing popularity in the roller derby industry, Los Angeles developed it’s own roller derby franchise, called the RollerGames. According to Janet Bugby’s A Brief History of Roller Derby, “the flagship team was the Los Angeles T-birds (Thunderbirds), and lasted through the 70's, 80's, and 90's, into the early years of the 21st century, with many ups and downs in popularity” (1).
By the mid 70s, derby had become the ‘professional wrestling’ of women’s sports. Moves had become choreographed. Bouts had gained a reputation for having predetermined outcomes. Televised bouts showing skaters on a figure-8 track and dodging alligator pits were an attempt to reengage public interest, but failed to do so (How Roller Derby Works 2). By the early 1980s, derby had disappeared from public eye, and stayed that way for decades.
Since its revival, roller derby has once again become a genuine competitive sport. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association states that roller derby made its comeback in the early 2000s in Austin with the Texas Roller Girls. Flat track derby became hugely popular “as the ability to mark track boundaries on a skating rink floor or other venues, rather than building an storing a large banked track, made it possible to play the game just about anywhere” (WFTDA History 2). According to Wikipedia, a majority of today’s contemporary roller derby leagues are amateur, self-organized, and consist of all-female skaters (1). There are currently 124 full member WFTDA leagues and 76 apprentice leagues. Derbyroster.com shows that there are currently 1107 amateur derby leagues worldwide, including men’s teams (1).
Although men’s roller derby teams are gaining in popularity once again, with multiple leagues established from coast to coast, men still maintain a backseat to women’s leagues Men are still involved in women’s derby however, by officiating. Male roller derby officials make up 59% of league volunteers (MRDA 1; Roller Derby Demographics 2). Just like modern rollergirls, officials have even adopted personal pseudonyms like, Lord Rolldemort and No Way José, who are currently referees on the Rose City Rollers Officials Roster (Rose City Officials 1).
Modern roller derby has become so popular, it has its own nationalized rules enforced by organizations such as WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby), WORD (World Organization of Roller Derby), and MADE (Modern Athletic Derby Endeavor) (Roster 1). Unlike the derby franchises of the 1960s and 1970s, WFTDA is run “by the skaters, for the skaters” and “all member leagues have a voice in the decision-making process, and agree to comply with WFTDA policies" (WFTDA Mission Statement 1). WFTDA is the most popular set of rules, and the organization has even sanctioned the very first Roller Derby World Cup in Toronto. In December 2011, 13 countries from all around the globe competed for a chance to become the first World Cup Champions in derby history and played to sold-out crowds (World Cup is Here! 1). Modern roller derby has come very far from the derby of yesterday, yet it still manages to retain some of its old school roots. The skaters, the officials, and the spectators have all taken roller derby and turned it into the tremendous force that it is today. Each and every practice and competition is an improvement to the sport and to the men and women involved. Participants owe it all to the women and men who first tested their own limits and strength on four wheels.
Old school roller derby was very much a legitimate sport. Skaters focused more on racing rather than physical contact. Bouts were skated on a flat track in 8 periods of 10 minutes each (OSDA 1). Men and women skated in alternating teams (Bay City Bombers 1), creating a common bond amongst both male and female spectators. Men and women gathered in the thousands to watch roller derby bouts. It was reported that bouts in Madison Square Garden played to sold-out crowds of 10,000+ (Derby Timeline 1). It was around this time when derby was first broadcast on network television channels, like ABC, reaching even more fans across the country (WIKI 1).
During derby’s peak of popularity in the 1950s, the National Roller Derby Association had only 83 skaters amongst its six franchised teams (WIKI 1). In the 1960s, Jerry Seltzer, son of Leo Seltzer, the founder of roller derby, took over the family business. Roller derby began to gain a reputation for being somewhat violent, and drama between rival teams increased (WIKI 1; How Roller Derby Works 2). To compete with Seltzer’s growing popularity in the roller derby industry, Los Angeles developed it’s own roller derby franchise, called the RollerGames. According to Janet Bugby’s A Brief History of Roller Derby, “the flagship team was the Los Angeles T-birds (Thunderbirds), and lasted through the 70's, 80's, and 90's, into the early years of the 21st century, with many ups and downs in popularity” (1).
By the mid 70s, derby had become the ‘professional wrestling’ of women’s sports. Moves had become choreographed. Bouts had gained a reputation for having predetermined outcomes. Televised bouts showing skaters on a figure-8 track and dodging alligator pits were an attempt to reengage public interest, but failed to do so (How Roller Derby Works 2). By the early 1980s, derby had disappeared from public eye, and stayed that way for decades.
Since its revival, roller derby has once again become a genuine competitive sport. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association states that roller derby made its comeback in the early 2000s in Austin with the Texas Roller Girls. Flat track derby became hugely popular “as the ability to mark track boundaries on a skating rink floor or other venues, rather than building an storing a large banked track, made it possible to play the game just about anywhere” (WFTDA History 2). According to Wikipedia, a majority of today’s contemporary roller derby leagues are amateur, self-organized, and consist of all-female skaters (1). There are currently 124 full member WFTDA leagues and 76 apprentice leagues. Derbyroster.com shows that there are currently 1107 amateur derby leagues worldwide, including men’s teams (1).
Although men’s roller derby teams are gaining in popularity once again, with multiple leagues established from coast to coast, men still maintain a backseat to women’s leagues Men are still involved in women’s derby however, by officiating. Male roller derby officials make up 59% of league volunteers (MRDA 1; Roller Derby Demographics 2). Just like modern rollergirls, officials have even adopted personal pseudonyms like, Lord Rolldemort and No Way José, who are currently referees on the Rose City Rollers Officials Roster (Rose City Officials 1).
Modern roller derby has become so popular, it has its own nationalized rules enforced by organizations such as WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby), WORD (World Organization of Roller Derby), and MADE (Modern Athletic Derby Endeavor) (Roster 1). Unlike the derby franchises of the 1960s and 1970s, WFTDA is run “by the skaters, for the skaters” and “all member leagues have a voice in the decision-making process, and agree to comply with WFTDA policies" (WFTDA Mission Statement 1). WFTDA is the most popular set of rules, and the organization has even sanctioned the very first Roller Derby World Cup in Toronto. In December 2011, 13 countries from all around the globe competed for a chance to become the first World Cup Champions in derby history and played to sold-out crowds (World Cup is Here! 1). Modern roller derby has come very far from the derby of yesterday, yet it still manages to retain some of its old school roots. The skaters, the officials, and the spectators have all taken roller derby and turned it into the tremendous force that it is today. Each and every practice and competition is an improvement to the sport and to the men and women involved. Participants owe it all to the women and men who first tested their own limits and strength on four wheels.
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