Roller Derby 101
What is Roller Derby?
The sport of roller derby was first conceived in the 1930s, and was played on a banked track and was popular in the United States until it fizzled out in the 1970s. In the early 2000s, modern women’s roller derby got its start in Austin, Texas. Starting with the Texas Rollergirls, the game was adapted to be played without requiring a banked track, and flat track roller derby leagues began forming as businesses run by the same people who participate in the sport. The flat track version of roller derby spread like wildfire in subsequent years, as the ability to mark track boundaries on a skating rink floor or any venue with a flat surface large enough to fit a track, rather than building and storing a large banked track, made it possible to play the game just about anywhere. Today, we are one of hundreds of roller derby leagues worldwide, and the sport has evolved into a highly competitive sport played by some of the world’s top athletes.
Like most roller derby leagues, the Brawlin’ Betties are run entirely by the volunteer power of our members, with support from volunteers in their communities who help with everything from league management to extremely important game-day volunteers such as officials, announcers, medics, and photographers. Whatever your interests and skills, there is a place for you in roller derby!