Inside the Roller Derby Skills Test
Inside the Roller Derby Skills Test
Before anyone hits the track, every derby skater has to prove they’ve got the fundamentals down. Here’s what that actually involves.
A sport with real roots
Roller derby traces its origins back to the 1930s, when roller skating races between teams of skaters first became a popular event. The format that would eventually become the modern skills test won out over other styles of roller skate racing, and during the Second World War, roller derby grew into a genuine national phenomenon in the United States. Interest declined after the war, until the sport resurfaced as an underground scene in Austin, Texas, in 1998. In 2000, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association formed to give roller derby international recognition and expand opportunities for leagues everywhere — and from there, more leagues formed, building the cult-like following the sport still enjoys today.
Basic rules and structure
Team makeup
A roller derby team can carry up to 14 players, but only five are ever on the track at once — one jammer, who scores the points, and four blockers positioned defensively to stop the opposing jammer from getting past.
The pivot
A pivot is a specific type of blocker who acts as the team’s de facto captain, making in-the-moment decisions during play.
Match length
A roller derby match is split into two 30-minute periods, with each individual jam lasting up to two minutes.
Starting a jam
At the start of a jam, blockers from both teams skate around the track together. Once the last skater on the track is roughly 30 feet from the starting line, a whistle signals the two jammers — one from each team — to begin skating.
How scoring actually works
The jammer skates as fast as possible, fighting through the pack of blockers for a chance to score by passing, or lapping, members of the opposing team — earning one point for every opposing player they pass. Blockers, meanwhile, are allowed to use physical force to stop the opposing jammer from getting through and scoring, which is where most of the physical contact in the sport comes from.
What gets you a penalty
There are several grounds for penalties in roller derby, including tripping, blocking above the shoulder, blocking an opponent while they’re out of bounds, blocking with an arm below the elbow, and charging an opponent from behind. Referees watch closely for all of these throughout a bout.
Deciding the winner
Whichever team has scored more points by the end of the match is declared the winner. If the score is tied, the game goes into overtime, where jams continue until one team pulls ahead in points and is declared the winner.
Getting started with technique
Warm up properly
Essential for any high-intensity sport, including roller derby — stretching prepares the body for the physical demands ahead and helps prevent injury.
Practice your crossovers
An important skill involving shifting your weight from side to side as you skate around the track. Crossovers build speed and agility, so regular practice is what makes them second nature.
Work on balance
Practicing balance on one foot while skating around the track helps you stay upright and in control at all times.
Block strategically
Practice using different parts of your body to legally block or shield opponents from scoring, while staying alert to penalties so you don’t commit any yourself.
Build endurance
Suicides — running forward and backward across the track — along with strength training focused on the core, like planks and mountain climbers, help build the stamina roller derby demands.
Advanced drills and strategies
Figure 8s
Skaters travel around the track in a figure-eight pattern. Done well, this shows off real skill and can double as an offensive strategy when players team up in pairs to block opponents from passing.
Apex jump tests
Players sprint at full speed while making sharp turns or jumps, building the ability to change direction quickly and dodge opponents with ease — a fundamental element of the sport.
Fast slaloms
Starting from a skating stance and gripping the ground with the outside edge, skaters glide into a crossover, alternating feet in a quick slalom motion across the track to practice acceleration, direction changes, and rapid stops and turns.
Powerslides
Using the skates to slide along curved lines across the track, powerslides help create gaps between packs of skaters and are a powerful tool for improving speed, agility, and finesse during a match.
Formation skating & tracking
A choreographed formation where every skater’s position matters and coordination is essential — one mistake can have major consequences for the whole team. Tracking drills, meanwhile, combine agility and speed with navigating obstacles, requiring skaters to spot openings in the opposing defense while factoring in angle, speed, and momentum.
