South Sea Roller Derby (SSRD) was founded by former Victorian Roller Derby League (VRDL) member, Misty Meaner, in 2009.

When VRDL moved its training location from Dandenong to Sunshine in late 2008, Misty's travel time dramatically increased. This sparked an idea to create a league to cater for girls living on the south east side of the city.

After scouting around, the perfect training location was found in Peninsula Skateworld at Carrum Downs. The owners, Robyn and Mark, were keen to help bring roller derby to the area.

Recruitment of skaters began in early 2009, with regular training sessions starting in August. The first sessions helped raise the profile and the word was starting to spread.

Lady Malice, a former VRDL fresh meat coordinator, offered her services as a coach to help SSRD along in the crucial development phase.

Before long the league was evolving, skills were being developed and perfected, closed training sessions were secured and outside interest was growing rapidly.

Today SSRD has more than 50 members in the form of skaters, refs and officials. The first two teams are the Cutthroat Charmers (purple and black) and the Dolly Rogers (red and white).

SSRD is 100% skater owned and operated.

Roller Derby is a full-contact, female team sport played on a flat oval track. It consists of two teams, each with 5 players on the court during play. A game of roller derby (called a 'bout') is broken into two 30 minute periods containing an unlimited number of 'jams'. Each jam can be up to two minutes duration.

During a jam, one girl from each team is a jammer (identified by the star on her helmet) and the other four girls are blockers. It is the jammer's job to get through the pack of blockers. The first jammer through the pack is the lead jammer and she has the right to stop the jam before the two minutes have elapsed (the decision to do so is strategic). Jammers then score a point for every member of the opposing team they pass from the second lap onwards.

Blockers do their best to stop the opposing jammer - but also have to help their own jammer move through the pack by doing what is known as whipping (ie. pulling or pushing the jammers). The jam is over either when it is called off by the lead jammer, or when the set period of time is reached. The team with the highest points at the end of the bout wins.

Check out this video for a great a visual explanation.
WFTDA (Women's Flat Track Derby Association) official rules available here