Hosting a Sensory-Friendly Bout

In 2025, Rocky Mountain Roller Derby held our first Sensory–Friendly Bout. The event was inspired by a league member, Showtime, who had a wish that — even once — a bout met the needs of neurodivergent skaters. Showtime shared with us a list of sensory needs that derby does not usually meet and from there, we hatched a plan!

Our goal: To create a unique roller derby event that takes into consideration sensory profiles of neurodivergent folks and embraces the spectrum of those experiences.

1) Get League Buy-In

  • Super critical. It wasn't hard to make this happen, but this format requires everyone to modify business as usual. 

  • Spectators were capped to 1/3 of normal. Meaning less income from ticket sales, this required financial/BOD approval.

2) Establish a Task Force

  • Include a variety of neurodiverse skaters to weigh in on language and execution, wants and needs, and how to best serve a spectrum of experiences. 

    • This crew made a list of all the things they wish they could change in derby. 

    • We endeavored to do as many as possible within safety limitations.

  • We found it helped tremendously to have someone who enjoys organization to help with accountability.

3) Set a Goal, Establish Guidelines and Agreements 

  • What’s your why? See our goal at the top of this page

  • Everyone involved had to sign the guidelines and agreements virtually beforehand. Here's ours:

    • I understand that as a participant (skater, official, spectator, volunteer, vendor, etc.) of this event I will comply with the following requests and agreements

      • Regulate our voices & use visual applause

      • Be open-minded about behaviors and needs that are different than your own

      • Respect and give space, ask for consent, do not assume intent

  • The guidelines were also posted around the venue during the event

4) Modified Bout Set Up

  • No overhead fluorescent lights (held the event during the day)

  • No announcing over speakers

    • Instead we had a local "Silent Disco" company provide headphones

    • The headphones had three channels: announcers, chill music, upbeat dance music

    • Headphones were available as an optional donation with ticket purchase online and at the door

  • Sensory seeking area outside with games, chalk, hula hoops, bubbles, etc. 

  • Separate quiet area with no lights, chairs to sit in

  • Buckets of fidget toys around the venue

  • Ear plugs available for free at door

  • Extra chairs and room on benches for people who need additional personal space

  • No cheering! We had signs encouraging visual applause and provided ribbon wands in team colors

  • Additional signage for more clarity/not having to ask where things were

  • Limited tickets sold to minimize crowding

  • For ticketing, we gave people the choice of holding / putting the wristband in their pocket instead of wearing that, knowing that could be a sensory issue for some

5) Modified Officiating

  • Allow time for processing as you would a HOH skater

  • Encourage visual cues

  • Use electronic whistles as much as possible (the sound is less jarring)

6) Rosters

  • Depending upon interest, roster priority is given to skaters who self-identify as neurodivergent

  • Our task force created a form for skaters to share strengths, weaknesses, requests, and preferences and we built the rosters based on this information, then shared the answers with the teams

  • Benches were quiet (no yelling, visual applause), communication on the track was also measured

7) Community Involvement

This one is more a wish list for our next event. 

  • Involve Divergence Derby and support their mission (we did reach out to them, but the timing did not work in 2025) 

  • Engage organizations that align with the goal of the event either as vendors, for free tabling, or to receive a portion of proceeds

All photos courtesy of Peter Huong