I  met Tique in Monpellier, where she was invited to act as head ref for two matches. I suggested to interview her.

Can you introduce yourself ?

My
 Name
 is
 TIQUE,
I’

am
 working
 as
 an
 skating
 Official
(Referee)
 for
 Roller
Derby.
I started
 in 2010 
as 
skating
 Official,
after
 being 
a 
player.
My
 home
 League
 is 
in 
Berlin,
Germany,
the 
Bear 
City 
Roller
 Derby 
(BCRD). I’ve started Roller Derby in april
2009 
at 
the 
Berlin 
Bombshells
(Travel tea
m of 
BCRD).
First Master
 Blaster
 (one
 of 
our
 League 
founder)
 invited 
me 
for 
Thanksgiving 
and
 as
 I 
saw
 her skates 
and
 had 
some
 questions,
she 
told 
me
 a
 lot
 about
 Roller
Derby.
Some 
months 
later the 
Berlin 
Bombshells 
presented 
their 
first
 bout
 in
 Berlin,
I 
came 
as 
a 
visitor
 and
 one 
week later I 
started
 to
 attend 
at 
training 
as 
player.

When and how did you start skating ?

I started to skate in my children time with friends. We were kids in the late 80’s, skating and playing skategames in the street.
Like a lot of Derby people I didn’t practice for more than ten years, but it was quite easy to re-learn skating.

You were also a Roller Derby player. Is it still the case ?

No, I don’t think so. The girls are taking so many risks to get hurt, each time they go out on the track,…Officials are a litte more safe. In 2011 I broke my ankle at training, while trying to hockeystop. It took me two years to feel good on skates again and I don’t have the time in my
life to brake my bones again. The other side is: I discover thant there are a lot very nice people in the officials teams and it’s much more my sort of humor. It’s always nice to be in an zebra-team.

Can you introduce the Berlin Bombshells your team ?

The Berlin Bombshells were founded in 2009. Today the Berlin League is so big that we had three full home teams and a full team of Newbies. Berlin Bombshells needed a League Name and most members voted for Bear City Roller Derby (BCRD). That’s the actual
name of the Berlin league.

The Berlin Bombshells are the Travel-Team of BCRD. Here we have our strongest players. They just won the German championship this summer and are still one of the strongest european teams.
The Top 20 players composed the Berlin Bombshells A-Team. They travel a lot to play the strongest european teams and they the league tries to send them every year to the USA to play some US-Teams.
The Berlin Bombshells B-Team, Inglorious Bombshells, plays still the highest level of european Teams.

For the new season we will also have a C-Team, to have a team which plays mid european level and other german teams. Here you can also find our younger players.
Then we will also have a Rec- Team for all „just fun“ players and players who can not spend so many attendence at trainig time but still wants to play. BCRD is always in a learning process, that’s why we start this new system with C- Team and Rec, so everyone could play.

Your league is full WFTDA member, what does it means in practice ?

BCRD 
is 
full
 WFTDA 
member
 since 
2011.
Before,
 we
 have 
been 
an 
WFTDA‐aprentcie‐league. For
 one 
year
 to 
learn
 how
 to 
make
 all 
paperwork,
to 
built 
up 
a 
real 
resumee 
after 
every bout.
Being 
full 
WFTDA 
member 
means 
in 
practice 
to 
play
 under
 the 
actual 
WFTDA‐rules set.
As 
league 
and 
officials 
we 
have 
to
 follow 
all
 best
 practice
 standards.
We
 are 
part 
of
 the wftda‐ranking
 list and
 our 
Teams 
can
 attend 
at 
wftda‐
tournaments,
where
 the
 strongest teams 
of 
the 
world 
are 
playing.

Can you explain, for our non Derby readers, what being a referee is ?

Working as an skating Official (Referee) means first to learn the rules of Roller Derby, the much and best as you can. Attend, in best case, all skate traings and all srimmages of your home team. Built up a stable Officials crew. Train together, learn and discuss rules together. Read the
forums, as often you can, update your self about new rules publications. Assist as much as you can at bouts first for your homeleague, than for other leagues.

According to you, what are the skills needed to be a good ref ?

Love skating, a big love for Roller Derby, big love for fair Play, passion, pation, a need for precision, being good in teamwork, a lot of time.

Why do you ref ? What do you like in it ?

I love Roller Derby. I really like sports on wheels, fair Play and the way that derby looks to me. I like to spend my time discussing rules, fitness, nice peoples and a little competition to be very good at work. I spend my time with passion for this great teamwork. We ref to make a fair game possible with our whole team. The girls are really fighting to win. Each team by his own way. It ́s every time impressing how hard everyone is working to make the game flow. And after all this hard work and competitions, everyone is partying together and we all had a great time together.

What would you like to do in Roller Derby in the future ?

I would like to travel more than today and to spend more time with other leagues.

A final word ?

Love Derby and don ́t forget your out- of- derby- life. Keep skating.