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How did you get involved in roller derby?
It was Canada Day 2010. I鈥檒l never forget it. Volunteering at the downtown festivities, I noticed two women on roller skates handing out 撸奶社区roller derby pins and info. Immediately I asked how this was going on in my town without me knowing about it, as roller derby is about as much up my alley as you can possibly get.
Turns out this was the very first time Mala and Meg had hit the streets, and the 撸奶社区Women鈥檚 Roller Derby league was born. I was keen to help in any way, so when they asked 鈥渨ould you like to be a ref鈥�?鈥� I responded, 鈥淗ell yeah鈥� before I knew the first thing about the sport. And it鈥檚 been hell yeah ever since.
And where most men involved in the sport are encouraged into it by their women, I鈥檓 one of the very few men who actually had to convince his wife to get into the sport.
Did you have any training?
Well, my first job ever was as a soccer referee and looking back now, it鈥檚 funny how I seem to be drawn to positions where I put myself out in the public with no way to win. I had some very limited skating experience from my parents dropping me off at Stardust roller rink 20 years ago (thanks again, Mom and Dad).
As for derby experience鈥� um, none at all. In fact, the very first time I ever saw the new version of the sport played, I was volunteering as a penalty timer. The second time I was in stripes and skates, holding on for dear life, trying to figure out what the heck was happening, and loving every second of it.
That鈥檚 one of the magical things about this sport 鈥� people seeing it for the first time have no idea what is happening, but they know they are really enjoying it. Then the more you watch and figure out what鈥檚 happening, the strategy is revealed and it just keeps getting better.
Roller derby is an awesome sport that attracts predominately sportos (hockey/figure skaters), skateboarders, rockabilly, burlesque, tattoo, nerd and lady lovers. It really does have something for everyone. A big part of the awesomeness is that there is little to no money in it, so everyone involved is doing it for the love鈥� which makes a big difference.
So who makes and enforces the rules?:
The international governing body is the Woman鈥檚 Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). Interestingly, the rule set evolves every year and it鈥檚 definitely cool being part of a young, evolving sport.
As for game time, there are no less than 17 officials working each game 鈥� yeah, how crazy is that!? There are seven referees and 10 non-skating officials, or NSOs. In most sports there are听lines and a field of play. In roller derby there are lines but the field of play is always moving with the largest pack of skaters.
鈥⑻鼿ead ref: This position deals with keeping the skaters in a pack and when things get crazy, this person has the final say.听
鈥⑻齁am Ref: Both teams have a jammer who scores points by passing opponents. This ref鈥檚 only job is to follow this one skater around the track. It鈥檚 the easiest position because you鈥檙e only concentrating on one person, but it鈥檚 also the position most likely to get yelled at because you鈥檙e counting points.
鈥� Inside pack ref: The pack is the largest group of skaters, with members of both teams and when they get spread out, this ref has to eyeball 10 and 20 feet away.
鈥� Outside pack ref: This is where the rookie refs are usually placed, but it鈥檚 one of the harder positions to do well because you鈥檙e looking for absolutely everything: pack definition, jammer points, and all the penalties from elbows to tripping. It鈥檚 my favorite because you鈥檙e Jack of all trades, skating like a bat out of hell trying to keep up.
Then are the 10 off-skate NSOs, who are absolutely essential to the game as well.
Photo by TJ Chase/www.tjchasephotography.com
Biggest surprise
After decades of skiing/boarding in the winter and biking in the summer I grew to hate the complete lack of compatible muscle groups. So after my first winter of skating I was dreading another spring of building the riding legs back up and was incredibly stoked to realize it鈥檚 a similar muscle group.
Other than that I鈥檓 a bit surprised just how much I鈥檓 enjoying it. The only thing I hate more than driving is driving east of Vancouver. But the last few years I found myself going as far as Abbotsford just to ref a scrimmage.
Have you considered playing?
Here鈥檚 a funny one 鈥� can you name one sport where the referees have never played the sport they鈥檙e officiating? Yep, derby refs who have played are very rare. This year I played for the first time and while it was fun, I don鈥檛 bounce like I used to, so my contact-sport days are limited. I鈥檒l play again for fun here and there, but that鈥檚 it. There is a men鈥檚 team in the city (Vancouver Murder) but it鈥檚 pretty intense with many members of Team Canada, so it鈥檚 way out of my league.听
If someone is interested in reffing, what do they need?
A good attitude is essential and very basic skating ability (ice, inline or quads) is helpful. That is it. Every year the Sea to Sky Sirens have ref tryouts and I鈥檓 at a point now where I can train anyone. I can鈥檛 stress enough how you don鈥檛 need experience 鈥� just a willingness to have fun, and guaranteed fun you will have.
Career highlight
I鈥檝e been lucky enough to have attended RollerCon in Las Vegas for the last two years, and last year I got the opportunity to ref the world鈥檚 best sponsored skaters (Riedell vs. Antik). It was way out of my comfort zone but did wonders for my confidence level.听
The hardest part of being a roller derby ref?听
Keeping your rule knowledge up to date is challenging, but the hardest thing is not cheering. I鈥檝e been skating with some of these players for a long time, so it鈥檚 very hard not to cheer for them鈥� especially when they pull a superstar move.听
Last words?
Anyone interested in joining this amazing sport is encouraged to drop me a line anytime. Did I mention its super fun? [email protected].
Photo by Carin Smolinski
