B.A.D. F.A.Q.

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 four teams -- the S.F. ShEvil Dead, the Oakland Outlaws, the Alcatraz Escapees and the Treasure Island Gold Diggers -- the B.A.D. Girls are one of the latest additions to 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 four times a week. Our schedule changes regularly, so please write to beabadgirl@BayAreaDerbyGirls.com for more info. We practice at Dry Ice Rink (210 Hegenberger Road, Oakland), and the Bladium (800 West Tower Avenue Bldg 40, Alameda). [top]

How does someone join the B.A.D. Girls?
Aspiring recruits must come to a practice, pay rink rental, and bring their own skates and full protective gear (e.g.: helmet, knee and wrist pads, and wrist guards). From there, they undergo extensive training. For more info, contact us at beabadgirl@BayAreaDerbyGirls.com.

NEXT PROSPECT PRACTICE: Thursday, October 5, 2006! Come to The Bladium Sports & Fitness Club - Alameda - 800 West Tower Avenue Bldg 40, Alameda CA, 94501 [map and directions]. Plan to show up by 9:30pm with your skates, gear, proof of ID (21+), and $10 for rink fees. See you there!

For more info, write to beabadgirl@BayAreaDerbyGirls.com. [top]

When do the B.A.D. Girls play?
The league will wrap up its first season in October of 2006. By the New Year, the league hopes to have our four robust teams competing for a season title. [top]

Who owns the B.A.D. Girls?
No one, really. The league is run on a democratic "by the skaters, for the skaters" philosophy. All decisions and operational duties are handled by seven league-elected committees, which are managed by committee directors: Coaching, Fundraising, Web and Creative, Recruitment, Merchandizing, Budget and Accounting, Sponsorship, Media and Public Relations. 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 $40-50, donations, sponsorships and the general kindness of strangers. [top]

What are the rules of roller derby?
There are three positions:

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. [top]

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. [top]

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. [top]

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. [top]

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]

Where can I find more information?
Write to us at info@BayAreaDerbyGirls.com. [top]