Events

2018 SPOOKTACULAR

Posted on by itmanager
20
Sep

Saturday, Oct 20th 1PM

PRICE
$20 to register
Spectators $5 (cash at door)

REGISTER NOW

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Come enjoy a Halloween-themed fun afternoon of roller derby with Bay Area Derby. This year’s SPOOKTACULAR is a mixed-level Halloween roller derby scrimmage featuring:

Creeptastic Creatures (green)
Jumpin’ Jack-o-Lanterns (orange)
Ghoulish Ghosts (white)
Wicked Witches (purple)

This is a mixed-level scrimmage, but in order to participate you must be an active member of a roller derby league, 18 years or older, and cleared for contact/scrimmage. If you’re a new skater interested in roller derby we encourage you to check out our Reckless Rollers program or Beginner Skater Clinic.

Bay Area Derby skaters will be your bench coaches for the afternoon—so no need to worry about helmet covers or support staff. Dressing in theme is encouraged (but not required). There will be awards for the best costume on each team!

Registration ends October 7 and/or we have reached the maximum number of 15 skaters per team. Then you will be sorted onto 1 of the teams by BAD staff. We will email you by October 8 to let you know what team you’re on so you can get your shirts and costumes ready!

SCHEDULE
1:00 – 1:30 Check-in
1:30 – 1:55 Warm-up/Open track time for all
1:55 – 2:25 G1: Ghoulish Ghosts v. Jumpin’ Jack-o-Lanterns
2:25 – 2:30 5 min break
2:30 – 3:00 G2: Creeptastic Creatures v. Wicked Witches
3:00 – 3:10 10 min break
3:10 – 3:40 G3: Creeptastic Creatures v. Jumpin’ Jack-o-Lanterns
3:40 – 3:45 5 min break
3:45 – 4:15 G4: Ghoulish Ghosts  v. Wicked Witches
4:15 – 4:25 10 min break
4:25 – 4:55 G5: Ghoulish Ghosts v. Creeptastic Creatures
4:55 – 5:00 5 min break

Events

2019 BAD Tryouts

Posted on by itmanager
12
Sep
REGISTER NOW
Our tryouts for the 2019 season are December 1st and 2nd!

Open to female-identifying and gender non-binary individuals who are at least 18 years old, and interested in learning how to play Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby.  You must have a basic ability to:

  • Skate comfortably and safely with others around you
  • Stay active for up to three hours at a time
  • Exert yourself physically and mentally throughout the session

Tryouts will be held at BAD HQ in West Oakland. Address will be provided upon registration.

To participate, you will need the following:

  • Registration completed & paid online in advance
  • Quad roller skates with appropriate indoor wheels
  • Protective gear (helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads, mouthguard)

Skates and protective gear (aside from mouthguard) are possible to borrow at our practice venue each session on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot guarantee your size. We highly recommend purchasing your own protective gear for cleanliness and safety. You MUST provide your own mouthguard.

Not sure if you’re ready to skate with BAD yet?

We’ll have a series of intensive skating clinics leading up to tryouts starting October 6: https://www.bayareaderby.com/2018-bad-beginnings

You can also get begin skating today with Reckless Rollers: https://www.bayareaderby.com/reckless-rollers

Questions? Email coaching@bayareaderby.com

 

We’ll see you on the track!
Events

2018 BAD Beginnings

Posted on by itmanager
12
Sep
12 SESSIONS:
Sat 10/6
Mon 10/8
Sat 10/13
Mon 10/15
Sat 10/20*
Mon 10/22
Sat 10/27
Mon 10/29
Mon 11/5
Sat 11/10
Mon 11/12
Sat 11/17

*October 20th is session is off-skates rules class & scrimmage viewing to learn the game of derby.

 
BOOK TODAY!

Bay Area Derby presents a 12 session clinic aimed at getting beginner skaters ready for entry-level roller derby starting October 6 and running through November 17. We will teach you the minimum skills required to participate in our roller derby tryouts on December 1st and 2nd.

The BAD Beginner Skate Clinic is geared towards beginner skaters who want to skate in a flat track roller derby environment. We’ll break down the basics of proper derby stance, work on building muscles to maintain that stance, stopping techniques, fluid movement on the track, lateral movement, jumping, and weaving. The latter part of the classes will focus on partner and pack work as well as game aspects, including blocking and hitting.

Saturday sessions are 1pm – 3pm. Monday sessions are 6:30 – 8pm. All Bay Area Derby Beginner Skate Clinic sessions will be held at BAD HQ in West Oakland. Address will be provided upon registration.

TRYOUTS for the 2019 season are December 1st and 2nd, 1-4pm Saturday and Sunday. Reserve your spot at tryouts when you register for the clinic and save!

WHAT TO EXPECT

Open to female-identifying and gender non-binary individuals who are at least 18 years old, and interested in learning how to play Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby. You must have a basic ability to:

  • balance/roll on skates with no outside assistance
  • to stay active for up to two hours at a time
  • exert yourself physically and mentally throughout the session

Attendance at every session is not required but highly encouraged as each class builds upon the previous one. No refunds will be given for missed sessions or drop-outs. We are limiting the clinic to 35 skaters in order to provide each participant with quality instruction and individual feedback.

Please arrive 15 minutes before sessions to warm up and gear up.

PRICING
Skate Clinic Pass $199

Skate Clinic Pass holders may also attend unlimited Reckless Rollers sessions in October and November.

REQUIRED GEAR

  • Quad roller skates with appropriate indoor wheels
  • Protective gear (helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads)
  • Well-fitting mouthguard

Skates and protective gear (aside from mouthguard) are possible to borrow at our practice venue each session on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot guarantee your size. We highly recommend purchasing your own protective gear for cleanliness and safety. You MUST provide your own mouthguard.

Questions? Email bootcamps@bayareaderby.com

We’ll see you on the track!

Events, News, Officials

BAD to Good to Great: A WFTDA Clinic

Posted on by itmanager
25
Jun

Join WFTDA Officiating Instructors Nora Leif (of Windy City Rollers) and Marriedjuana (of Sacramento Roller Derby) for a two-day officiating clinic held in Oakland, CA at Bay Area Derby’s practice space. Nora Leif is a Level 4 NSO and represents all of officiating to the WFTDA Rules Committee. Marriedjuana is a Level 2 SO, a language lead for the WFTDA, translating WFTDA documents into Spanish, WFTDA Clinic Instructor (5 years), and Former Head Referee of Sacramento Roller Derby.

Unlike many WFTDA clinics, this clinic is geared at mid-career officials, with plenty of experience, who are looking to make the “next step” from Good to Great. We expect all officials (including newer, early-career officials and perhaps even some advanced officials) to benefit. Specific skill sets include:

• Focus: Are you focusing too narrowly or too broadly? What needs your attention RIGHT NOW?
• Distractions: How to keep your mind from straying?
• Complex rules scenarios: How to handle them effectively at a moment’s notice, including star passes, jammer swaps, and more.
• Communication: How to talk to other officials, skaters, and coaches.
• Presence on the track: What do “Calm” and “Professional” really look like?
• Self-Assessment: Tracking and managing your own growth when you’re the most advanced official around
• Helping others grow: Are you the local mentor, and not sure how you got there? Tips for coaching other officials, including how to give and receive feedback
• Pursuing Certification: What the whole path looks like, and do you even want to?
• Footage Review: How to watch a game and find the things that matter

This clinic runs from 10am-2pm on Saturday, July 21, and then picks up again from 10am-5pm on Sunday, July 22. Snacks are provided, plus a lunch is provided on Sunday. Bay Area Derby has a public game on July 21; officials may sign up to work the event here: (form), or tickets may be purchased separately. Footage from this game may be reviewed on Sunday as part of the clinic. The cost to attend some or all of the clinic is $75. Register today!

Be BAD. Then get good. Now get better.

News

Gio’s Pizza & Bocce Fundraising Night

Posted on by itmanager
08
Jun

Can’t wait until July 21st to see your favorite derby skaters again?  On Sunday June 10th, Bay Area Derby skaters will be hanging out at Gio’s Pizza & Bocce in Berkeley, playing Bocce and fundraising with pizza orders!  Gio’s is helping BAD by donating 10% of To-Go and Dine-In orders (no delivery) between 5 and 10 PM! Help us earn some cash by eating some excellent pizza!

Additional Information
Time: 5-10 PM on June 10, 2018
Location: Gio’s Pizza & Bocce 2420 Shattuck Ave Berkeley, California 94704
Cost to attend: Free!  But order some pizza, salad or drinks while you play Bocce ball with us!

2018 Bouts, Bouts, Game Recaps, News

20SkateTeen BOUT 1 recap: San Francisco ShEvil Dead v. Berkeley Resistance

Posted on by itmanager
15
Apr

BAD’s opening home bout of the #20SkateTeen season pitted the Berkeley Resistance against the San Francisco ShEvil Dead in a hard-hitting test of endurance and stability, resulting in victory for the zombies, 172-99.

BAD’s teams took the track at San Francisco’s historic Palace of the Fine Arts under the gaze of two ominous angel statues and a triumphant crowd of about 700 fans.  The starting jammers–Eva Menace for the Resistance and Danymite for the ShEvil Dead–crashed into the pack of skaters, with Dani taking a quick lead and forcing Eva to pass the star to her pivot, Raven Evergore, while Dani continued on to score five points and call off the jam.

The first half of play saw the teams trading low-scoring passes and calling off the jam.  It seemed as though both teams were working more towards stability on the slick track than on elaborate strategy. Both teams used up their official reviews in the first half of play, requesting the officials to call cut track penalties on the opposing team’s jammers.  The officials stood by their decision in both cases, and both teams lost their official reviews.

At halftime, ShEvil led the Resistance with a score of 89-45.

The Resistance came back swinging, however, taking on a two-wall of ShEvil blockers and scoring a quick five points.  The next jam, too, saw Berkeley’s Smother Mary break through a full contingent of zombie blockers, leading to yet another star pass from ShEvil’s Sterling Archer to pivot Stefanie Mainey.  

Berkeley’s momentum was not to last, even as the Resistance and ShEvil both solidified their defensive strategies in the second half of the game.  With just over ten minutes left on the clock, Berkeley completed a star pass right off the line to Raven Evergore. But ShEvil’s jammer, Tifa Knoxhard, followed closely behind out of the pack and into her scoring pass.  After two passes the ShEvil blockers were able to clear the penalty box and, with Stefanie Mainey bracing a wall of three, shut down Raven Evergore and allow Tifa Knoxhard the time to break through the Resistance tripod, all while running down the game clock.

From then on, the half saw multiple scoreless jams, including one with only 8 minutes left on the clock, where the tripod walls for both teams held the jammers for a full two minutes–a testament to both teams’ strength and communication.

At the end of the night, the ShEvil Dead emerged victorious, with a score of 172-99.  The Resistance have another chance to prove themselves in their upcoming fight for the East Bay against the Oakland Outlaws on April 7th, again at the Palace of the Fine Arts.  Which team will own the Bay?
Photography by Will Toft.

FINAL SCORE

San Francisco ShEvil Dead: 172
Berkeley Resistance: 99

Featured image by Mark Nockleby.

BADtv

BAD Skater Diaries: Hines

Posted on by itmanager
Featured Video Play Icon
06
Apr

Who makes BAD run? SPOILER: all the skaters volunteers. Hines is one of our best slashies!

Music: Borrtex “Thank You For This World” (link: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Bor…) Ben Sound “Going Higher” (link: https://www.bensound.com/) Scott Holmes “Indie Rock” (link: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Sco…)

2018 Bouts, News

2018 Oakland Outlaws Team Preview

Posted on by itmanager
03
Apr
Coaches: April Bloodgate and Esteemed Bun Bun

When asked what most excites them about the #20SkateTeen season at BAD, coaches April Bloodgate and Esteemed Bun Bun waste no time in saying: “our new team!”

While fans will recognize long-time Outlaws Esteemed Bun Bun (#42), Dreadzilla (#333) and Lethally Blonde (#45), the Outlaws are returning for this season with a cutting-edge group of transfers and rookie skaters, along with former hippies and zombies, ready to embody the new Oakland winged skull.

The numerous fresh faces to the team include Eris Jordan (#023), Reeba (#666), Bent Burns (#88), Blood Sweat and Ears (#9), Ripley Effect (#483) and Greer Factor (#805), many of whom have risen up from BAD’s Reckless Rollers program and BAD Beginnings Boot Camp.

Relocating from other leagues, the Outlaws gain multiple transfer skaters. From Sac City, they gain Snatch (#1062) and Ovary-Z (#6), while also scoring Steel City Derby’s BB Basher (#18) and Croydon Roller Derby’s Hieronymus Bash (#1929).

Skaters such as coach April Bloodgate (#23), Amy Avishay  (#101), Dirty Lil Trick (#405), Illuminaughty (#701) and Hines (#57) join the gang from the Berkeley Resistance, while Spiller (#29) leaves her zombie green ShEvil jersey at the door.

The entire team has been working to build something new and powerful while also maintaining the spirit of Outlaw rosters past. In addition to building trust amongst each other, the Outlaws strive to learn and implement new strategies capable of decimating their opponents, all while having fun.

Their first bout of the season will be their fight for home-turf dominance against the Berkeley Resistance at BAD’s 4/7 Bout at the Palace of Fine Arts.

What will the season hold for BAD’s most eclectic mix of skaters?  Nothing short of camaraderie, can-do attitude, tuxedo training shirts, and some crossfit reps–if coach April Bloodgate has her way.

Current team roster.

#23 April Bloodgate || #18 BB Basher || #88 Bent Burns || #9 Blood Sweat and Ears || #1217 Amy Avishay || #405 Dirty Lil Trick || #333 Dreadzilla || #023 Eris Jordan || #42 Esteemed Bun Bun  || #805 Greer Factor || #1929 Hieronymus Bash || #57 Hines || #701 Illuminaughty || #45 Lethally Blonde || #6 Ovary-Z || #666 Reeba || #483 Ripley Effect || #1062 Snatch || #29 Spiller

2018 Bouts, News

2018 Berkeley Resistance Team Preview

Posted on by itmanager
03
Apr
Coaches: Jerk Jar Wrecks and Smother Mary
Captain: Banshee-ra

As our world becomes darkened with increasing political absurdity and polarization, a beacon of hope shines from the Bay Area Derby headquarters to tell us that there is a Resistance and that it stands united. As they take to the streets to spray paint their DIY scrimmage jerseys, members of the Berkeley Resistance answer almost in unison: the most important element of their 2018 season will be togetherness.

They are sticking together, not only in team-building crafting days, but also on the track with a focus on learning to communicate and support each other, socially and physically. Their togetherness becomes even more literal where the blockers are concerned. They are focusing on “getting full body on each other” according to team captain JJ “Jerk Jar” Wrecks (#12), as well as “trying new things outside of traditional Bay Area flat wall”.

Other new aspects of the Berkeley team include coach Smother Mary (#313)–who promises to “teach you to be young again,” having risen meteorically out of the Reckless Rollers program and onto the Travel Team and Berkeley captainship as a jammer–along with fellow Berkeley jammers Xpress Lane Jane (#212), Frightmare (#31) and Eva Menace (#20).

But Smother Mary isn’t the only new thing to come to the Resistance this year. In fact every skater currently on the roster, with the exception of one Shenghis Khan (#434), skated with different home teams during the previous season. Their team color even reflects this year’s blank slate — the teal color scheme has never previously been seen for Berkeley.

The Resistance’s new logo also represents new growth: a rose on a lightning bolt echoes the team’s “pretty but gritty” aesthetic and evokes the old activist proverb: “they tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds”. Taking on the challenge of “creating a cohesive team with players coming from a variety of backgrounds,” as Smother Mary puts it, the Resistance intends to grow, like a bramble of roses: strong and inseparable.

The Berkeley Resistance have hit the ground skating. In February, they defeating Visalia Roller Derby’s V-Town Derby Dames and in March narrowly lost in Seattle to Rat City Roller Derby’s Derby Liberation Front. For the BAD Season Opener, they were defeated by SF ShEvil Dead. They look to #bringtheresistance to Saturday’s bout when they take on the Oakland Outlaws in BAD’s second home team game of the season.

Current team roster:

#410 Ames to Maims|| #3787 Attila the Hut || #133 Banshee-Ra || #323 Chiquita Bonanza || #45 Dollface Killah || #804 Dixie Did It || #20 Eva Menace || #31 Frightmare || #971 Hell or High || #157 Hott Box || #12 JJ Wrecks || #0 KnockOut || #1 Liza Machete || #22 Merry Povich || #4815 Missy Misdemeanor || #49 Raven Evergore || #27 Red Card || #434 Shenghis Khan || #246 Sinnabar || #313 Smother Mary || #212 Xpress Lane Jane

2018 Bouts, News

2018 San Francisco Team Preview

Posted on by itmanager
03
Apr
Coaches: Stefanie Mainey and Chili Con Carnage

2018 will see the perennially beloved ShEvil Dead shambling toward victory against both The Resistance and the Outlaws. While each team has a new composition, Bay Area fans will find many familiar faces donning the zombie-green of ShEvil.

The players who will feel most at home are a handful of returning ShEvil veterans. OG Zombie Thea Nnihilator (née Pocalypse) (#1), is a fearsome blocker who has seen many tours with San Francisco, while coach/captain Chili Con Carnage (#3), big perm (aka Perma&) (#404) and jamming specialist Danymite (#818) have all spent at least one season with the team.

A new face to the SF team is the other coach/captain Stef Mainey (#13) who skated with her former league London Rollergirls until just over a year ago when she landed in the Bay Area and promptly joined BAD and played on the BAD All-Stars for WFTDA playoffs last year. Stef is known as an intimidating blocker who will capably jam as the need arises and hinted that she is as likely to do either for ShEvil this year. Prying a few more lineup details loose from Stef’s clutches proved a challenge but she said, “We could have multiple skaters [blocking and jamming], we have a lot of really versatile skaters on this team. We could possibly see Tifa Knoxhard (#9999), BA (#888), Jirsa (#22) and myself doing a bit of both.” If their history is any indication, we can probably add the names Danymite (#818) and Sterling Archer (#925) as likely to put on the star this year as well.

Danymite (Dani Rueda when she is skating with the All-Stars) elaborated on who she likes to have in front of her anchoring the blocker line. “Mad 4 Gravy (#4) is such a solid blocker, so when she’s on the track with me, I feel for the opposing jammer. As far as offensive players…well, there are several: Pizza Party (#99), Murderyn Monroe (#7), and Stefanie Mainey. If I have to choose my favorite, it would be jammer-turned-blocker Huck Sinn (#10). I feel that because she knows what it means to be a jammer, she can time and execute her offense effectively. She’s definitely shaping up to be a massive offensive asset to the zombies.”

Dani reflected on the team’s chances for the season as a whole. “I think ShEvil is coming into the 2018 season with a strong line-up, which is not representative of seasons past. It is still too early to tell, but I’m confident this will be a great year for the SF ShEvil Dead.”

Coach Chili is likewise enjoying the new vibe and roster for ShEvil and the new vibe for BAD as a whole. “Overall the transition has been refreshing for sure–new teammates, new culture, new coaches. I think it’s going to be an awesome season.”

Current team roster.

#404 big perm || #888 Brawllen Angel || #85 Butt’N MashHer || #3 Chili con Carnage || #735 Danger Dre || #818 Danymite || #5 Disco Brawl || #10 Huck Sinn || #22 Jirsa || #707 Killer Kapowski || #4 Mad 4 Gravy || #211 McNeil B4 Me || #7 Murderyn Monroe || #99 Pizza  || #562 Shanklin Delano Rollsevelt || #747 Snakes Anna Plane || #13 Stefanie Mainey || #925 Sterling Archer || #1 Thea Nnihilator || #9999 Tifa Knoxhard