WFTDA, MRDA and JRDA announce partnership on The Rules

The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA) and the Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA) are pleased to announce that the three international nonprofit organizations will partner on upcoming releases of The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby. The WFTDA and MRDA, through an existing partnership, have collaborated on The Rules since 2014, and today marks the first time that either organization has partnered with JRDA in this capacity.

The WFTDA has also released an updated release schedule of The Rules related documents, listed at the bottom of this post.

The partnership between the WFTDA, MRDA, and JRDA will not only be to establish a standardized rule set for our sport, but to elevate the expectations of sportspersonship across roller derby and to amplify a broad message of inclusion and model it for the greater organized sport community. Streamlining the rules used to play the sport of flat track roller derby for adults and juniors allows for an easier transition from junior leagues into adult leagues, as well as providing a consistent spectating experience for fans of all flat track roller derby.
With the growth in worldwide participation in roller derby, the partnership between WFTDA, MRDA, and JRDA aims to continue to make the sport as accessible as possible. The WFTDA will work with JRDA to modify the rules around contact for junior use, the standardization will allow for a united, global front — at all levels of play.

“The Junior Roller Derby Association is pleased with this partnership and the opportunities it affords our athletes.” Says JRDA President, Renee Miller. She adds “It provides our members a voice in shaping the rules in which they compete. The JRDA is looking forward to collaborating with the WFTDA and the MRDA to advance the sport of junior roller derby.”

Earlier in 2015, WFTDA Membership had decided to spearhead its own organization dedicated to junior play, this partnership replaces that initiative.

“We are thrilled to be working with JRDA on developing a version of The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby for use by junior skaters. These athletes are the future of the sport and of our organization and we want to do what we can to encourage their continued participation in roller derby,” says WFTDA Executive Director, Cassie Haynes.

“The MRDA is very excited to see this new rules partnership between WFTDA and the JRDA. After the amazing JRDA talent we hosted at the 2016 MRDA Championships, we know having a unified rule set between the three nonprofits will help all of us grow as organizations, leagues, and individual members.” says Jimmy Rage, President of MRDA, who just announced its newest league, the Pack Animals of Wirral Roller Derby, hailing from the Wirral Peninsula in Northwest England.

As part of this partnership, the WFTDA will spearhead the creation of a WFTDA and JRDA co-branded Juniors edition of The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby, which will be available initially in PDF format. WFTDA will also re-brand the original document as a WFTDA and MRDA co-branded Adults edition which will serve both the WFTDA and MRDA membership. Release dates for these documents, as well as other documents associated with The Rules are listed below. All web and PDF versions will be available on rules.wftda.com.