About Cincinnati Roller Derby

OUR HISTORY AND MISSION

Women's Flat Track Derby Association logo Cincinnati Roller Derby is Cincinnati’s first amateur flat track roller derby team. Founded as the Cincinnati Rollergirls in late 2005 by Christa Zielke and Paula Estes, the team held its first season in 2006. As a member of the international Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, CRD fields two competitive squads for inter-league play: the Black Sheep (A team) and the Violent Lambs (B team.) 

In 2026, CRD became a non-profit organization, whose mission is to provide an inclusive environment for participation in the sport of flat-track roller derby, foster athletic and personal development, and serve the Cincinnati community through public competitions, philanthropic activities, education, and outreach. 

The skaters, coaches, officials and support staff of Cincinnati Roller Derby are all volunteers. Skaters buy their own skates, gear and uniforms and also pay monthly dues. All proceeds from ticket and merchandise sales, skater dues and sponsorships go back to the organization to cover the costs of venue rental, home game production, insurance, travel, tournament fees, marketing and advertising.

Cincinnati Roller Derby has received many accolades from the community. Former Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory declared June 19, 2010 “Cincinnati Rollergirls Day,” and the league has been voted Cincinnati’s Best Amateur/Semi-Pro Team by CityBeat readers nearly every year since 2011. The team also gives back to the community by volunteering with community organizations and raising money for other local nonprofits.

To stay up to date on the latest CRD news, like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and watch us on YouTube.

SKATERS

  • Crystal Whip #154
    Crystal Whip #154
  • Motley Crouton #36
    Motley Crouton #36
  • Krystonite #10
    Krystonite #10
  • Fitzkrieg #603
    Fitzkrieg #603
  • Jackie the Ripper #100
    Jackie the Ripper #100
  • Star Flatten’em #71
    Star Flatten’em #71
  • Shocka, When the Walls Fell #519
    Shocka, When the Walls Fell #519
  • Chile Con Carnage #13
    Chile Con Carnage #13
  • Pain Austen #711
    Pain Austen #711
  • Avalanche #48
    Avalanche #48
  • Gore-gon #933
    Gore-gon #933
  • Bug Smasher #88
    Bug Smasher #88
  • Junie B. Bones #33
    Junie B. Bones #33
  • Syke #721
    Syke #721
  • Robin Jewels #16
    Robin Jewels #16
  • Clairella de Vil #423
    Clairella de Vil #423
  • a-MEAN-o Acid #83
    a-MEAN-o Acid #83
  • Andee WarDoll #517
    Andee WarDoll #517
  • Chelsea Dragger #27
    Chelsea Dragger #27
  • Cutthroat Karen #26
    Cutthroat Karen #26
  • Foxy Bloxy #137
    Foxy Bloxy #137
  • Lethal Lynz #35
    Lethal Lynz #35
  • Rose
    Rose
  • Shipwreck #66
    Shipwreck #66
  • Tragedy Ann #222
    Tragedy Ann #222

Volunteers

  • Jeff Sevier
    Jeff Sevier
  • Miss Print
    Miss Print
  • Francis Von Deathenstein #800
    Francis Von Deathenstein #800
  • Juggernaut
    Juggernaut
  • Mix Match #513
    Mix Match #513
  • Nosferhofftu
    Nosferhofftu
  • Jerry Rigg #77
    Jerry Rigg #77
  • Lethal Lynz
    Lethal Lynz

The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

Invented by sports promoter Leo Seltzer in the 1930s, roller derby thrived in the U.S. until it fizzled out in the 1970s. In the early 2000s, the Texas Rollergirls revived the sport on a flat track instead of the traditional banked track. The ability to play the game on just about any flat surface helped roller derby spread across the world, and what was once a staged spectacle became an unscripted, highly athletic and fiercely competitive sport.

In today’s roller derby, two 15-skater teams play two 30-minute periods. Each period consists of multiple “jams” in which one jammer, three blockers and one pivot from each team face off. The jammers, who wear stars on their helmets, score points for their team by passing blockers from the opposing team. The blockers from each team skate together in a pack and play offense for their own jammer and defense against the opposing jammer at the same time. The pivots, who wear stripes on their helmets, have the special ability to accept the star helmet cover from their jammer, become the new jammer and score points.

During a jam, skaters may legally block opponents with their hips, shoulders and rear. Players can receive 30-second penalties for a variety of illegal actions, including elbowing, tripping, back blocking and cutting the track. Each jam ends after 2 minutes or when the lead jammer – the first jammer to pass through the pack legally – calls off the jam by hitting their hips with their hands. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. Read the complete rules here