Arizona Roller Derby
Encyclopedia
Arizona Roller Derby is Arizona's first all female roller derby league. It was founded in 2003 making it one of the oldest resurgence roller derby leagues in America. Arizona Roller Derby, abbreviated as AZRD, is one of the founding members of Women's Flat Track Derby Association
and remains a member of WFTDA in the Western Region.
AZRD is based out of Phoenix
, Arizona
and holds their bouts at the Castle Sports Club.
called Tucson-Arizona Roller Derby. They had one team called the Furious Truckstop Waitresses. The logistics of being a two-city league became no longer cost effective. The chapter would split from AZRD and create Tucson Roller Derby
. Upon its split from AZRD, Tucson Roller Derby became the first 501(c) roller derby league in the nation.
The AZRD team French Kiss Army would break away from AZRD to form Renegade Rollergirls
, a league that continues to play the no-rules no-holds-barred style of roller derby.
In 2005, four skaters from AZRD including one who skated for the original TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls
split off from AZRD to form Arizona Derby Dames
(AZDD) with the ambition of becoming a banked track roller derby league. After skating 4 seasons on flat track, the AZDD would become banked track in 2010.
Citing violations of the league's "non-compete" policies, AZRD threatened the skaters with expulsion from the league. In addition, issues were reported as a result of the registration of the name "Bruisers" with the Arizona Corporation Commission
relating to an agreement that AZRD has with the Brewcity Bruisers
, a WFTDA member league from Milwaukee
.
In January, 2008, despite efforts to settle differences, the Arizona Bruisers announced that they are now independent of Arizona Roller Derby in an effort to position themselves as a high-level travel team. AZRD would also continue to use the "Bruisers" name for one of their home team.
After two scrimmages between a squad from Duke City Derby
and the Copper Queens from Tucson Roller Derby, the Arizona Bruisers would eventually be called the Phoenix City Rollers and then by March, 2008 would ultimately dissolve.
. This will allow the league to solicit funding from sponsors and it being tax deductible.
jail created by Sheriff Joe Arpaio
as a cost effective way to address jail overcrowding is AZRD's travel team that will play in bouts sanctioned by WFTDA. The Tent City Terrors play in the WFTDA Western Region.
The April 2009 bout between the Beaters and the Bruisers was cancelled as a result of flooding at the Castle Sports Club. AZRD decided to do the Championship bout in the format of a round-robin tournament involing all 4 teams. In the tournament, the Surly Gurlies, a team who had an 0-3 regular season record would win all three of their games and be the 2008-2009 AZRD Champions.
During this season a group of skaters who were mainly on the Bruisers left AZRD to form their own independent team. The one win in the record was from the pre-split Bruiser team. A new Bruiser team was formed mid-season with Ivanna S. Pankin as team captain. At the end of the season, it was decided that the Surly Gurlies and the Brawlarinas would be moved up in the rankings and those three teams would go to the post season.
Playoff Game: (#2)Surly Gurlies 74 vs. (#3)Brawlarinas 60 - Surly Gurlies advance to the Championship Game.
Championship Game: (#1)Bad News Beaters 113 vs. Surly Gurlies 50 - Bad News Beaters win championship.
Women's Flat Track Derby Association
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association is an association of women's flat track roller derby leagues in the United States. The organization was founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Coalition but was renamed in November 2005. It is registered in Raleigh, North Carolina as a 501 business...
and remains a member of WFTDA in the Western Region.
AZRD is based out of Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and holds their bouts at the Castle Sports Club.
Tucson splits to form TRD
In the early days of AZRD, there was a separate "chapter" in TucsonTucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
called Tucson-Arizona Roller Derby. They had one team called the Furious Truckstop Waitresses. The logistics of being a two-city league became no longer cost effective. The chapter would split from AZRD and create Tucson Roller Derby
Tucson Roller Derby
Tucson Roller Derby is a women's roller derby league located in Tucson, Arizona. TRD is a 501 nonprofit public charity organization. A member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association , Tucson Roller Derby is a skater-run non-profit organization formed in late 2003...
. Upon its split from AZRD, Tucson Roller Derby became the first 501(c) roller derby league in the nation.
Rules and league splits
The first AZRD games were "no rules/no holds barred". As the overall sport was starting to evolve and establish rules, some skaters would split away from AZRD to form other leagues.The AZRD team French Kiss Army would break away from AZRD to form Renegade Rollergirls
Renegade Rollergirls
The Renegade Rollergirls is a non-WFTDA-member women's roller derby league based in Phoenix, Arizona. The league was established in 2004 when several girls from multiple Phoenix leagues broke away in hopes to start a new league....
, a league that continues to play the no-rules no-holds-barred style of roller derby.
In 2005, four skaters from AZRD including one who skated for the original TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls
TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls
TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls is an Austin, Texas based all-girl banked-track roller derby league. Founded in 2001, TXRD is one of several leagues considered responsible for the modern roller derby revival. It is skater owned and operated...
split off from AZRD to form Arizona Derby Dames
Arizona Derby Dames
Arizona Derby Dames is an all-women's amateur roller derby league based in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. It is one of many such leagues across the United States. The league currently plays the banked-track style of roller derby....
(AZDD) with the ambition of becoming a banked track roller derby league. After skating 4 seasons on flat track, the AZDD would become banked track in 2010.
Arizona Bruisers, LLC
In 2007, a group of skaters who were a part of the Bruisers team felt that they should be able to raise funds specific to the team and have more opportunities to skate. A group led by Bruisers skaters formed a limited liability corporation (LLC) called Arizona Bruisers, LLC.Citing violations of the league's "non-compete" policies, AZRD threatened the skaters with expulsion from the league. In addition, issues were reported as a result of the registration of the name "Bruisers" with the Arizona Corporation Commission
Arizona Corporation Commission
The Arizona Corporation Commission is the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Arizona, established by Article 15 of the Arizona Constitution. There are currently five members of the commission . Arizona is one of only a handful of states with elected commissioners...
relating to an agreement that AZRD has with the Brewcity Bruisers
Brewcity Bruisers
Brewcity Bruisers, are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 2005, the league played their fifth season in 2010...
, a WFTDA member league from Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
.
In January, 2008, despite efforts to settle differences, the Arizona Bruisers announced that they are now independent of Arizona Roller Derby in an effort to position themselves as a high-level travel team. AZRD would also continue to use the "Bruisers" name for one of their home team.
After two scrimmages between a squad from Duke City Derby
Duke City Derby
Duke City Derby or DCD, is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 2005, the league played their fifth season in 2010...
and the Copper Queens from Tucson Roller Derby, the Arizona Bruisers would eventually be called the Phoenix City Rollers and then by March, 2008 would ultimately dissolve.
Restructure as a 501(c) corporation
In 2010, AZRD held a league meeting where league management decided to restructure the league from a limited liability corporation to a non-profit corporation under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue CodeInternal Revenue Code
The Internal Revenue Code is the domestic portion of Federal statutory tax law in the United States, published in various volumes of the United States Statutes at Large, and separately as Title 26 of the United States Code...
. This will allow the league to solicit funding from sponsors and it being tax deductible.
Tent City Terrors
The Tent City Terrors, named after the Tent CityTent City
A tent city is a temporary housing facility made using tents. Informal tent cities may be set up without authorization by homeless people or protesters. As well, state governments or military organizations set up tent cities to house refugees, evacuees, or soldiers...
jail created by Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Joe Arpaio
Joseph M. "Joe" Arpaio is the elected Sheriff of Maricopa County in the U.S. state of Arizona. First voted into office in 1992, Arpaio is responsible for law enforcement in Maricopa County. This includes management of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, county jail, courtroom security,...
as a cost effective way to address jail overcrowding is AZRD's travel team that will play in bouts sanctioned by WFTDA. The Tent City Terrors play in the WFTDA Western Region.
Bruisers
The Bruisers were one time one of the four AZRD bouting teams. For the 2009-2010, amid a declining membership experienced in 2008 and 2009, AZRD reduced the number of home teams from 4 to 3. As a result, AZRD would use the name "Bruisers" to identify their secondary travel team (or B-Team). This reflects an ongoing trend in WFTDA to form B-teams to help develop skaters to eventually play on the sanctioned travel (A) team as well as to help train apprentice leagues. Recently they have been "reinstated" as a beginner home team squad.Home Teams
For the 2010-2011 season, AZRD has five home teams.- The Bad News Beaters have a baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
theme. They have blue uniforms. (Team captain: Hazed and Confused) - The Brawlarinas are themed as brutal ballerinaBallerinaA ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
s. They wear purple. (Team captain: Hacker 2PCS) - The Surly Gurlies have a pirate theme. They wear black and red. (Team captain: Rum Bunctious)
- The Brusiers are nurses with their red and white outfits.
- The Smash Squad, AZRD's beginner squad, is prim in pink and black.
2008-2009 Season
| Seed | Team | Bouts | Win | Lose | PF | PA | (+/-) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruisers | 2 | 2 | 0 | 196 | 118 | +39.0 | |
| Brawlarinas | 3 | 2 | 1 | 299 | 252 | +15.6 | |
| Bad News Beaters | 2 | 1 | 1 | 218 | 198 | +10.0 | |
| Surly Gurlies | 3 | 0 | 3 | 213 | 358 | -48.3 | |
The April 2009 bout between the Beaters and the Bruisers was cancelled as a result of flooding at the Castle Sports Club. AZRD decided to do the Championship bout in the format of a round-robin tournament involing all 4 teams. In the tournament, the Surly Gurlies, a team who had an 0-3 regular season record would win all three of their games and be the 2008-2009 AZRD Champions.
2007-2008 Season
| Seed | Team | Bouts | Win | Lose | PF | PA | (+/-) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bad News Beaters | 3 | 3 | 0 | 350 | 210 | +46.7 |
| Bruisers (see note) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 207 | 212 | -4.3 | |
| 2 | Surly Gurlies | 3 | 1 | 2 | 212 | 258 | -15.3 |
| 3 | Brawlarinas | 3 | 1 | 2 | 190 | 271 | -27.0 |
During this season a group of skaters who were mainly on the Bruisers left AZRD to form their own independent team. The one win in the record was from the pre-split Bruiser team. A new Bruiser team was formed mid-season with Ivanna S. Pankin as team captain. At the end of the season, it was decided that the Surly Gurlies and the Brawlarinas would be moved up in the rankings and those three teams would go to the post season.
Playoff Game: (#2)Surly Gurlies 74 vs. (#3)Brawlarinas 60 - Surly Gurlies advance to the Championship Game.
Championship Game: (#1)Bad News Beaters 113 vs. Surly Gurlies 50 - Bad News Beaters win championship.