Image courtesy of Visit Jackson
Rolling With JXN Roller Derby: An Inferno Exclusive Interview
What began in 2007 as Capital City Roller Girls has grown into something much more than just a sports team.
Derby’s Place in Jackson
In an interview with team member Sara “Scrammin” McFarland, McFarland stressed that “roller derby as a sport is always changing and evolving, skaters are always learning new skills and new ways to approach rules.” In 2020, the league rebranded to JXN Roller Derby to better represent the community they forged in their home city of Jackson, Mississippi.
She sees the derby league as “reflective of our city.” Despite obstacles involving practice locations, financial support, and member recruitment, “[Jackson sports leagues] remain resilient and make the best of what we’ve got.”
It isn’t always easy. “We wear multiple hats and all juggle a lot,” McFarland explained. “The other sports teams in Jackson go through the same thing. We fit in with each other because we all have to remain resourceful and resilient in order to be successful.”
Nearly 20 years old, JXN Roller Derby is a testament to both Jackson grit and the team’s deep love of the sport.
Open Ranks
Unlike many sports, roller derby doesn’t cater to one body type, gender, or skill set. It’s a sport where everyone, from seasoned skaters to rookies, can find their place.
“We’ve had teammates as young as 18 and as old as 50,” McFarland explained in our interview. She continued, “There is a position for everyone on the track—or off the track if that is more your style. It’s not like basketball where being tall is an advantage therefore teams mainly want taller people. Even in a position like jamming (scoring player), there’s benefits in various body shapes and sizes because each team we play has their own strengths and so by having a variety of jammers, we are able to switch it up to ensure the success of our players.”
Largely made up of women, JXN Roller Derby welcomes everyone, regardless of gender identity. “We believe that anyone who wants a roller derby home deserves to have one, and you are more than welcome to be a part of JXN Roller Derby,” McFarland punctuated.
Core Community
Roller derby and nonprofit work might not seem like a natural pairing—but for JXN Roller Derby, “[they] are all about getting into the community.”
This year, the team is proud to support The Bean Path, a tech-focused nonprofit founded by Jackson native and tech mogul Dr. Nashlie Sephus. Sephus’s organization offers STEAM classes on everything “from robotics and candle making to an ‘OATS’ program that teaches senior citizens about technology,” McFarland relayed.
Every year, JXN Roller Derby supports a different nonprofit. The Bean Path was selected this year because “they continue to make an impact through movement and health[y], safe, educational spaces in the Jackson community.”
Past collaborations have included coat drives with American Medical Response (AMR), volunteer work with the Good Samaritan of Jackson, and collecting pet food for local animal shelters. JXN also provides financial support; a portion of their ticket proceeds from all of their games is donated to that year’s charity.
The Derby Difference
Derby has changed a lot from its staged gimmicky 1970s performances, bouts in which skaters pretended to punch each other in the face and performed elaborate tricks. Now, “[derby] isn’t like [staged wrestling] at all…roller derby truly is a sport,” McFarland explained. JXN’s team of about 20 skaters takes the sport seriously: “We practice hard, we cross train and we try to fuel our bodies properly.”
Whether team members have never laced up a pair of skates or use skates as their primary mode of transportation, everyone learns how to skate safely in a derby setting. “We focus heavily on safety,” McFarland stressed. “One of the things you learn [in] your first practice is how to fall in a safe manner.”
Besides the evolving physicality of the sport, “there are two major things that set roller derby apart from other sports,” McFarland noted. Derby “is truly an all inclusive sport. It doesn’t matter how tall or short you are, the composition of your body, or your age. There is a position for everyone on the track- or off the track if that is more your style. ”
Secondly, McFarland summarizes, “roller derby is much more community-based than other sports.” In her experience with JXN Roller derby, “relationships formed in derby don’t end as soon as practice is over… roller derby teams feel more like a family in comparison to some other sports.”
Get Rolling!
For anyone curious about joining the league, the message—in McFarland’s words—is simple: “Just show up!”
JXN Roller Derby practices every Tuesday from 7–9 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Brandon (300 MS-468). If you’re feeling a little anxious or underprepared, McFarland still encourages everyone who is interested to show up: “Never put on skates before? That’s totally fine[,] we can teach you how to skate. I’ve had teammates before who have held onto the wall for the entirety of their first practice but you wouldn’t be able to tell that now.” Loaner gear is available, and bootcamps make it easy to dive in.
Interested in derby but a little apprehensive about the competitive elements? Just show up! “If you want to skate but you are a little nervous about contact,” McFarland said, “we are always looking for on-skate referees for our bouts and practices.”
Their 6-week bootcamp began Tuesday, October 7th, and the team encourages anyone even slightly interested to check it out.
Follow Along
Keep up with the latest events, games, and volunteer efforts by following JXN Roller Derby on Facebook. Whether you’re lacing up skates, cheering from the stands, or joining their community outreach, there’s a place for you in this fast-moving, fiercely passionate family.
And, be sure to catch Saturday, October 25th’s Slept On podcast. Hosts Corinne Ellington and Isaiah Wilson sit down with JXN Roller Derby to get the inside scoop on all things Jackson, derby, and JXN Derby. See you there!
Socials:
Instagram: @jxnrd (https://www.instagram.com/jxnrd/?hl=en)
X: JXN Roller Derby (https://www.facebook.com/jxnrollerderby/)
