Roller derby is back. Acadiana's first and only roller derby team - Acadiana Roller Girls - is ramping up for the 2011 season with bouts against teams from Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.
Roller derby is back. Acadiana's first and only roller derby team - Acadiana Roller Girls - is ramping up for the 2011 season.with bouts against teams from Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.
Acadiana Roller Girls 2010 (photo by R. Luty)
Roller derby has come a long way from the free-for-all spectator sport of the 60s and 70s. Modern flat-track roller derby includes the same big hits and real injuries, and is played with two all-female teams on quad roller skates.
A "bout" consists of two 30-minute halves broken down into two-minute "jams." For each jam four "blockers" from each team form a pack. One "jammer" from each team stands behind the pack. After the pack takes off, the jammers try to make their way through the pack. After the initial pass through the pack each subsequent time a jammer gets through a pack she scores points for every member of the opposite team she passes.
ARG is a skater owned and operated organization currently seeking non-profit tax status. Skaters aim to excel at a revival sport, while also helping the community and promoting a healthy lifestyle among women. ARG members consist of all-female skaters and female and male referees from all walks of life. Although most skaters and referees are in their 20s, ages range from 19 to 52. Members include mothers, wives, off-shore workers, students and professionals.
All ARG roller derby bouts are played at Top Shelf in Youngsville.
Acadiana Roller Girls 2011 schedule
April 2, 2011 vs. Red Stick Roller Derby (Home)
April 16, 2011 vs. Cenla Derby Dames (Home)
May 7, 2011 vs. Bayou Outlaw Roller Girls (Away, Orange, TX)
May 21, 2011 vs. Red Stick Roller Derby (Away, Baton Rouge)
June 11, 2011 vs. Cajun Roller Girls (Home)
July 2, 2011 vs. Big Easy Roller Girls (Home)
July 23, 2011 vs. Hattiesburg Hooligans (Away, Hattiesburg, MS)
August 6, 2011 vs. Magnolia Roller Vixens (Home)
August 20, 2011 vs. Magnolia Roller Vixens (Away, Jackson, MS)
September 3, 2011 vs. Cenla Derby Dames (Away, Alexandria)
September 17, 2011 vs. Hattiesburg Hooligans (Home)
October 1, 2011 vs. Pearl River Roller Derby (Home)
October 15, 2011 vs. Big Easy Roller Girls (Away, New Orleans)
November 19, 2011 vs. Pearl River Roller Derby (Away, Pearl River, MS)