What does the term "jammer" refer to in roller derby?

The term "jammer" in roller derby refers specifically to the player on the team whose primary role is to score points during the game. Jammers earn points by successfully passing opposing players while navigating the track. The first jammer to break through the pack of blockers at the start of a jam is known as the "lead jammer," which gives that player additional strategic advantages during the jam, such as the ability to stop the jam at any time.

This role is crucial to the overall scoring in roller derby because the performance of the jammer directly influences the team's ability to rack up points. Other roles such as blockers and coaches have very distinct responsibilities, focusing on either blocking or strategic planning rather than direct point-scoring during gameplay.