Assassination Roller Derby is Plano's window into the world of women's most popular contact sport

If you ask any of Assassination City Roller Derby teammates about what got them into the sport, you're likely to hear one of two answers: Beat him or through a friend who entered it by sight Beat him.

Roller derby has been around in some form or fashion for nearly a century, and the sport has gone through many iterations before becoming what it is today. Race across the country. Full Shot Shows. An International Roller Derby League was created and then ceased to exist prior to the 80's.

But in 2001, a group of Texas women brought the sport back into the public eye with narrowly defined rules and a distinctly feminist voice. Then, in 2009, Drew Barrymore assembled a star-studded cast to tell the story of an up-and-coming derby girl (played by Elliot, then Ellen Page) in a small town outside of Austin, bringing the sport to televisions around the world, television that brought together many of Plano's Assassination City Roller Derby teammates.

Assassination City is one of 441 leagues on six continents Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)one of the two main roller derby associations. (The other is USA Roller Sports, or USARS, which is recognized by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for competitive roller sports in the USA)

The league started in 2005, previously based in Dallas, named after the city of the murder. Moved to Thunderbird Roller Skating Rink in 2015 as a skater-owned and operated LLC, with each participating skater owning a portion of the company itself.

There are five teams based out of the half-century-old Plano base: a travel team that competes against teams from around the state, the Conspiracy, and four local teams that compete primarily against each other: the Bombshell Brigade, the Lone Star Assassins, the Deadly Kennedys. and ¡Viva La Revolución!

The game is simple. “Like rugby on wheels,” says Lone Star Assassins captain Rory Killmore. There are two teams of five skaters on a flat oval track. There are two 30-minute periods divided into units called blocks, which last up to two minutes with a 30-second break in between.

Four blockers and one blocker go to the rink. Block wears a helmet with a star on it, so she's easy to spot. Jammer is important here – she's the only one who can score points. Jammers from both teams start behind packs of jammers from both teams and they score points for each opposing jammer they pass each lap.

Of the female-dominated sports, roller derby is widely considered the only full-contact game in the lineup. However, this does not mean that there are no rules to protect them. Skaters are not allowed to use their head, elbows, forearms, hands, knees, lower legs or feet to contact opponents. If you want to take someone down, you're going to have to throw your body at them.

“It's a really, really good personal challenge because you can choose to compete with your teammates or other teams, but ultimately you're competing with yourself to see if you can do better,” UKillLele, co-captain of the Lone Star. The killers, he says.

Buzz Killer – Conspiratorial Co-Captain

What got you into sports?

I got into the derby like a lot of people – I watched it Beat him. At that time I was in college and I didn't know there was anyone around. My husband and I moved here and he had a co-worker who had done it back in the day and we realized (the league) was less than 15 minutes from my house, so I said, “Well, I've got to try it. Seven years later, I'm still here.

What would you say to someone looking to get into roller derby?

You should give it a chance. Everyone who plays it falls in love with it instantly. After one practice, I was hooked, and that's the story for most people here. It's a great community of people. All my best friends now are derby people, and a big part of that is that we spend a lot of time together, because it's a big community of people who support your goals, and this league is really a space sure to be. We have a lot of people who think they can't always be themselves outside these doors, but here they can be. So it's a great way to get fit and meet people while doing something good for your body.

Kitty Catatonic – Conspiracy

What got you into sports?

I started 10 years ago, and my daughter was in gymnastics. At the same gym there was a mom playing Assassination and putting flyers on a table. It was two or three months before I got around to (coming to see Assassination.) But once I sat down and watched for five minutes, I was 100% in. I signed up literally the next month.

What would you say to someone looking to get into roller derby?

This is a very empowering space for women. Growing up, there were no real contact sports for women. It allows you to use your body in the same way that boys are taught to use their bodies from the time they are born, where girls are somehow taught to sit and be pretty and have tea parties and play with dolls. And not all of us want to play with dolls. Some of us want to get out there and use our bodies and minds. It's also a mental game.

Like Jimmy Fallon (Beat him“Hot Tub” Johnny Rocket) said, “These girls are skinny, skating machines.”

The league hosts Welcome Wagons – meetings for prospective members – on the first Sunday and Wednesday of each month. Those who want to join a team are prepared to play through the fresh meat league program, which teaches the game, skating and other skills and conditions needed to play for local teams. All games are held at Thunderbird Roller Rink in Central Plano.