Mid Iowa Rollers

Requirements:

Applicants for a competitor on the Mid Iowa Rollers must be female

Referees and Volunteers may be either male or female

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age

All applicants must not have current medical issues that would prohibit full contact

All applicants must be willing to sign necessary waivers

All applicants must obtain the required insurance of the league

All applicants must be able to pay dues to the league

All skaters must maintain a 60% practice percentage for the minimum of two months to be eligible for skills testing and WFTDA testing prior to the submission of a registered derby name, number and availability for team placement. The Mid Iowa Rollers by-laws must have also been read and agreed upon by the applicant at this time.

Required Equipment is as follows:

A multi-impact helmet

A moldable mouth-guard

Elbow pads

Knee pads

Quad roller-skates

Wrist guards

Approximate Costs:

Quad skates generally range from $100.00 to 300.00. Specialized wheels are also highly recommended, as well as a set of outdoor wheels for trail skating and participation in parades for public relations. Rental skates are also available during practice hours for newbies.  As it is a closely knit community, any questions regarding preference may be addressed to any fellow derby skater. Costs vary. Local skating rinks such as Skate South and Skate West are able to order items, additionally, www.lowpricedskates.com, www.ridellrollers.com, www.sincityskates.com and www.rollergirlskates.com as well as www.viaderby.com, are all options for gear as well.

The Basics of Roller Derby:

The game is played to equal an hour, currently acceptable divisions are either three fifteen minute periods or two thirty minute periods. Five skaters from each team are allowed on the track at one time. They all must move in a counter-clockwise motion. Each team has one point scoring player known as the “Jammer”. They are designated by a star helmet cover that they wear. They begin at the “Jam line” behind the majority of the skaters which comprise “the pack”. The other skaters’ positions are generally referred to as “blockers”. The foremost blockers are known as “pivots”, these skaters control the speed of the pack of skaters and also serve as the last line of defense against the jammer of the opposing team.  The eight blockers, AKA the pack begin to skate at the first whistle. At the second whistle, the jammers begin to skate, and attempt to move through the pack, scoring a point for each opponent they legally pass. Blockers try to keep the jammer from the opposite team from getting past them while simultaneously attempting to aid their own jammer.

                On the first pass through the pack, the first jammer to get through the pack while staying in bounds and without fouling any opposing blockers is designated as the lead jammer for that jam. They then achieve the strategic advantage of being capable of calling off the jam at any time by placing their hands on their hips.  Jammers begin to score points on their second pass through the pack and every pass thereafter. If no lead jammer is declared, or if they are un-inclined to call it off the maximum period of time a jam may last is two minutes.

Blocking Moves:

                A skater is allowed to “block” an opponent by engaging them between the shoulders and the knees. However, they must not engage from behind their opponent, nor by swinging their elbows in an upward and downward motion, by grabbing, pulling, tripping, nor by showing insubordination to the referees, unsportsmanlike conduct to their fellow skaters, or engaging anyone in fight, etc.Skaters that receive either one major or four minor penalties will be sent to the penalty box for 60 seconds or longer depending upon the offense.

                A jammer may choose to implement a play known as “passing the star” in which they pass their helmet cover to the pivot of their team. The pivot then takes over the responsibility of the jammer while the jammer becomes the team’s pivot. The jam then will last the full two minutes as any “lead jammer status” that was previously achieved is forfeited.  It is also worth acknowledging that the star may not be passed within the first pass of the jammer through the pack. The team with the most points at the end of the culmination of the periods to an hour wins the game.

                Complete rules may be found on the website www.wftda.com

Practice:

                When attending practice, it is strongly recommended that all participants arrive 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start. This way the participants are able to gear up, and prepare for participation when practice is scheduled to begin. The league begins 10 minutes after the scheduled time to accommodate for participants to take a few laps prior to group stretching for optimal muscle flexibility. Afterwards, warm up drills commence, then the Coach, or a member of the coaching committee charged with leading practice, begins warm-up drills and then drills that deal with mostly endurance, blocking, balance, agility, strategy, etc.