roller derby

Sense of community. Belonging. Teamwork. Identity. These feelings can come from playing a team sport. However, sports often are gendered spaces that follow traditional societal expectations. Then, there’s roller derby, which has a history of defying traditional female roles and giving a space for women to compete. One derby league, Dockyard Roller Derby in Tacoma, is questioning how it can strive to be a more inclusive, safer and supportive space for more folks under the LGBTQ+ umbrella.

The Palouse area has had a vibrant roller derby culture for years. Lauren Paterson reports how the local sport is picking up again after the…

Much like its adult counterpart, a game of junior roller derby includes two teams of five roller skating on an oval track as they block their opponent’s point-scorers, called jammers, from lapping them while advancing their own within two-minute bouts. But it’s not all fun and games. There’s always a chance for accidents that could lead to injury, even with mandatory safety equipment.