Women’s roller derby has had a checkered history. Even now, with the modern version gaining speed and popularity, many people still associate derby with the staged, televised 1970s banked-track version of the sport. Those earlier iterations were made of pro teams with salaried players who often fought dirty to make their big bucks, and today the sport is still dogged by such stereotypes.
Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. Today’s derby is played exclusively by amateur teams (for now, anyway). Its rules prohibit punching, elbowing and other forms of illegal and dangerous contact, and it’s the fastest growing sport in America at the moment. By far the greatest popularity and growth is currently enjoyed by all-women’s flat track roller derby, whose rules are made and regulated by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The growth of derby is due by and large by its appeal to and acceptance of all women. Without regard for body type, social class, job, age, race, ethnicity or sexuality, derby will accept you. I have been playing derby for two years now and have found it to be a satisfying and enjoyable way to meet new people, work out, and, for the first time ever, be an athlete. Many articles have even touted derby as promoting a good example of how sports can accept gay, lesbian and trans players, including an ESPN profile of Gotham Roller Girls’ star player Bonnie Thunders, who has been called the “LeBron James of roller derby.”

The author, “Jane AweStun,” in her derby gear.
While derby naturally attracts women who played team sports in school or college, it also attracts many women, like myself, who never played a team sport or who found them downright unappealing after being forced to play on co-ed teams in required gym classes. My own personal experience of team sports in school was of the kid always chosen last, who could neither kick nor catch a kickball very well and who, thus, did not really enjoy sports. Roller derby, with its grassroots appeal and its welcoming attitude, attracted me as soon as I heard about it.
Continue reading →