Jammer. Blocker. Pivot. If you’re not familiar with the rules of flat track roller derby, these words might not mean much to you yet, but Swan City Roller Derby is committed to changing that by breaking down barriers to the sport.
Swan City Roller Derby officially formed in 2016 and began playing in games the following year under the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). While Swan City itself is considered a club-level team (read: it isn’t an officially ranked member of the WFTDA), it still follows all WFTDA regulations and plays against ranked teams like New Jax City in Jacksonville and Bradentucky in Bradenton.
Since its inception, Swan City has grown from around 12 skaters to a group of 30-40 active participants across its three tiers: Glitter (beginner), Purple (intermediate), and Silver (rostered).
The official derby season runs from around February to October, where members practice two to three times per week and rostered players skate in one to two games, or bouts, per month. The team also regularly attends clinics or participates in scrimmages with other teams in the Central Florida area.
One of the league’s members, Lacey Williams (who goes by “Crash Panda” in the derby world), explained to us that while roller derby is a full contact sport, the goal of Swan City specifically isn’t always to be the most competitive. The league prides itself on being a group of passionate individuals committed to self-improvement and building community.
Individuals ages 18 and up interested in becoming a part of Swan City — experienced or not — can contact the team to learn how to get started. You can also support the team by following its Facebook and Instagram for game schedules (all of which are streamed) and to learn more about upcoming events.
