BIRMINGHAM
ROLLER DERBY
OFFICIALS
Referees and Non-Skating Officials (NSO) are the two types of officials in roller derby. Referees are often identified by their black and white stripes and are commonly referred to as 'Zebras', NSOs however are harder to identify as they do not have a specific uniform.
REFEREES
In roller derby, referees play essential roles in ensuring fair play, safety, and adherence to rules. Here are the different types of roller derby referees based on their roles and responsibilities:
​​
-
Head Referee: Oversees the other skating referees, coordinates penalty calls, communicates with the teams' captains or coaches when necessary, and ensures that the game proceeds in accordance with the rules and safety standards.
-
Jammer Referees: Specifically focused on the jammers, these referees track the progress of the jammers during a jam. They determine the lead jammer, who is the first jammer to break through the pack legally, and they signal the end of each jam.
-
Outside Pack Referees: Positioned outside the track, these referees monitor the pack from various angles, keeping an eye out for penalties that may occur outside the main view of the skating referees.
-
Inside Pack Referees: These referees operate within the track's inner boundary and focus on the pack and interactions between skaters.
​
If you would like to join BRD as a Referee, please email recruit@birminghamrollerderby.co.uk to express your interest and find out more.
​
NSOs
Roller derby non-skating officials (NSOs) play an essential role in supporting the game. While not on skates, they manage various aspects crucial to the bout's organisation and officiating:
-
Head NSO: Oversees the NSO team, ensuring they understand their roles, assigning specific responsibilities, and ensuring that the officiating crew operates smoothly and efficiently.
-
Jam Timer: Keeps track of the time for each jam, signalling the beginning and end of jams.
-
Scorekeepers: They track points scored by jammers, penalties assessed to each player, and overall game statistics.
-
Penalty Box Timers: Responsible for managing the penalty box, they ensure that penalized players serve their time correctly and return to the game as per the rules.
-
Penalty Box Manager: Oversees the penalty box operation, ensuring that players enter and exit the box appropriately.
-
Lineup Trackers: Manage the lineups, keeping track of which players are on the track for each team during a jam.
-
Scoreboard Operators: Manage the scoreboard, updating scores, penalties, and timing information for spectators and teams.
​
If you would like to join BRD as an NSO, please email recruit@birminghamrollerderby.co.uk to express your interest and find out more.
"Even though it’s pretty daunting at first, I really enjoy NSO’ing, I get to see a ton of roller derby and it’s really helping me to get a better understanding of the game as there’s so much to get your head around. I’ve also met a whole bunch of awesome people along the way already and everyone’s been super welcoming and supportive (both with BRD and the wider derby community)"
- Otter Chaos on NSO'ing with BRD
VOLUNTEERS
Not sure skating is for you? You can still be part of derby.
​
Roller derby isn’t just about the people on track. Our league runs on a huge range of skills and roles, and we actively welcome people who want to get involved off-skates.
​
You could join us as:​
-
NSOs (Non-Skating Officials) - help run games and track stats
-
Announcer - provide play-by-play commentary to spectators
-
Photographers - capture the action
-
League Volunteers - events, admin, fundraising and more
​
No skating ability required - just enthusiasm and a willingness to be part of a team.
Volunteers dedication and support are crucial to the success of roller derby events and the overall functioning of the league.​​
To find out more about volunteering opportunities within the league, please reach out to recruit@birminghamrollerderby.co.uk.
