No matter who you are, chances are that you already know that roller derby is a rough sport. It’s easy to get injured from a fall or to find yourself with a broken bone from a practice session. That’s why a lot of people warn others against trying it for themselves. If you get too rough during a session, derby can easily become dangerous.
That’s why derby players tend to wear wrist braces, knee pads, and helmets. They’re there to protect you from injury. Unfortunately, there are some injuries that you can’t protect yourself from through padding—emotional ones. In many circles, there’s a lot of hush-hush talk about an epidemic in the scene known as roller derby bullying.
What Is Roller Derby Bullying?
It’s bullying that happens among roller derby players, plain and simple. It can happen between teams, where the rivalry stops being sportsmanlike and starts being toxic. However, it can also be seen among teammates.
Roller derby bullying can take on a wide range of different behaviors. These can include:
- Vandalism. Some bullies may choose to vandalize a fellow players personal possessions, such as their skates or safety equipment.
- Purposeful Exclusion. Are you the only one who isn’t invited to team parties? Are you constantly being benched for tourney after tourney? That can be a way for bullies to make you feel unwanted.
- Snubbing. Refusing to speak to fellow teammates or engage with them in the derby can lead to feelings of isolation.
- Verbal Abuse. Insults, cruel jokes, and subtle digs can leave many players feeling less than enthusiastic about their work. Sometimes, the jeers can be enough to make a player leave the game altogether.
- Rumor Spreading. Much like in high school, the power a mean girl wields over the rumor mill can be a serious issue.
- No Win Situations. If you’re working and can’t make practice, you get ridiculed for it. If you get laid off and can suddenly practice, you get ridiculed. No matter what you do, you can’t seem to please people around you. That’s a no-win situation.
Is Derby Bullying Common?
A quick look online quickly reveals that roller derby bullying is a hot-button topic on forums, with many people asking how they can stop the drama going on in their own derby circles. So, there’s no doubt that this is an issue that’s currently plaguing the roller derby world.
It’s clear that there’s ample evidence about people getting bullied as a result of their derby life. The question at this point isn’t “if,” but “how often?” This leads to a difficult problem to tackle, since there’s not much hard data on here.
One thing is for certain: it’s widespread enough to be a major topic of discussion, which means that it’s a serious issue in the community. There is even anecdotal evidence that suggests that some people have quit roller derby leagues as a result of the bullying.
The truth is that there are some roller derby teams that do not have a bullying issue. So, while it is widespread, worrying about being bullied shouldn’t prevent you from looking into joining a team.
Why Do People Bully In Roller Derbies?
Much like with any other arena where bullying occurs, the reasons for bullying vary realty. Many players do it because they feel threatened by the new member. Others do it because they feel it’s the best way to establish control over a team.
Do Leagues Do Anything To Prevent Roller Derby Bullying?
This varies from league to league, and also depends on the actual level of bullying being experienced. If there’s no bullying, the teams may not see a reason to establish any protocols. However, there are still some commonplace rules that they use to prevent bullying:
- Strict Team Rules. Insulting or excluding members is considered to be a major no-no in many team rulebooks. If a player is found guilty of bullying, the higher-ups in team management usually reserve the right to expel the team member from the group.
- Team Building Exercises. Many roller derby teams also have special “cultural” ways to block bullying from happening. This includes team building, pairing newbies with veterans, and also practicing conflict resolution within the team.
- Online Bullying Bans. If a person is caught bullying someone through online motives, then they usually end up getting banned and written up by the PR department of larger teams.
- Social Media Policies. Derbies that are prone to online bullying often have social media policies banning negative talk of others on public social media.
Why Is Online Roller Derby Bullying So Common?
Online roller derby bullying is a relatively new phenomenon, with much of it being sparked over the type of content that’s being put online. As many derby players start to develop fandoms of their own, there’s often a lot of jealousy and drama that can erupt on the scene.
Depending on what’s going on, bullying could be due to clashing personalities, insecurities, or just an attempt to “poach” fans by pushing a player out of the scene. One might argue that every sport has its bullying issues, however, since derby is such a fringe sport, it’s more noticeable.
What To Do If You’re Being Bullied In Roller Derby
Adult bullying is no different than any other type of bullying—it’s extremely destructive and detrimental to the entire team. That’s why most areas have extremely harsh policies when it comes to bullying. Here’s what you should do:
- First, make sure that you’re actually being bullied. If it appears to be a misunderstanding, remember that you might be able to talk it out. If it continues or you have no reason to think it’s a misunderstanding, you should move to the next step.
- Next, if you can, document whatever’s happening. Some groups may require documentation in order to prove it’s not a “she said, she said” type of deal.
- Look for allies in your team. Are you the only one being bullied? Or, is there more to this than meets the eye? Take a look around to see what others are experiencing. If you notice others getting caught in the “mean girl” issue, then you should approach them and talk about it with them.
- Approach your coach or responsible members of the board. Pull one of the members aside, and explain what’s going on in the group. Try to be as professional as possible, and offer any proof that you have. Explain that you did not instigate this and that you don’t want to keep feeling uncomfortable. Most of the time, this will lead to disciplinary action.
- If they are not pushing the matter, consider getting a lawyer involved. This may seem extreme, but if it’s gotten to the point of major harassment outside of the rink, this may be the only way to get them to cease and desist. There are specialized anti-bullying lawyers out there for this reason.
- Be open to switching teams. Let’s just face it. Some teams are not going to get their teams together and will start developing a toxic culture. If you feel like your roller derby team is beyond repair, you may want to try out for another team. At times, this is the only way to make the bullying stop.
Should You Quit Roller Derby Due To Bullying?
Roller derby players usually join up as a way to get access to a new community while they enjoy a brand new sport. Most derbies will have at least one or two people you can truly click with on a personal level, but it’s important to remember that there is a need to look at things on a holistic level.
If a roller derby team is toxic, you have to be objective about your time there. Are you actually getting to enjoy your team a majority of the time? Do you feel like roller derby eats up your time, and that you’re always vying for a feeling of acceptance that never comes? If you’re noticing that roller derby takes more than it gives, you need to rethink it.
What Can Be Done If You’ve Been Bullied Out Of A Derby?
Honestly, aside from speaking out about it and considering litigation, there’s not much you can do aside from seek out another derby team. The truth is that dropping out and speaking out against abuse is a good way to kickstart change.
Without people trying to speak out against toxic cultures in derby, there’s not going to be much hope for the scene. It can’t grow bigger until we acknowledge the drawbacks that roller derby bullying has.
