Derby

Saturday afternoon, a very hot Saturday afternoon. I attended my first ever roller derby game, the first of a double header.  The Blast Furnace Betties versus the BuxMont I Can’t Remembers. No, I really can’t remember!  I was anxious to see roller derby for the first time, because three women I know and respect are on the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls teams. Two were playing  that night.  They derby……yes, it’s the verb they use.

I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t even know what to call it. It’s a game, not a match! I kind of expected a raucous crowd, a small raucous crowd.  I didn’t know if I would fit in. It turned out to be a record crowd, I’d say over 300, and not raucous at all, but really into the game.  The game was played at the Bethlehem Municipal Ice Rink. I’d never been there before. I expected ice somewhere and therefore air conditioning.  There was no ice anywhere to be found. I knew they weren’t playing on ice, but I thought there would be ice in an ice rink facility! It was hot as blazes in there.

So it is crazy hot and humid and about thirty women were about to play full contact derby. It was nothing like the derby I remember watching as a kid. That was played on a sloped oval track and I can remember the women forming links and whipping a skater  around the track.  There was none of that.

Instead, it was more like a football game. The only person who can score is the jammer. She is like a fullback in football. The others on the track are blockers. They are like an offensive line. But they are also a defensive line in that they are also trying to stop the other team’s jammer from getting through.  I made that sound simple. It’s not. Did I mention they are on skates, flying around a flat oval? There are rules I can’t begin to understand.  But, wow, was it fun!! There are two halves in a game. At halftime, there was a sweaty sock toss to keep the kids, and adults, entertained.

The Betties won the game by about 100 points!  It was fun, it was interesting, and I am definitely going back.  Oh, there is a snack bar too and a merchandise table.

In conclusion I offer this: I once ran a group for male domestic abusers facing prison. Much of the group was about trying to explain why women deserve respect.  We had a rule in the group. If a member used an animal name, like chick or fox or cow, to describe a woman, they were assessed a point. If they reached three in a session they were kicked out and did not get credit for attendance.  That happened often. These roller girls would have absolutely no problem handling themselves against these weak men. I don’t just mean physically. These women are tough and strong and independent!

If you have never watched derby before, get out of your comfort zone and give it a chance. You may be pleasantly surprised, like I was.