The Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 1 (WFTDA Division 1) is the highest level of play in women's flat track roller derby.
The division consists of the 36 highest-ranked members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, based on performance over the previous year, who compete across three Playoff tournaments with 12 teams at each Playoff. [1]
Historically, the WFTDA instead operated four regions: East, North Central, South Central and West. At the start of 2013, these were redivided into three divisions, each operating worldwide. However, foreseeing continued growth in membership, the WFTDA stated that future developments were likely to include new regional structures alongside the divisional system. [2] Through 2016, under the original divisional system, Division 1 comprised the top 40 eligible teams, with the next 20 eligible teams qualifying for Division 2 Playoffs. [2]
Teams in Division 1 play in bouts through the year, aiming to qualify for one of the three Division 1 Playoffs. Starting with 2015, sanctioned-game play requirements were modified to be simply any 4 WFTDA-sanctioned games played between December 1 of the previous calendar year and June 30, without a requirement to play a certain number of games against similarly-ranked opponents. [3] Teams which do not play a minimum number of sanctioned bouts are not permitted to compete at the Playoffs. [2] The next 16-ranked teams as of June of the calendar year remain eligible for Division 2 Playoffs. [1]
This section needs to be updated.(March 2021) |
The 2017 Division 1 member list was announced by the WFTDA on July 14. [4] Two teams that were in the top 36 on June 30 - #23 Adelaide Roller Derby of Adelaide, Australia, and #26 Team United Women's Roller Derby of Des Moines, Iowa - did not meet gameplay requirements to qualify for WFTDA Playoffs. [5] Two eligible leagues, #31 Rocky Mountain Rollergirls of Denver, Colorado and #33 Blue Ridge Rollergirls of Asheville, North Carolina both declined, [6] and this allowed teams as low as #40 Wasatch Roller Derby to participate. As a result, the table below features 38 teams, including the two that declined participating in the 2017 Division 1 Playoffs.
League | City | Country | Year(s) of membership |
---|---|---|---|
Victorian Roller Derby League (VRDL) | A Coruña | Spain | 2018 |
2×4 Roller Derby | Buenos Aires | Argentina | 2017 |
Angel City Derby Girls | Los Angeles, CA | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Ann Arbor Roller Derby | Ann Arbor, MI | United States | 2016, 2017 |
Arch Rival Roller Derby | St. Louis, MO | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Arizona Roller Derby | Phoenix, AZ | United States | 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Atlanta Rollergirls | Atlanta, GA | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Bay Area Derby | Oakland, CA | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Blue Ridge Rollergirls | Asheville, NC | United States | 2017 [lower-alpha 1] |
Calgary Roller Derby Association | Calgary, AB | Canada | 2017 |
Charlottesville Derby Dames | Charlottesville, VA | United States | 2015, 2017 |
Charm City Roller Girls | Baltimore, MD | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 |
Crime City Rollers | Malmö | Sweden | 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Dallas Derby Devils | Dallas, TX | United States | 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Denver Roller Derby | Denver, CO | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Detroit Roller Derby | Detroit, MI | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Gotham Girls Roller Derby | New York, NY | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Helsinki Roller Derby | Helsinki | Finland | 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Houston Roller Derby | Houston, TX | United States | 2013, 2014, 2017 |
Jacksonville RollerGirls | Jacksonville, FL | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Kallio Rolling Rainbow | Helsinki | Finland | 2016, 2017 |
London Rollergirls | London | England | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Mad Rollin' Dolls | Madison, WI | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Minnesota RollerGirls | Saint Paul, MN | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Montreal Roller Derby | Montreal, QC | Canada | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Philly Roller Derby | Philadelphia, PA | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Queen City Roller Girls | Buffalo, NY | United States | 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Rainy City Roller Derby | Manchester | England | 2016, 2017 |
Rat City Roller Derby | Seattle, WA | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Rocky Mountain Rollergirls | Denver, CO | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 [lower-alpha 1] |
Rose City Rollers | Portland, OR | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Santa Cruz Derby Girls | Santa Cruz, CA | United States | 2014, 2016, 2017 |
Stockholm Roller Derby | Stockholm | Sweden | 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Tampa Roller Derby | Tampa, FL | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Terminal City Rollergirls | Vancouver, BC | Canada | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Texas Rollergirls | Austin, TX | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Victorian Roller Derby League | Melbourne, VIC | Australia | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Wasatch Roller Derby | Salt Lake City, UT | United States | 2013, 2014, 2017 |
Windy City Rollers | Chicago, IL | United States | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
The initial Division 1 membership list for 2013 was based upon the team's rankings as of June 30, 2012. [2] The 2014 Division 1 membership list was announced on 9 December 2013, based on the overall rankings that took effect as of 30 November 2013. [7] [8] The same methodology was employed in 2014, and membership of Division 1 that year mostly comprised teams from the United States, but also Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Eight teams which were original members dropped out of Division 1 membership at the conclusion of the 2013 WFTDA season. [9] Since then, additional teams have dropped out of Division 1.
Starting in 2015, division assignments were announced based on June 30 rankings, and in-division gameplay requirements were removed. [3] As the annual June 30 rankings now determines Playoff position, and as the divisional definition is only used for playoff assignments, [3] the rankings as of June 30, 2016 determine Division 1 membership. [10] Membership includes all teams that are eligible for Division 1 Playoffs, even if a team declines their invitation to Playoffs, as well as teams ranked beyond the usual Division 1 cutoff who are invited due to higher-ranked teams not competing. Teams that do not meet minimum gameplay requirements are ineligible to receive a Playoffs invitation and therefore not included as Division 1 members. In 2016 Division 1 also included members from Finland and Sweden.
Prior to 2015, [7] teams in Division 1 played in bouts through the year, aiming to qualify for one of the four Division 1 Playoffs. Each Playoff includes ten teams. However, Division 1 teams are not guaranteed a playoff spot, as teams in lower divisions can qualify by being ranked among the top forty WFTDA members. Additionally, teams which do not play a minimum number of sanctioned bouts are not permitted to compete at the Playoffs, [2] with Division 1 teams required to play at least 4 WFTDA-sanctioned bouts following the previous year's championship and the current year's June 30, with at least 3 of those being against other D1 teams. [11]
After 2015, in-division gameplay requirements for playoff consideration were dropped, leaving the June 30 rankings as the sole determinant of division eligibility. [2]
All four of the 2013 Playoffs were played in the United States. The top three teams from each Playoff qualify for the WFTDA Championships, and the London Rollergirls became the first ever non-U.S. team to achieve this. [12] The Oly Rollers, who on June 30, 2013 were ranked 3rd overall, chose not to compete in the required minimum sanctioned games, with the full knowledge they would miss the WFTDA tournaments as a result. [13] Oly still remains a member of the WFTDA and could have qualified for 2014 WFTDA playoffs if they met their requirements. [13]
Location | Dates | Champions | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fort Wayne, IN | 6-8 September 2013 | Denver Roller Dolls | Ohio Rollergirls | London Rollergirls |
Richmond, VA | 13-15 September 2013 | Texas Rollergirls | Philly Roller Girls | Angel City Derby Girls |
Asheville, NC | 20-22 September 2013 | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls | Windy City Rollers |
Salem, OR | 27-29 September 2013 | B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls | Atlanta Rollergirls | Rat City Rollergirls |
All four of the 2014 Playoff tournaments were again played in the United States, and again the top three teams from each tournament qualified for the 2014 WFTDA Championships.
Location | Dates | Champions | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sacramento, CA [14] | 5-7 September 2014 | Gotham Girls Roller Derby [15] | Denver Roller Dolls | Minnesota Rollergirls [16] |
Evansville, IN [17] | 19-21 September 2014 | London Rollergirls [18] | Windy City Rollers | Texas Rollergirls |
Salt Lake City, UT [19] | 26-28 September 2014 | B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls [20] | Angel City Derby Girls | Rocky Mountain Rollergirls |
Charleston, WV [21] | 3-5 October 2014 | Rose City Rollers [22] | Victorian Roller Derby League [23] | Philly Roller Girls |
The same format was used for the 2015 Playoffs. [24]
Location | Dates | Champions | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tucson, AZ | 4–6 September 2015 | Victorian Roller Derby League | B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls | Arch Rival Roller Girls |
Dallas, TX | 11–13 September 2015 | Rose City Rollers | Texas Rollergirls | Rat City Rollergirls |
Jacksonville, FL | 18–20 September 2015 | London Rollergirls | Jacksonville RollerGirls | Denver Roller Derby |
Omaha, NE | 2–4 October 2015 | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | Angel City Derby Girls | Minnesota RollerGirls |
The 2016 Division 1 Playoffs followed the same format as previous years, once again distributing the qualifying teams using an S-curve seeding structure. [25] For the first time, two of the Division 1 tournaments were held outside the United States, both in Canada: the first in Montreal, hosted by Montreal Roller Derby, [26] and the second in Vancouver, hosted by Terminal City Rollergirls. [27] Montreal Roller Derby became the first Canadian team to qualify for the Division 1 Championship by placing third at their own tournament in September. [28]
Location | Dates | Champions | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Montreal, QC [29] | 2–4 September 2016 | London Rollergirls | Texas Rollergirls | Montreal Roller Derby |
Columbia, SC [30] | 9–11 September 2016 | Rose City Rollers | Denver Roller Derby | Jacksonville RollerGirls |
Vancouver, BC [31] | 16–18 September 2016 | Victorian Roller Derby League | Angel City Derby Girls | Rat City Rollergirls |
Madison, WI [32] | 23–25 September 2016 | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | Arch Rival Roller Derby | Minnesota RollerGirls |
A new structure was announced for 2017, whereby Division 1 membership was reduced to the top 36 eligible teams, to be spread over three Playoff tournaments with 12 teams each; the top four teams from each playoff will advance to Championships. [1] The 2017 Division 1 Playoffs were held in Seattle, Washington September 1–3, Malmö, Sweden September 8–10, and Dallas, Texas September 22–24, feeding into the 2017 Championships in Philadelphia. [33] The participating teams were announced on July 14, 2017. [34]
Location | Dates | Champions | Second | Third | Fourth |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seattle, WA [35] | 1–3 September 2017 | Rose City Rollers | Angel City Derby Girls | Montreal Roller Derby | Rat City Rollergirls |
Malmö, SWE [36] | 8–10 September 2017 | Gotham Girls Roller Derby | Denver Roller Derby | London Rollergirls | Crime City Rollers |
Dallas, TX [37] | 22–24 September 2017 | Victorian Roller Derby League | Texas Rollergirls | Arch Rival Roller Derby | Minnesota RollerGirls |
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is the international governing body for the sport of women's flat track roller derby. It sets the international standards for rankings, rules, and competition in the sport, and provides guidance and resources to aid development of roller derby.
Rat City Roller Derby is a women's flat-track roller derby league in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2004 as Rat City Rollergirls, LLC, the league has incorporated alternative cultural influences, and has inspired and mentored other leagues. Rat City is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), and has achieved success on the WFTDA stage, qualifying for WFTDA Playoffs every season, including a second-place finish in the 2007 WFTDA Championships.
Santa Cruz Roller Derby (SCRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league in Santa Cruz, California. The first female, amateur flat-track roller derby league in Santa Cruz, SCRD is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Texas Rollergirls is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Austin, Texas. Founded in early 2003 and widely credited as the league that started the modern roller derby movement, the Texas Rollergirls were the first flat-track league in the nation to play a version of roller derby using new standardized rules and a track design based on the dimensions of the old banked tracks. As flat-track derby caught on in other American cities, the Texas Rollergirls' rulebook and track design eventually evolved into the specifications that were adopted and ratified upon formation of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) in 2005, of which Texas is a founding member.
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Madison Roller Derby (MRD), founded as "Mad Rollin' Dolls", is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 2004, Madison is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), and was the fourth league to join the fledgling organization. Since 2006, Madison has qualified for the WFTDA post-season every year, including three appearances at WFTDA Championships.
London Roller Derby is a flat track roller derby league and a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The league were founding members of the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association (UKRDA).
Denver Roller Derby (DRD) is a flat-track roller derby league based in Denver, Colorado. The league was founded in December 2005. Denver Roller Derby is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), joining in December 2007 as Denver Roller Dolls. In January 2015, the league changed its name to Denver Roller Derby.
Arizona Roller Derby is Arizona's first all female roller derby league. It was founded in 2003 making it one of the oldest resurgence roller derby leagues in America. Arizona Roller Derby, abbreviated as AZRD, is one of the founding members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.
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