Types of Officials
Skating Official (Referee)
Roller derby skating officials are no different than any you watch on TV during a basketball or football game, except for the wheels on their feet! Skating officials apply the rules of Flat Track Roller Derby, and unlike most sports, roller derby referees issue penalties during active gameplay.
Required Gear
- Quad Roller Skates or Inline Skates
- Helmet
- Protective Padding: wrist guards, elbow pads, & high-quality knee pads
- Whistle: WFTDA standard is the Fox 40 Classic
- Reusable water bottle
Non-Skating Official (NSO)
Non-skating officials (aka NSOs) work off skates. NSOs are the backbone of the officiating crew and assist the skating officials during a game. NSO positions include:
- Jam Timer
- Score Keepers & Scoreboard Operator
- Penalty Box Manager & Penalty Timers
- Penalty Tracker & Lineup Tracker
Here’s a collection of officiating resources that can help you get started on your roller derby journey as an official!
General
- Basics of Play – Roller Derby Wikipedia – A really good starting point if you are completely clueless about the sport.
- Silicon Valley Roller Girls Glossary of derby terms – A useful glossary for terms used in the sport.
Gear
- WFTDA Officiating Uniform Policy (PDF)
- Basic equipment you’ll need as a skating roller derby official
- Derby Gear Advice – Answers to common derby gear questions.
- The Skate Wheels Reference Guide can help you find the right wheel for the right surface!
- Sk8 Ratz – FCRD’s favorite local skate shop!
Still want more? Check these out
- Sleaze the Zebra – Blog
- Inside Pack Ref – Blog
- Army of Darkness – NSO Tumblr
- Derby Ref – Tumblr
- Anti-Clockwise – Satirical Blog
- Flat Track Stats – Stats & Rankings
- Derby Life
- Derby Central
- Roller Derby on Reddit