Member of the Month: Floora Goodtime

by Sylvia’s Wrath

February. It brings to mind chubby cherubs slinging arrows, cards and candies, flowers and filigree hearts. This month, Rocky Mountain Rollergirls would like to share some love with our latest Member of the Month: Floora Goodtime.  Floora came to Rocky in 2017 and quickly made a name for herself, both as a formidable player and an off-skate dynamo leading the partnership committee.

It probably won’t surprise anyone in the league that Floora’s derby name originated in college, where she was known as “Good-time Kelly.” (Man, I’d like to hear some of those stories…). She still lives up to the name, going all out for all things derby. She signs up for every mix-up, plays in all the games, and does it with style. No half-assing here, boutfits and bout makeup are always on point, and no one needs to wonder if she’s having a good time: one look at her smile during games and you know she’s having a blast. While she may be having fun, being her opponent is decidedly NOT such a “good time.”

Floora delivers the mail with Rocky Mountain Rollergirls’  United States Pummeling Service, as well as Project Mayhem, and her teammates love her willingness to do whatever is needed of her in games. As a jammer, she barrels through opposing lines like a bulldozer, laying waste to even the strongest vets. And blocking? Forget it, jammers. You’re going nowhere. Players note her powerful attacks, and her tenacity to just keep going.

Off the track, Floora does an amazing job heading up the partnership committee, bringing in countless businesses to partner with our league to keep our non-profit running smoothly. She meets with vendors, coordinating cross-promotions that are mutually beneficial to both our partners and our league. She also makes sure that Rocky gives back, organizing skaters to attend promotional events, as well as donating tickets and other goods to local charities in the name of RMRG.

The craziest part? She does ALL of this with two boys at home and a work life that the word “hectic” doesn’t begin to describe. If you want to check out the unflagging energy and power that is Floora Goodtime, come see her on February 8th at Rocky Mountain Rollergirls’ home-team opener! This double-header kicks off at 6 pm when Floora’s USPS takes on the Red Ridin’ Hoods. Come check it out and give Floora Goodtime a high five for being February’s kickass Member of the Month!

Rules Corner: Scoring

The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) develops and publishes the rules of Flat Track Roller Derby in Française, Español, and Deutche. Please visit the entire 2020 Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby.

This month’s topic is all about scoring, which is outlined in the WFTDA rules  section 3 “Scoring.” Ok, you’re at a game and people are skating in circles and hitting each other. What’s going on? How does anyone score? You’re not the first to be confused by this. So, let’s talk about scoring. It goes without saying that scoring is one of the most important aspects of the game, as the team with the most points wins. While the concept is simple—one point for each opposing blocker—there are several nuances to scoring, a few of which are covered below.

THE BASICS

The Jammer (skater with a star panty on the helmet) is the skater that scores. In order to score, the Jammer must skate through the Pack (largest group of in-bound blockers, skating or standing in proximity). Once a Jammer has skated through the Pack (whether or not they earn lead), they are eligible to score. A Jammer scores one point every time they pass an opposing Blocker on a scoring pass. A Jammer is considered to have passed another Skater when the Jammer’s center of mass, as demarcated by their hips, moves from behind the other Skater’s center of mass to ahead of it.

A Jammer may only “earn” a pass on the opposing Blocker while the Jammer is wearing the Star on their helmet with the stars showing. The Jammer must be upright and in-bounds during the pass. A Jammer also earns a pass if an opposing Blocker skates behind the in-bounds Jammer, thereby giving up their position.

If a Jammer does not earn a pass on a Blocker, they may yield position to that opponent and re-pass them, earning the pass, as long as they have not yet exited the Engagement Zone. A Jammer may only earn one point on each opposing Blocker per scoring pass, regardless of how many times they pass the Blocker before exiting the Engagement Zone.

WHAT IF NOT ALL FOUR BLOCKERS ARE ON THE TRACK?

Teams are allowed to field up to four Blockers. However, all four Blockers are not always on the track while the Jammer is earning passes. The most common reason is that the Blocker is sent to, serving time in, or returning from the Penalty Box. A team may also be short one or more Blockers if the Team fails to field the maximum number of skaters, or if a Blocker has to leave the track due to injury or to fix equipment.

If there are less than four Blockers on the track, the opposing Jammer still has the opportunity to earn all four points; otherwise, the Jammer would be at a disadvantage through no faults of their own. As soon as a Jammer earns a pass on an opposing Blocker, they earn a pass on any opponents who are “not on the track” (NOTT).

For example, if there is one opposing Blocker in the Penalty Box and one opposing Blocker off the track fixing a safety equipment issue, the Jammer will earn three points upon passing the first opposing Blocker on the track—one point for the in-bounds Blockers, one NOTT point for the Blocker in the Penalty Box, and one NOTT point for the out-of-bounds Blocker.

WHAT IF THE JAMMER ISN’T GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS AN OPPONENT?

If a Jammer completes a trip through the Pack without the opportunity to earn a pass on an opponent, the Jammer is said to have earned a pass on that opponent. This include:

·         Opponents who are ahead of the Engagement Zone when the Jammer complete their trip through the Pack by exiting the front of the Engagement Zone;

·         Opponents who are ahead of the Engagement Zone at the end of the Jam when the Jammer is on a scoring trip and ahead of the rearmost Pack Blocker;

·         Any NOTT point they cannot earn because they complete their trip through the Pack without the opportunity to earn a pass on any opposing Blocker (which would earn them the NOTT point);

·         Opponents who are out of play behind the Pack, if the Jammer re-enters the track from the Penalty Box in front of that Blocker.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE JAMMER GOES TO THE BOX BEFORE COMPLETING A LAP?

A penalized Jammer cannot earn passes on any further opponents until they complete their penalty. Upon release from the Penalty Box, the Jammer returns to the same trip through the Pack.

For example, four Blockers are on the track, Red 1, Red 2, Red 3, and Red 4. White Jammer passes Red 2 and Red 4, then is sent to the Penalty Box. After serving the penalty, White Jammer re-enters the track and is eligible to earn points on Red 1 and Red 3. The points are awarded after the Jammer exits the Engagement Zone or at the end of the Jam.

If the Jam ends before White Jammer is released, White Jammer is awarded two points from passing Red 2 and Red 4 before going to the Box.

WHY DOESN’T A JAMMER GET A POINT FOR LAPPING THE OTHER JAMMER?

Perhaps you remember a time when a Jammer could earn five points during a Jam (called a “Grand Slam”): one for each of the four Blockers and one Jammer Lap Point. Scoring lap points was complicated, inconsistent, and difficult to track. As such, at the end of 2018, WFTDA removed the lap point. Now, the maximum points in a Jam is four, one for each Blocker.

By Ruth Slayed-Her Ginsberg

A YEAR IN REVIEW

by Barking Spider

PHEW! Rocky Mountain Rollergirls are still collectively recovering from all the excitement we experienced during our 2019 season, but it’s time for our 2020 season to begin. Gigga gigga whaaa!

Here’s a (short) list of what amazing things RMRG has accomplished in 2019, and the people who helped make all of it possible:

1. GAMES, GAMES, AND MORE GAMES: Our 2019 game schedule was jam packed. In 2019, RMRG hosted 12 double header events at our new practice facility, The Rollerdome. That’s 24 games! It takes an amazing amount of work and talent, on and off the track. RMRG League Members and newbies volunteer many hours to ensure our games run smoothly. and we are so thankful for all they do. We recognize some of the enormous workload that is put in, sometimes a month before a game:

Bout Production: Committee Head Elvira Queen of the Fight and committee members scheduled the multitude of volunteers that help ensure our games are successful including security, rules helpers, track maintenance, check-in, and clean-up after the game.

Events & Fundraising: Committee Head Easy as Pi and committee members planned pre-game promotion events, run raffles, create silent auctions, and stocked the bar for games as well as ensure bartenders keep our fans cups full.

Finance: Committee Head Vitamin Bea and committee members recorded payments of tickets for the upcoming game, provided cash boxes for Merch, Bake Sales, and Fundraising, as well as performed ticket-master duties at the door for games.

Gaming: Members She Who and Pop’a Pain staffed our games with officials and Betty Slayer One made sure medical staff was on site for the safety of everyone involved.

HR: Committee Heads FlipHer & Betty Vedder and committee members ensured skaters met the requirements for skating in a game, which include volunteer hours, street teaming, achieved practice hours, and paid dues.

Interleague: Committee Head CoachEena and committee members created our season schedule, coordinated with visiting leagues as well as the WFTDA, and helped Besterns Tournament run smoothly.

Merch: Committee Head Bad JewJew and committee members ensured RMRG merchandise was stocked and set up sales table to provide fans with cool stuff to purchase at our games.

New Recruitment and Development: Committee Head Sweet DeeStroyher and committee members worked with our new to RMRG skaters (Killscout and transfers) to successfully navigate the requirements for games and set up our Killscout Bout themes and rosters.

Partnership: Committee Head Floora Goodtime and committee members recruited advertisers for RMRG Partnerships as well as scheduled tables at games for local businesses and community organizations.

Public Relations: Committee Head Barking Spider and committee members created each 2019 Event on Facebook and advertised across our social media accounts. Created and implemented our new group ticket sales pricing. Regularly promoted our many 2019 partnerships.

Street Team: Committee Head Grave Robin and committee members helped schedule multiple events to get the word out for our 2019 games and continually distributed game flyers.

Training: Committee Heads Zoom & Grave Robin and committee members worked to keep everyone fit and strong for all our 2019 games.

Warehouse Management: Committee Heads Massey and ELE and committee members ensured the facility is clean and the restroom is stocked with paper goods.

Warehouse Liasions: Committee Heads Motorbutt & She Who worked with Denver Roller Derby (our practice facility roommates) to ensure seamless communication and facility function for games and practices.

Furthermore, thank you to those League Members who stepped up to be a part of our 2019 Travel Team Eval Committee (Daisy Danger, Kish of Death, Misstress Tarable, Fight Club Captain Sylvia’s Wrath, Contenders Captain Chi Chi, PM Captain Clitterference ). Also, to those League Members who worked to iron out skater issues to ensure we work as a team (Fiona Grapple, Siouxsicide Bomb, and Spunky Old Broad).

2. OUR FIRST FULL YEAR IN OUR NEW HOME. RMRG moved into our new practice facility at the end of 2018, and 2019 was our first full year in The Rollerdome. The newness of the situation meant our 2019 Board of Directors had the exciting task of working out all the kinks that come along with a new facility. There were lessons learned, and we are all stronger for it. Let’s just say our crappy plumbing was a HUGE lesson and leave it at that.

Thank you to all our 2019 BOD heroes: Angry Topaz, Animal Style, Betty Slayer One, Cherry Manilow, French Kiss of Death, Harper Bizarre, Justice of the Peach.

3. WE HOSTED A 3-DAY TOURNAMENT, BESTERNS 2019. Mostly this feat was accomplished by our very own Harper Bizarre, who helped wrangle all the tournament positions needed to successfully host a tournament. Thanks to our Liaison Committee consisting of both RMRG and DRD members we created a tournament certified barrier to keep the fans safe in the stands. Besterns 2019 welcomed teams from Utah, Texas, Wisconsin and even Alberta, Canada for 3 days, and resulted in a financial gain for the league.

4. HOME TEAM DOUBLE HEADERS WERE FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT. RMRG wants to recognize our Home Team captains for 2019. They put a lot of work into working with their Home Team skaters to ensure each skater feels like part of a team. Plus, each captain put a lot of effort into ensuring our 2019 Home Team games were populated with skaters on each team benches.
Daisies: Pink FameNgo & Devilz Huntress
Hoods: Clitterference & Angry Topaz
Sugars: ELE & Vitamin Bae
USPS: Easy as Pi & Pixie Yerbattles

5. RMRG is a wonderful league and we try to give credit where credit is due. Every January RMRG skaters and league members (new, veteran, and alumni) get together to have fun together and decompress. Our Prom this year featured old Nintendo games as awards for those our league voted to bestow certain coveted awards. Here are those special people:
Craziest Daisy – Chi Chi Chong
Sweetest Sugar – NintenDoll
Reppin’ the Hood – Clitterference
Most Postal Pummeler – Pixie Yerbattles
Unicorn Award (Fight Club) – She Who Cannot Be Named
Tupac Award (Contenders) – Melter Skelter
Robert Paulson Award (Project Mayhem) – Angry Topaz
Kickass Kill Scout – Bold Babe
Yammer of the Year – Pink FlameNgo (No, not a spelling error…yammer = jammer)
Feel the Pain (Best Blocker) – May Q Pay
Most Improved Skater – Reverend Pain
Ref/NSO Award – Man in Black
Team Heckle – Betty Vedder
Heart of RMRG – Harper Bizarre
Unsung Hero – Cherry Manilow
Biggest Coach Impact – CoachEena
Best Sportsmanship – Lumpy Skate Princess