Officials and Volunteers

Becoming an official is the quickest way to actively participate in roller derby since officials are essential for the game to take place. A well-staffed game or scrimmage requires a team of 16 to 20 individuals who perform various tasks such as score keeping, penalty management, ensuring safety and fairness, initiating and concluding jams, resolving conflicts, and keeping records of statistics. There are two paths to becoming an official:

Skating Officials

In a roller derby game, there are typically 3-7 officials who don skates and are known as Skating Officials or referees. However, becoming a Skating Official requires a significant investment of time and effort. You must possess exceptional skating skills and be able to maintain a sharp focus on the game at all times, watching for point-scoring plays and illegal moves that warrant penalties.

To become a Skating Official, you'll need to equip yourself with the same gear as a player, including quad skates, a helmet, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads, and at least one Fox 40 classic whistle. Before you can practice refereeing, your skating skills will be evaluated and approved by the Training Committee to ensure that you're qualified to skate safely and effectively on the track.

The path to becoming a skilled Skating Official is challenging but rewarding. You'll need to invest time and energy in developing your skating skills, which can be accomplished by participating in the same boot camp experience as new skaters. Although the process may take longer than other positions, the satisfaction of contributing to the exciting world of roller derby makes it all worthwhile.

Non-Skating Officials

Several Non-Skating Officials (NSOs) perform essential tasks during the game without the need for skates, helmets, or pads. While NSOs play a crucial role in managing games, their tasks are relatively quick to learn since skating isn't involved. All you need is the ability to stay focused on your assigned task and collaborate with one or two officials who will be working with you.

At practices and home games, all NSO equipment will be provided for you to use. This means you won't need to worry about buying or bringing your own gear. Just show up ready to learn and contribute to the smooth operation of the game. Although NSO positions don't require skating skills, they're just as important as Skating Official positions in ensuring that the game runs smoothly and safely.