46 roller derby terms explained, including jammer, pivot, lead jammer, booty block and fresh meat, each with a short definition.
Roller derby built its own language, and a first bout is much easier to follow once you have it. Some of it is rulebook: jam, pack, lead jammer, track cut. The rest is culture, from derby names to fresh meat. The words related to roller derby below cover both, together with the roller skating terms that come up whenever gear is discussed, and the words associated with the track and the penalty box. The roller derby glossary gives each one in a line.
Must-Know Roller Derby Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Blocker
- Bout
- Derby stance
- Elbowing
- Jam
- Jammer
- Lead jammer
- Pack
- Pivot
- Power jam
- Quad skates
- Rink rash
- Scrimmage
- Whip
- Bout committee
- Derby name
- Fresh meat
- Grand slam
- Helmet panty
- Knockdown
- Major penalty
- Minor penalty
- Passing star
- Penalty box
- Recycling
- Skater number
- Track cut
- Wall
- Wheel lock
- Yield
If you’re curious about where roller derby is most popular, check out this article where roller derby is most popular.
Roller Derby Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Apex | The inside corner of the track at the turns. Jumping it is a legal way to gain ground if done cleanly. |
| Bearings | The rings inside each wheel that let it spin freely. A large part of how fast a skate rolls. |
| Blocker | A skater whose job is to stop the opposing jammer and clear the way for their own. |
| Blocking Zone | The parts of the body that may legally deliver a block, mainly shoulders, hips and torso. |
| Booty Block | Using the hips and backside to hold a jammer behind you. The most common legal block in derby. |
| Bout | A roller derby match, played as two thirty-minute periods. |
| Bout Committee | The group that organises a bout: venue, officials, volunteers, safety and promotion. |
| Bridging | Blockers spreading out to keep the pack legally defined while still holding the jammer up. |
| Cutting the Track | The full name for a track cut, one of the most common penalties called. |
| Derby Name | The alias a skater competes under, often a pun. Part of the sport's culture from the start. |
| Derby Stance | The low, wide, knees-bent posture skaters hold so they can absorb hits and change direction fast. |
| Elbowing | Using the elbow to hit or block. Illegal, and a trip to the penalty box. |
| Engagement Zone | The stretch of track around the pack where blocking is allowed. |
| Fresh Meat | A new skater still working through basic skills and rules before being cleared to play. |
| Grand Slam | A jammer lapping the opposing jammer, which earns an extra scoring pass. |
| Helmet Panty | The fabric cover pulled over the helmet to mark a skater as jammer or pivot. Also called a helmet cover. |
| Initial Pass | A jammer's first trip through the pack, which scores no points but decides the lead jammer. |
| Jam | A period of active play, up to two minutes long, in which jammers try to score. |
| Jam Line | The line on the track where jammers start each jam. |
| Jam Timer | The official who runs the clock on each jam and signals its start and end. |
| Jammer | The point scorer, marked by a star on the helmet cover. |
| Knockdown | A skater put on the track by contact or a loss of balance. |
| Lead Jammer | The first jammer through the pack legally on the initial pass. Only the lead jammer can call off the jam. |
| Major Penalty | A serious infraction that sends a skater to the penalty box. |
| Minor Penalty | A lesser infraction. Accumulated minors add up to box time. |
| NSO | Non-skating official. The people who track penalties, time the box and keep score off skates. |
| Off-Skate | Training done without skates on, usually strength and conditioning work. |
| Pack | The blockers from both teams skating together. Jammers must get through it to score. |
| Passing the Star | Handing the star cover from the jammer to the pivot, which makes the pivot the scorer. |
| Penalty Box | The area off track where penalised skaters serve their time. |
| Pivot | The blocker wearing the striped cover, the only one who can take the star and become jammer. |
| Power Jam | A jam with only one jammer on track because the other is in the box. The scoring team's best chance. |
| Quad Skates | Four-wheeled skates, two wheels front and two back. The standard skate in derby. |
| Recycling | Blockers who have been passed skating back into the pack ahead of the jammer, forcing another pass. |
| Referee | A skating official who calls penalties from inside or outside the track. |
| Rink Rash | The scrapes picked up sliding along the track surface. |
| Scrimmage | A practice bout used to work on strategy without the stakes of a real game. |
| Skater Number | The number worn on a skater's uniform, used by officials and announcers to identify them. |
| Star Pass | The moment the star cover changes hands from jammer to pivot. |
| Toe Stop | The rubber stopper at the front of a quad skate, used for starting, stopping and running on the toes. |
| Track Cut | Re-entering the track ahead of skaters you were behind when you left it. A penalty. |
| Trucks | The metal assemblies under the plate that hold the axles and let the skate turn. |
| Wall | Two or more blockers side by side, forming a barrier the jammer has to break. |
| Wheel Lock | Two skaters' wheels touching or interlocking, which usually ends with someone on the floor. |
| Whip | Pulling or pushing a teammate to give them speed, usually to launch a jammer through the pack. |
| Yield | Coming back onto the track behind the skaters who were ahead of you when you went out. |
#1 Blocker
In Roller Derby, blockers are the team members whose primary role is to impede the opposing jammer’s progress and assist their jammer. These skaters use body positioning and strategy to control the pack and play both offense and defense.
#2 Bout
A bout is a Roller Derby match consisting of two 30-minute periods, where teams compete to score points by lapping opponents. It is the main event in Roller Derby, showcasing the athleticism and strategy of the sport.
#3 Derby Stance
The derby stance is a low, agile posture that skaters adopt during play. This stance improves stability and readiness, allowing skaters to react quickly to the dynamic movements of the game.
#4 Elbowing
Elbowing occurs when a player uses their elbow to hit or block an opponent, which is illegal in Roller Derby. It’s considered a penalty and can result in the offending skater being sent to the penalty box.
#5 Jam
A jam is a two-minute interval during which the game is in active play. In this period, jammers race to score points by lapping opposing skaters, while blockers work to hinder their progress.
#6 Jammer
The jammer is the skater who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team. Identifiable by a star on their helmet, jammers are agile and fast, often the focal point of the spectator’s attention.
#7 Lead Jammer
The lead jammer is the first jammer (the player eligible to score points) to legally pass all blockers (defensive/opposing players) in their initial pass without committing any penalties. Being the lead jammer is advantageous as it gives the player the strategic ability to call off the jam (stop the scoring play) at any time, controlling the pace and timing of the game.
#8 Pack
The pack in roller derby consists of the group of blockers from both teams skating in proximity on the track. The pack’s speed and position are crucial as jammers must pass through this group to score points. Blockers within the pack work to hinder the opposing jammer’s progress while helping their own jammer through.
#9 Pivot
The Pivot is a skater capable of becoming the Jammer, indicated by a stripe on the helmet. This switch can strategically change the tide of the game, as Pivots assume the scoring role by receiving the star from the Jammer.
#10 Power Jam
A Power Jam occurs when only one team’s Jammer is on the track due to the opposing Jammer serving a penalty. It’s a prime opportunity for the team to score multiple points without opposition from a rival Jammer.
#11 Quad Skates
Quad skates are the traditional roller skates used in roller derby, featuring two wheels on each side providing stability. Required gear for all players, they’re essential for maneuvering and speed during a bout.
#12 Rink Rash
Rink rash refers to the scrapes and abrasions skaters get from falling and sliding on the track. It’s a common and often badge-of-honor reminder of the rough-and-tumble nature of derby play.
#13 Scrimmage
A scrimmage is an informal practice match where teams can experiment with strategies and skills in a game setting. It’s an essential part of training and preparing for official bouts without the high stakes.
#14 Whip
A whip is a move where a skater propels a teammate forward by giving them a push or pulling them by the hand or clothes. It’s a tactical way to gain speed or help Jammers break through the pack.
#15 Bout Committee
The bout committee is responsible for organizing and overseeing a roller derby bout. This includes logistics like scheduling, securing a venue, arranging officials and volunteers, ensuring safety protocols are followed, and managing public relations and promotions for the event.
#16 Derby Name
Each roller derby player typically adopts a unique and often playful or intimidating derby name. These names often reflect the player’s personality, playing style, or personal interests and are used during bouts and in roller derby communities, adding to the sport’s culture and camaraderie.
#17 Fresh Meat
A term affectionately used for new or inexperienced skaters who are just starting in roller derby. It’s a rite of passage as these “rookies” learn the ropes and work hard to become seasoned skaters.
#18 Grand Slam
Achieved when a jammer laps the opposing team’s jammer on the track and earns an additional scoring pass, which can significantly boost their team’s points during a bout. It showcases superior skating and strategic gameplay.
#19 Helmet Panty
A fabric cover with the team’s colors and symbols that slips over a skater’s helmet to distinguish their role as a pivot or jammer. It’s essential for quick identification during the fast-paced action of a bout.
#20 Knockdown
Occurs when a skater loses balance and falls to the track due to contact or a strategic move by an opponent. It’s a common occurrence and can affect the momentum of the game.
#21 Major Penalty
A serious infraction of the rules that results in a skater being sent to the penalty box for a minute. Major penalties can jeopardize a team’s strategy and give the opposition a significant advantage.
#22 Minor Penalty
A less severe rule violation that does not immediately send a skater to the penalty box. Accumulating four minor penalties, however, results in the equivalent of a major penalty, prompting time in the penalty box.
#23 Passing Star
“Passing the star” refers to the act of transferring the star helmet cover from the jammer to the pivot (a blocker who may become the jammer). This strategic move can change the scoring responsibilities to the pivot, allowing a team to adapt to the dynamics of the game, such as when the original jammer is fatigued or trapped in the pack.
#24 Penalty Box
An area off the track where roller derby players must sit for a set period during a bout as punishment for incurring penalties. It’s where skaters take a time-out to reflect on rule infractions.
#25 Recycling
A defensive strategy in roller derby wherein a blocker who has been passed by the jammer skates quickly backward to re-enter the pack ahead of the same jammer, forcing them to re-pass more blockers and slowing their scoring run.
#26 Skater Number
A unique number assigned to each roller derby player, typically displayed on their uniform, which helps officials, teammates, and fans identify them during a bout. It’s like each skater’s personal call sign.
#27 Track Cut
A penalty given to a skater who exits the track boundary and illegally re-enters in front of other skaters they were not ahead of before leaving the track. This move can temporarily send a skater to the penalty box.
#28 Wall
A defensive formation created by blockers standing side-by-side in a row to impede the opposing jammer’s progress through the pack. It’s a quintessential strategy of team defense in roller derby.
#29 Wheel Lock
An accidental or intentional situation where the wheels from two roller derby skates interlock or come into contact, usually resulting in a fall or loss of momentum. It’s a mishap that can quickly change the dynamic of the game.
#30 Yield
In roller derby, to yield means to re-enter the track behind players who were previously ahead of a skater when they went out of bounds or fell. This rule prevents skaters from gaining an advantage from track exits or falls, ensuring fair play continues throughout the jam.
FAQ
What is the point scorer in roller derby called?
The jammer, marked by a star on the helmet cover. The jammer scores a point for every opposing blocker legally passed after the initial trip through the pack.
What do you call the group of blockers in roller derby?
The pack. It is made up of blockers from both teams skating together, and its position on the track decides where blocking is allowed.
What is the helmet cover in roller derby called?
A helmet panty, or simply a helmet cover. A star marks the jammer, a stripe marks the pivot, and blockers wear none.
What are new roller derby skaters called?
Fresh meat. New skaters train as fresh meat while they work through basic skating skills and the rules test before being cleared to play in a bout.
What is a roller derby match called?
A bout. It runs as two thirty-minute periods, broken up into jams of up to two minutes each.
What skates are used in roller derby?
Quad skates, with two wheels at the front and two at the back and a toe stop at the front of the plate. The wide base is what makes derby stance and hard hits possible.
What is it called when a jammer laps the other jammer?
A grand slam. Lapping the opposing jammer earns the extra scoring pass and is one of the fastest ways to swing a bout.
Roles (jammer, pivot, blocker), play (jam, pack, wall, power jam, whip), penalties (track cut, elbowing, penalty box) and culture (derby name, fresh meat, rink rash). The roller derby glossary above lists them together.
What are some Roller Derby terms for beginners?
“Blocker,” “Jam,” and “Pack” are some Roller Derby terms beginners should start with. These are fundamental to understanding the roles and game dynamics during a bout.
What are some funny Roller Derby terms?
“Fresh meat” and “Helmet panty” are some funny Roller Derby terms. They add a touch of humor, referring to new players and the helmet cover for jammers or pivots, respectively.
