A Leeds Met researcher is investigating the newly-revived alternative sport, women's roller derby, which will be published as a book next year.

Roller derby is an American-invented full-contact sport where two all-female teams attempt to pass each other around a flat track at speeds of up to 30mph wearing skates. It has a long history, particularly in America, and has recently seen an international revival, with teams being self-organised all over the world, including Leeds, Wakefield and Sheffield. 

Dr Samantha Holland, Research Fellow at Leeds Met, has begun extensive sociological research into the area of gendered sport, violence and injury by studying roller derby practices and bouts (the term used for a public roller derby match), and interviewing players, both here in the UK and further a field in America and Canada.

Dr Holland commented: "There is currently a lack of sociological work about gendered injury in sport and so I want to find out how women rationalise the very real risk of serious injury, as well as examining issues such as sexualised display; physicality and empowerment; friendships and pleasure. Roller derby offers a space for women to find increased confidence through learning skating skills and forging quite intense friendships within their team. Being a derby player requires a certain amount of fearlessness and aggression not usually associated with women. Yet lots of different women play roller derby, of all ages, sizes and professions."

Dr Holland is currently interviewing local players about their experiences. She says: "The women I am speaking to report that joining a roller derby league was one of, if not the most, enjoyable, challenging and exhilarating things they have ever done - despite some of them recovering from a variety of injuries from a dislocated jaw to a broken leg."