Roller Derby is a Game
I know that a lot of people want Roller Derby to be regarded as a sport. I love derby so I want to keep sport and the cult of the athlete far away from it. Since I have not heard anyone advocating my position I suppose I will have to take it upon myself to explain why I desperately want derby to stay a game.
I know that being a sport seems like a way to get respect for the physical endeavor of derby. And yes, it would be. But being a sport that is played by athletes has some real downsides.
Sports center on athletes who perform athletic feats, this means that the more something becomes a sport the greater the focus is on individuals and their feats. And they are allowed to play because they are good at the games. It also means that the supporting roles are devalued; they are only there because they are required but are not really interesting because they are not athletes. Fans become part of a community that is there to support the athlete, a sort of one way relationship where “giving back” on the part of the athletes is basically just permitting yourself to be included in the community and sometimes showing up for things. To sum it up, sports have stars, they are just called athletes.
The stars are popular and powerful and treated with reverence. It seems like this is a bad thing for everyone else, but the people I think are most harmed by the culture of sport are the athletes. The cultural position is essentially the same as the beautiful woman; they are accorded special privileges as long as they are able to meet our unrealistic expectations with their physical body. And they will age and be unable to do that one day. And they are under pressure to do even unsafe, unhealthy things to just get a little bit closer to the
ideal that the reverence invokes. There is such a thing as too much focus on physical endeavor. The cult of the athlete is not really good for either the worshiper or the worshiped.
I am offering an alternative view, that Roller Derby is a game. Games are played for enjoyment. Games are something anyone can do, even if practice makes you better. While being good at a game is respected, it is only seen as a part of someone’s life. Making huge life changes to be better at a game would
be seen as sort of silly. In addition players in a game are seen as people who do other things and who might be valuable, maybe even more valuable in those other roles.
In a game culture everyone is encouraged to learn to play and everyone is seen as able to bring something to the table. Someone might not be someone you want to play one game with, but they might be good in another role, or another game. And making a good group is not just about finding the most skilled people; it is about putting a supportive, functional group
together even if play levels vary. The culture of games in not one where fans support players, it is one were players support each other. It can be a little insular, but I think gaming culture is a lot healthier.
I want us to stay “For the players by the players” not become “For the fans by the athletes”
I know that being a sport seems like a way to get respect for the physical endeavor of derby. And yes, it would be. But being a sport that is played by athletes has some real downsides.
Sports center on athletes who perform athletic feats, this means that the more something becomes a sport the greater the focus is on individuals and their feats. And they are allowed to play because they are good at the games. It also means that the supporting roles are devalued; they are only there because they are required but are not really interesting because they are not athletes. Fans become part of a community that is there to support the athlete, a sort of one way relationship where “giving back” on the part of the athletes is basically just permitting yourself to be included in the community and sometimes showing up for things. To sum it up, sports have stars, they are just called athletes.
The stars are popular and powerful and treated with reverence. It seems like this is a bad thing for everyone else, but the people I think are most harmed by the culture of sport are the athletes. The cultural position is essentially the same as the beautiful woman; they are accorded special privileges as long as they are able to meet our unrealistic expectations with their physical body. And they will age and be unable to do that one day. And they are under pressure to do even unsafe, unhealthy things to just get a little bit closer to the
ideal that the reverence invokes. There is such a thing as too much focus on physical endeavor. The cult of the athlete is not really good for either the worshiper or the worshiped.
I am offering an alternative view, that Roller Derby is a game. Games are played for enjoyment. Games are something anyone can do, even if practice makes you better. While being good at a game is respected, it is only seen as a part of someone’s life. Making huge life changes to be better at a game would
be seen as sort of silly. In addition players in a game are seen as people who do other things and who might be valuable, maybe even more valuable in those other roles.
In a game culture everyone is encouraged to learn to play and everyone is seen as able to bring something to the table. Someone might not be someone you want to play one game with, but they might be good in another role, or another game. And making a good group is not just about finding the most skilled people; it is about putting a supportive, functional group
together even if play levels vary. The culture of games in not one where fans support players, it is one were players support each other. It can be a little insular, but I think gaming culture is a lot healthier.
I want us to stay “For the players by the players” not become “For the fans by the athletes”