Scream – the zebras are coming…

Unassuming black and white stripes, whistles puncturing the ferocious contest and voices booming across the flat-track. Through the blaze of a tactical battle, the silence of penalty-inspired tension, the thrill of physicality; those zebras come out to play.

Roller Derby is an evolving time-piece. Without each cog twirling perfectly to play its part, twisting towards the same spectacle, the sport would falter in the face of hesitation. These bronzed cogs of self-sufficiency appear in a variety of forms, the majestic skill of skaters on track, the irreplaceable NSO’s and inevitably, those who come to be entertained; buying tickets that can form the financial lifeblood of a league’s existence.

Then, there are those whose reward is often a brief introduction before bout-time and a few scribbled words of appreciation in the programme. Those elemental yet unconscious enforcers, who adhere to the game’s limitations, cling to the WFTDA rule-book as their bible and embrace the fallout of a wrong decision or the fury of a penalty missed.

There is no doubt in my mind that derby recognises the crucial role of officials and the derby-verse shows them plenty of love when it can, recognising the selfless role they perform to ensure a smooth, safe and stunning show regardless of the stage. Nevertheless, the journey of an official is to date, plagued by the mystery of minimal coverage, providing little in the way of a blueprint for the newest leagues and existing in stark contrast to the many tales of skater discovery.

Ahead of their upcoming bouts against Leeds Roller Dolls Whip-its and London Rollergirls Batter C Power (look out for the bout-preview at the beginning of September), I caught up with Kent Roller Girls’ Head Referee, Scream Winchester, to gain an insight into the world of a derby referee with a growing league; one present at the birth and who has played key witness to its evolution.

So why ‘Scream Winchester’?

“I’m pretty loud, especially when making calls,” says the main man in the middle. “It took me a while to figure out my name. I just wanted something that wasn’t too obscure but also figured out that most people shorten derby names, so you couldn’t have something like ‘Bob’; I just like being called Scream.”

For many, the topic of derby names and subsequent alter-egos is a divisive concept. Most, and I count myself amongst them; feel they are the epitome of the sport’s unique and fun atmosphere, but for a select few (including television networks), they are one of the factors preventing derby from ascending to the mainstream.

As Scream outlines however, for officials there can be an added responsibility when the choice does arrive: “It’s good to have a funny name but referees should obviously avoid any names that may be seen as sexist, racist, violent or too controversial. We even had an official within the league change his name recently to present a more legitimate and professional image on track.”

What has been his biggest challenge from the refereeing experience so far?

“Well in the beginning, it was only really Demi Lition and Ben-Ten Derizer who knew the rules and the basics of the sport. So branching out on our own and having to teach ourselves at each stage was tough, especially as the entire refereeing team was in the same boat, so we couldn’t lean on each-other for answers.”

The complexities of these early days, wherein Scream was partnered only by the excellent Megaref, have been most recently replaced by the seedlings of the league’s first zebra team. The development, although undoubtedly positive for KRG moving forward, has brought further challenges and different responsibilities.

“Training new officials has been the most difficult and most rewarding aspect, it takes a lot of imagination to think of interesting drills that will cater for a variety of skill levels,” says Scream.

Have they brought in skills from their personal and professional lives that help? (One of the more remarkable facets of derby is the way in which leagues are able to maintain a ‘DIY’ approach to the many avenues that require voluntary attention and time, officiating at KRG is seemingly no different.)

“Yes. I’m extremely patient and in my role at work, spend a lot of time training new starters. I find that teaching people comes quite naturally, using the correct manner to come across as clear and concise. One of the biggest challenges is to make sure you use the right terminology when talking to skaters, this can help diffuse tense situations.”

For Scream, the view of officials is under constant personal consideration, alteration and scrutiny. As his thoughts wander towards his position with KRG, the words begin to flow.

“There’s a big discussion at the moment on whether refs should be affiliated with specific leagues due to it becoming hard to remain unbiased. I think it’s down to personal opinion and preference. I am proud of each and everyone one of the KRG girls, but when it comes to bout-time, I would never hesitate to make the correct call. It’s as though they are separate worlds that never cross. “

Perhaps interesting for members of any leagues just starting up across the country is the changes to the system of communication in Kent over the last year, which have proved fruitful in recent times.

“At practice, we aim to give information that can help skaters. A few years ago, we used to remain completely impartial during practice (a them and us mentality) but this caused some friction. Whilst we were still learning, a lot of tension arose. So we would get the loudest skaters to try the refereeing side of the game and to understand things from our perspective. Now we discuss any calls they want and have implemented the three jam rule during scrimmages (consecutive jams followed by moments to reflect). In my opinion, the league has evolved to become one of the cleanest teams in the south, which is in part down to a great relationship with officials.”

For any future referees out there, wondering whether league affiliation can be a successful and enjoyable experience, Scream has a message of comfort.

“Absolutely, it is a symbiotic relationship that can be mutually beneficial. That’s not to say others who remain neutral are in the wrong, but it’s definitely worked for me.”

“You can become just as skilful as the girls on track with enough practice and gain a lot of stamina. You also get the opportunity to teach others during scrimmage, which provides plenty of rewarding moments.”

And what about any advice for new leagues/officials?

“Really read the rules! Join a referee forum; there are pools of information out there if you want to find them. Try to engage with the practices of local, more established leagues and watch different standards of derby to analyse situations and calls.”

Thoughts on your time at KRG?

“I am proud to be part of this league, all the way from infancy to showing skaters skills at our new rec league. Watching individuals progress through the ranks is great.”

As I asked what changes he would like to see within the refereeing scene, Scream’s voice becomes suddenly enthused by passion as he discusses a monumentally grey feature of the derby landscape that could be transformed moving forward.

“I’d like to see the standards and levels of officials across the country achieve more consistency. It can be difficult for leagues to experience varied officiating when they bout and although we have the current WFTDA system, I’d like to see a national governing body bring the standards up to assess whether they can be on par with the U.S. We have some fantastic referees in the UK, but we need a more accessible form of certification. Looking at the short-term gain, we need something nationally based so that all officials in the UK can reach a similar level of performance.”

Finally, if he had the power to change one rule, just what would it be? With serious thought, before a fleeting smile: “Get rid of star-passes because they make my brain hurt.”