Press Releases

Games Review Panel Statement on Revoked Sanctioning

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:33:00 -0800

The Games Review Panel has revoked the sanctioning for the November 5, 2011 bout between Babe City Rollers and Des Moines Derby Dames due to an infraction by Des Moines. The Des Moines Derby Dames rostered two skaters who were not on their charter at the time of the bout.

The game will count towards membership, tournament and ranking minimum requirements for Babe City but the score will not be recorded in the official record and cannot be used in determining rank.

Bouts can have their sanctioning revoked for numerous specific reasons, all of which can be boiled down to violations that destroy the integrity of the game in question. This is the first bout in WFTDA history that has had its sanctioning revoked. Revocation of sanctioning is something the Games Review Panel takes with the utmost seriousness. We are heartened that leagues value WFTDA rules and regulations, making revocation of bout sanctioning a very rare event.

MRDA and WFTDA Partner to Offer MRDA Insurance

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:00:00 -0800

The Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA) and the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) are pleased to announce that WFTDA will expand its insurance program in 2012 to become the official insurance provider for the MRDA. This partnership allows for universal coverage throughout both associations.

Due to the strong local-level connections between WFTDA member leagues and MRDA leagues, many MRDA skaters are already enrolled in WFTDA insurance as officials or coaches but previously were not covered as roller derby competitors.

This partnership simplifies the insurance coverage and allows MRDA and WFTDA leagues to build their relationship on the track as well as off by giving men's and women's leagues the ability to cross train, scrimmage and even bout together. This coverage also includes all officials, allowing them to train, officiate and skate with both associations under one insurance policy.

“Insurance has previously been an obstacle for putting on events that involved both sexes. The door is now open for easy, worry-free scrimmages, bouts and events,” said Scott Meyer, MRDA Vice President.

As is the case with WFTDA member and apprentice leagues, MRDA members will not be required to enroll in the new MRDA insurance. However, most will likely choose that option.

“Our insurance program is tailored to meet the specific needs of roller derby leagues, so U.S.-based women’s leagues have generally been eager to enroll in our insurance program as soon as they become affiliated as apprentice members,” said Shelli Wiggins, WFTDA Insurance Administrator.

More detailed information about the insurance program is available at http://wftda.com/resources/insurance and http://www.mensrollerderbyassociation.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Scott Meyer, MRDA Vice President - magnum@stlgatekeepers.com
Kali Schumitz, WFTDA Public Relations - press@wftda.com
Juliana Gonzales, WFTDA Executive Director - 512-587-1859, juliana@wftda.com

About MRDA
The Men's Derby Coalition was founded in 2007 as a loose federation of men's derby leagues. The Men's Roller Derby Association is a new incarnation of the MDC legacy. With the same passionate men and women at the helm of MRDA, we continue to promote men's derby through resource sharing. But now, we are focused on developing more benefits to leagues who become members. Such benefits include umbrella insurance coverage and the ability to compete in the annual MRDA Championship tournament. With encouragement from the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), MRDA hopes to build a strong and influential organization like WFTDA. Our aim is to complement their contributions to the sport of roller derby and offer new perspectives to the derby community.

ABOUT WFTDA
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the international governing body for the sport of women’s flat track roller derby and a membership organization for leagues to collaborate and network. WFTDA sets standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determines guidelines for the athletic competitions of member leagues. There are currently 130 WFTDA member leagues and 71 leagues in the WFTDA Apprentice program. WFTDA is governed by a five-member, volunteer Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director.

Women's Flat Track Derby Association Adds Six Member Leagues

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:00:00 -0800

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) accepted six new member leagues Dec. 1. These women’s flat track roller derby leagues—including the first member in Australia — have graduated from the WFTDA Apprentice Program and now qualify for full membership benefits, including voting rights, ranking and tournament eligibility.

WFTDA congratulates the following new members:

Ark Valley High Rollers – Salida, Colorado Lowcountry High Rollers – Charleston, South Carolina Mid-Iowa Rollers, Des Moines, Iowa Red Stick Roller Derby – Baton Rouge, Louisiana Victorian Roller Derby League – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia New River Valley Rollergirls – Christiansburg, Virginia

This graduation continues WFTDA's steady membership growth and marks the expansion of the association's membership to a third continent with the Victorian Roller Derby League (VRDL), the first league to join from Australia. VRDL is a women’s flat track roller derby league founded at the start of 2007.

WFTDA comprises 200 member and apprentice leagues. There are 70 apprentice leagues working their way through the WFTDA Apprentice Program, which is designed to act as a “WFTDA 101” tutorial. The Apprentice Program matches new leagues with an established WFTDA mentor who guides her apprentice through the processes and requirements necessary to become a full member. The amount of time a league needs to be in the Apprentice Program varies according to the needs and experience level of that league.

New leagues are accepted to and graduate from the Apprentice Program quarterly. The next group of graduates is anticipated in March 2012.

WFTDA Enters Formal Partnership With Skate Australia

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:19:00 -0800

The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) and Skate Australia announced today that the organizations have signed an agreement that will further the development of Australian roller derby and support WFTDA's efforts to grow its international membership.

This collaboration is designed to support the roller derby skaters and leagues in Australia in ways that align with both organizations' respective missions. The WFTDA operates worldwide but is focused on adult, female flat track roller derby leagues, while Skate Australia aims to serve all roller derby leagues in Australia, regardless of WFTDA affiliation.

The organizations have agreed to work together to train and accredit roller derby officials and coaches in Australia to facilitate the development of the sport, skaters and teams. They also will work to develop additional competitive pathways for Australian teams.

“Women’s flat track roller derby started really growing worldwide about five years ago,” said Juliana Gonzales, Executive Director of the WFTDA. “Australia was one of the first places we saw the sport take off outside the United States, and we immediately began looking for ways to extend WFTDA leadership and resources worldwide. We’re very lucky to have Skate Australia as a partner.”

“This agreement is the result of honest and open communication and highlights a shared commitment to the support of roller derby development in Australia,” added Matt Helmers, Skate Australia’s CEO.

The WFTDA will use its expertise in training and certifying referees to help develop an accreditation panel for Australian roller derby referees and officials. Both organizations will have representation on the panel, but the primary focus, like the U.S. model, will be on peer evaluation and democratic principles for training, evaluation, and accreditation. The WFTDA worked with Skate Australia to host the first ever WFTDA Officiating Clinics in Australia earlier this year, and will host a clinic there again in 2012.

Skate Australia will recognize WFTDA certification for roller derby referees and officials, and those accredited through the Australian Sports Commission may also become WFTDA certified at the appropriate level.

In addition, the WFTDA will develop training and continuing education materials for Australian roller derby skaters and coaches and provide clinics and mentoring programs to create a network of “WFTDA-endorsed” skater trainers in Australia.

“We believe these training programs will help Australian leagues build on what they have already accomplished through the hard work and initiative of the skaters who got the sport off the ground,” said WFTDA President Anna Krajcik.

Skate Australia will provide insurance for roller derby athletes and leagues in Australia and will develop new competitive opportunities for Australian roller derby teams at the local, state, national and international levels.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Juliana Gonzales, WFTDA Executive Director – 512-587-1859, juliana@wftda.com

ABOUT WFTDA: The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the international governing body for the sport of women’s flat track roller derby and a membership organization for leagues to collaborate and network. WFTDA sets standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determines guidelines for the athletic competitions of member leagues. There are currently 124 WFTDA member leagues and 76 leagues in the WFTDA Apprentice program. WFTDA is governed by a five-member, volunteer Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director.

ABOUT SKATE AUSTRALIA: Skate Australia is the governing body for all skating-based sports disciplines within Australia and works in partnership with the Australian Sports Commission and State Skating Associations. Skate Australia brings together the diverse and active skating disciplines of Inline Hockey, Artistic Skating, Speed Skating, Roller Hockey, Roller Derby and Skateboarding and Rolling (Aggressive Inline).

12 Teams Advance to 2011 Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Championships

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:20:00 -0700

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Following four hotly contested playoff rounds, 12 teams have qualified to compete in the 2011 Women’s Flat Track Derby Championships. They will head to Broomfield, Colorado, next month to compete for the Hydra trophy and the title of 2011 WFTDA Champions.

This year’s tournament, nicknamed “Continental Divide and Conquer,” will be held Nov. 11-13 at the 1STBANK Center, in Broomfield. The event is hosted by the Denver Roller Dolls.

The 12 teams climbed to the top of the 40 teams that competed in their respective region playoffs, held in September and October. The top 10 teams in each region qualified for the Playoffs based on rankings within their game play region. The top three finishers in the region playoffs earned a spot at Championships, and they received seeding based on their finishing place in the tournament.

At the single elimination tournament, each #3 seed will first face the #2 seed from a different region, with the winner advancing to play a #1 seed from yet another region. The four #1 seeds get a first round bye. Unlike the WFTDA Playoffs structure, there is no consolation bracket at Championships, although the losers of the semifinal games will play each other to establish third and fourth place.

The regional seeding match-ups were determined by random drawing Oct. 9, following the final game of the North Central Region Playoffs. The first round of Championships is as follows:

Game 1: Minnesota RollerGirls, of St. Paul, Minnesota, (North Central #2) vs. Charm City Roller Girls, of Baltimore, Maryland (East #3); Winner faces Texas Rollergirls, of Austin, Texas (South Central #1)

Game 2: Rocky Mountain Rollergirls, of Denver, Colorado (West #2) vs. Nashville Rollergirls, of Nashville, Tennessee (South Central #3); Winner faces Gotham Girls Roller Derby, of New York, New York, (East #1)

Game 3: Kansas City Roller Warriors, of Kansas City, Missouri (South Central #2) vs. Rose City Rollers, of Portland, Oregon (West #3); Winner faces Windy City Rollers, of Chicago, Illinois (North Central #1)

Game 4: Philly Roller Girls, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (East #2) vs. Naptown Roller Girls, of Indianapolis, Indiana (North Central #3); Winner faces Oly Rollers, of Olympia, Washington (West #1)

Download a Championships bracket at http://wftda.com/tournaments/2011/divide-and-conquer-bracket.pdf. For more information on the 2011 WFTDA “Big 5” tournaments, visit http://wftda.com/tournaments.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kali Schumitz, WFTDA Public Relations – press@wftda.com Juliana Gonzales, WFTDA Executive Director – 512-587-1859, juliana@wftda.com

ABOUT WFTDA: The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the international governing body for the sport of women’s flat track roller derby and a membership organization for leagues to collaborate and network. WFTDA sets standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determines guidelines for the athletic competitions of member leagues. There are currently 124 WFTDA member leagues and 63 leagues in the WFTDA Apprentice program. WFTDA is governed by a five-member, volunteer Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director.

Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Announces Online Broadcast Partnership for Tournaments

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:00:00 -0700

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Fans who can’t make it to all of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s Big 5 tournaments in person will now be able to watch the events via a live, high-definition video stream on wftda.com. WFTDA is pleased to announce an online broadcast partnership with Blaze Streaming Media, a live video production company that has been filming and broadcasting roller derby since 2009.

Prior to bidding on the 2011 WFTDA Big Five, Blaze Streaming Media served as the video production company for the 2010 West Region Playoffs, 2011 East Coast Derby Extravaganza, and the Wild West Showdown. Blaze has also worked on a broad portfolio of projects for Adidas, the U.S. Tennis Association and the Portland Timbers Major League Soccer team.

This is the first year that WFTDA has centrally managed the video broadcast of its flagship Big Five tournament events. “We are excited to partner with Blaze Streaming Media to ensure that our fans see a consistent, high quality video stream of our tournaments,” said WFTDA Tournament Director Janis Kelley. “By consolidating broadcast rights under the association umbrella we can create better access to roller derby footage for fans, coaches, and skaters.”

Blaze will use multiple cameras to capture all of the action from different angles, and deliver the feed through a dedicated, reliable stream. WFTDA and Blaze are partnering with the Association of Flat Track Derby Announcers to provide experienced on-air talent for the video stream. Roller derby media outlets, such as the Derby News Network, will continue to be valued partners of the WFTDA in providing provide commentary, recaps, and analysis of the bouts.

WFTDA selected Blaze as its video contractor for 2011 after an open competitive bidding process. The 2012 Big Five broadcaster contract will be opened for bidding early next year. For additional details on viewing the video broadcast, see http://wftda.com/2011-broadcast-info.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kali Schumitz, WFTDA Public Relations – press@wftda.com Juliana Gonzales, WFTDA Executive Director – 512-587-1859, juliana@wftda.com

Open Letter to USA Roller Sports

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:20:00 -0700

In response to your letter dated May 12, 2011, requesting that the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) “endorse our efforts and help pave the future of roller derby with USARS.”

USARS' Letter to WFTDA

We are delighted to see that USARS has taken a supportive interest in the modern roller derby movement as it flourishes and grows worldwide. However, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association cannot offer an endorsement to USARS’ efforts to govern and direct the future of roller derby.

The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association believes that governance of roller derby should be seated with a body that has a particular knowledge of and influence with this unique discipline. It is our position that USARS is not widely recognized as an expert or leader in the modern sport of roller derby. The few roller derby resources USARS offers are vastly overshadowed by the membership, programs and resources developed by the WFTDA and other roller derby membership organizations. The leagues and skaters that participate in the modern sport of roller derby—inclusive of men’s and women’s roller derby, flat and banked track roller derby, adult and junior derby, US and international derby—do not acknowledge USARS as holding governance over the sport or providing resources in support of roller derby. Endorsement of the USARS governance efforts without the collaborative element that defines us would be a breach of our mission statement and a betrayal of our history, ideals, and members.

The governing philosophy of the WFTDA is “by the skaters, for the skaters.” Skaters are the primary owners, managers, and operators of each member league and of the association itself. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association currently counts 189 member leagues, representing well over 10,000 athletes and officials. WFTDA develops and publishes all the rules, standards, and other guidelines by which the sport of roller derby is played. We promote athletic competition among our member leagues with public rankings and annual playoff and championship tournaments, where the highest level of roller derby play is showcased to a worldwide audience. Additionally, since 2005, WFTDA has been generating safety protocols for our sport, including recommendations for protective equipment, facility safety, return to play after injury, and emergency medical protocols.

Furthermore, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the knowledge, training, and certification axis for roller derby officials. Since 2008, WFTDA has offered education for officials, consisting of a rigorous program of training, testing, evaluation, and certification. At this time, WFTDA has certified over 100 officials in one of five levels of officiating, and training clinics are available in ten locations worldwide this year. The WFTDA provides officiating resources to the general public as well, including the public release of the WFTDA rules, an annually updated guide to Officiating Standard Practices, and the recently released WFTDA Officiating Manual.

The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association actively partners with other roller derby organizations that share WFTDA’s core value of “skater owned and operated.” WFTDA has recently formalized a partnership with the Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA) and has burgeoning relationships with junior organizations and banked track roller derby groups. We value the development of all forms of roller derby, and encourage them to form membership organizations of their own, because their skaters are the experts on the game they have created and continue to play. We intend to stand next to these partner organizations as we collectively move toward standardizing and centralizing governance of roller derby internationally, across disciplines.

While we acknowledge and appreciate USARS’s support for roller derby as a growing and legitimate roller sport, we cannot formally endorse USARS efforts toward governance of roller derby. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is eager to work alongside athletes and organizations from all disciplines within roller derby to continue implementing universal rules and standards for the sport.

Sincerely,

Juliana Gonzales, Executive Director

Anna Krajcik, President, WFTDA Board of Directors

Alyssa Hoppe, WFTDA Board of Directors

Colleen Bell, WFTDA Board of Directors

Amy Hodge, WFTDA Board of Directors

Emily Trinks, WFTDA Board of Directors

WFTDA Welcomes Eight New Member Leagues

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:54:00 -0700

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is pleased to announce that eight additional women’s flat track roller derby leagues have graduated from WFTDA's Apprentice Program to become full members of the organization.

WFTDA congratulates the following new members:

Babe City Rollers, of Bemidji, Minnesota
Cape Fear Roller Girls, of Wilmington, North Carolina
Castle Rock and Rollers, of Castle Rock, Colorado
Charlotte Rollergirls, of Charlotte, North Carolina
Fairbanks Rollergirls, of Fairbanks, Alaska
Rocktown Rollers, of Harrisonburg, Virginia
Springfield Roller Girls, of Springfield, Missouri
Toronto Roller Derby, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

WFTDA now comprises 117 member leagues. An additional 57 affiliated leagues are working their way through the WFTDA Apprentice Program, which is designed to act as a “WFTDA 101” tutorial. The Apprentice Program matches new leagues with an established WFTDA mentor who guides her apprentice through the processes and requirements necessary to become a full member. The amount of time a league needs to be in the Apprentice Program varies according to the needs and experience level of that league. New leagues are accepted to and graduate from the Apprentice Program quarterly. The next group of graduates is anticipated in September 2011.

The leagues graduating today are the latest to complete the program and can now enjoy the benefits of full WFTDA membership, which include a vote on decisions of the organization and eligibility for ranking and tournaments.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kali Schumitz, WFTDA Public Relations – press@wftda.com

Juliana Gonzales, WFTDA Executive Director – 512-587-1859, juliana@wftda.com

Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Expands its Staff

Thu, 19 May 2011 16:00:00 -0700

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is pleased to announce that three new positions have been created and filled within the association: a full-time Tournament Director and two part-time positions, Referee Training and Certification Coordinator and Membership Data Manager.

WFTDA Executive Director Juliana Gonzales said the new staff positions will strengthen the association and accelerate its momentum as it continues to experience steady growth in membership.

“These positions mark another significant step in the growth of our sport. With six staff now dedicated to the promotion and development of flat track derby, WFTDA is equipped to build new programs to better support and grow our membership,” Gonzales said.

Janis Kelley, of St. Paul, Minnesota, will join WFTDA as the organization’s first Tournament Director. Kelley has diverse leadership and project management experience in a broad array of fields, including as the Bout Production Chair for Minnesota RollerGirls. She will be helping WFTDA move toward a growth-oriented, centralized model for WFTDA’s annual Playoffs and Championships, as well as possible adding tournaments over the next couple of years so that more WFTDA members can access competitive tournament play.

WFTDA has also hired Sarah Hipel as the Referee Training and Certification Coordinator. Hipel is an operations manager for a private healthcare corporation in Austin. She has been working as volunteer in the Games Pillar of WFTDA for several years and was critical to launching the officiating clinic program in 2010. Hipel is tasked with evaluating and streamlining WFTDA referee training and certification programs, as well as improving our educational programs for officials.

Niki Gallo Hammond was hired as the WFTDA Membership Data Manager. Hammond has professional experience as a business systems analyst and technology project manager. Most recently, she completed a multi-year project transitioning Girl Scouts of the USA to a new membership database system. She is excited to help build technological tools that will make accessing demographics about the modern derby movement easy and fast.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kali Schumitz, WFTDA Public Relations – press@wftda.com
Juliana Gonzales, WFTDA Executive Director – 512-587-1859, juliana@wftda.com

ABOUT WFTDA: The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the international governing body for the sport of women’s flat track roller derby and a membership organization for leagues to collaborate and network. WFTDA sets standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determines guidelines for the national and international athletic competitions of member leagues. There are currently 109 WFTDA member leagues and 65 leagues in the WFTDA Apprentice program. WFTDA is governed by a five-member, volunteer Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director.

WFTDA Adopts Gender Policy

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:00:00 -0700

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) have voted to adopt a common definition of “female” as it applies to competitors in the sport. The new policy is inclusive of female transgender athletes.

The organization has been working to develop a gender policy since 2008. In the course of developing this policy, WFTDA consulted other sports organizations, government and legal counsel, academic experts, and medical professionals.

Recognizing that there are many definitions of “female,” the policy clearly defines what the term means for the purposes of WFTDA-sanctioned competition. It states that a female is someone “living as a woman and having sex hormones that are within the medically acceptable range for a female,” to include male-to-female transgender and intersex persons. Review the full policy at http://wftda.com/wftda-gender-policy.

“This is a monumental and exciting moment in the development of our organization and our sport,” said WFTDA Executive Director Juliana Gonzales. “We’ve maintained our commitment to women’s sports while expressing the value of inclusivity, and affirming the right of transgender females to be included and accepted in WFTDA.”

The policy does not require that transgender athletes proactively provide the WFTDA with proof of “female” gender, but does articulate some standards for documentation. Should a review of a skater's status become necessary, the policy mandates that it be done in a way that protects her privacy and relies on the medical expertise of her own healthcare provider. The organization does not intend to investigate or assess individual athletes preemptively, as clearly stated in the policy itself: “The purpose of this policy is to set a common expectation and definition, and make clear that transgender females are welcome in WFTDA. Teams will continue to be responsible for attesting to the eligibility of their competitors.”

The policy will go into effect January 1, 2012 and applies to skaters on member leagues' 20-person WFTDA-chartered teams, the teams that compete for WFTDA rankings and tournament eligibility.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kali Schumitz, WFTDA Public Relations – press@wftda.com

Juliana Gonzales, WFTDA Executive Director – 512-587-1859, juliana@wftda.com

12 Leagues Accepted to Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Apprentice Program

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:00:00 -0700

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) continues to expand as it welcomes the latest class of Apprentice members from across the United States.

The Apprentice Membership Program accepted 12 new leagues for April 2011. There are now 65 women’s flat track roller derby leagues enjoying the benefits of WFTDA Apprenticeship.

Congratulations to the new Apprentice members:

Ark Valley High Rollers of Salida, Colorado
Circle City Derby Girls of Indianapolis, Indiana
Columbia Quad Squad of Columbia, South Carolina
Eastern Iowa Outlaws of Dubuque, Iowa
Fargo Moorehead Derby Girls of Fargo, North Dakota
Paradise Rollergirls of Hilo, Hawaii
Radioactive City RollerGirls of Paducah, Kentucky
Rainy City Roller Dolls of Centralia, Washington
Sac City Rollers of Sacramento, California
Sioux City Roller Dames of Sioux City, Iowa
Southern Oregon Rollergirls of Oregon
Stateline Roller Derby Divas of Rockford, Illinois and Beloit, Wisconsin

Designed to act as a “WFTDA 101” tutorial, the Apprentice Program matches new leagues with an established WFTDA mentor who guides her apprentice through the processes and requirements necessary to becoming a full member. The mentor will also offer advice and encouragement about league-specific issues—everything from league formation to how to become ranked and qualify for WFTDA-sponsored tournaments. Upon completion of the program, apprentice leagues have the knowledge needed to apply for full WFTDA membership.

WFTDA Tests "No Minors" Rules Set

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:00:00 -0700

Beta test process developed to gather data on game impact of major rule change

AUSTIN, TEXAS – This weekend, Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) member teams will conduct the first in a series of beta test bouts in response to a growing interest in a significant rules shift, the elimination of minor penalties. Additional beta test bouts will take place throughout the summer.

The WFTDA rules beta Section 6 was created solely for the beta test project to collect data for review; it is not an official proposal to change the rule set. Any actual rules changes would be done only by member league vote at a future date. In the current rules set, an illegal action (i.e., blocking to the back, low blocking, forearms, etc.) is penalized based on impact. Current impact levels include “no impact,” “minor impact,” or “major impact.” Four minor penalties or one major penalty results in a trip to the penalty box.

The beta test bouts will be played under a draft rules set that eliminates the “minor impact” level and shifts actions to either “no impact,” meaning it does not result in a penalty, or “major impact,” resulting in a one minute penalty.

View the substitute “Section 6” that will be used during the beta tests at: wftda.com/rules.

Teams and officials are participating in these beta test bouts to collect data for WFTDA to review. This information will be used to determine how such a rules change would affect things such as game play and safety.

“WFTDA is very excited to beta test a 'no minors' rules set,” said Heather “Ms. D’fiant” Watson, WFTDA Games Officer. “Not only is a minor-less bout a radical change to the penalty system, it is also the first time an alternate rules set is allowed in WFTDA-sanctioned play. This groundbreaking move to vet philosophies is pivotal to the rules set evolution of such a fast-growing, dynamic sport.”

Teams participating in the beta test bouts, as well as the dates of these bouts are:

April 10 - Windy City Rollers at Brewcity Bruisers
June 11 - Jet City Rollergirls at Rat City Rollergirls (non-public bout)
June 25 - Charm City Roller Girls vs. Windy City Rollers at East Coast Extravaganza
June 26 - Maine Roller Derby vs. Steel City Derby Demons at East Coast Extravaganza
June 26 - Lehigh Valley Rollergirls vs. River City Rollergirls at East Coast Extravaganza
July 16 - Rocky Mountain Roller Girls home teams (non-public bout)

WFTDA released the current rules set, the fifth revision, on May 26, 2010. Revisions are aimed at maintaining safe, fair game play between teams as the sport and its competitive strategies continue to evolve.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Kali Schumitz, WFTDA Public Relations – press@wftda.com
Juliana Gonzales, WFTDA Executive Director – 512-587-1859, juliana@wftda.com

ABOUT WFTDA: The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the international governing body for the sport of women’s flat track roller derby and a membership organization for leagues to collaborate and network. WFTDA sets standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determines guidelines for the national and international athletic competitions of member leagues. There are currently 109 WFTDA member leagues and 53 leagues in the WFTDA Apprentice program. WFTDA is governed by a five-member, volunteer Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director.

Roller Derby’s Skaters and Audience WFTDA Announces Results of Second Annual Demographic Survey

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:00:00 -0700

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Today the Women’s Flat Derby Association (WFTDA) announces the results of its second annual comprehensive demographic survey of modern roller derby fans and athletes.

The survey was conducted online over the course of two weeks, with more than 3,300 current skaters, 1,000 sport volunteers and 5,300 fans participating to build a rich profile of the sport’s fan base. The 2011 survey follows the initial 2010 effort to draw a picture of the evolving sport and its fan base.

The survey design allows WFTDA’s local member leagues to break out and analyze the demographics of their own local audiences and then use these figures to pursue appropriate local marketing and sponsorship partnerships.

Women’s roller derby has thrived for the last decade as an “alternative” sport, prospering outside the world of big-time athletics. Roller derby leagues around the world have flourished under skater management, using “do it yourself” techniques and volunteer labor to turn roller derby into “the goliath of underground athletics because it challenges the status quo of American sports.”¹

WFTDA, the governing body for women’s flat track roller derby, annually profiles the diverse network of fans, skaters, and volunteers who make up the modern roller derby demographic.

“We know that roller derby fans and skaters are highly loyal to their new favorite sport and come from all walks of life, and this year’s survey data reinforce that,” said Juliana Gonzales, WFTDA Executive Director. “The results of this survey also identify alternate interests within the sport’s community, preparing WFTDA and its member leagues to develop marketing and sponsorship partnerships for our sport.”

Roller derby’s unique amateur sports model has fostered an explosion in the sport’s global popularity. Currently there are more than 700 leagues across 25 countries around the world, up from 400 in 11 countries just one year ago.²

¹ “More Than Just Hot Tattooed Chicks on Wheels.” Dundas, Zach. http://www.doublex.com/section/arts/more-just-hot-tattooed-chicks-wheels. October 2, 2009.

² http://www.derbyroster.com. “Roller Derby Worldwide: A list of amateur roller derby leagues around the world”

WFTDA Statement On Member League Resignation

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:59:00 -0800

A Women’s Flat Track Derby Association member league, the Salt City Derby Girls, has opted to change its focus and resign from the association.

WFTDA has issued the following statement on the resignation:

“WFTDA is a membership association guided by certain requirements and values, and we are compelled by our mission to limit our membership to roller derby leagues that meet those requirements. Unfortunately, Salt City has chosen to go in a direction that is not in line with WFTDA membership requirements and values, and so they have chosen to resign their membership in the WFTDA. We wish Salt City the best in their pursuits.”

Six Women’s Roller Derby Leagues Join WFTDA

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:24:00 -0800

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is pleased to announce that six additional women’s roller derby leagues graduated WFTDA's Apprentice Program March 1, 2011, to become full members of the organization, including the first member league in Alaska.

WFTDA congratulates the following new members:

Junction City Roller Dolls, of Ogden, Utah
Gold Coast Derby Grrls, of Broward County, Florida
Oklahoma City Roller Derby, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Choice City Rebels, of Fort Collins, Colorado
Terminal City Rollergirls, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Rage City Rollergirls, of Anchorage, Alaska

WFTDA now comprises 110 member leagues. An additional 53 affiliated leagues are working their way through the WFTDA Apprentice Program, which is designed to act as a “WFTDA 101” tutorial. The Apprentice Program matches new leagues with an established WFTDA mentor who guides her apprentice through the processes and requirements necessary to become a full member. The amount of time a league needs to be in the Apprentice Program varies according to the needs and experience level of that league. New leagues are accepted to the Apprentice Program quarterly. The next group of graduates is anticipated in June 2011.

The six leagues graduating today are the latest to complete the program and can now enjoy the benefits of full WFTDA membership, which include a vote on decisions of the organization and eligibility for ranking and tournaments.

WFTDA Accepts 12 Additional Apprentice Leagues

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:00:00 -0800

The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) continues to expand its global membership as it welcomes latest class of Apprentice members.

The Apprentice Membership Program accepted 12 new leagues for January 2011, including the first league in Australia, as well as additional leagues in the United States, Europe, and Canada. There are now 58 women’s flat track roller derby leagues enjoying the benefits of WFTDA Apprenticeship.

Congratulations to the new Apprentice members:

Central California Area Derby of Fresno, California
Classic City Rollergirls of Athens, Georgia
Flint City Derby Girls of Flint, Michigan
Gent Go Go Rollergirls of Gent, Belgium
Ithaca League of Women Rollers of Ithaca, New York
Lake City Roller Dolls of Warsaw, Indiana
Lowcountry Highrollers of Charleston, South Carolina
Magnolia Roller Vixens of Jackson, Mississippi
Rideau Valley Roller Girls of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Roc City Roller Derby of Rochester, New York
Southern Illinois Rollergirls of Marion, Illinois
Victorian Roller Derby League of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

WFTDA Licenses Roller Derby Video Game

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:05:00 -0800

Jam City Rollergirls available via WiiWare™

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The top women's flat track roller derby athletes are ready to roll into America’s living rooms via the first video game licensed by the Women's Flat Track Roller Derby Association (WFTDA), Jam City Rollergirls™.

Punk rock video game developer Frozen Codebase developed Jam City Rollergirls for the Nintendo Wii™ system. The game will be available for download in North and South America via the WiiWare™ service by early February; additional global releases are awaiting scheduling. Jam City Rollergirls, with its explosive graphics, creative twists and charismatic characters, demonstrates that the extreme team sport of roller derby is serious, fun and ready for prime time. The basic rules of roller derby are stretched to their limits with wild power-ups and trick moves. It’s WFTDA-style derby, with real skaters and real teams – and a lot of extra fun thrown in, including ramps, tractors, fireballs, and more.

The game features the licensed images of 28 skaters from five WFTDA member leagues: Brewcity Brusisers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Gotham Girls Roller Derby of New York, New York; Mad Rollin’ Dolls of Madison, Wisconsin; Rat City Rollergirls of Seattle, Washington; and Texas Rollergirls of Austin, Texas. The look and feel of the game, the teams, and the skaters were all developed in direct collaboration with the players.

“Flat track roller derby continues to represent the vanguard of amateur sports, and its best athletes are gaining recognition around the world for their competitive skills,” said Leanne Terpak, WFTDA Director of Marketing. “Jam City Rollergirls lets any fan be on her favorite team or be her favorite skater for a day, and it gives each of our 105 member leagues an exciting and hands-on opportunity to expand their local fan bases.”

A trailer for Jam City Rollergirls and additional details about the game are available at http://wftda.com/jamcity.

WFTDA Statement on FIRS Recognition of Roller Derby

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:08:00 -0800

The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is committed to the promotion and advancement of women's flat track roller derby, including international competitive pathways.

We are staying apprised of recent developments regarding the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports' (FIRS) acknowledgment of roller derby as a skating discipline.

At this time, we're evaluating what this means to our organization and member leagues. As the governing body for the sport of women's flat-track roller derby, WFTDA understands our association's leadership is essential to continuing advancement of the sport in a manner that adheres to the core values of the movement which led to the modern version of this sport.

WFTDA Championship Seeding to be Announced Oct. 12

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:31:00 -0700

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) will announce the seeding for the 2010 WFTDA Championship Tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at noon Pacific Time. A video of the drawing used to determine the seeding will be posted to http://wftda.com/champs.

Twelve teams will compete for the title of 2010 WFTDA Champions and a chance to claim the Hydra, the championship trophy, Nov. 5-7 in Chicago, IL. The first-, second- and third-place teams from each WFTDA regional playoff earned their spots at the “Uproar at the Lakeshore.”

The winners of each playoff get a first-round bye at the Championship, while each second-place team will face a third-place team from another region. The Oct. 12 drawing will determine what the latter match-ups will be.

For more details on the “Uproar on the Lakeshore,” visit http://wftda.com/tournaments/2010/uproar-on-the-lakeshore.

10 More Leagues Join Women’s Flat Track Derby Association

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:05:00 -0700

AUSTIN, TX – The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s (WFTDA) Apprentice Membership Program accepted 10 new leagues in October 2010, including additional European and Canadian leagues. There are now 53 women’s flat track roller derby leagues enjoying the benefits of WFTDA Apprenticeship.

The WFTDA congratulates our new Apprentice leagues:

Auld Reekie Roller Girls, of Edinburgh, Scotland
Bear City Roller Derby, of Berlin, Germany
Blue Ridge Rollergirls, of Asheville, NC
Des Moines Derby Dames, of Des Moines, IA
Jersey Shore Roller Girls, of Toms River, NJ
Mid Iowa Rollers, of Des Moines, IA
Old Capitol City Roller Girls, of Iowa City, IA
Paris Rollergirls, of Paris, France
Terminal City Rollergirls, of Vancouver, BC, Canada
Tragic City Rollers, of Birmingham, AL

Designed to act as a “WFTDA 101” tutorial, the Apprentice Program matches new leagues with an established WFTDA mentor who guides her apprentice through the processes and requirements necessary to becoming a full member. The mentor will also offer advice and encouragement about league-specific issues – everything from league formation to how to become ranked and qualify for WFTDA-sponsored tournaments. Upon completion of the program, apprentice leagues have the knowledge needed to apply for full WFTDA membership.

Due to the continued high level of interest in WFTDA Apprentice Membership and to ensure that leagues in the program receive the full support and attention they deserve, the admission review process will be tweaked for future applicants. Some applicants may temporarily be placed on a waiting list until there is an available mentor. The program can support about 50 leagues at any given time.

“The needs of each Apprentice league are different. This new process will allow us to ensure that every league accepted into the program receives a mentor who is the best fit for that league,” said Janel Kasper-Wolfe, aka “FemiFist,” the WFTDA Apprentice Program Director. “For example, we have a limited number of mentors who are able to work with leagues in Europe.”