What do you think?
Rate this book
Down and Derby: The Insider's Guide to Roller Derby
When most Americans hear the words roller derby” today, they think of the kitschy sport once popular on weekend television during the seventies and eighties. Originally an endurance competition where skaters traveled the equivalent of a trip between Los Angeles and New York, derby gradually evolved into a violent contact sport often involving fake fighting. But after nearly dying out in the nineties, derby has been making a comeback. From a mere handful of leagues in the United States just a few years ago, there are now more than 17,000 skaters in more than 400 leagues around the world, with hundreds of thousands of die-hard fans. Down and Derby will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the sport. Written by veteran skaters as both a history and a how-to, Down and Derby is a brassy celebration of every aspect of the sport, from its origins in the late 1800s, to the rules of a modern bout, to the science of picking an alias, to the many ways you can get involved off skates.
Informative, entertaining, and executed with the same tough, sassy, DIY attitude leavened with plenty of humor that the sport is known for, Down and Derby is the first and last book on derby you’ll ever need.
261 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2010
26 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 14, 2018
This was a great introduction to derby, especially if you are considering joining. I feel 100x more prepared for starting derby training in a couple of weeks, because this book spends just as much (if not more) time talking about actually playing the game as it does talking about the history, TV shows, and movies based on the game.
There are interviews with actual players throughout the book. I truly appreciated the inclusion of an interview with a woman who was paralyzed in a roller derby accident. If you are considering trying a full contact sport, it seems really valuable to include the potential real life consequences alongside the cute outfits and rowdy parties.
The book offers advice on gear, picking names (and where to find the national registry to make sure you don't copy someone else's), the time commitment involved, and how to get involved if you don't want to hit anyone while on skates, but still want to take part in the fun. Basically the full package, specifically for people who are wanting to play the sport.
There are interviews with actual players throughout the book. I truly appreciated the inclusion of an interview with a woman who was paralyzed in a roller derby accident. If you are considering trying a full contact sport, it seems really valuable to include the potential real life consequences alongside the cute outfits and rowdy parties.
The book offers advice on gear, picking names (and where to find the national registry to make sure you don't copy someone else's), the time commitment involved, and how to get involved if you don't want to hit anyone while on skates, but still want to take part in the fun. Basically the full package, specifically for people who are wanting to play the sport.
July 25, 2011
If you're new to derby, this is a great book to read because it outlines everything from the history of the sport to the details of its modern revival, to roller derby as it is portrayed in pop culture. It also gives useful tips and advice for fresh meat skaters. And even if you don't plan on becoming a derby girl, there's tons of information on other ways you can get involved in the scene (reffing, becoming a non-skating official, commentating, or just being a fan). This book was actually pretty accurate in terms of letting me know what to expect when I joined the local derby league.
May 11, 2011
Love, love, loved this book! Ok, I'm a little biased since I play roller derby, but this book really breaks it down for you, better than "Rollergirl". It covers all the bases in derby, and even has coaching advice. It covers derby from the very beginning until now. Would recommend this book first and foremost to those interested in derby.
December 4, 2017
When I picked up this book, I began reading with hopes that I'd get a thorough history of the sport. While this book is only partially a history, it provided me with so much insight into the passion, skill, and dedication behind the sport that I didn't mind swerving from a historical narrative toward a living and breathing narrative at all.
I highly recommend.
I highly recommend.
June 28, 2025
Great book for those just beginning to explore the world of derby. Loved all the interviews.
February 7, 2017
Now dated due to the changes to derby rules, but a fun intro to the sport.
May 8, 2019
This was a fun book. I really enjoyed the chapters about Roller Derby history, info about Derby Lite and Junior Derby (how fun would that have been as a kid?!), and Derby in film and television. The rules chapter was more technical than I needed but it was great for those serious about taking up the sport. The commitment necessary to participate was rather intimidating so it's not for me. I certainly admire the athleticism and dedication. The names skaters pick are such a riot!
February 1, 2019
Not the most well-written or exhaustively researched, but will likely be of interest to those in the sport or wanting to play. Bit outdated now, but the history of derby and its influential players makes a worthwhile subject.
November 4, 2023
This book was interesting and entertaining. I think it probably hits best for those just getting interested in Derby and want the history and culture and how to get involved explained in a non formal non text book kind of way. It gets you more hyped up while taking a moment here and there to explain that there are down sides to actually playing and it might not be for everyone to play.
That being said its an exciting read and I loved the interviews with players and others from the community sprinkled through the book.
This is from 2010-ish so its not 100% up to date, but allot of it still stands up to today (2023)
If you are interested in derby.. yeah read this.
That being said its an exciting read and I loved the interviews with players and others from the community sprinkled through the book.
This is from 2010-ish so its not 100% up to date, but allot of it still stands up to today (2023)
If you are interested in derby.. yeah read this.
February 24, 2014
Along with Frank Deford's Five Strides On The Banked Track: The Life And Times Of The Roller Derby, this is required reading for any aficionado of roller derby whether they be skater, fan, or any level of participant in between. Beginning with a solid snapshot of the historical version of the sport; this is a smartly written, in-depth history of the dawn days of the modern derby revival. While I long for a fully comprehensive history of this unique American institution—one that includes all competing entities from its Depression Era origins onward, as well as the variety of attempts to resuscitate the sports-entertainment version from its untimely death in the 1970's until its successful rebirth in Austin, Texas—DOWN AND DERBY: THE INSIDER'S GUIDE TO ROLLER DERBY is as educational as it is entertaining, and perfectly captures the inspiring fledgling years of the modern roller derby revival. Much has changed since 2010, and much more will change in the years to come—and change for the better, if the passionate people who brought the sport this far continue to be involved—but DOWN AND DERBY is an unparalleled history of the era it covers.
September 19, 2012
Maybe I was at the wrong stage in my derby career when I read this because it was fun and fluffy for me and the only thing that really held my interest for too long was the bios. But I think if you are considering joining derby or just signed up as freshmeat this is a must read! I purchased it thinking I would get some info on the management of a successful league but mostly it focused on the individual and decisions to join, etc. So although it didn't contain the info I was looking for I still enjoyed it. Also I think a new updated version when discussing league communications may be in order to include new technologies such as Facebook and Twitter.
On a note completely unrelated to the content of the book itself. I purchased an epub version of this book for my e-reader and there were a few annoying formatting issues that need to be corrected:
1-the default text is extremely small print I had to adjust the text size on my re-reader so much that now when I open up other docs it appears as though they are all large print, and that was just to make the print legible.
2-the chapters are all on some weird internal loop, at the end of each chapter I would have to physically go into the table of contents to move to the next one.
On a note completely unrelated to the content of the book itself. I purchased an epub version of this book for my e-reader and there were a few annoying formatting issues that need to be corrected:
1-the default text is extremely small print I had to adjust the text size on my re-reader so much that now when I open up other docs it appears as though they are all large print, and that was just to make the print legible.
2-the chapters are all on some weird internal loop, at the end of each chapter I would have to physically go into the table of contents to move to the next one.
July 29, 2013
I got this a few years ago at a tournament and read it then. I'm not sure what made me pick it up to re-read it this time.
The book certainly suffers a bit from roller derby's rapidly changing rule structure and culture shifts. However the authors do a decent job of talking in general terms that apply to a variety of leagues and approaches to the sport.
It's a decent book with an 'intro to the derby culture' approach. It doesn't get too bogged down in rules and speaks more to the history of the sport, both pre and post-revival. Most of it is stuff I learned while playing, but I think the sport has grown so much that some of the 'oral history' of roller derby has been lost on newer skaters. It's nice to have this book to remind people of the fun and silliness that used to be involved.
A note: several of the photos are captioned incorrectly. Not a big deal, but kind of an annoying detail that makes you wonder what other details were missed.
The book certainly suffers a bit from roller derby's rapidly changing rule structure and culture shifts. However the authors do a decent job of talking in general terms that apply to a variety of leagues and approaches to the sport.
It's a decent book with an 'intro to the derby culture' approach. It doesn't get too bogged down in rules and speaks more to the history of the sport, both pre and post-revival. Most of it is stuff I learned while playing, but I think the sport has grown so much that some of the 'oral history' of roller derby has been lost on newer skaters. It's nice to have this book to remind people of the fun and silliness that used to be involved.
A note: several of the photos are captioned incorrectly. Not a big deal, but kind of an annoying detail that makes you wonder what other details were missed.
June 27, 2016
The first half of this book was a pretty comprehensive history of roller derby (in its many iterations, including modern roller derby, both banked track and flat track), which I really enjoyed. However, the sport of modern roller derby has changed so much in such a short amount of time that the book, published in 2010, is already pretty out of date in terms of current rules, game play, and to some degree, derby culture. I also cringed every time the authors used cissexist assumptions and generalizations about derby skaters. The writing style was also a little too overwrought and punchy for my tastes -- and I'm someone who loves the crap out of puns and bad jokes (which is one of the things I love most about derby)! However, I still feel like I learned a lot, and I could tell the authors did their research pretty thoroughly -- I especially enjoyed all the little interviews and photographs they included.
March 5, 2011
Occasionally, when I'm feeling particularly brave and especially brash, I fancy joining a roller derby.
Reading the book - particularly the portions about the injuries one can sustain - hasn't really deterred me that much. It's like - a sort of desire that I'd actually go for if I wasn't such a pussy or something a Me from a parallel dimension would totally do.
Still, I'm pretty sure that once I move to a town with a roller rink, I'll pick up roller skating again. I've always liked it - lack of opportunity has inhibited my chances.
So anyway, all this is to say that the book was informative and cool. They have an interview with Ellen Page towards the end (because of Whip It) and she earned Brownie points for using Kurt Vonnegut as inspiration for her derby name.
=]
Reading the book - particularly the portions about the injuries one can sustain - hasn't really deterred me that much. It's like - a sort of desire that I'd actually go for if I wasn't such a pussy or something a Me from a parallel dimension would totally do.
Still, I'm pretty sure that once I move to a town with a roller rink, I'll pick up roller skating again. I've always liked it - lack of opportunity has inhibited my chances.
So anyway, all this is to say that the book was informative and cool. They have an interview with Ellen Page towards the end (because of Whip It) and she earned Brownie points for using Kurt Vonnegut as inspiration for her derby name.
=]
May 11, 2011
I think you need to time the reading of this book to get the most out of it, finding the right point in your Derby education to open yourself up to the background. I loved reading about the history of the sport, including the beginning of the current renaissance, but I think I've been involved in the sport too long now to take much away from the rest of the book, specifically the more reference-based sections describing the rules and intricacies of the sport. The background material is fun, and the profiles on players/refs/announcers is great, but I'd have had to come to this book about 6 months ago to feel it had delivered a 5-star read. For a newcomer to the sport, this is the definitive book to read.
February 5, 2015
I think Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney worded it best, "Part mianifesto, part how-to-guide...". I loved reading this book, it was like cliff notes stereo instructions for Derby. There are many reasons I would never try it, but being a really good skater I would probably be more prone to be a helper-outer of some kind. Readint "Down and Derby..." confirmed what I originally thought, though... there is no one wheel and one wheel out approach, it's all or nothing. Derby will be your life if you join... one day... even if it's just to cheer on some really kick ass ladies doing something, or roll around handing our flyers during bouts... this is a flavor of life I definitely want to taste one day!
June 12, 2013
Fact based expose about female roller derby, working through its history, how to play, and a bit about the players. The interviews are mostly with 1990-2010 roller derby participants. A book directed towards those interested in playing roller derby.
Roller derby once attracted up to 50,000 spectators a game. Today, 1000 might be the norm. Women's leagues are gaining traction around the US and a few other countries; men's leagues have not caught on.
Me, I'll pay to take in a roller derby game to check it out, as I did with the book. Single read.
Roller derby once attracted up to 50,000 spectators a game. Today, 1000 might be the norm. Women's leagues are gaining traction around the US and a few other countries; men's leagues have not caught on.
Me, I'll pay to take in a roller derby game to check it out, as I did with the book. Single read.
September 12, 2015
There is some overlap between this and "RollerGirl", the other derby book I read last month, but not a great deal. RG is very Texas-centered, a more personal view of things. Our two authors came up with the L.A. Derby Dolls, and in addition this book is more of a wide angle book, tracking the rise of derby in general. Generally, I liked the parts when they were spreading out facts and information rather than the story parts which felt a bit awkward. There are plenty of two and three page interviews with prominent derby figures where we get plenty of character.
December 29, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and would probably have memorized it cover to cover in my fresh meat days. I'm probably a bit beyond it's target audience now (I received it as a gift from a relative) but I still liked it a lot. I found the sections on derby history and derby in pop culture particularly interesting. My only real criticism is that the rules set referred to is quite out of date now (two whistle starts, 1 minute penalties). I'd still recommend it to people who are looking at joining roller derby.
September 28, 2010
Very good overview about roller derby. I like that it covers the history of derby up to it's modern day grass roots resurgence. I've been skating with my local team for about 8 months and have so much respect for every woman that gets out there and does this. My team has trained me and given me so much encouragement to do things I never thought I could do. It is tough but the rewards are worth it. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about this awesome sport!
January 11, 2014
Fun, informative, and surprisingly comprehensive (for only 260 pages). The writing seemed uneven (perhaps a result of having two authors) and could have used better proofing. Depending on my mood, I either liked or rolled my eyes at the chatty, perky tone. But overall I really enjoyed it and learned a bunch about derby.
I have a review going up on my league's blog in a few weeks. I'll try to remember to link up here when it posts.
I have a review going up on my league's blog in a few weeks. I'll try to remember to link up here when it posts.
August 24, 2010
This was a great book. Nice mix of history with what's currently going on with the sport. Gave profiles of current and past skaters with lots of pics. Even gave info about movies and TV shows featuring Derby-who knew The Addams Family cartoon had a Derby episode! My only complaint was with the text used for the pics(gang style grafetti-super hard to read no matter how cool it looks)
September 8, 2010
I read this book because some friends and I are interested in trying out for our local roller derby league and I wanted to learn more about it. It was a decent quick read. It provided a good overall history of roller derby with some nice profiles of current players. An easy, fluff read if you are at all interested in roller derby.
January 18, 2012
I have been a fan of roller derby since 2007. I have loved the sport and have wanted to become a derby girl, but things never worked out. I bought this book it help me see if roller derby is something I could do and give me some tip on the sport. I loved the book and enjoyed some of the interviews in the book.
March 3, 2011
3.5 stars. A quick and interesting read about the history of roller derby, complete with a breakdown of positions and rules and some player profiles too. Recommended for anyone who wants to know more about the sport.
June 19, 2012
I bought this Shortney after rollercon 2010 and couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved the "derby in a nutshell" idea. Though it almost seemed more like it was meant for people completely new to Roller Derby! I would've enjoyed more detail.
September 14, 2010
A very good overview of the history, rules and culture of the sport with an emphasis on helping the reader decide if roller derby is right for them. There is even a section on how to win the after party.
January 7, 2011
I couldn't put this book down, it is an essential for every derby girl and for every girl who wants to be a derby girl (like myself). It made me want to push myself even more when I'm on the rink practicing.
November 8, 2011
Is it wrong to give five stars to a book that you're featured in? probably. But I don't care, great read and the first book I recommend to anyone learning about roller derby. Thank you Alex Cohen and Jennifer Barbee.
December 20, 2011
LOVED! Definitely an opinionated guide on roller derby, but includes the voices of two of the pioneers. I love the history dating back to the 1800s and the extra guide to derby in tv and movies in the back complete with fun facts from many of the insiders that helped shoot them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews