Roller Derby: On the right track in the UK

Roller Derby. It’s “the sport that is sweeping the nation” (according to a roller-derby website I clicked on as I desperately searched for some kind of information whilst researching the sport for this article). In reality it’s a niche sport, with a relatively small, if dedicated fan-base in the UK.

On paper, it sounds great.

Teams of five race against each other in a circuit, with one from each (the ‘jammers’) attempting to lap the other team to gain points. The other four (blockers) have to stop the opposition’s jammer with a mixture of tactical skating and body contact.

An all-female contact sport played on skates, with an emphasis on action – what’s not to like? But is it really “sweeping the nation”?

Since its modern revival in the early 2000’s in Texas, it has gained some ground. In 2013, the BBC reported that it was “the fastest growing women’s sport in Wales”, which sounds impressive, but actually means they went from just four teams in 2010 to twelve teams three years later.

Not exactly giant strides, but it’s definitely progress. It’s also reflected in changing attitudes to the competition itself, as it was officially recognised as a ‘roller discipline’ by The British Roller Sports Federation (BSRF) in 2011.

The sport has suffered from issues with funding, as well as the logistical problems of finding somewhere large enough to host games, given the large size of the racing area and the wear and tear that skates can do to the flooring, often leaving venues wary of hosting games or training.

A bid to be included in the 2020 Olympic Games was also made, and whilst it was declined, it does show the progress the sport is making globally, despite a lack of media attention and funding in the UK.

If it continues to grow in popularity, they can’t keep it off the agenda forever.