About
FAQs
- Who are the B.A.D. Girls?
- How long have the B.A.D. Girls been a league?
- Where do the B.A.D. Girls practice?
- How does someone join the B.A.D. Girls?
- When do the B.A.D. Girls play?
- Who owns the B.A.D. Girls?
- How does the league support itself?
- What are the rules of roller derby?
- Are the scores and winners staged?
- Do skaters get hurt at bouts?
- Can rink-side audience members get hurt?
- Are the fights real?
- Where can I find more information?
Who are the B.A.D. Girls?
The B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls, LLC, are the Bay Area's first and only all-female flat track roller derby league. Comprised of three teams -- the S.F. ShEvil Dead, the Oakland Outlaws, and the Richmond Wrecking Belles -- the B.A.D. Girls have established themselves among the nationwide, rock'n'roll roller derby revival. [top]
How long have the B.A.D. Girls been a league?
The B.A.D. Girls were founded in August of 2004. [top]
Where do the B.A.D. Girls practice?
The B.A.D. Girls currently practice three times a week. Our schedule changes regularly, so please write to beabadgirl at bayareaderbygirls dot com for more info. We can be found practicing outdoors in both San Francisco and the East Bay and at Dry Ice Rink (210 Hegenberger Road, Oakland). [top]
How does someone join the B.A.D. Girls?
The next tryouts will be in September 2008!
Keep checking back for details. View the tryout page for more information. [top]
When do the B.A.D. Girls play?
We have finalized our Fall 2007 schedule at the San Jose Civic Auditorium in San Jose, CA. Our full schedule is here [top]
Who owns the B.A.D. Girls?
NO ONE! The league is run on a democratic, "by the skaters, for the skaters" philosophy. All decisions and operational duties are handled by nine league-elected committees, which are managed by committee directors: Coaching, Merchandise, Human Relations, Public Relations, Finance, Community Service, Event Planning, Art /Web, and Sponsorship. Our LLC functions as a silent body and speaks only for the league. No one makes a dime. [top]
How does the league support itself?
We depend on skater dues, which range between $50-70, donations, sponsorships and the general kindness of strangers. [top]
What are the rules of roller derby?
There are three positions:
- Pivot: A specialized blocker - she sets the pace for the pack and is the last line of defense.
- Blocker: She tries to stop the other team's jammer, and assist her own.
- Jammer: She sprints through the pack, scoring points by passing members of the opposing team.
The pack is composed of eight skaters, four from each team (three blockers and a pivot). Two jammers, one from each team, are placed behind the blockers. When the whistle blows, the pack takes off, and on a second whistle, the jammers sprint to fight their way through the pack. The jammers lap the pack and when they re-enter it a second time, they receive one point for each member of the opposing team that they pass. A jam lasts a maximum of two minutes, but the "lead jammer" has the right to call off the jam at her discretion.
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Are the scores and winners staged?
Absolutely not. That's why we fight so hard. Unlike the roller derby you may have grown up watching, ours is not a staged sport.
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Do skaters get hurt at bouts?
Sometimes. Roller derby is a full contact sport, but we wear protective gear (helmets, knee and elbow pads and wrist guards). While accidents happen, we do our best to be as safe as possible. We spend a long time working on our skating skills and endurance first and foremost!
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Can rink-side audience members get hurt?
There's a chance. The rink is only so big, and skaters will sometimes fly into the audience, landing up close and personal. We skate fast, and while we do our best to try and make sure you don't feel us skate-first, we can only control so much. But some think it's worth it, and we agree.
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Are the fights real?
The fights are real. We're good friends at practice, respectful, supportive and helpful. But once the whistle blows, it's different story. While we're all level-headed, professional, and friendly girls off the track, but when we're skating, we can be tough, competitive bitches. We blame it on the adrenaline. [top]