Seven Valley Rollers For The Win: Join Your Local Team
- Ella Costa
- May 24, 2018
- 2 min read
CORTLAND, N.Y. -- The seven Valley Rollers took home a major win last Saturday, beating their opponent by over 100 points. This unique sport has gone unnoticed to many in the past. Roller Derby is not only fun to watch but even more fun to play according to some members of the Seven Valley Rollers.
But how does the game work you may ask. Each game is broken up into two 30-minute halves, each of those halves has a series of up to two minute sections called jams. Up to five skaters can be on the track for each team: four blockers, and one point-scoring player, the jammer. Before the start of each jam, the blockers and pivots from both teams line up in front of the jammer line, while the jammers line up behind it. When the whistle blows, the jam begins. The blockers and pivots from both teams create a formation called the pack. The jammers, must attempt to leave the pack if they wish to score. The first jammer to legally get past every member of the pack is declared Lead Jammer, which means she or he may stop the jam at any point by placing their hands on their hips multiple times. Once a jammer gets through the pack once they’re eligible to score.
One member of the Seven Valley Rollers put it like this,
“It’s almost like football without the ball and hockey without the sticks and puck, the aggression is there the fast pace…You’re trying to get through a bunch of women they’re are hitting you and knocking you down the entire time you're trying to get to the front.”
The game itself is very competitive and physical. But according to Teredacktal, a member of a Salt City team, the amount of confidence you gain from playing the game is worth it.
“The confidence that you build when you join a team is so incredible. Ive never felt this strong and independent until I joined this team” Teredacktal said in an interview.
The games make a good opportunity for community members to volunteer as well. In the past the Seven Valley Rollers have even allowed high schoolers to volunteer to acquire community service hours, required to graduate. Two women at the games told me a little about their experience as volunteers. Both were selling tickets for the game. One woman's daughter goes through Seven Valley Rollers, and was number one SV.
If you are looking for a competitive sport that will help you gain confidence and have fun, look up your local roller derby team.
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