HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

A jam starts with a combination of blocker (defensive) skaters and jammer (offensive) skaters on the track. Starting behind the “pack” of blockers, two jammers from each team (sporting a star on their helmet) must make it past the pack and make a legal lap around the track to begin scoring points.

If they make it through the pack of blockers and around the track, jammers then start gaining points for each blocker who they pass. The first jammer to make it past the pack is considered the lead jammer, and can stop the jam at any point before the two minutes are up.

What makes the sport’s players so impressive (besides the fact that they are on rollerblades for all of this), is that roller derby is a very contactheavy sport. Blockers are blocking the jammers out and jammers are jamming through the blockers. Of course, there are rules, skaters cannot hit opponents with their hands, head or feet, or hit them in the head, back or feet.

As intense as the sport is, as is the love for it that the players have.

The FMDG “Fresh Meat” training sessions last for three to five months, and are held twice a year. The program will teach new players the basic skills to bring them to a beginner level—but many of the current FMDG league members had no experience prior to joining! For overall safety, skaters will have to pass the WFTDA minimum skills and rules test at the end of training before being allowed to play.

The Fargo Moorhead Derby Girls will begin this year's Fresh Meat training at the end of February and host another training session in the fall. Follow their Facebook, @fmderbygirls and Instagram, @fm_derbygirls to learn more and to reach out if you're interested!

You can also reach out to fmdgrecruit@ gmail.com for more information.

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