Derby Disaster Facts
Close up of Jesse carving, wood shavings flying. (View larger version)
- There are over 1,000 women's flat track roller derby leagues.
- Roller Derby started in Chicago in 1935 as an endurance competition between male-female duos.
- Roller derby matches used to be scripted much like wrestling.
- Roller derby injuries range from bruises to broken bones and even concussions.
- Roller Derby has an international competition called the Roller Derby World Cup.
- Most players go by pseudonyms like, "Lil' Paine", for example.
- To score a player must lap the opposing teams skaters.
- Roller derby was considered for inclusion as an Olympic sport in the 2020 games.
- Stars or stripes on player helmets indicate which position they play.
- In roller derby, the term "Jam" refers to the two minute playing segments.
- Players can not push each other using their hands.
- After 7 trips to the penalty box, a player is ejected from the game.
- Boston's Derby Dames are part of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.
- In the earliest forms of roller derby, teams would skate 57,000 laps around a rink – the total distance was thought to equal a trip across the USA!
- Professional roller derby dwindled in the 1970s and it wasn't revived until 2001, in Austin, Texas.
