With the recent creation of the OSDA (Old School Derby Association), I was curious to know the difference between current WFTDA (Women's Flat Track Derby Association) rules and OSDA rules. Were the banked track rules were being applied to flat track, and if so, did that mean I could link arms with a co-blocker and make a true wall of jammer-blocking-goodness? Did it mean I could tackle an opposing jammer? And what was the OSDA all about?
So rather than speculate I went right to the source, Kenneth Sikes, the founder of the OSDA, and asked him why is he doing it “old school”?
"Under no circumstances should this be taken to mean staged fights or fixed finishes" |
“We do Old School Derby because we feel that we can learn from the Derby Skaters that came before us,” said Sikes, who also doubles as co-founder and advisor of the Penn Jersey She Devils. “ We feel that the OSDA rules lead to a more exciting and easier to comprehend game. And upon seeing tapes of professional Banked Track games, our girls just felt that what we were doing under the WFTDA rule set could be improved upon.”
The Penn Jersey She Devils League President sat down with coaches, Judy Sowinski & Arnold Schoen and worked on developing a Flat Track rule set that would be as close to the Professional Banked Track rule set as possible.
“Under no circumstances should this be taken to mean staged fights or fixed finishes,” said Sikes. “It is strictly a hard skated defensive game.”
While there are many significant differences between the OSDA and the WFTDA rules - including a little more leniency in some of the blocking methods, and a deliciously wide assortment of whips & blocks - some are more significant than others, specifically in the lead jammer status.
"It is strictly a hard skated defensive game" |
In the WFTDA rules, the lead jammer is the first jammer who legally breaks through the pack, and she retains the lead jammer status regardless of her position relative to the opposing jammer throughout the jam. In an OSDA bout, the lead jammer status changes continuously throughout the jam, depending on which jammer is ahead of the other.
“We feel this exchanging back and forth leads to more excitement for the audience,” said Sikes. “We also require a jammer to be on her feet and in bounds when she calls off the jam.” I have to say that this awesome. It’s always frustrating when an opposing jammer is lead jammer, and you catch up and pass her, and because the status doesn’t change in WFTDA rules, the jam can be called off right when you’re up to the pack to halt your point-scoring. I love this rule!
Once a lead jammer gets out, if the opposing team's jammer is tied up in the pack, the opposing pivot can immediately go out as a replacement jammer. Seems easier than having to practice passing the star until you can do it fast and at high speed.
There are currently nine member leagues in the OSDA.
“The response so far has been excellent,” said Sikes. “We've been approached by quite a few leagues and more seem to contact us every day. Currently we have nine member leagues.”
The current member roller derby leagues are: The Corpus Christi Rolling Thunder, The Penn Jersey She Devils (and their Men's team the Hellcity Hooligans), Diamond City (both the Scream Queens & their Men's Team, the Death Kings), Hanging City Derby, Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls, Richmond Derby Demons, South Jersey Derby Girls, T-Town Derby Grrls and the Kalamazoo Kamikazees.
For more information on the official Old School Roller Derby rules, please visit the OSDA website at www.oldschoolderby.com or the She Devils website: www.shedevilsrollerderby.com You can also contact Ken Sikes directly at pjbloodhound@yahoo.com.
Thanks, Ken, for taking time to answer all my questions and I wish you the best of luck! Derby Luv to ya!
