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History of Roller Derby
Roller derby was invented in midst of the Great Depression by a struggling film publicist named Leo Seltzer. Originally designed to compete with the popular dance-marathon craze, roller derby began as a simulation of cross-country roller skating. Skaters, both men and women, circled the track thousands of times, covering 3,000 miles. However, it wasn't until players crashed into one another that the roller derby we know and love today was born.
The sport's popularity saw highs and lows in the following years. But it was in the 1950s, when derby first appeared on television, that the sport was brought to the mainstream-- making teams like the Bay City Bombers and the demon of the derby, Ann Calvello, (for whom our league is named) household names.
By the 1970s, high overhead costs put an end to the roller derby craze. Several attempts were made to revive the sport in the decades that followed, including the creation of a modified version of the sport called RollerGames. None were successful.
After nearly two decades of obscurity, the sport experienced a reawakening in Austin, Texas in 2001. Unlike the roller derby from years past, the new derby revival catered only to women and brought with it a punk-rock flair. Leagues became female skater owned and operated, while the sport became synonymous with woman empowerment.
Today, there are more than 80 roller derby leagues battling it out across the United States.
Anatomy of a bout
 Sure, you've seen the sport, but do you know how it's played? Here's a breakdown.
The game, known as a bout, is made up of a series of races between two teams of five players. These races are called jams. Each team consists of a jammer, three blockers and a pivot. The jammer is the only player who can score points and is identified by the star on her helmet. The blockers try to stop the other team's jammer from breaking through the pack. The pivot sets the pace of the jam and wears a stripe on her helmet.
The pivots and blockers assemble in formation at the starting line to begin the jam. The referee blows the whistle and the pack skates together around the rink. When the pack is 20 feet away from the starting line, the referee blows the whistle again and the jammers take off, racing each other and trying to break through the pack.
The first jammer to pass the opposing team's pivot is designated the lead jammer. The lead jammer has the ability to call off the jam early by placing her hands on her hips. No points are awarded on the first lap. Once the jammers lap the pack, they earn one point for each member of the opposing team they pass.
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