EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — With all physical sports, it’s expected for players to get some bruises and cuts from how intense they play. With roller derby, it’s no different.
The game is steeped in misunderstandings, with the majority of the public thinking it’s just an excuse to throw punches in the name of sport, but that is far from the truth.
What is roller derby? Described by 14-year veteran Redd Dhalya, it’s not only physical but strategical to score points.
“It may look like it’s extremely physical, which it is, but it’s also very strategic. It’s like imagine using chess pieces while playing foosball. If you put chess and foosball together, that’s roller derbying,” Redd Dhalya said.
How do you play? First, we need to understand the basics of the game.
Roller derby is played on an oval track with two teams of five players, at a time. All players are on roller skates, have helmets, safety pads and of course, mouthguards.
One player has a star on their helmet, that person is the “jammer.” The jammer is the only person on the team who can score points.
TexPistols Roller Derby practice. Photos taken by Jocelyn Flores/KTSM
Everyone else is a “blocker” who is trying to prevent the other team’s jammer from scoring.
There is one other person with a design on their helmet: a stripe. That person with the stripe on their helmet is a “pivot.” Pivots help jammers squeeze through the blockers to score points.
In cases that the jammer can’t go through blockers, a pivot can skate pass the jammer and blockers to become the new point scorer.
All players are running around the track for two-minute intervals for 30 minutes. They are called “jams.”
How do you score points?
In order for a jammer to score, they have to get past as many blockers each time they circle the track. Each blocker passed is one point and each lap is four points.
Roller derby is not like football where each point is used to stop play and reset players. The game is continuous until the two-minute whistle blows.
Redd Dhalya said she was looking for a place where she felt welcomed and stumbled upon the El Paso Roller Derby.
“Weird thing about roller derby, it finds you, you don’t really find it. You’ll be looking for something in your life and all of a sudden, there’s a sign like, ‘Hey, roller derby’s here,'” Redd Dhalya said.
“I was just looking for something to kind of settle me down. To get me something to focus on. I was a chef; I was in a very male-dominated industry and a lot of my friends were males. I wanted to have girlfriends. I wanted to be around other strong women and roller derby gave me that. I found a community. I found a place to belong,” Redd Dhalya said.
Roller derby nicknames are given to the players for character, depending on how tough, edgy or funny those nicknames are. Maria, known in the roller derby world as Dyke Tyson, says she likes her nickname as it reflects her.
“As far as derby names, we’re sometimes characters and sometimes it’s just based off of a nickname. My wife, she used to go by ‘Queer Pressure’ when she was still playing. Obviously, when I joined, we had to match. She deliberated and eventually she came up with Dyke Tyson, cause even though I’m kind of tiny, I’m still tough and I have that sort of drive. I’m also a lesbian and proud and out about it, and so it fits, ” Dyke Tyson said.
Dyke Tyson (in the green shorts) doing basic training. Photos taken by Jocelyn Flores/KTSM
Dyke Tyson has barely joined the sport, with having played four games under her belt. Although she was scared, she wanted to experience playing roller derby.
“My wife was doing roller derby before me. Growing up, I had in-line skates. Me and my sister would just go around the block and sometimes go to the ice-skating rink down by the Coliseum. But I’d never had proper quad skates. So, I got myself my first pair and started learning how to skate in a different way. I kind of informally practiced with her and some members of the league (El Paso Roller Derby League),” said Dyke Tyson.
Redd Dhalya said anyone can play.
“Once I got in, it was not only welcoming, but anybody, really anybody, can play. It’s not like you have to be a specific height or weight or you have to be this hardcore trainer that does all of these workouts or a marathon runner. You can just be an average person and if you show up and do the work, there’s a place for you on the team,” Redd Dhalya said.
In the El Paso Roller Derby League, there are women teams but also open gender teams where men, women and non-gender players can participate in.
For more information about El Paso Roller Derby League, click here.
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