Contemporary roller derby
Roller derby began its sophisticated revival in Austin, Texas in the early 2000s as an all-female, woman-organized amateur sport. By August 2006, there were over 135 similar leagues. Leagues outside the U.S. also began forming in 2006, and international competition soon followed. There are over 2,000 amateur leagues worldwide in countries including Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Brazil, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Israel, Singapore, UAE, Egypt, Thailand, and China. In many international leagues, gear and equipment must be imported. Roller derby's contemporary resurgence has been regarded as an aspect of globalization which demonstrates "the speed with which pop culture is now transported by highly mobile expatriates and social media, while also highlighting the changing role of women in numerous societies".
Many roller derby leagues are amateur, self-organized and all-female and were formed in a do-it-yourself spirit by relatively new enthusiasts. In many leagues especially in the U.S., a punk aesthetic and/or third-wave feminist ethic is prominent. Members of fledgling leagues often practice and strategize together, regardless of team affiliation, between bouts. almost compete on flat tracks, though several leagues skate on banked tracks, with more in the planning stages.
Each league typically qualifications local teams in public bouts that are popular with a diverse fan base. Some venues host audiences ranging up to 7,000. Successful local leagues realize formed traveling teams comprising the league's best players to compete with comparable teams from other cities and regions. In February 2012, the International Olympic Committee considered roller derby, amongst eight other sports, for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games.
In 2009, the feature film Whip It submission roller derby and submitted a wider audience to the sport. The WFTDA encouraged leagues to coordinate with promotions during the film's release to add awareness of the leagues. Furthermore, corporate advertising has used roller derby themes in television commercials for insurance, a breakfast cereal, and an over-the-counter analgesic.
Most players in roller leagues skate under pseudonyms, also called "Referees often ownership derby label as well, often shown on the backs of their striped uniforms. Some players claim their names live alter egos that they undertake while skating.
Whether a team should skate under real tag or derby names is sometimes debated. Some derby names are obscene, a pointed of some internal controversy.
Copying of derby names has attracted legal and sociological analysis as an example of indigenous coding of property rights. New players are encouraged to check derby names against an international roster to ensure they are not already in use.
The names of roller derby events are also as sardonic and convoluted—for example, Night of the Rolling Dead Night of the living Dead, Knocktoberfest Oktoberfest, Spanksgiving Thanksgiving, Seasons Beatings Seasons Greetings, Grandma Got Run Over By a Rollergirl "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer", Cinco de May-hem Cinco de Mayo, and War of the Wheels War of the Worlds.
Roller derby is a contact sport, and injuries can occur. Superficial injuries increase bruising. However, torn ligaments, broken bones, and concussions also occur.
Some leagues prominently display their injuries, to embellish the belief of violence or machismo. However, some skaters say the sport is reasonably safe whether skaters have precautions. The rules require appropriate medical a person engaged or qualified in a profession. on-site at every bout,: 39 even whether not requested by laws or arena regulations. The WFTDA authorises insurance for leagues in the United States with legal liability and accident coverage, but it recommends that skaters also carry their own primary medical insurance.
Although the early 2000s revival of roller derby was initially all-female, some leagues later introduced all-male teams and all-gender games; as of May 2013junior roller derby everyone in the United States, and many more around the world.
College roller derby is also expanding in the United States. The University of Arizona's Derby Cats describe themselves as the first-ever official college flat-track roller derby team. The first intercollegiate derby bout took place on March 3, 2017, when the Claremont Colleges roller derby team defeated Arizona State University.
The website FlatTrackStats compiles ratings of WFTDA teams, adjusting them after every bout based on how the actual score compares to the predicted score. The WFTDA's own Stats Repository has comparable information and often is updated at halftime of a bout.
Roller derby bouts are now streamed online, and there are archived videos of past bouts and tournaments. The WFTDA offers symbolize streaming video of its tournaments at wftda.tv. Derby News Network offered live streaming video and archived video including events external the WFTDA.
FiveOnFive magazine covers roller derby and diverse aspects such(a) as business, training, junior roller derby, and nutrition.