The Red Wire
The Bradentucky Bombers Official News Magazine April 2013
Line Up
Letter from Red Wire Staff Keeping Up with the Bombers: Events Seasoned Bomber: CrashTest Barbie #200mph Rising Bomber: Cupskate #305째 Derby 101: A Zebra in the Wild Recap Central Home Bout: Bombers v. Tri County Rolling Militia Away Bout: Alachua Hunnies v. Bombers Roller Derby Supporters ticle the are you n o Next Home Bout: May 26 k Clic l tak Hint: and it wilage. e p Pre-Bout Party Shenanigans nam to that
From the Red Wire Staff Hey Bradentucky fans!
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Tell me, when you heard of this addictive sport called roller derby, what was the first thing that popped into your heads? What first impressions did you have or what did you “think” roller derby was? Let us know by filling out this quick form. You don’t have to give us your name, but please share your two cents! We’ll give you the inside scoop as to whether your impressions are the cold hard truth or an impression that holds no water. Who knows, maybe one of our responders may receive a prize to be presented at the next bout! If you would like to get the Red Wire in your inbox monthly, fill out this short form. See you next month!
-Red Wire Staff Stay Connected With Manatee County’s First & Official Women’s Roller Derby Team! Like Us Follow Us Be Informed Network with Us Get Behind the Scene Access
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Keeping Up with the Bombers Tuesday, May 14
Time: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Business After Hours Turning Points, Galvano One Stop Center 701 17th Avenue West Bradenton
Saturday, May 18
Time 4 p.m. - 12 a.m. Harvey Milk Festival Five Points Park 100 Central Avenue Sarasota
Thursday, May 23
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Chamber Coffee Club Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School 315 41st Street West Bradenton
Friday, May 24
Time: 9 p.m. – 10 p.m. Pre Bout Party The Lost Kangaroo Pub 406 12th Street West Bradenton
Sunday, May 26
BOUT Tailgating: 6 p | Doors open: 6:30 p | Bout start: 7 p Bradentucky Bombers v. Alachua Hunnies Bradenton Derby Brats v. ACR Stingers Astro Skate Center 3611 3rd Street West Bradenton
Photo by Joshua DeSario
Crash Test Barbie #200 mph
Seasoned Skater Profile
Red Wire: Let’s start by asking about who you were before you discovered roller derby? What was the pre-derby Barbie like? Were you into other sports? And what’s your professional/ educational background? Barbie: Before derby, I was working as a veterinary technician and finishing my degree and certification in veterinary technology. I went indoor rock climbing once or twice a week. I really enjoy playing any sport, actually. I’ll play if the opportunity comes up with friends or a rec league. As far as my educational background, I started college as a biology major and have my degree and certification in veterinary technology. I have been working in the veterinary field for almost 7 years now.
RW: And what drew you to the sport of roller derby? What was its appeal to you? Barbie: I am a very competitive person! When I found out about roller derby and watched a bout for the first time, I knew that I had to do it! I loved the idea that I could be part of such a strong female sport! I also was excited about being active in a competitive sport again, and I would be able to get an amazing workout and keep fit while having fun. I think the final thing that drew me in was its “alter ego” appeal. By that, I mean that I loved the fact that I could take on another ‘persona’ on the track and leave everything I may be dealing with in my everyday life, work, etc., at the door. I didn’t have to be my every-
Photo by Danny Barrett
Photo by Jim Dohms
day self once I was at practice or playing a bout. Of course, it’s a great stress relief! RW: How long have you been playing now? What can you tell us about your “betty” days? What was your biggest challenge early on? Barbie: This is my fourth season in derby. I’ve been playing since July of 2009. I remember being nervous out there learning some of the basics with only one other girl at the time I joined. I felt like the veterans were all looking at me and wondering if I was going to be a good addition to the team or not! That made me want to work hard and prove myself even more! My biggest challenge in the early days was a girl my size learning to take hits well and stay up! It’s amazing what lots of practice and hard work can do! RW: In your time playing, how do you feel the perception of the sport has changed, if any? And has your appreciation for it changed at all? Why? Barbie: This sport has evolved a lot over the past four and a half years I’ve been active in it. I feel like the amount of strategy we use on the track keeps increasing or changing every season. Roller derby has always been an aggressive sport, but now there is more thinking involved together with your teammates. I don’t want to make it seem like it was mindless before by any means, though! Strategy has been evolving since before I started for sure! I can really appreciate this change because I like the challenge of it. Sometimes I feel like when it becomes a “slow derby” strategy, the fans may be disappointed. But I hope that they can learn to appreciate the changing dynamics of the sport too and how hard we work to keep up with it all! RW: What do you feel the most misunderstood or unappreciated element of the sport is? Barbie: Probably how much work is really put into this sport, both ON and OFF the track. Some people may think we just get together at practices or bouts, hit each other, and call it a day. These ladies are training like professional athletes and practicing strategies. We are also putting in countless hours outside of regular practices to run this league. RW: Now you’re primarily known as a killer jammer on the track; is that an area where you’re particularly comfortable? What are your goals to work on for improving this season? Barbie: Why thanks! I am comfortable as a jammer. I like to challenge myself, and every jam is a new and different challenge. I’ve trained mostly as a jammer, and last season I started trying to work more on my blocking skills. That is my goal for this season. I want to work more on blocking strategies at practices. This will improve my game as a jammer knowing more about the game from a blocker’s point of view.
Photo by Joshua DeSario
RW: When you’re off skates, not doing derby, what is Crash Test Barbie’s life like? What do you do for fun? What sustains you outside of the bubble?
Photo by Steve Jurkovic
Barbie: Well, I do tend to work too much. But when I’m not working and not at practice, I like to hang out with my closest gal pals. We go dancing to let go and have fun. (I may secretly like to play video games sometimes…) Indoor and outdoor rock climbing was my hobby before derby, and I still participate in it from time to time. I’ve picked up geocaching over the past couple months for something different. On a night that I am free, I am typically okay relaxing with a good book and glass of wine. RW: Now, do you have a favorite derby moment? What’s your biggest on track moment been? Barbie: One of my favorite derby moments has to be at the end of my first skating season. I received the “Best Bombshell” jammer award as well as rookie of the year! A lot of my hard work that season had paid off! I was so excited my teammates felt the same way! My biggest on the track moment so far has to be from our bout here against Ocala in 2011. I was the jammer on the line with a few seconds left on the clock and we were down by 1 point. My coach put our best blockers on the track to stop the other jammer and trusted me with the star. I got lead jammer, scored 4 points, and called off the jam to win by 3. What an opportunity to have such an amazing feeling to help your team win! Can’t explain it! But its times like that that are why I joined this sport! (And) I am still on a high from the moment I had that night (against the Tri-County Rolling Militia on March 24th)! I was put on the jammer line with our team down by 12 points in what would be the last jam of the night. The other jammer managed to get lead and score 12 points before being sent to the box for a track cut penalty. Time for me to do work! Only because of the help of my blockers on the track with me, I managed to score 28 points before the jam clock ran out to win the game by 4 points! Everyone in the rink was on their feet, and I don’t think I could even hear Bacon or Jam Master announcing with the amount of cheering going on! It was amazing!! Sharing that moment celebrating with my team and then with the fans was something I won’t soon forget! RW: Undoubtedly, there are those reading this that are contemplating derby; what would you say to those who are thinking about trying out? Barbie: You’ve just got to try it! You never know till you give it a shot. Even if you have never played a
sport before, even if you have never skated before, come out and try it! We have helped turn some gals that have never skated before into some star players! Just come with an open mind, know that this is something you cannot perfect over night, be ready to do work, and of course laugh a lot and have fun! RW: Last but not least, is there anything you’d like to say to the fans? We have some of the most dedicated fans I’ve seen. You all are always excited and give out lots of positive energy at the bouts! I’ve felt encouraged while skating because of your cheering and excitement! Thanks so much for all you do for the Bombers!! Without you all, it wouldn’t be worth it to play this hard!!
Photo by Bold City Photography
#305째 CupSkate
Rising Bomber
RedWire: What was your life like before roller derby? Had you played other sports before? And what’s your professional/educational background?
Photo by Joshua DeSario
CupSkate: Before roller derby I was working at taking care of my kids. I have two young kids and they are a full time job. I had played sports before. In high school I played softball. I loved that sport. I also was a huge band geek. I did the color guard (the flag and rifle tossing group around the marching band) and, if you don’t think that is a workout, try it. I have earned my Master’s in Business in 2011. I am a store manager at Walgreens, for this position along with my business education; I have several pharmacy technician licenses at both state and national levels. RW: So what brought you into roller derby? And how’d you come about picking that name? CupSkate: What brought me into roller derby? Hmmm. I, like a lot of others, saw the movie Whip It and thought that would be cool to do. I looked for a local team, but was too scared to take the plunge. Then, I finally just did it. I emailed the Bombers and asked when I could join and was told when their next recruitment was. My name was a huge dilemma. I had all these other options but my family kept blowing them off. I wanted something that would be appropriate for my two young children to be able to repeat if heard. My mom and I were throwing names around when CupSkate came up. It kind of stuck. No real reason behind it except I like cupcakes, I am generally a nice, happy, sweet person, and my kids can repeat my name without any repercussions! RW: How does roller derby compare to more “traditional” sports in your mind? CupSkate: I think roller derby is extremely comparable to traditional sports. I don’t think of them as traditional but more mainstream sports. We still train, watch, grow and learn as with a mainstream sport. It is a sport, and if anyone wants to disagree I want to let them borrow my gear and see them just get out there and skate 25 laps in 5 minutes. They don’t even need to hit anyone, I just want to see them do the laps and then we can talk. RW: The “betty” process, going through so many levels of training and skill development, is notoriously hard and tends to wash out quite a few would-be players; what kept and keeps you coming back when so many start and then fall by the wayside? CupSkate: I think the reason I kept coming back was a personal goal to get good. I always loved skating and skated a lot as a child at the rink. Just leisure skating though, and it felt so good to be on skates again. I knew I could do it, and set my mind to it. I wanted to get exercise also, and it felt like I wasn’t even working out. RW: Now how long have you been playing? Can you tell us a little bit about how you felt going into your first bout? Photo by Joshua DeSario
CupSkate: I started with the Bombers in January of 2012, but skated a bit with a different local team for a few months before then. For my first bout I was freaked out! I was so scared. I didn’t want to get out there really. I avoided going out a lot. I think I only went in two jams during my first bout. The other girls were so good and I was still learning my balance and how to maneuver on my skates. I knew I would be a target. I still didn’t understand the game and was worried about how to stay on my feet rather than what I could do to be a part of the game. RW: What’s been your biggest challenge thus far? Your greatest success? CupSkate: My biggest challenge so far is keeping my personal confidence up. I still doubt myself a lot. I see all these girls and how great some of them are and I am in awe. My greatest success? Staying positive with other players. (Even though I still have down days like everyone else, I try to not let it show) And my ability to not think about my skating as much. I started working out a lot and it has helped my balance, stamina and stability tremendously! RW: With your process of training and getting up to speed, has there been one particular player who you’ve watched and learned more from, i.e. your derby idol, so to speak? CupSkate: I love Bonnie D. Stroir. She is my derby idol. RW: Between jamming and blocking, which do you prefer? Why? What’s your favorite moment as a _________? CupSkate: I like blocking, but will do whatever the team needs. I like blocking because I feel more of that team spirit and strength. While I don’t mind jamming, I don’t like being the target. I get beat up a lot and it gets exhausting. When I’m jamming, I forget I’m out there and that I am what everyone is watching. I just get in a zone and think of how I need to just push the line forward so I can get them out of play or find the hole to get through. I don’t have the speed to jam, but I do have the ability to be stable and take the hit and then move forward to get through the pack. That’s the exhausting part. My favorite moment I have had so far is as a jammer. We were in practice and I came around the pack and jumped the apex. It was magical cupcakes and sparkles. RW: When she’s not doing derby, CupSkate can be found doing what? What’s your life like outside the derby world? And as a family woman, how do you balance derby life with your “other” life? CupSkate: When not doing derby you can find me at home with my two kids or at work. I am a store manager for a major retailer and it keeps me busy. I also have two small kids, 4 and 3. It’s hard to balance, but my husband is a major factor that helps me be able to do what I love. He is truly the derby widow. I am so fortunate to have him, and my parents, to help watch the kids. And a special thanks to Sookie’s (Smackmouth) daughter for being my derby sitter! It’s wonderful to have such a great support system on and off the track to help with my kids. I must say though I have to plan, plan, plan to keep up with my kids, housework, husband, work, and personal life. My iPhone calendar has dots all over it on where I need to be and when! RW: What would you say to someone who’s considering trying out but is on the fence? CupSkate: Do it! If you don’t like it then you can at least say you tried! It’s not as bad as some think it is. Sure you get bruises and are sore, but what a workout and what a great group of girls that I will forever know. RW: As you look into the 2013 season, any predictions? Any words for the fans? CupSkate: Stick around. Great things are coming. We are stronger, tighter and more excited than ever. We have survived, and are changing and growing our spirit. For which I am excited to be on this journey with the team. “Change is difficult but often essential for survival.” – Les Brown I leave one last quote that I love: “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” – Virginia Satir. So hug someone and know you are making someone a better person, and yourself a better person. Photo by Al Hutches
Photo by Bold City Photography
Bout Recap:
Alachua Hunnies Bradentucky Bombers
Recap by Fall Risk
Mar. 2, 2013
It had been a rough start to the season for the Bradentucky Bombers. Some early disappointing losses, lots of time on the road, and the departure of some longtime team members had left the team feeling a little less than itself. Yet, in true Bomber fashion, Bradentucky laid all that aside and headed out on the road, once again, bound for their bout with the Alachua Hunnies. The team was calm and confident going in, despite the fact that they were only rostering ten skaters and two of those were truly bouting for their first time. The pre-bout meal was festive and the nerves were non-existent, even as a few team members perused the roster of the Hunnies squad and noted that they were boasting some players with solid experience. Ultimately, the Bombers knew that the key to this bout was in the hard work and dedication they’d already put in on the practice floor. As bench coach Guinness the Menace shared, “I was confident we would be able to represent as a team and conduct ourselves professionally.” And represent they did. Bradentucky’s strategy was simple. Hold the wall. Skate Zen. In short, keep it simple and do the fundamentals right, trusting in their training. And that’s a strategy that held throughout the game, not needing any tweaking as “both teams focused on defense and neither were really using any weaknesses against each other,” Guinness offered. That strategy seemed to work as Bradentucky came out hard and fast, working diligently despite their lower numbers and new skaters, and worked their way to a lead, utilizing their players to the best of their ability, allowing them to shine. Among those standouts was CupSkate, one of the newer skaters, who shouldered a good brunt of the jamming duties for the evening and was awarded the MVP Jammer trophy for the night. Speaking of that experience, CupSkate shared, “I was so shocked I got best jammer! Who would have thought I’d be jamming?” Yet, this wasn’t CupSkate’s first walk in the park as she’d earned her stripes in the team’s bout earlier in the season against Orlando. “I have never thought of myself as a jammer and had no real intention of doing that position” but “during the Orlando bout Skate Invader looked at me and said, ‘Please jam’…I told her okay and just went out there and did it.” That experience against Orlando paid great dividends for the young skater, giving her the needed confidence to take charge during this bout, working her own brand of strategy and slamming her way through the Hunnies valiant efforts to stop her. She was aided by some great blocking from Sarbanes Foxie and Dawnamatrix whose veteran skills helped to keep the team on an even keel. And the results showed as Bradentucky consistently held the lead, managing to stay about twenty points ahead of the Hunnies at any given time. And even when two Bombers went down with injuries, the veterans were there to step in and fill their positions, keeping the machine running smoothly as Bradentucky sailed to the win, 166-119. Photo by Bold City Photography
Photo by Bold City Photography
Photo by Bold City Photography
The win was the best thing that could have happened for this team. Speaking of the critical nature of this win, Guinness replied, “We needed this win so bad. With recent changes to the league and rumors regarding our reputation, morale was extremely low. There was as huge, heavy cloud hanging over us. This win took that cloud away and allowed us to see that if we work hard and rise above, we will be victorious.” CupSkate echoed those sentiments and shared her excitement, saying, “I am truly excited where this league is going. I keep thinking of our league as the phoenix rising from the ashes. We had our burn down and now we will rise up and be a beautiful, empowering community.” Photo by Bold City Photography
Photo by Bold City Photography
Photo by Bold City Photography
Bout Recap:
Recap by Fall Risk
Bradentucky Bombers
Tri-County Rolling Militia
Mar. 24, 2013
Just two short weeks ago, the Bradentucky Bombers had been on the road and come away victorious against the Alachua Hunnies, scoring a much needed win for the squad’s morale, as well as their overall record. Now, the Tri-County Rolling Militia was storming into Bradenton’s Astro Skate, hell-bent upon upsetting the Bombers and sending them back down the slippery slope. Tri-County came out skating hard and fast from the get-go, as Mandi Baltimore jumped to lead jammer right away, benefiting from the solid Rolling Militia wall. Bradentucky responded when T Wrecks-Her grabbed it ahead of Toxic, who was sent to the box on a track cut, seeing the Bombers jump out to an early lead. That lead would be short-lived however, despite the fact that Bradentucky would grab the next several lead jams only to have to quickly call them to stop the Rolling Militia jammers from scoring as they raced close behind. Crash Test Barbie would took to the track and worked a solid power jam, benefitting from some nice blocking courtesy of Sarbanes Foxie but Mandi Baltimore would again jump out, shrugging off a big hit from Dita von Cheats, and push the Tri-County squad into the lead, 32-26. Tri-County then went on a roll, holding strong to the lead jam statuses as Mandi and Toxic traded them back and forth and slowly edged the Rolling Militia lead ahead even more. Skate Invader, providing great coverage the whole evening through to help her earn MVP blocker rights, was joined by Foxie and Dita for some tough blocking, helping T Wrecks-Her through but Toxic rebounded for the Rolling Militia the next jam out, showing off some fancy skating and working a depleted Bradentucky line for several points. Dita and Guinness the Menace held off Mandi to help Foxie to lead jammer status, as she jumped ahead and grabbed a handful of points before Harpee returned the favor, pushing Tri-County ahead again, 82-57. Barbie fought hard for Bradentucky the next time out but had to call it quick while Toxic, on her way to being nominated MVP jammer, took advantage of nice blocking from D’Amanda Revolver to push ahead, launching a killer apex jump, and scoring a few. Mandi and Crash Test Barbie faced off again and Barbie headed to the box early on, giving Mandi the advantage and seeing her use the big blocking of O’MRSA Mia to clear the road ahead. Yet, she would get bounced out by Skate Invader and be called on a track cut, freeing Barbie who took full advantage and helped the Bombers to pull the score closer, 95-72, in Tri-County’s favor. T Wrecks-Her headed to the box for a low block on the next jam out and stayed there while Toxic took the panty for the Rolling Militia and took advantage of Bradentucky’s block while Dita von Cheats headed for the box herself as Mandi kept the momentum moving despite solid blocking from Guinness, Cupskate, and Nikita DyNo-Mite, closing out the half with Tri-County leading, 128 – 89. Despite being down, the Bombers were not out, not by a long shot. Taking some time to regroup over the intermission, they came back into the second half looking far better than before as Sarbanes Foxie jumped out to lead right off, followed by her teammate Crash Test Barbie, who again worked a power jam for all it was worth when Toxic headed to the box. T Wrecks-Her held lead next time out but headed to the box herself on a low block, causing some confusion while the Militia extended their lead to 141-115. Soon, Foxie jumped to the lead, breezing by on the outside and tacked a few points to the scoreboard but Toxic would fight back the next time out, adding some of her own as the Tri-County wall held strong. Photo by Joshua DeSario
Photo by Steve Jurkovic
Cupskate grabbed lead but was forced to call it quick and while Barbie was given another power jam opportunity when Toxic headed to the box on a track cut, she was unable to do little when her toe stop went flying off. With the score at 161-135 in Tri-County’s favor, Esther Gin ‘n Juice beat Mandi Baltimore to the punch while Skate Invader, Nikita, Guinness, and Deathdemona laid a solid front allowing Foxie to push further ahead. The Rolling Militia fought back hard, going on a run of lead jams and adding bit by bit to their lead when Cupskate finally broke through and worked the power jam when Mandi headed to the box, drawing the score ever closer, 196-173, Tri-County. T Wrecks-Her took the panty and grabbed lead, Dita, Foxie, Esther, and Boston MASSacre paving the way before Tri-County ran ahead the rest of the bout, grabbing lead jams left and right, before Toxic headed to the box again and Cupskate skated till she was fully exhausted, drawing the Bombers to within ten points at 212-202. With the clock ticking down and the Bombers trailing by twelve, Toxic and Crash Test Barbie took to the jammer line and Toxic got out front quickly only to be sent to the box, leaving Barbie with another power jam opportunity. Penalty after penalty seemed to fall on the Militia and, with the crowd on their feet, roaring applause, Barbie skated for all she was worth and when the whistle blew, no one doubted that she’d left it all on the floor, nor that she had fully earned MVP jammer honors for Bradentucky. The Bombers rushed to the middle of the floor, sharing hugs and waiting anxiously for the final count and reacted with joy as Side of Bacon announced the final score, 238-234, Bombers. You couldn’t have asked for a better ending. Photo by Joshua DeSario
Derby 101: Zebras in the Wild
Roller Derby Through the Eyes of a Referee By Fall Risk
Sociologist and philosopher, Theodor W. Adorno, once said that, “The task of art today is to bring chaos into order.” Nowhere is that more true than in the realm of roller derby where one finds beautiful and empowered women, passionate and athletic, racing around the track with fire in their eyes and a drive to win. And in the midst, elbows fly, tempers rage, and the blood boils, leading to the brink of chaos. Yet, smack in the middle of things are those artists spoken of by Adorno, those men and women in the zebra stripes, the officiating crew, who dare set foot into the arena and draw order from the chaos. And while those bodies fly, those refs are right in the thick of it, keeping order like a cadre of Old West sheriffs, holding court. We recently sat down with the Bombers head ref, ProseHack, to discuss the ins and outs of the world of officiating and what it’s really like living life as a zebra. RedWire: So let’s start out by asking how you got into this world of reffing? ProseHack: As tall as I am, do you really think I would choose to wear vertical stripes? I ventured into reffing after playing three seasons for the Bradentucky Bombers. At the end of that third season I had a nasty accident at practice that tore pretty much every muscle in my upper body, broke two ribs, and ruptured a disc in the upper part of my back. Everything eventually healed enough to put skates back on, but my spine never healed quite properly. I was issued the words no derby girl ever wants to hear: “No full contact hitting.” But call it serendipity, call it fate, or just call it plain coincidence, three weeks prior to the accident I had ordered white skates with black stripes. While healing I looked at those beautiful zebra striped skates and decided I couldn’t bear staying off the track. I cracked open the rulebook and dug in. After all, I spent a lot of time getting penalties when I played (elbows were my specialty), why not issue them for a change? RW: Have you found that you enjoy it more or less than skating as a player? ProseHack: I really miss playing, but I have found that reffing is much harder than playing! It is a constant and ever-changing challenge, and for those who know me, this suits me perfectly. I appreciate the rules of the game a whole lot more than I did when I played! I see now that the rules truly keep the game safe and fair. Photo by Ken LeBleu
Photo by Ken LeBleu
RW: What are the perks to reffing versus playing? ProseHack: One of the perks of reffing versus playing is that you see the game from a much more holistic point of view. The game is like a very fast chess match, and refs are really the only ones who get to see the precision at work because we have to take so many factors into account when issuing a penalty. Who was the initiator? Who was the recipient? Were multiple players involved? Did the jammer land on one foot, two feet? Upright? Inbounds? Straddling? Were they in the engagement zone? Were they in play? Was the pack really split? The strategy involved is amazing! I also like the fact that I can be impartial. While I love my home team, I enjoy the fact that I can see a good game play out and, hopefully, the team who played best and by the rules wins. Plus, the rest of the zebras in this state are pretty awesome. I get to work with some amazing people who are there for the same reason I am – for the love of derby. RW: Now let’s talk a bit about what it takes to get prepared for a bout? Are there any special steps you take prior to reffing a bout? And what requirements do you find yourself with on that day itself? ProseHack: Preparation really depends on what position I will be reffing in. Before every bout I reread the rules the night before, especially since we just had a rule set change at the beginning of the year. It’s good to have them fresh in your head. If I’m head reffing (which I started this year), I make sure I have my checklist together and a timeline for making sure everything that needs to get done gets done before the first whistle. There are NSOs to meet with, skating officials to meet with, a captains’ meeting, gear checks, and track checks. For that position you have to make sure all your ducks are in a row. If I’m jam reffing, I make sure a few hours before I read the jammer rules again, just to be double sure. Jam reffing is my preferred ref position, but it is also stressful since the score is dependent on you getting it right. Regardless of what position I’m reffing I listen to a little Motley Crue on the way to the rink mostly because I adore Nikki Sixx and his mad, mad skills. (Laughs.) If I have to sing the National Anthem for that game, I sing along to “Saints of Los Angeles.” RW: Now when you’re reffing, what are the most common calls you’re having to make? ProseHack: Again, it depends on what position I’m reffing in. Head reffing or pack reffing you call a lot of elbows, forearms, back blocks, multiplayer blocks, out of play, direction of game play, and destruction of the pack. If I’m jam reffing, there’s a lot of cutting the track, elbows, back block, low block, and forearms. RW: What are the most misunderstood aspects of being an official? What are the things that you really wish people knew and understood?
ProseHack: I think this applies to most sports – we can only call what we see and if we see it we have to be 100% sure of what we saw to make the call! It is impossible to see everything (believe me, I’ve tried!). What people don’t understand is that we are on wheels watching a group of aggressive skaters bunched up together with a whole host of different dynamics going on trying to stay close enough to see things while navigating a small area with other refs in other positions. It is a well-coordinated effort where we have to trust that the other refs aren’t going to mow you down because you cannot look ahead of you. You have to keep your eyes on the pack. Even then, sometimes you can’t see certain areas of the pack. If I’m on the inside of the track reffing, I might not see something happening on the outside of the track. That is why we have refs on the outside too. The thing that amuses me is a fan calling penalties from their seat. Most of the time, what they think they saw isn’t what happened at all because they are stationary and we are rolling with the pack. The perspective is totally different. Yeah, occasionally we get a call wrong, but most of the time we’re right. That being said, I have been told that video footage of the husband of one of our former skaters exists where he called me a “stupid bitch” when I called his wife on a legitimate penalty. Ha! Ha! Better be careful…we film these things. Also know that the head referee has the authority to eject abusive fans from a venue. Bottom line, if you’re a good official, every player out there is just a color and a number, not the member of this team or that team. You fail to look at the scoreboard anymore to see who is winning. You do your job and stay impartial. RW: Can you tell us about a bout where things just went crazy, penalty-wise? Have you ever had things get testy, with players or coaches getting nasty? How do you defuse those situations in the heat of the moment? ProseHack: Ha ha! That is an understatement, but it is par for the course as an official of any sport. Players really aren’t the worst offenders, but I’ve had some get pretty mouthy with me. It is especially difficult when a referee becomes a player because sometimes they think they see things that didn’t really happen. I’ve witnessed only one full-out brawl in roller derby, and that is when I was still playing. The other team had to be escorted out of the building by law enforcement. It was unreal! That being said, I do not tolerate verbal abuse from players. I don’t expect players to be happy about going to the penalty box, but verbally abusing a referee is a really good way to make them take notice of you more. That is not a good thing! Also, if you are upset about a penalty and touch me while I’m reffing, you’re going to the box…probably for two minutes instead of one.
Photo by Joshua DeSario
Coaches can be an issue, but that has gotten a lot better in the last few years. Most coaches understand that a call will likely stand whether they agree with it or not. When I head ref I make it a point to address the major issues I believe each team will have before the game starts. That way both teams know how we will call a particular scenario. We do call official timeouts or reviews for major clarifications. RW: Given that things do have the potential to go a little crazy at times, what advice do you have for the players in regards to their interactions with the officials? What are some simple things that they can do to ensure that the bouts run smoothly and that their involvement with the zebra crew can be limited? ProseHack: One, our main focus is safe game play. We enforce the rules to keep the game safe, fun, and competitive. Period. Two, before contesting a penalty, make sure you’ve read the rules because we’ve read them 100 times! Some of us even can recite the line number from the rule book! Three, go to the box when your penalty is called and keep your mouth shut. Arguing with an official rarely has any positive benefit…other than pissing us off. Four, if you do want to contest a call, go through he proper channels. Your captain or alternate can speak with the head ref. Players who speak to refs who are not a captain or alternate will be ignored until proper procedure is followed. Five, know your color and number. If you don’t exit the track quickly after being called on a penalty you can receive an extra penalty. Six, YIELD TO THE STRIPES! If you come off the track, it is not the official’s job to get out of your way. You must yield to him or her. And finally, seven, calling penalties from your bench just makes you look like a jerk and makes zero difference in how we are going to call it. RW: Now, the rules of derby, while seemingly simple at first glance, are really quite complex. How do you keep up with all of the various rules? And how have the recent changes to the rules affected what you do as officials? Have they helped or caused more drama? ProseHack: To keep up you must read and reread the rules often. That may sound silly, but we’re not talking about a four-page rulebook here. It’s huge (70+ pages I believe) and some rules often seem like they conflict with other rules. You have to know your stuff. As for the new rule set, it has definitely changed the game some. It’s nice to not have to keep track of minor penalties anymore, but it seems much easier for a player to foul out since many rules were upgraded from minor to major penalties. I believe WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) released the new rule set too late in the year for players to be expected to play by it effectively this season. Teams and referees would have benefitted from a few extra months to digest the changes. Plus there are a lot of “bugs” in the new rule set that have to be addressed. It is what is though. I’m on a bunch of message boards that discuss rule interpretations and error corrections. I try to stay ahead of it all, but it’s a big chore sometimes! RW: Lastly, how does one go about joining up with the reffing squad of the Bombers? And what might you say to someone who’s on the fence about getting involved? ProseHack: Contact me! You can email me at prosehack@manateecountyrollerderby.com. You will be trained on how to skate and derby play. You will need your own equipment, you must be able to read (check that off the list if you’re reading this article), be willing to become physically fit, and be able to be objective/impartial when officiating. I am also the Southeast Regional Officiating Representative for MRDA (Men’s Roller Derby Association) and coach for the Bradenton Derby Brats, so chances are if you become a ref I will try to sucker you into reffing for the men’s and junior teams in the county as well. If you’re on the fence, email me about it and let’s get a dialogue started. Better yet, just give it a try!
Photo by Joshua DeSario
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