The series Roller Jam has recently started airing on Challenge TV in the UK, while the skaters involved in the program are extremely talented and athletic, it is a sensationalised, WWE style version of roller derby, with over the top antics and cat fight dramas, and is not at all representative of what our league is about, or what you would see from the over one hundred US leagues who follow WFTDA (Womens Flat-Track Derby Association) rules and guidelines.
We are the first all womens flat-track roller derby league in the UK,but we are quite different from what you can see on Roller Jam. The action on the show is more like the old school roller derby of the 60’s and 70’s, while that instalment of the history of the sport has great nostalgic appeal, it is far different from the current revival of the sport stateside, and now here in the UK. Since we are just introducing the sport to London and most people are not familiar with it, let me explain some of the differences.
While Roller derby is an aggressive contact sport, it is by no means anything like wrestling on skates, more like roller hockey sans stick and puck.
Legal blocks involve the blocker using the side of her body from shoulder to hip, to make contact with the same area of her opponent’s body. Illegal blocks include grabbing, tripping, blocking from behind, use of elbows, and fighting.
While we have the creative team themes, alias skate names and personas, we are more like the grass roots leagues in the states and follow the game play guidelines of the WFTDA.
We play women’s only,(though men can be involved as referees, coaches, or announcers,) and are quite serious about the sport, there are penalties for illegal blocks and fighting is a major penalty, we are one of the leagues that chooses not to fake fights and drama, no WWE style sensationalism like the Roller Jam show. We also skate flat track rather than inclined, and use quad skates rather than blades so the action is lower speed and no stunts are involved.
All that being said, we have a great group of girls with dynamic personalties who are working hard to create this from the ground up and have tons of fun doing it, there is a great feeling of community amongst the LRG. We are 100% skater owned and managed, and put on monthly off skates fund-raiser parties with themes such as a 50’s sock hop, , and our upcoming WWII Blond bombshell night and punk rock anti-Santa event.
