WFTDA News

Latest News

• WFTDA Playoffs Begin Friday!
  

  WFTDA tournament season kicks off with the first whistle Friday, Sept. 10, when ten North Central teams begin to battle it out in Green Bay, WI. To make it to the Championships, North Central teams must unseat one of the top three regional seeds: Chicago's Windy City Rollers, the Detroit Derby Girls, and Mad Rollin' Dolls of Madison, WI.

  After a weekend off, the playoffs will pick back up Sept. 24 and continue for three action-packed weeks as a total of 40 WFTDA teams fight to earn one of 12 spots in the WFTDA Championship Tournament in November. Expect every skater to leave it all on the track as they fight for their team's position in the region and a chance to head to Chicago in November.

  Everything you need to know about the “Big Five” tournaments, including a printable tournament bracket, is at wftda.com/The-Big-5.

  
  
  
• 9 Leagues Join WFTDA for Full Membership
  

  WFTDA continues to experience steady growth, expanding to 98 leagues today.

  Nine leagues graduated from Apprentice status to become full WFTDA members:

  • Pueblo Derby Devil Dollz- Pueblo, CO
  • NEO Roller Derby - Akron, OH
  • Killamazoo Derby Darlins - Kalamazoo, MI
  • Santa Cruz Derby Girls - Santa Cruz, CA
  • Lehigh Valley Rollergirls - Allentown, PA
  • Fox Cityz Foxz - Appleton, WI
  • Queen City Roller Girls - Buffalo, NY
  • Central NY Roller Derby - Utica, NY
  • Green Mt. Derby Dames - Essex Junction, VT

  Many of these leagues were among the first to be accepted to the WFTDA Apprentice Program in the fall of 2009. The program serves as a “WFTDA 101” tutorial and pairs apprentice leagues with mentor leagues who offer advice and encouragement about league-specific issues, including everything from league formation to how to become ranked and qualify for WFTDA sponsored tournaments. Currently, there are 43 leagues in the WFTDA Apprentice program.

  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, with the next candidates being accepted Oct. 1.

  
  
  
• 2010 Tournament Participants Announced
  

  40 roller derby teams learned that they have a shot at being the 2010 Women’s Flat Track Derby Association Champions. With the opening whistle of WFTDA playoff season just weeks away, the brackets for the four regional playoffs are now set.

  Over a four-week period, the top 10 teams in each of the four WFTDA regions will compete for a chance to advance to the fourth annual WFTDA Championship Tournament, Nov. 5-7 in Chicago, IL. The first, second and third place teams from each region – East, North Central, South Central and West – earn a spot at the championships.

  In addition to the do-or-die, single-elimination bracket that allows teams to qualify for the Championships, the regional tournaments will also feature “consolation” matches to facilitate accurate ranking within each region.

  Teams qualified for the regional tournaments based on the most recent WFTDA rankings. The second quarter rankings include games played through June 30, 2010.

  Find out which leagues will be competing!

  Stay tuned to our Big 5 Tournaments page in the WFTDA Community section for everything you need to know about this year’s playoffs!

  
  
  
• Register Today! WFTDA Referee Clinics Reminder
  

  
  

  

  Photo by Jim Rhoades

  Remember...penalties matter.

  The WFTDA ref clinics are aimed at improving the consistency of officials’ calls and practices throughout the association’s member leagues.

  
  
  

  Register right now at wftda.com/officiating/clinics

  
  

  Sessions for skating officials will cover key concepts of the WFTDA rules and how to translate those concepts into accurate penalty calls:

  • How to correctly assess the impact of a block
  • Initiation vs. established position: Making the correct call – or no call – based on which skater is holding an established position and which skater initiated the motion
  • Calling out-of-pack penalties, destroying the pack and failure to reform a pack: Games and drills to improve pack management skills
  • Reffing the “slow game”: This lesson will help those inexperienced with the “slow game” to be able effectively officiate this advanced style of play, using their existing set of skills. Other sessions will cover skills, tips and best practices for skating and non-skating officials’ positions:
  • Skating skills: A review of beginner and advanced level skating skills and how they apply to each on-skates position
  • Working the angles: Learn advanced techniques for maximizing the amount of visible action
  • Official-to-official communication
  • Scorekeeping
  • Outside whiteboard
  • Jam timing
  • Penalty wrangling, penalty tracking and inside whiteboard
  • Penalty box management

  Where/When are they?

  • North Central: hosted by the Minnesota RollerGirls — August 7-8
  • South Central: hosted by Memphis Roller Derby — August 14-15
  • East: hosted by the Long Island Roller Rebels — August 21-22
  • West: hosted by the Rat City Rollergirls — August 21-22

  
  
  

  To register go to wftda.com/officiating/clinics

  
  
  
• WFTDA partners with Dr. Hauschka Skin Care
  

  

  The WFTDA is partnering with Dr.Hauschka Skin Care to promote natural health and healing. The holistic skin care brand will serve as the official first aid “Knockdown Sponsor” for WFTDA, keeping Dr.Hauschka relief trackside to aid players in a speedy, healthy healing process during competitions.

  "Our brand offers highly effective skin care that can completely transform the skin as well as incredible homeopathic remedies that are able to heal all kinds of bumps, bruises and other contact-sport related ailments experienced in competitive roller derby,” said Mirran Raphaely, CEO of Dr.Hauschka Skin Care. “We’re thrilled to assist these amazing, accomplished athletes in healing injuries quickly and naturally, supporting their performance on and off the flat track."

  As the official Knockdown Sponsor, Dr.Hauschka has provided each WFTDA member league with a selection of products for their first aid kits. WFTDA competitors, officials and fans will also be able to learn more about Dr.Hauschka products during the 2010 WFTDA Playoffs and Championships this fall.

  “Flat track derby is filled with intense competitors and although we consider our bruises to be badges of honor, quick recovery is important to stay at the top of your game,” said Kim Stegeman, aka Rocket Mean, WFTDA Sponsorship Chair. “Like the ladies of the WFTDA, Dr.Hauschka products are made from beautiful, strong ingredients that are capable of defeating highly punishing foes.”