Exciting Time of Year

It is officially my favorite time of year - the end of summer, leading into fall is such a wonderful time. The colors start to change, the air gets crisper, you can buy pumpkin flavored things everywhere!, and school is back is session. It also means new fresh meat  and the Bay State Brawlers continuing to grow! We have a great group of skaters that started practice on Wednesday. Here they are after their first night of practice...still smiling.

September 2012 Fresh Meat Class

It also means that our bouting season is nearing its end. April seems so long ago and as a league we've grown in so many ways since then. Our first season bouting as the Bay State Brawlers has overall been a pretty successful one. We've had some ups and downs with all our teams - close wins, big losses, and everything in between. The Petticoat Punishers are looking forward to playing their 2nd team from a WFTDA league this weekend when they take on the Yankee Brutals of the Connecticut Roller Girls. We have played against leagues from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine so far this year!

Punishers showing great teamwork vs. MARD

The Brawlin' Broads are the only team that has ended their season. With a team of almost all brand new skaters they finished the season 3-0. It was a fun season that provided me an opportunity to try my hand at coaching. There is no way I could have done that without the fantastic Ashlee Juggz as Bench Manager. 

2012 Broads

Our 3 home teams have also had a great season playing each other throughout the season this year. The Switchblade Sallies are 2-0 on the season and have an automatic bid into the championship game on Oct. 27th. The Bluestocking Bombers and my team, the LumberJackies, will be competing on Oct. 12 for the opportunity to face the Sallies for the home team championships (and bragging rights for the whole off-season).

It has been an amazing first season as a league and we still have 3 bouts to go. Hope to see you in the stands for at least a one of the last bouts. Tickets are available online so get yours and come cheer on your favorite BSB team!

-Sandra Mean

Bout day

The ice is gone, the track is laid,

The derby baked goods have all been made.

Cupcakes, cookies & skate shaped candy,

There is sweat in the air at this place called Landry.

The front end is ready to check you in,

While the skaters wriggle into derby skin.

The tables are laid with all the team merch,

The nso’s are assigned from the last minute search.

The refs meet to go over the plans,

 The doors open and in come the fans.

Tattoos, tights, and all the rest,

Skaters are in their derby best

Names and numbers worn with such pride,

Tonight promises to be one hell of a ride.

Here is the lineup, there starts the clock,

The fans cheer with each booty block.

Skate like the wind, our jammera can race

While our blockers work against their pace.

Hits that hurt, and falls that scare,

Get right up like you don’t even care.

We have all worked so hard to play,

Finally its here, today is bout day. 

---By Knockout Nelly

Hard Hitting Action!

            Bout season is quickly approaching for the skaters of BSBRD!  This Saturday April 14^th will be chock full of exciting action as the Petticoat Punishers take on the ladies of Mass Attack Roller Derby in a rematch from last season.  After that battle takes place, our brother league Mass Maelstrom will be going head to head against the Connecticut Death Quads! 

            Doors will be open at Landry Arena at 5pm and all the awesome action starts at 6pm!  You can bring your own chair if you want a seat in the crash zone (which is honestly the best seat in the house!)  Baked goodies and beer will be available.  There’s no way we wouldn’t feed you!  Merchandise will also be available so bring cash.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for the kids.  Cheap fun for the whole family!  More details are included here.

            We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the start of what is looking to be an amazing year with the Bay State Brawlers! 

Behind the Scenes of a Bout

Buy a shirt from our merch table!

         With the start of the bout season only less than a couple weeks away, this is a good time to remember that there are many people (really…a lot of people) who make a bout organized and entertaining to watch.   They are our unsung heroes.  Some of them may be significant others of skaters or really, really great friends.  Some may just be fans of the sport but prefer to lessen their risk of injury by helping out instead.  A lot of the volunteers are skaters who are getting their hands dirty to make sure everything is running smoothly.  I’d like to take a moment to shine a spotlight on the folks who work behind the scenes.

            Referees: Team Zebra makes sure we’re all playing nicely.  I assume professional sports have conditioned us to not be pleasant to the folks in stripes, but in derby we respect these guys and gals.  They take it upon themselves to read a 50-page rulebook and know it inside and out.  They can smell an illegal elbow to the face a mile away and they make sure they call us out on any other naughty things we may be doing on the track.  In a bout, there are five zebras so they can catch anything at any angle.  Two of the refs watch the jammers on the inside with one watching the pack from the inside while the two outside refs keep an eye on everything on the outside of the track.

            Non-Skating Officials: It takes a small army to be able to keep score, track penalties, time the skaters in the penalty box, help the outside referee relay penalties to the person who is keeping track of the penalties, time the jams, and let everyone know there is a time-out.  Without these fine people, how would we know the score?  Skaters would be skimping on their penalties…maybe. (Insert wink here.)

            So say you’re at one of our bouts and you find that you’re hungry?  Or maybe you think you would really like a t-shirt with the logo of our league on them?  We have people for that too.  From ticket sales at the door all the way to security and bake sales, there’s a list of jobs that volunteers can help with off of the track.  These friendly faces are working hard so you can have a good time. 

            Thanks to the folks who help make our bouts happen!  Also if you feel the track calling your name but would like to not risk the injuries, the refs and NSO’s will welcome you with open arms…and possibly a whistle.  Email us at volunteer@baystatebrawlers.com to help out!