Interview: Coach G$ of the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls

At the beginning of 2009, the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls took on a first year roller derby coach to head up their travel team for the year. Garth Adlao, aka Coach G$, immersed himself immediately in the sport and helped the team compete home and away all season. Ultimately, the team took fifth place at the WFTDA Western Regionals Tournament in October. Now that his rookie season has ended, Coach G$ answred some questions about his goals, the sport, and his team.

1. How did you first get into roller derby? Why were you interested in coaching a womens roller derby team?

I watched my first bout a little over a year ago when the Oakland Outlaws beat the Richmond Wrecking Belles in last year's home championship (B.ay A.rea D.erby  Girls home teams). I came out to watch a friend, Oakland's jammer, Jane Hammer. I was completely hooked after the first half. Hammer asked what I thought about her first half and how she could be more effective in the second. After the bout, we talked more and I had a chance to talk to Kitt Turbo who thought the travel team would benefit from me observing their training and practices.

Honestly, I did not have a specific interest in coaching roller derby. It just kind of happened. I was hooked on the sport, I love coaching, and I saw a group of people who needed someone to help.

2. What kind of previous experience did you have with coaching a sport?

My previous experience in coaching is high school football. I was lucky enough to coach at the most successful high school in America, De La Salle High School (at one point they won 151 games in a row for over 12 years) and it was a place that focused more on the person and who they were than just the mechanics of the sport. I learned a lot about leadership as a player and a coach there and how to effectively build teams. Also, coaching there was an 11 month commitment so I am also familiar with training athletes during the off season.

3. What are some similarities between coaching football and coaching roller derby? What are some significant differences?

The most obvious similarity in the two sports is the physical nature of the play. Sports that have an element of danger where one athlete is trying to hit or even hurt their opponent is intense. I see it in the skaters and remember it myself as you mentally get ready for the contest.

But the differences are also very big. One of the biggest differences is derby is much more of a flow sport. Jams can last up to two minutes and a lot of things can happen and change in that time where football plays last no more than 15 seconds but are more often 5-10 seconds. Derby athletes need to be able to make decisions tactically and instinctively without taking a break. Derby athletes need to be able to adapt on the fly without having time to really think about it. This is one of the challenges for them as they also must be doing this as a team. If everyone is not on the same page the team is not effective.

4. As a first year coach, what were your goals for the 2009 season?

There were team goals and I had my individual goals. The team really wanted to get to Nationals (for the Women's Flat Track Derby Association). Regretfully, we fell short of this goal but I think we all have a much better understanding of what it will take for us to get there.

Personally, I obviously wanted to not only learn the sport but be comfortable reviewing tactics and techniques without checking with others every three minutes. I think I achieved this by about mid season. I also wanted to help build a team that trusted and supported one another.

5. What are your goals for the 2010 season?

I don't really think anything has changed going into 2010 when it comes to team goals. We want to find ourselves skating in Chicago at the end of the 2010 season at Nationals. This will not be easy skating in the Western Region. But I think our eyes are wide open and we know what it will take to get there.

Personally, I really want to be a better coach. I want to apply more tactics, utilize the lessons I learned through 2009 and insure the team is completely prepared mentally and physically to compete in every bout.

6. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced with the team this year?

The biggest challenge I had came early in the season with not knowing the sport that well. It was difficult to have authority and consistency when I was learning on the fly. I think the other difficulty I had was learning how to coach adults and women. Everyone has a big life and often a lot of responsibilities outside of derby. I had only coached kids who had nothing really better to do except to go to class. The commitment to derby is not easy. I also had not coached women and was unsure how hard I could be on them. What I learned was I could be pretty tough.

7. How was coaching women different from your experience coaching young men?

It is just a tweak in how I deal with individuals in front of the group. Basically, I am more comfortable disciplining the boy in front of his peers. With my derby team, almost all off these type of conversations are done one on one, off skates.

8. Do you have a favorite team to watch besides your own? Who are some players you admire?

Hands down my favorite team besides the B.A.D. Girls and their home teams is the Texas Rollergirls. Our travel team went there to skate against them and they were great. They compete at a very high level and they leave it on the track. We hung out with them at the after party and the following day and they were great hosts.

At Nationals, I saw a lot of great skaters. The one that really stood out was Rocky Mountain's Psycho Babble. She was just a freak jammer and blocker. Also I have a lot of respect for Bloody Mary of Texas for the way she hosted and treated our team. She is a class act.

9. What do you see in the future for women's flat track roller derby?

That is a good questions and I don't know. The game is just going to get better as athletes improve and more tactics are applied. I think a lot of it is in the WFTDA's hands. They are going in the right direction but are still an organization in its infancy. I personally like the idea of shortening the national season. As it stands, an 11 month season is way too much.

Ultimately, I see the sport thriving and growing. It is fun to play, watch, and be around.