Flat track roller derby is a fast-paced contact team sport that requires speed, strategy, and athleticism. The flat track version of the sport evolved in 2001 and has quickly grown to encompass more than 400 leagues worldwide. This is in large part due to the ease of setting up a flat track – it can be done on any flat surface that is suitable for skating, such as skating rinks, basketball courts, parking lots and even airplane hangars. This greatly reduces the capital needed to start up a roller derby league, and allows small groups of people to get a fledgling league off the ground. The DIY spirit that drives the sport allows roller derby leagues to create their own unique identities and adapt their structures to reflect their local communities.
How is modern flat track roller derby played?
WFTDA created this great video to explain the basics of flat track roller derby:
What is the WFTDA?
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the governing body for women’s flat track roller derby and a membership organization for the leagues to collaborate and network. The organization created and maintained the first standardized rule set for the flat track game, which is now in its ninth full revision. The WFTDA also serves as the sanctioning body for flat track roller derby games, hosts regional and national tournaments, sets safety standards, provides roller derby insurance to athletes and leagues, and serves as a networking venue for flat track roller derby leagues to share resources and get advice. There are currently 381 Full Member Leagues and 66 Apprentice Leagues. More info on www.wftda.com.