Scrapes, cuts, broken bones and giant bruises are a cakewalk for the members of the Rat City Rollergirls in this full-contact sport. The group started in White Center in April 2004. It is currently the only all-female roller derby league in Seattle, and is a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. The group consists of four teams that play games, or bouts, once or twice a month March through October. Games are played on an oval-shaped, flat track with five women from each team on the track. Each woman wears four-wheeled skates, along with all the necessary safety equipment. The group skates counterclockwise for two 20-minute periods, during which time each team’s one “jammer” tries to lap the rest of the
pack, scoring one point for each member of the opposing team they pass after they lap the pack. During a match, each team also has one “pivot,” who leads the pack and sets the pace of skating, and three “blockers” who try and prevent the opposing jammer from getting through. The next Rollergirls games are scheduled for Sept. 2 and 23, and a championship game will be held on Oct. 21. For more information about the Rollergirls, or for ticket information, visit their Web site at www.ratcityrollergirls.com.
