The Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 2 (WFTDA Division 2) was the second-highest level of play in women's flat track roller derby from 2013 through 2017. Comprising different structures over that time, in early 2018 the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) announced it was replacing the Division 2 Playoffs with geographically-based Continental Cups, the structure and quantity of which is expected to adjust and possibly expand over time. [1]
Historically, the WFTDA divided member leagues into four geographical 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]
For 2013 and 2014, the division consisted of the members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association who were ranked from 41 to 100. The rankings were set at the start of each year, based on performance over the previous year. Although rankings are updated during the year, teams would only transfer between divisions at the start of each year. Teams in Division 2 played in bouts through the year, aiming to qualify for one of the end-of-year playoff tournaments. Any Division 2 teams which were ranked in the WFTDA's top forty at the end of June each year qualified for the WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs. Those ranked between 41 and 60, which might have included WFTDA Division 3 teams who met sanctioned-game play requirements, qualified for one of the two Division 2 Playoffs.
Starting with 2015, sanctioned-game play requirements were modified to be simply any four 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 did not play a minimum number of sanctioned bouts were not permitted to compete at the Playoffs. [2] Eligible teams ranked 41-60 as of June of the calendar year remained eligible for Division 2 Playoffs. If a team that meets eligibility requirements declines their invitation, the teams ranked next beyond 60 fill available spots so that 20 teams still take part. [4]
Starting with 2017, the system was restructured to place the top 36 teams in the WFTDA in Division 1, with teams ranked 37 through 52 qualifying for a single, 16-team Division 2 Playoff tournament and championship. [5] The 2017 tournament was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted by Steel City Roller Derby. [5]
The 2017 Division 2 member list was announced by the WFTDA on July 14. [6] [7] Two eligible leagues, Sun State Roller Girls of Brisbane, Australia and Sac City Rollers of Sacramento, California both declined, [8] and combined with other higher ranked teams either declining or not meeting eligibility requirements, allowed teams as low as #58 Dublin Roller Derby to participate. As a result, the table below features 18 teams, including the two that declined participating in the Pittsburgh Playoffs and Championship.
The initial Division 1 membership list for 2013 was based upon the team's rankings as of June 30, 2012. [9] The 2014 Division 2 membership list was announced on 9 December 2013, based on the overall rankings that took effect as of 30 November 2013. [10] [11] The membership of Division 2 in 2014 mostly comprised teams from the United States, but also three from Canada and two from Scotland. From 2013-14, membership comprised teams ranked 41-100 overall per those year's specified dates.
With Division 2 game play requirements abandoned starting with the 2015 season, membership currently denotes teams that meet gameplay requirements and thus eligibility for that year's Division 2 Playoffs, and includes teams who declined Playoff invitations, along with higher-ranked teams that competed. [3] The 2015 membership list was derived from that year's June 30 rankings. [12] The 2016 Division 2 member list was announced by the WFTDA on July 15 of that year. [13] Two eligible leagues, Auld Reekie Roller Girls of Edinburgh and Paradise City Roller Derby of Gold Coast, Australia both declined, allowing #61 Grand Raggidy Roller Girls and #62 Carolina Rollergirls to take part. [4]
Both of the 2013 Playoff tournaments were played in the United States.
Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Des Moines, IA | 16-18 August 2013 | Jet City Rollergirls | Blue Ridge Rollergirls | Treasure Valley Rollergirls |
Kalamazoo, MI | 23-25 August 2013 | Santa Cruz Derby Girls | Sac City Rollers | Killamazoo Derby Darlins |
2013 Championship
Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Milwaukee, WI | 8-10 November, 2013 [14] | Jet City Rollergirls | Santa Cruz Derby Girls | Blue Ridge Rollergirls |
The first 2014 Playoff tournament was held in Duluth, Minnesota, [15] and the second was held in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, the first WFTDA Playoff tournament to be held outside the United States. [16] At Kitchener-Waterloo, the Rideau Valley Roller Girls from Ottawa, Ontario became the first non-American team to win a WFTDA playoff tournament. [17]
Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Duluth, MN | 15-17 August 2014 | Detroit Derby Girls [18] | Fabulous Sin City Rollergirls | St. Chux Derby Chix |
Kitchener-Waterloo, ON | 22-24 August 2014 | Rideau Valley Roller Girls [19] [17] | Bear City Roller Derby | Killamazoo Derby Darlins |
2014 Championship
Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nashville, TN | 31 October - 2 November, 2014 | Detroit Derby Girls [20] | Rideau Valley Roller Girls | Bear City Roller Derby |
Both 2015 Playoffs were held in the United States. [21]
Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cleveland, OH | 21-23 August 2015 | Kansas City Roller Warriors | Demolition City Roller Derby | Santa Cruz Derby Girls |
Detroit, MI | 28-30 August 2015 | Nashville Rollergirls | Sacred City Derby Girls | Naptown Roller Girls |
2015 Championship
Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Saint Paul, MN | 6-8 November 2015 | Sacred City Derby Girls | Nashville Rollergirls | Demolition City Roller Derby |
Both 2016 Playoffs were again held in the United States. [22]
Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wichita, KS [23] | 19-21 August 2016 | Brandywine Roller Derby | Blue Ridge Rollergirls | Jet City Rollergirls |
Lansing, MI [24] | 26-28 August 2016 | Calgary Roller Derby Association | Charlottesville Derby Dames | Charm City Roller Girls |
2016 Championship
Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Portland, OR | 4-6 November 2016 | Blue Ridge Rollergirls [25] | Brandywine Roller Derby | Calgary Roller Derby Association [26] |
Playoffs and Championship In 2017, the Playoffs were combined into a single two-track tournament in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with the Division 2 championship awarded at its conclusion. [27]
Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh, PA | 18-20 August 2017 | Boston Roller Derby [28] | Paris Rollergirls [28] | Naptown Roller Derby [28] |
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is the international governing body for the sport of women's flat track roller derby, and association of leagues around the world. The organization was founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Coalition (ULC), but was renamed in November 2005. It is registered in Raleigh, North Carolina as a 501(c)(6) business league organization, a type of nonprofit organization.
Tucson Roller Derby (TRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league located in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in late 2003, Tucson Roller Derby is a skater-run non-profit organization and hosts monthly roller derby competitions showcasing bouts involving the various teams in the league, often against other leagues in Arizona, and also teams from national derby leagues. A founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), Tucson was the host league for the first WFTDA Championships in 2006.
Minnesota Roller Derby (MNRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. Founded in August 2004 as Minnesota RollerGirls by the Donnelly sisters, MNRD was one of the first 30 members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) by early 2006. Today the league has over 80 skaters playing on four home teams as well as their All-Star team, which has qualified for WFTDA Playoffs every year since its inception.
Calgary Roller Derby is a not-for-profit women's flat-track roller derby league based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Calgary Roller Derby is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Santa Cruz Derby Girls (SCDG) 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, Santa Cruz Derby Girls is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The Dallas Derby Devils (DDD) is an all-female flat track roller derby league in Dallas, Texas and surrounding area of Ft. Worth, Texas. Founded in November 2004, the Dallas Derby Devils is the original North Texas roller derby league with a current roster of over one hundred active skaters, making DDD one of the largest flat track derby leagues in the south United States. The Dallas Derby Devils are an original member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Jacksonville Roller Derby is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Jacksonville, Florida, (USA). Originally formed as the First Coast Fatales, the league became Jacksonville RollerGirls in 2007, and changed to its current name in 2018. The league has been a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) since December 2010.
Boston Roller Derby, (BRD), is a flat-track roller derby league based in Boston, Massachusetts. The league was founded as Boston Derby Dames in May 2005, and is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The league's all-star team, the Boston Massacre, was one of the top 25 WFTDA Division 1 teams in the world through most of the duration of the divisional ranking system introduced in early 2013, and as of December 31, 2015, the Massacre was ranked at 21. Boston won the WFTDA Division 2 Championship in 2017 and the North America East Continental Cup in 2018.
The Oly Rollers are a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Olympia, Washington. Founded in February 2006, the Oly Rollers have won both the WFTDA Championship and the USARS National Championship. The Oly Rollers are a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Detroit Roller Derby (DRD) is a women's flat-track roller derby league based in Detroit, Michigan. The league was formed as Detroit Derby Girls in January 2005 and held their first bouts in February 2006. In November 2016, the league announced it had officially changed its name to Detroit Roller Derby. Detroit Roller Derby is a founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Auld Reekie Roller Derby (ARRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded in 2008, ARRD was the first Scottish Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) member. The league aims to create teams with the ability to compete locally and internationally at the highest levels.
Demolition City Roller Derby (DCRD) is a women's flat-track roller derby league in Evansville, Indiana, and is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Tri-City Roller Derby is a women's flat-track roller derby league in Kitchener, Ontario. On December 1, 2010, Tri-City became the third Canadian roller derby league to be granted membership in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, Having only completed two full home seasons, Tri-City gained membership status with WFTDA ahead of their Toronto-based sisters at Toronto Roller Derby.
The Blue Ridge Rollergirls (BRRG) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Asheville, North Carolina. Founded in 2006, Blue Ridge held its first competitive season in 2007, joined the WFTDA Apprentice Program in 2010, and became a full member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) in March 2012.
The International Women's Flat Track Derby Association Championships are the leading competition for roller derby leagues.
Sacramento Roller Derby is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Sacramento, California. Originally two separate leagues founded in 2006, Sac City Rollers and Sacred City Derby Girls, who mutually announced a pending merger in late 2017, and then on January 1, 2018, announced a rebrand of the merged organization as Sacramento Roller Derby. Sacramento is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 1 is the highest level of play in women's flat track roller derby.
Ann Arbor Roller Derby (A2RD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 2010, the league consists of two travel teams, The Brawlstars and the Arbor Bruising Co., which compete against teams from other leagues, as well as a home team, The Ypsilanti Vigilantes. Ann Arbor is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Des Moines Roller Derby (DMRD), formerly known as Team United Roller Derby (TURD), is a flat track roller derby league located in Des Moines, Iowa. It consists of two travel teams: a WFTDA charter team, and an Open Division all gender team. DMRD is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
Paradise City Roller Derby was a women's flat track roller derby league based in Burleigh, Queensland, Australia. Founded in 2013, the league consisted of two teams, which competed against teams from other leagues, and was a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). 2017 was the league's last active year.