Only the referees are men. The founders and skaters are all women in the Arizona Derby Dames, a roller derby league now in its fifth season, this year using a banked track.

Started in 2005 by four women with a passion for roller derby, one of the original founders, Alissa Gere, a.k.a. Prima Donna, has been involved in roller derby since 2004. She, like many other women in the league, spent her youth roller skating. Starting the league was costly, Gere said.

Many of the players payed out of their own pockets for practices, supplies and advertising. In time, sponsors began to help out. Since then, the league has grown to five teams Brutal Beauties, Schoolyard Scrappers, Runaway Brides, Bombshells and Coffin Draggers.

The women in the league come from diverse backgrounds from attorneys and teachers to scientists and stay-at-home moms. During practices there is a designated children’s area where some of the players can leave what they call their “derby brats.”

“As long as we can continue to do what we’ve done, pay our bills, break even, honestly, we don’t care about anything else. We’re not here to get rich. We’re just here to play the game that we love,” said Kristi Bravo, a.k.a. Rowdy Roulette.

Bravo is one of the six league training managers and spends almost every night making schedules, running practices, opening and locking up. Bravo said the camaraderie can’t be beat.

“If I had a problem, I know that I’ve got a hundred girls who would come in two seconds to take care of my kids, or help at my house,” Bravo said. “I’ve made lifelong friends.”

The league practices four times a week in a warehouse downtown. The players don’t seem to mind spending so much time at practices.

Gere said, “They have so much drive and so much enthusiasm it makes our practices that much more fun to be at. Not only do we work hard at practices we also have the times where we laugh and enjoy what we are doing.”

Monthly games are held at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on the Arizona State Fairgrounds. Tickets are sold at the Coliseum box office the day of the event. Future games are: May 15, June 19 and July 17, with playoffs Aug. 21 and the championship game Sept. 25. For information about the Arizona Derby Dames, click here.