What is Roller derby?

Roller derby is an American-invented full contact sport, based on formation roller skating on ‘quad skates’ around an oval track. Each team has 5 members on the track, 1 Pivot, 3 Blockers and 1 jammer. Points are scored as the team Jammer passes a member of the opposing team.
Contemporary roller derby is international and all-female. (Except for in cheerleading and judging where men are most welcome.)

Roller derby is originally played on banked tracks, but most teams today play on so called ‘Flat Tracks’. The term Roller Derby dates at least as far back as 1922. Since, Roller derby has spread beyond its American roots, with leagues in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Each league typically features two or more local teams which compete in public matches, called bouts, for a diverse fan base.

Most players in these leagues skate under aliases, many of which are creative examples of word play with satirical, mock-violent or sexual puns, alliteration, and allusions to pop culture. Some players claim their names represent alter egos which they adopt whilst skating. By the 2009 season, however, a small number of players on at least three leagues had started skating under their real names.