Local roller derby teams face off this weekend

All four B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls teams will compete in the league’s Double Header Coastal Clash bout on Saturday night at The Craneway Pavilion in Richmond.

The first match will be between the Oakland Outlaws and the San Francisco ShEvil Dead, followed by the Richmond Wrecking Belles and Berkeley Resistance. This Bay Area All-Stars team will compete later this summer against the Kansas City Warriors on July 7, and the B.A.D. Championships are scheduled for August 4.

For those new to derby, here’s how the rules work: Games, known as “bouts” in derby lingo, consist of 30-minute halves. These halves are made up of two-minute shifts, called jams. The team puts five women on the track per jam, including one jammer for each team who’s the only person who can score points. The other four players, called blockers, use their arms, hips, butts and shoulders to open the way for their team’s jammer or to block an opponent’s jammer. Minor penalties are awarded for a foul that entails physical force but does not greatly affect the game. A player can earn a major penalty when they rack up four minor infractions or do something that could seriously injure another player. Major violations result in one minute in the penalty box per infraction.

Saturday’s bout will feature a bar, food trucks and clothing vendors. Admission is $17 online at bayareaderbygirls.com or $20 at the door. Although the Outlaws and ShEvil Dead bout starts at 6 pm, doors open at 4:30 pm. Derby events fill up fast, so arrive early to get a close seat.

Read more about the B.A.D. Girls and the Richmond Wrecking Belles here.