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Who are the BB 
DD?
The Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames (BBDD Roller Sports Club) are Birmingham, England's original all female, flat track competitive roller derby league. The league was formed in October 2006 by American transplant Bee Bentley following the resurrgence of the sport via a grassroots movement of strong-minded women in the USA in 2001. The league is comprised of about 20+ member/owners who manage and facilitate this democratic, grassroots organisation.
The league tooks it's name after the bombings during the World War II Blitz which destroyed most of Birmingham.
What is BB DD's Aim?
BBDD aims to provide recreational amateur athletic entertainment that improves member's individual athletic ability, self-discipline and character while promoting the sport of roller derby and empowering women to participate in a team sport.
The league represents the West Midlands at local, national and international competition. In addition, the league are dedicated to providing community outreach through events, activities, and charity sponsorship.
What is Roller Derby and how is it Played?
Roller Derby is a full-contact, competitive roller skating on four-wheeled skates around an oval track (in this case it's a flat track) in a counter clockwise direction. Each game, (called a 'BOUT') consists of two 20-minute-long periods, which are divided into two-minute-long jams. Jams consist of up to five women on the track from each team. Each team gets one pivot, one jammer and three blockers on the track. |
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Pivots are the skaters in the front of the
pack with the striped helmets that set the pace
and often call the plays for the team. The pivot is
the last line of defense to prevent an opposing
jammer from scoring.
Blockers work to keep the pack in a tight
formation to try and prevent a jammer from the
opposing team from skating past them. Pivots,
Blockers and Jammers can knock into one
another using their bodies, but can't grab
onto each other.
Jammers are the skaters positioned at the back of the pack with the starred helmets. The jammers work their way through the pack and score points by passing members of the opposing team after they have lapped the pack once.
Basically, the jam starts when the referee blows the whistle. All skaters on the floor begin to roll forward after the first whistle. When the referee blows the double whistle, the jammers begin fighting their way through the pack in an attempt to be named "lead jammer." The first jammer to get through the pack without committing a penalty is the lead jammer. It is possible to have no lead jammer. Each successive time the jammer laps the pack after their first pass through, they receive one point for each member of the opposing team that they pass.
A jam lasts a maximum of two minutes, but the "lead jammer" has the right to stop or call off the jam at her discretion. Why would she do this? If the lead jammer falls behind and can't score points, she can call off the jam to prevent the other jammer from scoring point in the jam.
Check out this tutorial provided by How Stuff Works.
