EmergencyRefs staffs roller derby crews — skating referees plus non-skating officials (NSOs) — for scrimmages, exhibition bouts, charity bout nights, and rec-level pickup events on Long Island. Sanctioned interleague bouts, the kind Long Island's own WFTDA-affiliated league plays, generally use officials arranged through the leagues' own network instead. Because the local pool of derby-literate officials is small, book two to three weeks ahead when you can. Submit a request at EmergencyRefs.com.
Two Officiating Roles, Running at Once
Most sports on this site need one kind of official. Roller derby needs two, working simultaneously and covering different jobs entirely. Referees skate the track alongside the players, watching pack formation and calling penalties in real time — a physically demanding role that requires being fast enough on skates to keep up with a fast-moving pack. Non-skating officials, or NSOs, work off the track at tables: tracking each jam's score, managing the penalty box and timing box, running the scoreboard, and checking lineups before each jam starts. A real bout needs both roles fully staffed. Short one referee and the pack goes uncalled; short one NSO and the score stops being trustworthy.
That two-role structure is also why roller derby doesn't fit neatly into a general "hire a referee" request. An organizer booking their first derby event often doesn't know NSOs are a separate headcount from referees until we ask — which is exactly the kind of detail worth sorting out before the day of the event, not during it.
🚫 What we don't do: sanctioned interleague bouts — the kind that count toward a league's standing, like the bouts Long Island's own flat track league plays under WFTDA rules — use officials arranged through the leagues' own certified network, not a general staffing agency. If your event is a sanctioned interleague bout, work through the league directly. EmergencyRefs fits exhibitions, scrimmages, charity events, and rec-level bouts outside that structure.
How to Book a Roller Derby Crew Through EmergencyRefs
Confirm your event isn't a sanctioned interleague bout
If it is, book through the league's own officiating network instead — we're not the right fit for that specific case.
Tell us the format
Scrimmage, exhibition bout, charity fundraiser night, or a rec-level pickup event — and how many periods or jams you're planning.
Confirm your headcount
Referees and NSOs are separate roles with separate staffing — tell us if you need a full crew or just one side of it (a scrimmage with an informal scoring system might only need referees, for example).
We confirm your crew
With two to three weeks of lead time when possible — the local derby-officiating pool is small, and we'd rather tell you early if a date is tight than scramble the week of.
What This Costs on Long Island
| Event Type | Typical Crew | Rate Range |
|---|---|---|
| Informal scrimmage (refs only, informal scoring) | 2–3 referees | $120–$200 per session |
| Exhibition bout or charity bout night | 3–4 referees + 4–6 NSOs | $220–$380 per bout |
| Rec-level pickup event | 2 referees + 2–3 NSOs | $150–$250 per event |
💡 Priced by crew, not by person: because derby needs both referees and NSOs working together, we quote a bout as one crew rate rather than itemizing each official separately — it's simpler to budget against and matches how the crew actually works the event.
Where This Fits on Long Island
Skate Safe America in Old Bethpage — the same venue where our roller hockey officials often work — hosts home bouts for Long Island's own flat track roller derby league, an all-female league that's been active locally for two decades. That history means there's a real, if small, community of experienced skating officials and NSOs on the island — just not a deep bench, which is the whole reason lead time matters more here than for a mainstream team sport.
If your event is more of a themed corporate or charity night that happens to include a derby exhibition alongside other activities, our corporate and charity event referees guide covers how staffing a full event day with multiple stations gets planned and priced.
Planning a Roller Derby Event on Long Island?
Tell us your format, date, and crew needs — we'll confirm a derby-literate crew, with two to three weeks of lead time recommended.
Book Now at EmergencyRefs.com →Frequently Asked Questions
Generally no. Sanctioned interleague bouts use officials arranged through the leagues' own network. We fit exhibitions, scrimmages, and charity bout nights instead.
Referees skate the track and call penalties in real time. NSOs work off-skates, tracking scores, the penalty box, and lineups. A real bout needs both.
Not by default. We only place officials with actual derby-specific experience or training, not a generalist assigned on short notice.
Two to three weeks is realistic for anything beyond an informal scrimmage — the local pool of derby-experienced officials is small.
Skate Safe America in Old Bethpage hosts home bouts for Long Island's flat track roller derby league. We staff crews at venues across Nassau and Suffolk for exhibitions and non-sanctioned events.