calgaryrollerderby.com

Roller derby is a full-contact team sport played on quad roller skates on an oval flat track, where two teams of five skaters each field one scorer (the jammer) and four blockers. The team with the most points when the clock runs out wins. Calgary Roller Derby plays under Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) rules, and its junior program follows the same rule set with adjustments for contact.

The Basic Structure of a Bout

A game is called a bout, and it's divided into two 30-minute periods. Each period is broken into short scoring bursts called jams that last up to two minutes. Between jams, teams have about 30 seconds to line up for the next one.

Here's what happens in a jam:

1. The pack lines up. Both teams' blockers start together in a group called the pack. The jammers start behind the pack.
2. The whistle blows. The pack takes off first, then a second whistle releases the jammers.
3. The jammer fights through. Each jammer must skate past every blocker in the pack to complete their "initial pass." Until they do, they can't score.
4. Scoring begins. After the initial pass, the jammer earns one point for every opposing blocker they legally pass on each subsequent lap.
5. The jam ends. The lead jammer — the first jammer to break through the pack cleanly — can call off the jam early by tapping their hips. Otherwise it runs the full two minutes.

The Roles on the Track

Each team fields five skaters per jam, and every position has a distinct job.

The lead jammer designation matters because it gives that skater control over when the jam ends — a strategic advantage when their team is ahead in that jam.

How Points Are Scored and How You Win

Scoring is straightforward once you grasp the initial-pass rule:

• A jammer scores nothing until they complete their first full lap past the pack.
• After that, each opposing blocker passed = 1 point.
• Passing the opposing jammer is worth no points — only blockers count.
• If a jammer is sent to the penalty box, their team skates short-handed, and the opposing jammer can rack up points against a thinner pack.

The team with the higher total at the final whistle wins. Ties are possible in some formats but most WFTDA-sanctioned bouts play to a winner.

What Makes It "Flat Track"

WFTDA rules define the version of derby Calgary Roller Derby plays. Key features:

• Flat oval track — no banked turns, unlike some historic versions of the sport.
• Quad skates only — inline skates aren't allowed.
• Full contact is legal within limits — blocking with the hips, shoulders, and torso is allowed; tripping, elbowing, and hitting above the shoulders are not.
• Penalties send a skater to the box for a set time, leaving their team short-handed.

Calgary Junior Roller Derby (CJRD) uses the same WFTDA rule set for skaters aged 6–17 of any gender, with contact rules adjusted for younger players.

Seeing It in Action

Calgary Roller Derby's teams — the All Stars (WFTDA travel team), Jane Deere (B-travel), the B-52 Bellas, and the Thrashin' Lassies — compete locally and travel internationally. Watching a bout live is the fastest way to understand the flow, since the pack dynamics and jammer battles are hard to follow on paper.

If you want to try it yourself, Calgary Roller Derby runs new skater training and opens league practices to skaters from surrounding leagues as drop-ins. For questions about joining, volunteering, or officiating, the league can be reached at [email protected].

Calgary Junior Roller Derby (CJRD) is open to kids of any gender between the ages of 6 and 17. To join, register for an intake period — the Fall intake closes September 9th, 2026, with the first practices on September 9th for level 2/3 skaters and September 10th for rookies/level 1. If you miss that window, the Winter intake registration opens February 2027.

Who Can Join

CJRD accepts kids of any gender, ages 6–17. No prior skating experience is stated as a requirement for the rookie/level 1 group, which has its own first practice date separate from the more experienced levels.

How the Program Works

Junior derby follows the same Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) rules as the adult league, with some adjustments regarding contact. That means kids learn and play the same flat-track game the adult teams compete in, adapted for younger skaters.

Key Dates to Know

How to Register

1. Check the CJRD section of the Calgary Roller Derby website for the current registration link during an open intake window.
2. Sign up before the intake deadline — for Fall 2026, that's September 9th, 2026.
3. Note which practice date applies to your skater: level 2/3 starts September 9th, rookies/level 1 starts September 10th.

Questions and Other Ways to Get Involved

For general questions, including junior derby, email [email protected]. The same address handles joining, transferring from another league, and volunteering or officiating. Media inquiries go to [email protected].

If your child isn't ready to commit to a full intake, note that all CRD league practices are open to skaters from surrounding leagues as drop-ins — but that option is described for league skaters, so confirm with the league whether it applies to juniors before showing up.

Calgary Roller Derby (CRD) is a roller derby league based in Calgary, and calgaryrollerderby.com is its official information hub. The league describes itself as "strong, athletic and revolutionary," says it has been running for 17 years, and fields teams that compete locally and travel internationally. The site is built for three main audiences: people who want to join or train as skaters, fans looking for teams and schedules, and anyone interested in volunteering, officiating, sponsoring, or transferring in from another league.

What the league offers

CRD operates several adult teams plus a junior program, and its site is organized around them.

The site also has sections for how roller derby is played, sponsors, joining, and schedules.

Calgary Junior Roller Derby

Calgary Junior Roller Derby (CJRD) is open to kids of any gender between the ages of 6 and 17. It follows the same Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) rules as the adult league, with some adjustments around contact.

The site lists these intake details:

• Fall intake: registration open until September 9th, 2026; first practice September 9th for level 2/3 and September 10th for rookies/level 1.
• Winter intake: registration opens February 2027.

If you're signing up a child, note that the fall registration deadline and first practice dates fall in the same week, so plan equipment and paperwork ahead of the deadline rather than after it.

How to get involved

The site points to several paths depending on what you want to do:

• New skaters: registration is open for new skater training, with a "Learn More Here" link on the join section.
• Drop-ins: all CRD league practices are open to skaters from surrounding leagues; the site links to full drop-in details.
• Volunteers, officials, and transfers: email [email protected] and say what you're interested in.
• General and media inquiries: [email protected] for general information, [email protected] for media.

The site does not publish pricing, membership fees, or practice locations in the material available, so check with the league directly before assuming cost or logistics.

Following the league

CRD maintains a Facebook page, an Instagram account, and an email contact, all linked from the site. The site footer credits graphic design to Bazinga and photography to Cary Schatz and Shaun Savage Photography.

If your goal is to skate, the fastest route is the join section for new skater training or the drop-in details if you already skate elsewhere. If your goal is to watch or support, the teams and schedule sections are where to start.

Calgary Roller Derby (CRD) has four ways to get involved: new skater training, drop-in practices, junior roller derby for kids aged 6–17, and off-skates roles like volunteering or officiating. Which path fits you depends on whether you already skate, how old you are, and whether you want to compete or just help out. Every route below starts with an email or a registration form rather than a walk-up session, so plan to make contact first.

Joining as a New Skater

Registration is open for new skater training. The site's "Join Roller Derby" section links to a "Learn More Here" page with the full details, but the entry point is the same for everyone: email [email protected] and say you're interested in new skater training.

Expect to start from zero. Roller derby is a full-contact sport played on quad skates, so new skater training covers skating fundamentals and hitting technique before you ever line up in a game. You don't need prior derby experience to begin — that's what the training is for.

Dropping In from Another League

If you already skate with a league in the Calgary area, you don't have to join CRD to practise with them. All CRD league practices are open to skaters from surrounding leagues. The site links to a "Full Details About Drop-Ins" page for the specifics.

This is the right option if you're visiting, between leagues, or just want extra track time without committing to a team. Contact the league before showing up so you know what to bring and which practice suits your skill level.

Kids: Calgary Junior Roller Derby

Calgary Junior Roller Derby (CJRD) is open to kids of any gender between the ages of 6 and 17. Juniors play under the same Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) rules as the adult league, with adjustments to how much contact is allowed.

The intake schedule is fixed, so timing matters:

If you're reading this before the Fall 2026 deadline, register now — the first practice for level 2/3 skaters is the same day registration closes. Otherwise, the Winter 2027 intake opens in February 2027.

Volunteering, Officiating, or Transferring

You don't have to skate to be part of CRD. The league invites people to "volunteer, officiate, transfer or otherwise hang out." For any of these, email [email protected] and state what you're interested in.

• Volunteers — help at games and events without skating.
• Officials — referee or work the penalty box; derby always needs officials.
• Transferring skaters — moving from another league? Use the same address.

Which Contact Address to Use

CRD lists separate addresses so your message reaches the right person:

The site also links to Facebook and Instagram, which are worth checking for current schedules and last-minute changes before you email.

Teams You Could End Up On

Once you're in, here's what the league looks like:

• All Stars — the WFTDA travel team, competing internationally at the highest level.
• Jane Deere — the B-travel team, playing across Western Canada.
• B-52 Bellas — described as fearing nothing, with one mission: victory.
• Thrashin' Lassies — a team that will knock you down, buy you a pint, then knock you down again.
• Cut Throat Car Hops — currently on hiatus.
• Official-ly Awesome — the officials crew.
• Juniors — the CJRD youth programme.

New skaters don't pick a team on day one; you train first, then work toward the level that fits.

Common Sticking Points

• Emailing the wrong address. Join and volunteer inquiries go to info@, not media@.
• Missing the junior deadline. Fall 2026 registration closes September 9, 2026 — the same day level 2/3 practices begin.
• Assuming you can just show up. Drop-ins are welcome, but only from skaters in surrounding leagues, and you should confirm details first.
• Waiting for a general "sign-up" button. For adults, the path runs through emailing the league, not a public checkout.

Calgary Roller Derby (CRD) fields four named adult teams plus a junior program, according to the league's own site. The All Stars are the WFTDA travel team competing internationally at the highest level of the sport; Jane Deere is the B-travel team playing across Western Canada; B-52 Bellas and Thrashin' Lassies are the remaining active teams; and Cut Throat Car Hops are currently on hiatus. If you're looking for a specific team to follow, join, or contact about a game, this list is the starting point.

Adult Teams at a Glance

All Stars — the WFTDA travel team

The All Stars are CRD's WFTDA (Women's Flat Track Derby Association) travel team. They compete internationally at the highest level of the sport, which makes them the team to watch if you want to see CRD play sanctioned, travel-team derby rather than local bouts.

Jane Deere — the B-travel team

Jane Deere is the league's B-travel team. Their schedule takes them across Western Canada, so they're the more regional travel option compared with the All Stars' international slate.

B-52 Bellas and Thrashin' Lassies

Both are active CRD teams. The site characterizes the Bellas as fearless with a single mission — victory — and the Lassies as a team that will knock you down, buy you a pint, then knock you down again. Those descriptions are the league's own framing rather than competitive rankings.

Cut Throat Car Hops — on hiatus

The Cut Throat Car Hops are listed among CRD's teams but are currently on hiatus, meaning they aren't fielding a roster right now. If you were hoping to skate with or book them, treat them as inactive until the league says otherwise.

Calgary Junior Roller Derby

Separate from the adult teams, Calgary Junior Roller Derby (CJRD) is open to kids of any gender between the ages of 6 and 17. It follows the same WFTDA flat-track rules as the adult game, with adjustments for contact.

Registration timing from the site:

• Fall intake: registration open until September 9th, 2026; first practice September 9th for level 2/3 and September 10th for rookies/level 1.
• Winter intake: registration opens February 2027.

How to Get Involved or Ask About a Team

• New skater training: registration is open for new skater training through the league's Join Roller Derby page.
• Drop-ins: all CRD league practices are open to skaters from surrounding leagues; full details are on the drop-ins page.
• Volunteering, officiating, or transferring from another league: email [email protected] and say what you're interested in.
• Media inquiries: [email protected].

The league also maintains Facebook and Instagram accounts, linked from its site, for schedules and updates.