Non-US/Canadian Derby Roundup:31st Mar/1st Apr Edition
Predictions of bouts are from FTS, if possible, and from our own SRD Rank where FTS cannot make predictions (for example: Latin America, or non-MRDA men’s bouts). (SRDRank also has recent WFTDA rankings, including the 31st June ranking, as well as SRDRank, and allows you to make predictions from them.)
If we’ve missed you from our roundup, please let us know! [Or add yourselves to FTS and/or Derbylisting]
Scotland
There's not many events in Scotland this week, but both of them are excellent things to attend (and there's some more Scottish derby down in England, too).- Fri, Dundee,Scotland,United Kingdom: Dundee Roller Girls host another of their Friday Open Scrims, this one is WFTDA-gender-policy (and referees and NSOs are also welcome) [EVENT]
- Sat, Aberdeen,Scotland,United Kingdom: Granite City Roller Derby host their first double-header of the season [EVENT]
- Rising Stars of Scottish Roller Derby bout [mashup teams from across Scotland, including Elgin and Orkney]
- Granite City Roller Derby Home Teams bout
United Kingdom
British Champs is taking the weekend off for Easter... but there's still a bunch of Roller Derby happening, with bootcamps and double- and triple-headers across the country.- Thurs, Cardiff,Wales,United Kingdom: Tiger Bay Brawlers' Learn to Skate course continues (started 8th March) [EVENT]
- Thurs, Durham,England,United Kingdom: Durham City Rolling Angels host their March Open Scrim Night (WFTDA-gender-policy this month) [EVENT]
- Fri, Oldham,England,United Kingdom: Rainy City Roller Derby host their regular New Skater Night [EVENT]
- Sat, Cardiff,Wales,United Kingdom: Tiger Bay Brawlers host a double header against Birmingham's Central City Rollergirls [EVENT]
- Sat, Kent,England,United Kingdom: Kent Roller Girls host a bout against Essex's Killa Hurtz Roller Derby [FTS][EVENT]
- Sat, London,England,United Kingdom: Rescheduled from earlier in the year, Team Unicorn host a bootcamp coached by Rogue Runner of Team England and London Rollergirls (this bootcamp is sold out) [EVENT]
- Sat, Manchester,England,United Kingdom: Manchester Roller Derby are hosting a fundraising Easter Roller Disco, with fancy dress and easter eggs! [EVENT]
- Sat, Newcastle Upon Tyne,England,United Kingdom: Tyne and Fear Roller Derby host a triple header of roller derby present Triple Header - Inglorious BStars, Barrow Infernos & Glasgow [EVENT]
- Inglorious B
- Inglorious B*Stars versus Glasgow Men's Roller Derby [FTS]
- Barrow Infernos versus Glasgow Men's Roller Derby [FTS]
Europe
As seems to be a pattern, there's a huge amount of Roller Derby happening in France this weekend - not just Championnat de France Nationale 2 fixtures, but equally large tournaments (Slip It!), bootcamps, and other events.- Fri, Göteborg,Götaland,Sweden: Gothenburg Salty Seamen host what they claim is "Gothenburg's First Roller Disco"! This has an under-18s and over-18s section, divided in time. [EVENT]
- Sat, Brussels, Belgium: Team Belgium Men's Roller Derby host an open subscription scrimmage for their last practice before the Men's Roller Derby World Cup. [EVENT]
- Sat/Sun, Caen,Basse-Normandie,France: Roller Derby Caen host the 5th edition of their yearly SLIP IT! Tournament - a round-robin with 5 teams (and hence 10 games) [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Royal Windsor Rollergirls (Windsor, UK) versus GO-GO Gent Roller Derby
- Roller Derby Caen versus Copenhagen Roller Derby
- Royal Windsor Rollergirls versus London Rockin' Rollers
- GO-GO Gent Roller Derby versus Roller Derby Caen
- Copenhagen Roller Derby versus London Rockin' Rollers
- Royal Windsor Rollergirls versus Copenhagen Roller Derby
- Roller Derby Caen versus London Rockin' Rollers
- GO-GO Gent versus Copenhagen Roller Derby
- Royal Windsor Rollergirls versus Roller Derby Caen
- GO-GO Gent versus London Rockin' Rollers
- Sat/Sun, La Rochelle,Poitou-Charentes,France: Roller Derby La Rochelle hosts the next Championnat de France de Roller Derby, Nationale 2 division fixtures [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Spring Blocks (Mérignac) versus Valient Bitchiz (Anglet)
- Silly Geez (Tours) versus Douleur Angevine (Angers)
- Hell'R Cheeky Dolls (La Rochelle) versus Divines Machine (Nantes)
- Silly Geez versus Valient Bitchiz
- Hell'R Cheeky Dolls versus Spring Blocks
- Sat/Sun, Montpellier,Languedoc-Roussillon,France: Montpellier Derby Club (DCCLM) host a "Bootcamp Made in France". This two-day bootcamp has 20 spaces for Jammers - coached by Equipe de France (F) skater and Nothing Toulouse skater+coach Missy Hammer - and 20 for Blockers - coached by QuadGuards skater and coach and Equipe de France (M) skater AssHelloff [EVENT]
- SatSun, Perpignan,Languedoc-Roussillon,France: Coccyx Lexis Roller Derby present Destroying the Pâques - two days of Roller Derby in two different formats [EVENT]
- Saturday: Le Terrier (Avignon, mixed gender) versus Els Segadors (Perpignan, mixed gender)
- Sunday: Mini tournament (30 minute bouts?) "La Trophée Chocolatine".
-
Green is the New Block (Pibrac B?) versus Rainbow Furies (Toulouse C)
-
Full Metal Punkettes (Tarbes) versus Head Hunters (Narbonne)
-
B-Bones (Nimes B) versus Les Dégoupilleuses (Pamiers)
-
Coccyx Lexis (Perpignan) versus Bloody Patchol's (Albi)
-
Block Busters (Montpellier B?) versus Rainbow Furies
-
Green is the New Block versus Full Metal Punkettes
-
Head Hunters versus Bloody Patchol's
-
B-Bones versus Block Busters
-
Les Dégoupilleuses versus Rainbow Furies
-
Coccyx Lexis versus Green is the New Block
-
Full Metal Punkettes versus Block Busters
-
Bloody Patchol's versus B-Bones
-
- Sat, Dublin,Leinster,Ireland: Dublin Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Sun, Marseille,Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur,France: Marseille Roller Derby Club host a 1-day Bootcamp coached by Mick Swagger (Blockers) and Mary Fagdalene (Jammers) as part of their coaching tour.[EVENT]
- Sun, Seynod,Rhône-Alpes,France: Roller Derby Annecy host a triple header round robin: Queen Of The Lake 2 [EVENT]
- Sun, Wuppertal,Nordrhein-Westfalen,Germany: Psycho Dolls Roller Derby and Red Lion Roller Derby are hosting an Osterscrimmage ("Easter Scrimmage") - three open subscription scrims [EVENT]
- Rookie scrim
- Advanced scrim
- "Co-ed" Scrim (we assume Open To All genders)
- Sun, Galway,Connaught,Ireland: Galway City Roller Derby's Freshmeat Course continues. [EVENT]
- Monday, Dublin?, Ireland: The Irish Roller Derby Association is holding an open "Strategic Plan Presentation" day, to allow the Irish Roller Derby community to participate and feedback on their plans for the future. This event currently has no confirmed location, as presumably this depends on numbers expected. [EVENT]
Pacific
The biggest thing in the Pacific region this weekend has to be The Pacific Invitational in Brisbane.- Thurs, Hobart,Tasmania,Australia: South Island Sirens' Quad Fit, fitness and roller derby course continues [EVENT]
- Thurs, Latrobe Valley,Victoria,Australia: Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby's Traralgon Program 2018 continues. [EVENT]
- Thurs, Tauranga,Bay of Plenty,New Zealand: Moana Roller Derby host another of their Open Skate Sessions, open to All Genders, and 16+. For anyone interested in trying out skating, or roller derby. [EVENT]
- Sat/Sun, Brisbane,Queensland,Australia: Sun State Roller Girls host The Pacific Invitational 2018, which is WFTDA-Sanctioned for the first time this year. [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Public bouts:
- Sun State Roller Girls versus Pirate City Rollers (Auckland A)
- Sun State Roller Girls versus Adeladies (Adelaide A)
- Sun State Roller Girls versus Pirate City Rollers (Auckland A) [yes, a second time]
- Closed bouts:
- Adeladies versus Pirate City Rollers
- Public bouts:
- Sat, Preston,Victoria,Australia: Victorian Roller Derby League host a double header "friends and family" day[EVENT]
- VRDL "Top 30 Mashup" bout.
- Victorian Roller Derby League versus Northside Rollers [FTS?]
- Sun, Ballarat,Victoria,Australia: Ballarat Roller Derby League apparently are hosting the ongoing 2018 Roller Skate Fit Club [EVENT]
- Sun, Newcastle,New South Wales,Australia: Newcastle Junior Roller Derby still have Soy Wax Candles for sale to raise funds for travel. [EVENT]
- Mon, Palmerston North,Manawatu-Wanganui,New Zealand: Swamp City Roller Derby's Roller Derby Beginners Course continues [EVENT]
Latin America
Latin America sees a couple of bouts this weekend.- Thurs, Rosario,Santa Fe,Argentina: Rosario Roller Derby continue their Empezá Roller Derby (Try Roller Derby) open evenings [EVENT]
- Friday, Jujuy y Plata,Tucuman,Argentina: With exceptionally late notice, Rayo Naranja Roller Derby advertise a training session / minibootcamp with José Sanchez, of Seleccion Argentina de Roller Derby Masculino [EVENT]
- Sat, Córdoba, Argentina: Hiedras Roller Derby host a triple header "triangle tournament" [EVENT]
- Sat, Rio de Janeiro,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil: Sugar Loathe Roller Derby host WonderClan from Buenos Aires, Argentina for a bout [EVENT]
- Sugar Loathe Roller Derby (Rio) versus WonderClan (Buenos Aires) [FTS]
- Sun, Salta,Salta,Argentina: Malditas Lisiadas host (with very late notice) some kind of bout or bouts (less than detailed event so far) [EVENT]
- Mon, Bogotá , Colombia: Rock N Roller Queens hold their recruitment day. [No event, just flyer]
Africa and Middle East
There's only a little bit of activity in Africa and the Middle East this weekend.- Thurs, Pretoria,Gauteng,South Africa: P-Town Roller Derby are hosting their regular Roller Derby Funskate, open to anyone who wants to join in (and potentially try roller derby, too) [EVENT]
- Fri, Dubai,Dubai,United Arab Emirates: Dubai Roller Derby continue in their series of outreach activities with an Outdoor Skate on the District One Cycling Track. [EVENT]
- This is followed by a Roller Derby Brunch on the same day [EVENT]
Roller Derby and Open, Consensus Software
It seems that "What do you use to manage your league?" is one of the most repeated questions in Roller Derby circles. (We've seen at least three versions of this topic raised in the last couple of months...)
Sadly, one of the most common answers is: "we use Facebook because getting people to use something else is really hard". This is true, of course: Facebook's entire raison d'etre is selling access to its community to advertisers, so it's extremely good at finding ways to stop that community leaving it. The problem is that Facebook is also fairly terrible at being a system for managing a league - finding things which didn't happen in the last few days is very hard, and there's few good tools for decision making or project planning. Additionally, Facebook's policy decisions, in general, are at the whims of their management; the history of Facebook's changes to its social content to improve the advertising revenue, at the cost of service to the user community, is telling. Facebook Events are a pretty good solution for promoting public events - and they're better than the features in most other social networking sites - but only if your target audience is also on Facebook.
And that's the other part of the rub: despite Facebook's best efforts, not everyone has an account on it. Increasingly, especially younger, people - the people your league wants to recruit to grow - are either using other social networks (Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat), or not using social networks at all (just communication tools like WhatsApp). All social networking services "age out" after a while, and becoming dependant on a particular social network for running your league gives you a built-in sell-by date.
As we've previously noted, there's a lot of ethical and philosophical overlap between Roller Derby culture - "For the X, by the X", regardless of if "X" is "Skater", "Member", or otherwise - and the various open culture and consensus democracy movements on the Internet. Luckily, those movements also have built a lot of software for helping organise the various issues communities face...
We're going to break down the (software) problems of managing a league (or an NGB, which is really a community of leagues) into a few sections:
Project Management (page 2) - the core aspect of running any community with goals - managing who is responsible for them, and how things are going. Consensus decision making (page 3) - making decisions that your community can own. Real-time Communication (page 4) - bringing your community into contact with each other, transparently, in discussion. Event Calendaring (page 5) - keeping track of time, especially to promote your events to the public.
We're not going to talk about "sports club" specific software here, although it does exist. Mostly those tools cover the items on page 2 - Project Management - with a sports-themed emphasis.
Community Task Management : Taiga, Podio
The most important thing that a community with tasks to accomplish needs is a way to track and manage all the responsibilities for making those tasks happen. This is such a common requirement for any community - be it a sporting group, a software development team, a newspaper or a political party, a FTSE100 company... - that there are countless solutions which address this space. Some of these solutions are tied to particular "styles" of project management, and some are more free-form.As with all of the other solutions in this article, we're going to talk about "hosted" solutions - software which runs on someone else's servers, where they're responsible for all the data you give them - and "self-hosted" solutions - where you run your own service, on servers which you own [this can be actual physical machines, or services in "the cloud"], where you have more control, but also need more technically skilled people to run things.
Currently, one of the most popular hosted solutions for project management is Podio. As well as project management, Podio tries to be a kitchen-sink solution - also rolling in forums, voting systems and document management - and offers a free trial option (for small teams < 5 members), and a series of paid options (paid per member). We've not used Podio much in anger, but, as with many project management tools with "extras", it seems that the core project management is much better than the things bolted on to it.
There are very many free, or open-source solutions in this space as well - open-source communities also need to manage their own tasks, and tend to write their own tools to do so! Out of these options, we currently favour Taiga. Taiga is more focussed on the task-management aspect of things (although it does do many of the things Podio offers in addition), and prefers solutions in the "agile development" space, which encourages breaking projects up into rapid, incremental goals to allow a team to adapt to changing circumstances. Taiga offers both hosted solutions (free for public projects, paid per member for private projects), and also supports self-hosting - the source code is completely free, so anyone can run their own Taiga server. The Taiga team also have a handy guide to project management, and Taiga, here: https://taiga.pm/
Taiga and Podio both offer mobile-phone Apps for phone-friendly access, as well as the desktop friendly web interface.
Other good solutions, depending on the Project Management paradigm you like, include Trello and Wrike (both hosted services), and Orchard Collaboration (an open-source, self-hosted solution). There are also several app-only services aimed specifically at running sports clubs, but these seem to be vexingly limited and are usually pay-only. One of the best of the sports club solutions seems to be TeamStuff, which, despite being a hosted closed-source solution, does have a free option with most of the features you'd want.
Forward to: Consensus decision making (page 3) Real-time Communication (page 4) Event Calendaring (page 5)
Community Consensus : Loomio
In order to drive your community's priorities, you need to make decisions which involve your whole community. Hierarchical cultures will make decisions from "on top", whilst more open, "democratic", communities will involve the membership in all decisions, from "bottom up". The project management software from the previous page will often allow for both styles, but tend to focus on adversarial voting systems to do "democracy".Generally, the best approaches to community decision making tend to be Consensus, not direct voting; approaches whereby the community negotiates a mutually acceptable solution for any given problem, collaboratively, rather than adversarially. Consensus approaches for government are pretty widespread in many cultures in the world, from the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) through to the Religious Society of Friends (the Quakers). They've not caught on as much in Western-style mainstream politics, where adversarial voting systems are more common, and the "minority loses absolutely" mindset can be difficult to shake, even when relatively minor compromises could improve solutions for everyone. Majority votes easily split communities, and can be a big source of frustrations and feelings of disenfranchisement for those in the minority (especially if that minority is large, or if the "majority" is less than 50% itself)*. We know that many leagues adopt consensus style systems to make decisions - but many also don't, and it's definitely worth considering them if your league uses adversarial voting and has strong tensions due to minority votes.
If you want to use software to help you make decisions by consensus, then you will probably need to use a separate service to your project management solution.
An example proposal, responses, and the top of its discussion thread from Loomio.
The best Consensus decision-making application we're aware of is Loomio. A product of the Occupy movement, and run by a self-owned community, Loomio provides both a hosted option (you can sign up for accounts on the Loomio website and use it right away, with free and paid options - including a very discounted paid option for non-profits), and also options for hosting your own copy on your own servers (the code is, of course, entirely open-source, and therefore compatible with the community spirit of roller derby). Loomio has become increasingly widely-used by communities at all scale, even national governments - the Welsh Assembly, for example.
Loomio also provides mobile-phone friendly interfaces to allow you to interact easily on whatever device you have, although there's no "App" per se.
(You can read about how the Loomio Collective embodies the same spirit as Roller Derby does, and the way they structure themselves to support this in their freely available handbook: https://loomio.coop/ , and read their free, and open-source guide to Consensus and Facilitation here: https://www.loomio.school/)
Back to: Project Management (page 2) Forward to: Real-time Communication (page 4) Event Calendaring (page 5)
*This is as true in countries as it is in smaller communities - we're sure readers can point at several contentious political decisions in the recent past where "narrow victories" led to the absolute acceptance of the "winning" position with no compromise, and resulting anger from all sides.
Community Communication : Mattermost, Riot.IM
Every community benefits from a place to just, well, communicate. Whilst Loomio, and project management tools, all provide a way to discuss things, modern communities are used to freeform, rapid, social messaging. (Ironically, this also used to be the case with earlier internet cultures, who used IRC for precisely this, so this is something of a re-invention of an old concept.) Having one of these communication services absolutely is not a replacement for a proper decision making system, or a project management tool - for the same reason that Facebook is awful for project management: finding things in a long, stream of consciousness history, 6 months later, is almost impossible. However, rapid communication is definitely essential "in the moment", and to bind together your other services with your community itself.Whilst the current "mainstream" solution for real-time comms seems to be Slack, that product has several limitations which make it less than ideal for large volunteer communities. For a start, Slack is closed-source; and there's no way to run your own separate version of the service - all your data is on Slack's servers, and subject to Slack's rules. Additionally, the balance of features between the Free and Paid tiers of service is not particularly good, especially regarding retention of logs - it's very easy to hit the "max 10,000" messages limit and then start losing your league's history of communication. Finally, because of that very closed-source, hosted-only solution, Slack has the balance of power in your relationship with it - very recently, they've started turning off features which allow you more flexibility in using their service, as part of the usual pattern to achieve vendor lock-in in the tech industry. Having to rely on your service being a good-guy, all the time, is not a good place to be.
Luckily, the open-source movement has our backs, and there are many alternatives to Slack which are just as good, if not better, ethically and performance-wise. We will only mention two here, as examples of the rest of the field.
Mattermost provide a Slack-like series of options (free, paid, and "even more expensive paid"), but you need to host your own server running the software. Of course, the free version of Mattermost is open-source, and does not have most of the limits of the free version of Slack.
Riot.IM provide a hosted solution which is currently totally free for every feature (they are planning paid hosted options, but it's been a year without any appearing); they're also a completely open-source solution which you can host yourself. [Technically, Riot.IM is a front-end to a messaging system called Matrix, which is also open-source and free.] At present, the "free" Riot.IM hosted instance seems to be having some performance problems, but we believe that this is temporary.
A test room in Riot.IM (all of these chat systems look near identical, and much like chat systems always have done since the 1990s).
Both Mattermost and Riot.IM support Slack-compatible "integrations" - allowing your Loomio consensus discussions, and your project management tool, to send notifications and messages to your chat rooms, reminding your community of decisions to be made, or tasks which need to be performed. (The Loomio integration even lets you respond directly from the notification!) With both sets of integrations turned on, your chat channel can be the social "glue" which binds your decision making and your project management together. Mattermost and Riot.IM also both offer mobile Apps for phone-friendly access, which are just as good as Slack's.
Because Mattermost and Riot.IM (and other alternatives like RocketChat etc) are both open-source, and provide self-hosting solutions, they are very unlikely to try (or succeed at) the same vendor-lock-in approaches which Slack is currently attempting. We'd strongly recommend that leagues look at any of the Slack alternatives with open-source options just for this reason.
Back to: Project Management (page 2) Consensus decision making (page 3) Forward to: Event Calendaring (page 5)
Community Event Calendaring: Google Calendar
The final thing that any league needs is a way to keep track of events, and to promote the public ones to the world. This is really two problems: a calendar, and "social media suite".
Ironically, promoting public events is something that Facebook itself is actually fairly good at, as we mentioned at the start of the article - as long as your community is all on the platform (which they increasingly are not).
For more open-access calendaring and event promotion, there are relatively few truly "open" services. The problem with "promotion" is, of course, that you do need an audience and a way to push your things at them. In the past, this was handled by common services - like RSS - which could be "subscribed" to by interested people, who would then get updates. In the present, your calendaring service needs to be able to be promoted on all your social media platforms, which (given the increasing fragmentation of the market) is much harder.
One hosted service which does work pretty well for this - and has less lock-in than Facebook - is Google Calendar. Obviously, Google is not the most "grass-roots" of providers - and they have a disappointing track record in turning off services at little notice. However, their Calendaring service is one of the more used of their core products, so it's a slightly safer bet for longevity than some of their other products. Google Calendar is also used as the "backend" for many other applications which manage schedules and events for users. In itself, Google Calendar handles the calendar part of things pretty well, and for free (Google, like Facebook, get money from having data about you, and pushing ads at you). A Google Calendar event is inherently public, and can be linked to by you from anywhere, without the viewers needing a login. Zapier and IFTTT, the two most popular "app automation services", fully support the "social media" side of things - they can be set up to automatically share a public calendar event on any and all social media platforms you have logins for. (They also have integrations for Mattermost to post things in your public chat, and several of the Project Management applications - like Trello and Wrike - can add things to a Google Calendar for you automatically.))
From the other side of things, there are a whole suite of applications to share things across social media with the click of a button, most of which are paid, hosted services - ranging from the relatively affordable (Loomly, Hootsuite, etc), to the ridiculously expensive and "professional" (Kapost, Percolate and others). The more expensive of these offer huge ranges of services to schedule promotional posts across whole suites of social media profiles and platforms... your league probably already has their social media team using whatever their favourite tool is (and it's probably Hootsuite). Most of these can integrate with a lot of the tools from earlier sections (including your communication service), and can draw items from Google Calendars.
If you have the technically minded people in your league, we'd actually recommend hosting your calendar yourselves on your website, and linking people there across all your social media accounts. (You can make Facebook Events and Google Calendar entries to match it, of course, but owning your data on your website gives you more control and freedom). If you do this, please do turn on the RSS (or Atom) feed, as it's a very cheap and open way to provide updates to your schedule for anyone who wants to subscribe.* This also frees you from needing to rely on third-party services like Zapier, as you can push your social media notifications directly from your server.
Back to: Project Management (page 2) Consensus decision making (page 3) Real-time Communication (page 4)
Bonus page: Forum Software (page 6)
*Our weekly event roundups for the world mostly draw from Facebook Events as a pragmatic acceptance that that's where leagues advertise things [and we prefer that to the growing trend of leagues just posting an flyer on Instagram, which doesn't help syndication at all].... but being able to subscribe to RSS feeds would also make our lives easier ;)
BONUS: Community Forums: Discourse
Whilst we've covered the most popular modern means of communication in the Real-time Communication section, some leagues may also want to host a more static discussion. Whilst project management software, and Loomio, provide discussion threads as part of their service, there can be some benefits to running a separate Forum, in addition to your real-time discussion rooms.
In general, you will want to self-host your own forum software, as the hosted services are not that great. There is a wide range of, mostly open-source, forum software to choose from, and our recommendation here does not mean you shouldn't go for one of the alternatives. However, since we have to recommend at least one solution for each topic, we will be suggesting Discourse. Discourse is, unlike most of the other forum software, written in Ruby, and has a very responsive Javascript powered interface. Whilst overuse of Javascript in webpages is definitely a security issue in itself, Discourse benefits significantly in usability compared to older forum software which has a less responsive design. Discourse also offer a hosted solution, although it's rather expensive ($100 a month!). We'd definitely recommend using their container-based self-hosting solution in preference to this, just for the cost-saving.
In common with the software in many of the other section, Discourse also provides a number of "integrations" with other services - a chat integration so your real-time chat can be notified of new topics, for example.
Back to: Project Management (page 2) - the core aspect of running any community with goals - managing who is responsible for them, and how things are going. Consensus decision making (page 3) - making decisions that your community can own. Real-time Communication (page 4) - bringing your community into contact with each other, transparently, in discussion. Event Calendaring (page 5) - keeping track of time, especially to promote your events to the public.
Non-US/Canadian Derby Roundup:24th/25th Mar Edition
Predictions of bouts are from FTS, if possible, and from our own SRD Rank where FTS cannot make predictions (for example: Latin America, or non-MRDA men’s bouts). (SRDRank also has recent WFTDA rankings, including the 31st June ranking, as well as SRDRank, and allows you to make predictions from them.)
If we’ve missed you from our roundup, please let us know! [Or add yourselves to FTS and/or Derbylisting]
Scotland
There's not many events in Scotland this week:
- Fri, Inverness,Scotland,United Kingdom: Inverness City Roller Derby host a Race Night fundraiser down at the races. [EVENT]
- Sun, Edinburgh,Scotland,United Kingdom: Auld Reekie Roller Girls host the start of their New Skaters Intake, with the first part of their Skate Skills 101 programme. [EVENT]
United Kingdom
The Rest of the UK is pretty busy - with many British Champs fixtures, a couple of other double headers not affiliated to Champs, and two bootcamps (along with all the recruitment and learn to derby courses ongoing and new).- Thurs, Cardiff,Wales,United Kingdom: Tiger Bay Brawlers' Learn to Skate course continues (started 8th March) [EVENT]
- Thurs, Flint,Wales,United Kingdom: North Wales Roller Derby host this month's Men's Monthly Scrim. This open scrim is open to all male-identifying skaters, plus all skaters of other gender identities who play with "men's" teams. [EVENT]
- Fri, London, England, United Kingdom: Bobby Brill (+ Southern Discomfort Roller Derby) are hosting an open-to-all mixed scrimmage. [EVENT]
- Fri, Middlesbrough, England, United Kingdom: Teeside Skate Invaders are coming together to skate a marathon for Sport Relief [EVENT]
- Fri, Oldham,England,United Kingdom: Rainy City Roller Derby host their regular New Skater Night [EVENT]
- Sat, Belfast,Northern Ireland,United Kingdom: Belfast Roller Derby host their first bout of the season [EVENT]
- Belfast Roller Derby vs East Coast Cyclones (County Wicklow) [FTS]
- Sat, Birmingham,England,United Kingdom: Central City Rollergirls host a 2 hour open skate, the chance to join one of CCR's training sessions. (No gender policy mentioned) [EVENT]
- Sat, Leicester,England,United Kingdom: Roller Derby Leicester host the British Champs Tier 3 East [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Mansfield Roller Derby versus Hulls Angels Roller Derby
- Nottingham Roller Derby versus Roller Derby Leicester
- Sat, Liverpool,England,United Kingdom: Liverpool Roller Birds host a double header [EVENT]
- Yellow Shovemarines (Liverpool B) vs Punt Rockers (Cambridge B) [FTS]
- Liverpool Roller Birds C vs Cheshire HellKittens (Cheshire HellCats B) [FTS]
- Sat, London,England,United Kingdom: London Rockin' Rollers host their special skaters and officials bootcamp, coached entirely by LRR members who attended the Roller Derby World Cup (Irn Brute [Team Scotland], DisorderLee [Team West Indies] and Dire Ria [Team Greece]; and Killer Bite [RDWC referee crew, including the Final]). [EVENT]
- Sat, Plymouth, England, United Kingdom: Plymouth City Roller Derby are off on a group outing to the roller disco. [EVENT]
- Sun, Preston,England,United Kingdom: Furness Roller Derby host the British Champs Tier 4 North [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Spa Town Roller Derby (Harrogate) versus Sunderland Roller Derby
- Furness Firecrackers versus Durham Roller Derby
- Sun, Bath,England,United Kingdom: Bath Roller Derby Girls host British Champs Tier 2 South [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Bath Spartans (Bath A) versus South West Angels of Terror (SWAT, Exeter/Taunton)
- Royal Windsor Roller Derby versus London Batter C Power (London C)
- Sun, Cardiff,Wales,United Kingdom: Tiger Bay Brawlers host an open scrim, open to min-skills passed skaters under WFTDA gender policy (women and gender-expansive and non-binary). [EVENT]
- Sun, Coventry,England,United Kingdom: Coventry Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Coventry City Roller Derby + friends versus "Done It or Donuts" (exhibition)
- Crash Test Brummies B versus "TBC"
- Sun, Grimsby,England,United Kingdom: Grimsby Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Sun, Kent,England,United Kingdom: Southern Co-Ed Roller Derby's Introduction To Roller Derby programme continues, open to all genders of skater. [EVENT]
- Sun, Leicester,England,United Kingdom: the Dolly Rockit Rollers host British Champs Tier 3 West [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Hereford Roller Derby versus North Wales Roller Derby
- Dolly Rockit Rollers (Leicester) versus Riot City Ravens (Newport)
- Sun, London,England,United Kingdom: London Rollergirls are hosting the tryouts for their competitive teams, with this first of two days testing skills. (The second day, Tuesday, hosts a scrimmage as the second phase of tryouts, open to those who pass the first phase on Sunday.) [EVENT]
- Sun, Oldham,England,United Kingdom: Rainy City Roller Derby hosts Pre-minimum Skills Bootcamp, to help new skaters brush up on everything they need to pass mins skills assessment. [EVENT]
- Sun, Rochester, England, United Kingdom: Weald Warriors Men's Roller Derby host a Rookie Men's Roller Derby Sevens tournament. This is a closed event. [EVENT]
- Weald Warriors rookie Sevens team versus Gents in Pink (English mens exhibition) rookie Sevens team.
- Portsmouth rookie Sevens team versus Gents in Pink
- Portsmouth versus Weald Warriors
- Sun, Worcester,England,United Kingdom: Worcester Wyldlings Roller Derby's Sunday Training sessions continue (it's not clear if these are actually open to other skaters or not...) [EVENT]
- Sun, York,England,United Kingdom: York Minxters host their New Skater Intake day, open to skaters of all genders (although, the Minxters currently have a WFTDA-gender-policy competitive team only, so...).[EVENT]
- Mon, Norwich,England,United Kingdom: Norfolk Roller Derby host their New Skater Intake, open to skaters of all genders; this also starts their current run of their learn to roller derby course. [EVENT]
Europe
The Championnat de France Nationale 2 is ongoing, but France is also busy with multiple other tournament events as well! Sweden, Spain, Austria have the majority of the other roller derby events this weekend, with Italy, Brussels, Germany each hosting a single event. (Ireland, meanwhile, seems to like a good retro themed quiz night!)- Fri, Sant-Omer,Pas-de-Calais, France: the Revolution Roller Girls movie is one of the films being shown at Figre 2018, in competition for the festival's Best Film Award [EVENT]
- Fri, Groningen,Friesland,Netherlands: Roller Derby Groningen host an open practice session, for anyone keen to see what Roller Derby is all about. [EVENT]
- Sat, Linz,Upper Austria,Austria: Linz Roller Derby present a home bout [EVENT]
- Steelcity Rollers (Linz) versus Rolling Rat Pack (Regensburg) [FTS]
- Sat, Namur,Namur,Belgium: Namur Roller Girls celebrate their 7th Birthday with a quadruple header [EVENT]
- Sat, Helsinki, Finland: Closed bout between Kallio Rolling Rainbow and Helsinki Roller Derby. [FTS]
- Sat, Bayonne,Pyrénées-Atlantiques,France: Euskal Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Mixed Bayonne Team versus Mixed Angoulême Team
- La Kontra Bandista (Euskal) versus Brain Damage (Angoulême) [FTS]
- Sat-Sun, Lille,Nord-Pas-de-Calais,France: Roller Derby Lille host a two-day "men's" derby tournament with 6 teams [FTS tournament?][EVENT]
- Les Marquis de Sabre (Lille M)
- RATM (Arras M)
- Les Bonhommes (Rennes M)
- Mon Cherrry (Lyon M)
- Les Croques-Morts (Rouen M)
- Les Chevaliers du Ni (exhibition team, open subscription for beginner/intermediate skaters)
- Sat-Sun, Paris 15e,Île-de-France,France: Les Quads de Paris host the Championnat de France Nationale 2 [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Knock'n'Roller Cannibals (Creil) versus Glorious Bâtardes (Lille RG)
- La Barbaque (Boucherie de Paris B) versus Les Veuves Noires (Rouen)
- Badass Ladies (Villejuif) versus P'tites Frappes (Lutece [Paris] B)
- Les Veuves Noires versus Glorious Bâtardes
- La Barbaque versus Knock'n'Roll Cannibals
- Sat-Sun, Pontarlier,Franche-Comté,France: The Molly Hatchets also host the Championnat de France Nationale 2 [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Les Flêches Revêches (Dijon) versus Voodoo Vixens (Besançon)
- Le Gang de Lyonnaises (Lyon) versus Molly Hatchets (Pontarlier)
- Les Biches Deluxes (Thonon-Annecy) versus Saône Valley Roller Girls (Mâcon & Chalon / Saône)
- Le Gang de Lyonnaises versus Voodoo Vixens
- Les Flêches Revêches versus Molly Hatchets
- Sat, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois,Île-de-France,France: Les Psyko-Quads host one of their open family skate fixtures, for anyone who wants to have fun on skates! [EVENT]
- Sat-Sun, Toulouse,Midi-Pyrénées,France: Roller Derby Toulouse host Capitol Clash, a two-day Roller Derby Tournament featuring: [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Bear City Roller Derby (Berlin)
- Central City Rollergirls (Birmingham)
- Stockholm Roller Derby (Stockholm)
- Nothing Toulouse (Toulouse)
- Sat, Bremen,Bremen,Germany: Bremen Meatgrinders host a single-header [EVENT]
- Meatgrinders (Bremen) versus Gargörlz (Erfurt) [FTS]
- Sat, Limerick,Munster,Ireland: Limerick Roller Derby are hosting a Back To The 80s Quiz fundraiser [EVENT]
- Sat, Vicenza,Veneto,Italy: Roller Derby Vicenza host a double header against Zürich [EVENT]
- Sat, Utrecht,Utrecht,Netherlands: Dom City Dolls host their open scrimmage - Dom City Dolls versus The World! [EVENT]
- Sat, Malaga,Andalusia,Spain: Las Judas Roller Derby are promoting Roller Derby in Andalusia, holding two open-to-spectators Scrimmages in two locations [EVENT]
- (12:30) in Ciudad Deportiva de Carranque
- (18:00) in Skatepark Rubén Álcantara
- Sat, Salamanca,Castile and Leon,Spain: Salamanca Roller Derby host a bout[EVENT]
- Kinkicharras (Salamanca) versus As Brigantias B (A Coruña B) [FTS]
- Sat, Göteborg,Götaland,Sweden: Gothenburg Roller Derby host a European triple-header [EVENT]
- Sat, Norrköping,Östergötland,Sweden: Norrköping Roller Derby host a double-header, including a chance to see the Swedish national men's team [EVENT]
- Norrköping Roller Derby B versus Stockholm Roller Derby C-Stars [FTS]
- Norrköping Roller Derby A versus Swedish Men's Roller Derby [FTS]
- Sun, Graz,Styria,Austria: Dust City Rollers host an open-to-spectators Scrimmage against Roller Derby Ljubljana [EVENT]
- Sun, Brussels,Brussels,Belgium: Brussels Derby Pixies host a quadruple header (actually a 4 team tournament) [FTS tournament?][EVENT]
- Atomium Kittens (Brussels B)
- One Love Roller Dolls Pack of Destruction (Antwerp B)
- Battlestars (Amsterdam B)
- Rolling Zombie Dolls 200BPM (Tournai)
- Sun, Namur,Namur,Belgium: Namur Roller Girls's 7th Birthday weekend continues with a Sur5al tournament on the Sunday! [EVENT]
- Sun, Prague,Praha,Czech Republic: Prague City Roller Derby host their Recruitment day, for skaters and officials. [EVENT]
- Sun, La Roche sur Yon,Pays de la Loire,France: Les Passeuses Dâmes Roller Derby host a double header! [EVENT]
- Unnamed Bitches White versus Unnamed Bitches Black (exhibition)
- Les Passeuses Dâmes versus Les Puces'Hell (Orléans B) [FTS]
- Sun, Limoges,Haute-Vienne, France: The Porcelain Dolls host a French triple header round robin [EVENT]
- Sun, Kaiserslautern,Rheinland-Pfalz,Germany: Roller Girls of the Apocalypse host an Olympics themed Skate-A-Thon fundraiser (closed event - for the sponsored skaters to get their sponsored laps)[EVENT]
- Sun, Cork,Munster,Ireland: Cork City Firebirds host a fundraising open, all-gender scrimmage, Repeal the SK8, to raise funds for Rebels for Repeal (a group campaigning for abortion rights in Ireland) [EVENT]
- Sun, Dublin,Leinster,Ireland: Dublin Roller Derby host a fundraising 90s themed Pub Quiz [EVENT]
- Sun, Galway,Connaught,Ireland: Galway City Roller Derby's Freshmeat Course continues (started 8th March) [EVENT]
- Sun, Den Haag,Zuid-Holland,Netherlands: The Parliament of Pain PoP Fresh Meat Events continue with another of the March open training sessions. [EVENT]
- Sun, Uppsala,Uppsala,Sweden: Uppsala Roller Derby host a bout [EVENT]
- BURDs (Uppsala B) versus Go'Rullaz (Lindköping) [FTS]
- Mon,Riga,Lativa: Riga Roller Derby are hosting a watching party to watch the 2016 WFTDA Championship Final, as a learning exercise for the team. [EVENT]
Pacific
Things are hotting up in the Pacific, as the New Zealand Top 10, the Australian (Queensland) Open Season, and 5x5 Roller Derby Tournament all start up, amongst a number of other bouts and fixtures.- Thurs, Hobart,Tasmania,Australia: South Island Sirens' Quad Fit course continues [EVENT]
- Thurs, Latrobe Valley,Victoria,Australia: Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby's Traralgon Program 2018 continues. [EVENT]
- Thurs, Tauranga,Bay of Plenty,New Zealand: Moana Roller Derby host another of their Open Skate Sessions, open to all genders, 16+, no skating skills required. [EVENT]
- Fri, Curl Curl,New South Wales,Australia: Northern Beaches Roller Girls host a Family Roller Disco, fundraising for NBRG's Sirens' travel to Adelaide [EVENT]
- Fri, Hobart,Tasmania,Australia: Convict City Rollers host another game in their home teams series [EVENT]
- Fri, Napier,Hawke's Bay,New Zealand: Bay City Rollers host a Roller Disco fundraiser [EVENT]
- Sat, Albany,Western Australia,Australia: Albany Roller Derby League's Learn to Skate series continues (started 17th Feb) [EVENT]
- Sat, Launceston,Tasmania,Australia: Devil State Derby League host a bout [EVENT]
- Pink Ladies (Launceston) versus T-Birds (Van Diemen Rollers, Devonport) [FTS?]
- Sat, Maitland, QLD, Australia: Queensland Roller Derby Leagues are running another Open Season tournament - featuring home teams + others from leagues around Queensland. This is the first fixture in the 2018 series. [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Brisbane City Rollers' Banshees versus Coastal Assassins Roller Derby's Ninja Stars [Div 2]
- Sun State Roller Girls' Rumble Bees versus Sun State's ZomBees [Div 1]
- North Brisbane Rollers' Black Hearts versus Brisbane City Rollers' Violet Femmes [Div 2]
- East Coast Derby Dollsversus North Brisbane Rollers' Runaways [Div 2]
- Sat, Perth,Western Australia,Australia: Perth Roller Derby start their home-teams season with: Apocalipstiks versus Bloody Sundaes [EVENT]
- Sat, Sydney,New South Wales,Australia: Central Coast Roller Derby League host the start of the 5x5 Roller Derby Championship 2018 [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- South Side Roller Derby League (south Sydney) versus Maitland Roller Derby (B tier)
- Inner West Roller Derby League versus Sydney Roller Derby League (A tier)
- Western Sydney versus Varsity Roller Derby League (Canberra) (B tier)
- Central Coast Roller Derby United (NSW Central Coast region) versus Newcastle Roller Derby League (A-tier)
- Sat, Wollongong,New South Wales,Australia: Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby host a BBQ/ Bake Sale fundraiser. [EVENT]
- Sat, Christchurch,Canterbury,New Zealand: Dead End Derby celebrate their 10th anniversary with an exhibition bout... [EVENT]
- Old School Derby versus New Derby (exhibition)
- Sat, Wellington,Wellington,New Zealand: Richter City Roller Derby host their first bout of the year, including a New Zealand Top 10 bout [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- Richter City All Stars versus Bay City Rollers (Hawke's Bay)
- Freshmeat new skaters versus Quiet Riot (open mashup team)
- Sat, Whanganui,Manawatu-Wanganui,New Zealand: West Coast Bombers host a bout [EVENT]
- West Coast Bombers Womens (Whanganui) versus Moana Roller Derby B (Tauranga) [FTS]
- Sun, Keysborough,Victoria,Australia: South Sea Roller Derby also host a Bake Sale fundraiser [EVENT]
- Sun, Launceston,Tasmania,Australia: Devil State Derby League host another of their regular Open Scrimmages (all skaters post-min skills) [EVENT]
- Sun, Melbourne,Victoria,Australia: WestSide Derby Dollz host another Sunday Of Scrimmages, open to all interested skaters [EVENT]
- Red Scrimmage (non-contact)
- Amber Scrimmage (low contact, pre-min skills)
- Green Scrimmage (full contact, post-min skills)
- Sun, Newcastle,New South Wales,Australia: Newcastle Junior Roller Derby League continue to have Soy Wax Candles for sale as part of their fundraising [EVENT]
- Sun, Sunshine Coast,Queensland,Australia: Coastal Assassins Roller Derby host their final Roller Derby Freshmeat Intake 2018 information session [EVENT]
- Sun, Sydney,New South Wales,Australia: Hawkesbury/Hills Area Roller Derby are running a Super Nerf Raffle fundraiser [EVENT]
- Sun, Sydney,New South Wales,Australia: Sydney Roller Derby League host their Intro to Skating event for interested skaters [EVENT]
- Sun, Okinawa,Kyushu,Japan: Devil Dog Derby Dames and Okinawa Roller Derby co-host their present Mash-Up Smash-Up Bout, a free, public, exhibition game with both leagues contributing skaters. [EVENT]
- Sun, Auckland,Auckland,New Zealand: Pirate City Rollers host the second of their two Open Days for those interested in roller derby. [EVENT]
- Sun, Christchurch,Canterbury,New Zealand: Otautahi Roller Derby host a recruitment/try-derby "Have A Go Skate Sesh"! [EVENT]
- Sun, Whakatane,Bay of Plenty,New Zealand: Whakatane Roller Derby League host another Open Scrimmage, open to all (min-passed) skaters of all genders. [EVENT]
- Mon, Palmerston North,Manawatu-Wanganui,New Zealand: Swamp City Roller Derby's Roller Derby Beginners Course continues (started 5 March) [EVENT]
Latin America
Latin America sees a number of celebrations and events, including a triple-header in Buenos Aires.- Thurs, Rosario,Santa Fe,Argentina: Rosario Roller Derby's Intro to Roller Derby sessions continue[EVENT]
- Sat, Curitiba,Paraná,Brazil: Blue Jay Rollers are celebrating the opening of their N.E.S.T ("Our Sensational Training Space") with an event [EVENT]
- Exhibition bout
- Fundraising party to support N.E.S.T.
- Sat, Chihuahua,Chihuahua,Mexico: Division del Norte Roller Derby host the first game of the year in Chihuahua Partido División del Norte vs Medias Rotas [EVENT]
- División del Norte versus Medias Rotas (Cuidad Juárez) [FTS]
- Saturday, Querétaro, Mexico: We believe there may be a recruitment for Querétaro Roller Derby, but there's no event anywhere, just a flyer.
- Saturday, Montevideo, Uruguay: Pájaros Pintados Roller Derby host an open bootcamp [No event, just a flyer]
- Sunday, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Silver City Roller Derby host a triple header [EVENT]
- Sunday, Bogotá, Colombia: The 5th District Tournament (Bogotá's tournament for its large number of local teams) kicks off with a double header. [FTS tournament][No event, just flyer][EVENT (added on Thursday)]
- Rock N Roller Queens versus Fugitivas Roller Punk
- Combativas Revoltosas versus Central Derby DC
- Sun, Querétaro,Querétaro,Mexico: Querétaro Roller Derby host a bout [EVENT]
- Querétaro Allstars versus Ovejas Negras (Morelia) [FTS]
Africa and Middle East
A single bout (in Johannesburg), but both Egypt and Dubai have recruitment and outreach events this weekend!- Thurs, Pretoria,Gauteng,South Africa: P-Town Roller Derby 's Roller Derby Funskate open skate thursdays continue [EVENT]
- Fri, Cairo,Al Qāhirah,Egypt: the CaiRollers host an Open skating day with CaiRollers Roller Derby, as an outreach event (also open to recruitment for interested skaters) [EVENT]
- Sat, Johannesburg,Gauteng,South Africa: Golden City Rollers (renamed from C-Max last year) host an Alice in Wonderland themed home-teams bout [EVENT]
- “The Mad hatters” versus “The Red Queens”
- Mon, Dubai,Dubai,United Arab Emirates: Dubai Roller Derby host their New Skater Night recruitment night for anyone interested in trying roller derby (male skaters are invited to also consider Middle East Men's Roller Derby, of course).[EVENT]
Non-US/Canadian Derby Roundup: 17th/18th Mar Edition
Predictions of bouts are from FTS, if possible, and from our own SRD Rank where FTS cannot make predictions (for example: Latin America, or non-MRDA men’s bouts). (SRDRank also has recent WFTDA rankings, including the 31st June ranking, as well as SRDRank, and allows you to make predictions from them.)
If we’ve missed you from our roundup, please let us know! [Or add yourselves to FTS and/or Derbylisting]
Scotland
There's not many events in Scotland this week, although there are also teams playing elsewhere in the UK:
- Fri, Dundee,Scotland,United Kingdom: Dundee Roller Girlsare hosting their regular Friday open intraleague scrims, but with a difference: for Dundee Women's Festival, this event will be open to the public as an outreach event. [EVENT]
United Kingdom
There's a bunch of leagues running their training and recruitment processes in the UK, as well as several open scrims. The major "official" fixtures this week are a host of British Champs events.- Thurs, Cardiff,Wales,United Kingdom: Tiger Bay Brawlers' Learn to Skate course continues (started 8 March) [EVENT]
- Fri, Croydon,England,United Kingdom: Croydon Roller Derby host a New Skater / Learn to Play Roller Derby open evening. [EVENT]
- Fri, Ipswich, Suffolk,England,United Kingdom: Suffolk Roller Derby host an Open Mixed Scrim (described as "Coed", so All-Gender/Open To All), also welcoming officials from other leagues. [EVENT]
- Fri, Oldham,England,United Kingdom: Rainy City Roller Derby 's traditional Friday New Skater nights continue. [EVENT]
- Fri, New Ferry, Wirral, England: the not-quite-existing yet North West And Wales Junior Roller Derby league is hosting a Juniors Rec skate as part of their initial outreach. [EVENT]
- Fri, Portsmouth,England,United Kingdom: Portsmouth Roller Wenches are hosting a taster session for their Learn To Roller Derby course (the full course starts 15th April) [EVENT]
- Friday, Wakefield, England, United Kingdom: Wakey Wheeled Cats host their Friday Night Skate [EVENT]
- Sat, Basingstoke,England,United Kingdom: Basingstoke Roller Derby are hosting an open scrim, advertised as "coed", confirmed to be All-Gender/Open to All. [EVENT]
- Sat, London,England,United Kingdom: Southern Discomfort host the British Champs Tier 1 Men [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Mild Discomfort (Southern Discomfort B) versus Crash Test Brummies (Birmingham)
- Barrow Infernos (Barrow-in-Furness) versus Tyne & Fear (Newcastle)
- Southern Discomfort (London A) versus Lincolnshire Rolling Thunder (Lincoln A) [FTS] (not BC bout)
- Sat, Newcastle Upon Tyne,England,United Kingdom: Newcastle Roller Girls host British Champs Tier 3 (North) [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Granite City Roller Derby (Aberdeen) versus Wakey Wheeled Cats (Wakefield)
- Whippin' Hinnies (Newcastle B) versus Hallam Hellcats Roller Derby
- Sat, Oxford,England,United Kingdom: Oxford Roller Derby host a double-header fundraising scimmage for Oxfordshire Mind. [EVENT]
- Rookie-level scrimmage
- Advanced-level scrimmage
- Sat, Rudheath, Wirral,England,United Kingdom: Riverside Rebels Roller Derby host British Champs Tier 4 West [FTS Tournament] [EVENT]
- Riverside Rebels (Wirral area) versus Arcadia Roller Derby (Manchester) (note: Riverside Rebels have withdrawn from Champs this year, as of 4th Mar, so this is not a sanctioned BC game.) [FTS]
- North Cheshire Victory Rollers versus Railtown Loco Rollers (Crewe)
- Sun, Birmingham,England,United Kingdom: Central City Rollergirls host an open skate training session for all post-min-skills skaters (no explicit gender statement) [EVENT]
- Sun, Blackpool,England,United Kingdom: Blackpool Roller Derby are hosting their Intake Day for interested potential skaters [EVENT]
- Sun, Dorset,England,United Kingdom: Dorset Knobs Roller Derby + Dorset Roller Girls are running an all-gender beginners bootcamp for skaters who have just passed minimum-skills. (1 hour training, 2 hour supervised scrim with feedback breaks) [EVENT]
- Sun, Kent,England,United Kingdom: Southern CoEd Roller Derby 's Intro To Roller Derby course continues (started 8th March) [EVENT]
- Sun, Manchester,England,United Kingdom: Manchester Roller Derby host another of their Mixed Level Open All Gender Scrim, open to all skaters who have passed minimum-skills. [EVENT]
- Sun, Plymouth, England, United Kingdom: Plymouth City Roller Derby are hosting a Sunday, closed-door, mixed scrim. Hard to find because not hosted by the team's own page. [EVENT]
- Sun, Southend-on-Sea,England,United Kingdom: Seaside Siren Roller Girls are hosting a fundraising social event, which seems to be a visit to a local steakhouse? [EVENT]
- Sun, Wallasey, Wirral,England,United Kingdom: Wirral Pack Animals host British Champs T2 Men [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Lincolnshire Thugly Ducklings (Lincoln B) versus Teesside Skate Invaders
- Wirral Pack Animals versus Oxford Mens Roller Derby
- Sun, Worcester,England,United Kingdom: Worcester Wyldlings Roller Derby's Sunday training sessions continue (started March 11th) [EVENT]
Europe
France and Finland both have national championships events happening this weekend, but there seems to be an especially busy set of fixtures in Spain as well.-
- Thurs, Prague,Praha,Czech Republic: Hard Breaking Dolls host another of their regular Open Practice events for those who want to try derby (including potential Officials) [EVENT]
- Fri, Tartu, Estonia: Tartu Roller Derby's Friday open practice is open to new skaters, as well as their regulars [Facebook Flyer (no specific Event)]
- Sat, Ghent,East Flanders,Belgium: GO-GO Gent Roller Derby are hosting a fundraising quiz evening, "Juice Your Brain Quiz" [EVENT]
- Sat, Mons,Hainaut,Belgium: Freaky Mons'ter Derby Ladies are hosting a Roller Disco Derby event, with both a roller disco and two scrimmages (rookie/intermediate, and advanced).[EVENT]
- Sat, Prague,Praha,Czech Republic: Prague City Roller Derby host their first WFTDA-sanctioned game, as part of their 6th birthday party [EVENT]
- Prague City A versus Roller Derby Metz Club [FTS]
- Sat, Rovaniemi,Lapland,Finland: Roll-On Derby host a Suomi Cup Division 1 fixture [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Jyväskylä Roller Derby versus Joensuu Roller Derby
- Rovaniemi Roller Derby versus Riverdale Rollers (Ylivieska)
- Sat, Bastia,Corse,France: Roller Derby Club Bastiacciu are recruiting for any Corsicans who want to play roller derby; this will include a public demo scrim of the game. [EVENT]
- Sat+Sun, Montpellier, Hérault, France: DCCLM host the the French Nationale, division 2 [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Mars Invaders (Marseille) versus Rabbit Skulls (Avignon)
- Toxic Ladies (Toulon) versus Les Amazones (Pays d'Aix)
- Baywitch Project (Nice) versus Les Faux Soyeuses (Lyon)
- Toxic Ladies vs Mars Invaders
- Les Amazones vs Les Faux Soyeuses
- Sat+Sun, Rennes,Bretagne,France: Roller Derby Rennes also host the French Nationale, division 2 [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- les Missfeet (Le Mans) versus les Pétroleuses (Caen)
- les Vilaines (Rennes) versus les Morues (Lorient)
- les Simones (Orléans) versus les Pétroleuses
- les Simones versus les B.M.O. (Brest)
- les Missfeet versus les Vilaines
- Sat, Frankfurt,Hessen,Germany: Bembel Town Rollergirls host a division 1. Bundesliga bout [FTS Tornament][EVENT]
- Bembel Town (Frankfurt) versus Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz
- Roller Girls of the Apocalypse (Kaiserslautern) versus mixed team (expo)
- Sat, Bergamo,Lombardy,Italy: Roller Derby Bergamo host a double header as Palermo play both the hosts, and Milan [EVENT]
- Sat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain: Barcelona Roller Derby host a double header against European opponents. [EVENT]
- Sat, Madrid,Madrid,Spain: Roller Derby Madrid also host a double header with European scope [EVENT]
- Sat, Zaragoza,Aragon,Spain: Roller Derby Zaragoza are hosting a fundraising vermut (which we think is, basically, a late-lunch meetup with tapas etc, named for the vermouth traditionally drunk at it?) to raise funds for their travel to compete in Zurich later in the year. [EVENT]
- Sat, Göteborg,Götaland,Sweden: Dock City Rollers C team are taking on the Royal Swedish Roller Derby B [EVENT]
- Dock City Rollers C-gulls versus The Royal Brigade (Royal Swedish B ; Stockholm) [FTS]
- Sun, Belfort, France: the Knee Breakers on Wheels are hosting a triple header tournament [EVENT]
- Sun, Orcet, France: Roller Derby Orcet host a double header [EVENT]:
- Sun, Paris, France: Les Gueuses de Pigalle are hosting an open scrimmage - but it's hard to find as the Facebook event is not owned by the team! [EVENT]
- Sun, Reims, France: the Beastie Derby Girls host a double header event [EVENT]
- Beastie Derby Girls versus Baronnes von Schlass (Lille B) [FTS]
- Team Champagne (Reims/Dizier/Troyes) versus Lille C (Smashing Macquettes)+Tourcoing (Breaking Bad Ass) [exhibition]
- Sun, Mainz,Rheinland-Pfalz,Germany: Maniac Monsters Mainz host an entire day of open scrimmages [EVENT]
- Pirates versus Ninjas (Beginner)
- Rocker versus Popper (Intermediate/Advanced)
- Heroes versus Villains ("Coed"/OTA Advanced
- Sun, Mannheim,Baden-Württemberg,Germany: The Delta Quads begin Crash Course 2018, the first phase of their beginners derby skills course (which is the only phase open to non-members) [EVENT]
- Sun, Galway,Connaught,Ireland: Galway City Roller Derby's Freshmeat Course learn to Roller Derby course continues (started 4th March)[EVENT]
- Sun, Den Haag,Zuid-Holland,Netherlands: The Parliament of Pain present Fresh Meat Sunday training events continue for every Sunday in March [EVENT]
- Mon, Mons,Hainaut,Belgium: the Freaky Mons'ter Derby Ladies and Dudes present their own recruitment event, for both teams [EVENT]
- Mon, Marburg,Hessen,Germany: Marburg Splatter Fairies present an open training session and "Derby Talk" for people interested in the sport, ahead of their recruitment in a week or so. (The training is open for spectation, not for skaters) [EVENT]
- Mon, Groningen,Netherlands:Roller Derby Groningen start their training sessions for new skaters, open for signup. [EVENT]
Pacific
Whilst most Australian and New Zealand teams are recruiting or training, the home teams season is also starting in both countries, and in Victoria, Australia, the Statewide Stampede is kicking off the season. Elsewhere, there's recruitment in China, as Beijing host their first recruitment of the year.- Thurs, Hobart,Tasmania,Australia: South Island Sirens' Quad Fit roller derby fitness program continues [EVENT]
- Thurs,Traralgon,Victoria,Australia: Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby are starting their Traralgon Program 2018, which we think is their freshmeat/learn roller derby course [EVENT]
- Thurs, Tauranga,Bay of Plenty,New Zealand: Moana Roller Derby host another Open Skate Session, for all genders. Skaters just under 16 considered on case by case basis. [EVENT]
- Fri, Hurstville,New South Wales,Australia: South Side Derby Dolls are hosting their 2018 Fresh Meat Intake [EVENT]
- Fri, Melbourne,Victoria,Australia: Melbourne Northside Rollers host a double-header to launch their 2018 season [EVENT]
- Development skaters expo bout
- Sisters of Anarchy versus Pulp Vixens (home team/travel team mashup)
- Fri, Perth,Western Australia,Australia: Western Australia Roller Derby are hosting a Roller Derby demo event, at Bayswater Bowling and Recreation Club, with a recruitment motive. [EVENT]
- Sat, Albany,Western Australia,Australia: Albany Roller Derby League's Learn to Skate program continues (started 17th Feb) [EVENT]
- Sat, Bunbury,Western Australia,Australia: Bunbury Roller Derby host their first bout of 2018 [EVENT]
- Bunbury and Margaret River Roller Derby "potluck" scrimmage.
- Sat, Coffs Harbour,New South Wales,Australia: Coffs Coast Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Daughters of Mayhem (Coffs Coast W) versus Breakwall Brawlers (Port Macquarie) [FTS]
- "coed" [probably all-gender/open to all] scrimmage
- Sat, Darwin,Northern Territory,Australia: Darwin Rollergirls host their first home teams bout of the season [EVENT]
- Psyclones versus Arafuries
- Sat+Sun, Bairnsdale,Victoria,Australia: Gippsland Lakes Roller Derby are hosting Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2018 Statewide Stampede tournament, over the two days of the weekend. This tournament incorporates both full-contact (WFTDA), and Low-contact (LOCO) rules games. [FTS tournament][EVENT]
- South Sea Roller Derby's South Sea Banshees (Melbourne) versus Diamond Valley Roller Derby/Otway Derby Dolls' Diamond Growlers (Otway/Melbourne)
- South Sea Banshees versus N.E.R.D (North East Roller Derby; Oxley)
- Ballarat Roller Derby League's Rat Pack versus N.E.R.D
- Team Regional Victoria's Rolling Matildas (Wheat City/Gippsland Lakes/Gippsland Range/Mildura) versus Rat Pack
- Dragon City Derby Dolls' Chiko Rollers (Bendigo) versus Rolling Matildas
- Chiko Rollers versus West Side Derby Dollz (Melbourne)
- East Vic Roller Derby's Witches of East Vic (Melbourne) versus West Side Derby Dollz
- Witches of East Vic versus Diamond Growlers
- LOCO scrimmages (teams Black and Gold)
- Sat, Levin,Manawatu-Wanganui,New Zealand: Whenua Fatales Roller Derby host a bout [EVENT]
- Whenua Fatales versus Badda Bings (Swamp City Roller Derby B, Palmerston North) [FTS]
- Sun, Adelaide,South Australia,Australia: Lil' Adelaide Rollers start up their training sessions, open to 8 to 17 year olds, all-gender. [EVENT]
- Sun, Newcastle,New South Wales,Australia: Newcastle Junior Roller Derby still have Soy Wax Candles to sell as their fundraiser [EVENT]
- Sun, Perth,Western Australia,Australia: Western Australia Roller Derby host a home teams game to start the season in 2018 Atomic Sirens vs Sonic Doom Scrimmage [EVENT]
- Atomic Sirens versus Sonic Doom
- Sun, Sunshine Coast,Queensland,Australia: Coastal Assassins Roller Derby Freshmeat Intake 2018 has another information session for those who want to learn more [EVENT]
- Sun, Beijing, China: Beijing Roller Derby 2018 training starts, in Tuanjiehu Park, and welcomes new skaters who want to try out. [Facebook Post]
- Sun, Auckland,Auckland,New Zealand: Pirate City Rollers are running the first of a pair of Open Days, for those interested in any aspect of Roller Derby (Skating, officiating, volunteering in other ways) [EVENT]
- Sun, Wellington,Wellington,New Zealand: Richter City Roller Derby host another of their weekly Learn to Skate sessions, open to anyone to start at any time. [EVENT]
- Mon, Palmerston North,Manawatu-Wanganui,New Zealand: Swamp City Roller Derby's Beginners Course continues (started 5th March) [EVENT]
Latin America
A bit busier in Latin America this weekend, with several fundraisers (more than one for a National Team heading to MRDWC), and a quadruple of bouts in Mexico, and triple in Argentina!- Thurs, Rosario,Santa Fe,Argentina: Rosario Roller Derby host their weekly "Try Roller Derby" events for those interested in the sport. [EVENT]
- Fri, Cordoba, Argentina: Hiedras Roller Derby have an intraleague bout (Rojo versus Amarillo), but no Facebook or other event, so it's hard to link to. [Facebook image]
- Fri, Bucaramanga,Santander,Colombia: Pink Sucks Roller Derby host a 90’s party rock-music event, to fundraise for Team Colombia Masculino attending the Men's Roller Derby World Cup in Barcelona. [EVENT]
- Sat, Buenos Aires,Buenos Aires,Argentina: ThunderQuads Roller Derby Masculino host a double-header scrimmage event to fundraise for Team Argentina Masculino attending the Men's Roller Derby World Cup! [EVENT]
- "B/C" level "Women" scrimmage
- ThunderQuads versus The World (open subscription team)
- Sat, Piracicaba, Brasil: Capivaras Roller Derby are present at what seems to be a "Solidarity Fair" with a stall. [Facebook post]
- Sat, Bogotá,Distrito Capital,Colombia: Rock and Roller Queens host a "Burger Palooza" food party fundraiser [EVENT]
- Sat+Sun, Monterrey,Nuevo León,Mexico: Monterrey Roller Derby host a quadruple header [EVENT]
- Sun, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Sailor City Rollers host a double header (announced only this Tuesday) [EVENT]
- Sailor City Rollers All-Stars (A) versus No Excuses Roller Derby (N.E.R.D, Buenos Aires) [FTS]
- Summerteam (Sailor City B/C mix) versus Desalmadas (south Buenos Aires)
- Sun, Neuquén,Neuquén,Argentina: Barderas Insurrectas host a "triangular tournament" (a triple header round robin) [EVENT]
- Sun, São Paulo,São Paulo,Brazil: Ladies of HellTown host a home-teams bout. as part of International Women's Month[EVENT]
- Femininjas versus Feminerds
- Sun, Itzapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico: the Quadtlicues play the Valkirias of Mexico City [FTS][EVENT]
Africa and Middle East
As far as we know, the only event in Africa and the Middle East is in Pretoria.- Thurs, Pretoria,Gauteng,South Africa: P-Town Roller Derby host another of their weekly open "funskates" for anyone who wants to come along and try Roller Derby [EVENT]
The Vanishing History of Roller Derby
Modern Roller Derby is a product of, and inescapably shaped by, the Internet, as is much of culture produced since the mid-1990s. Whilst this has positive effects, it also can have profoundly negative ones, especially regarding the transient and ephemeral nature of our cultural records and history.
For most of time, records have been made with physical marks (scratches in clay, ink on paper, papyrus or animal skin, and so on; or even the physical structure of vinyl records or CDs), and mostly permanently. Secret physical records are kept secret by locking them in a safe, rarely by encrypting or enciphering them.
As information technology became more prevalent, over the 20th century, and predominant over the early 21st, more and more of our records - which are our history for future generations (or even ourselves a few years later) - have no physical, human-readable representation. Documents, and photos, and forum posts, are patterns of bytes on a server which we often don't even own, or have direct access to. Secret documents are encrypted patterns of bytes on a server we don't own, and are completely unreadable if the key to decrypt them is lost.
As a result, it is now much harder to maintain a historical record of the recent past - the recent culture - than it was even two decades ago. This worrying phenomenon is sometimes referred to as a Digital Dark Age , and we should be more concerned about it than we are. In previous periods, some level of archiving and historical preservation happened "for free" - if you don't deliberately destroy a piece of paper, it will last a fairly long time. In the modern period, records from that old forum your league had before you updated are gone forever unless you deliberately copied them and saved them elsewhere.
Roller Derby's entire modern culture is stored mostly on electronic documents - there are very few physical artefacts, outside of bout programmes, to cover the history of the sport. (It's also important to preserve those physical artefacts - and projects like the UK-based National Museum of Roller Derby are working on that.) We currently have volunteer-run operations preserving some statistical records, for example, Flat Track Stats is an open repository of all the bout scores, and bout stats, uploaded to it, and this is a more important social and cultural role than the ratings and rankings it produces for subsets of those stats. However, these are both volunteer-run, and patchy in their coverage: for various reasons*, much of Latin America ignores FTS and does not upload their records there, so we don't even have a good historical record for games in Latin America (Mexico maintains its own website for game results, which does not sync with FTS, for some reason). Similarly, Derbylisting.com attempts to record the status of leagues across the world, but is also very much dependant on engagement by leagues and the community itself. (And it's not clear to us how well it records historical changes.) There are also several other sites which have tried/are trying to do a similar thing - derbyposition, for example, and fragmentation of effort here makes things much harder.
*The most important reasons being lack of volunteer effort in some regions, because:
- FTS still talks about, and displays, mostly WFTDA branding on itself, even though it takes records from all flat-track derby, not just WFTDA-member, or even WFTDA-rules, leagues (the MRDA branding, which it also has, is not visible on the front page - and only WFTDA is actually mentioned in the site's description of itself). Several leagues we've talked to in the past were under the impression that they simply couldn't use FTS if they weren't WFTDA members, or if they were, they couldn't use it for anything but their A teams.
- FTS doesn't have a rating or ranking scheme for Latin America. FTS's popularity in Europe is driven by (ironically, in contrast to the above) the fact that it provides a ranking and rating for all European teams, regardless of their WFTDA membership or if they're an A or B (or even C) team. This is the carrot part of the FTS system, and it simply doesn't exist (officially) for Latin America.
Recording Culture and Stories
Statistics are easy to record.The situation for more complex cultural records - forum posts, discussion threads, the entire contents of online magazines or journals - is both more subtle, and also more difficult to resolve. Members of the Roller Derby community who joined post-2014 may not even recognise the name "DNN" - Derby News Network, but that titan of Roller Derby reporting and bout streaming was a central part of the Roller Derby community for the seven whole years - almost two fifths of the entire time Roller Derby has existed - before it died. We're extremely lucky that the owners, and community, came together to keep the servers holding the site running - albeit with reduced resources - and to archive its valuable historical records. Because of this effort, we can still, for example, look back at how Texas fared against Detroit back in 2008 (and their rosters at the time!).For public sites, there is at least the hope that you can pretend it's someone else's problem - the Internet Archive exists explicitly to combat the loss of history due to the ephemeral nature of websites by trawling the web and taking archival, historical snapshots of sites it can access. This isn't perfect: the Archive can't check every site every day - or even every site every year; and it tries to focus on the websites with the most interest and links, as they're likely to be the most important. But it does give a certain minimum insurance against total loss - something, albeit possibly a tiny fragment, will possibly survive, even if you don't care to take precautions yourself. When the next site with a huge chunk of Roller Derby culture dies - and sites die all the time - we may not be so lucky.
We're taking some steps to combat this, starting with a small thing today: we're working on an archive, to be public, of Roller Derby collective culture - the stories that make up the history of the sport from 2001 onwards - collected from the community itself. You can submit your stories to our Google forms - we have one version in English and one in Spanish for more accessibility - in any language you want, and about any event in roller derby you can relate. (We're especially interested in making sure we get stories from the early days of the sport before they are lost, and from regions and leagues who aren't often covered... but all stories are welcome.) In the near future, we'll be talking about how we'll make this archive available.
In the next page, we'll talk about the issues recording the history of Roller Derby's governance.
Recording Our Sport's Governance & Transparency
Much of the existing Roller Derby cultural history isn't even public - it's in private silos across the internet. The majority of governing bodies in Roller Derby maintain almost entirely private spaces, as do the majority of leagues. (Even when those spaces are not private, the use of restrictive copyright may also inhibit preservation - as several digital archiving projects have discovered; this is another reason why using better, more open licenses - Creative Commons, or otherwise - enriches the community.) We can trust that WFTDA, or MRDA, say, keeps a full and complete backup of all of their forum discussions. But we have to trust, because we have no way to have an independent record of any of that contents - both because of technological walls (the forums are private, password-protected spaces), and legal ones (the WFTDA, etc, NDAs prevent public disclosure of those contents by anyone who does have access to them). This is not to pick on WFTDA alone, as we're hopeful is clear - all Roller Derby governing bodies have this problem to various extents, even when they've committed to more open and transparent communication. For example, UKRDA has made some positive steps towards this - making minutes of Board Meetings public - and have shown interest in working towards further transparency, but they're still working towards them.We should note that problems of transparency have dogged many Sports Governing Bodies in the last few years - and there are calls (and reports) from those in the wider sports governance community for all SGBs to become as transparent as other democracies already are. WFTDA** does do better than a great many SGBs; but some SGBs are particularly opaque (FIFA comes to mind).
Transparency is sometimes hard, but it doesn't have to be this way. The British Government, which has not been an exemplar for good transparency over most of its existence, still manages to publish and archive a completely public record of all debates in Parliament*, since around 1800. This Hansard system is also used by many other democracies across the World - New Zealand, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Singapore - and other similar systems are used by, for example, the United States of America (in fact, the Constitution of the USA requires that Congress keep such public records), and the European Parliament. In all of these cases, these records required a lot of effort to generate - they're hand-stenotyped transcriptions of verbal debates, with post-editing for readability and references - but because they exist, we know much more about the history of those institutions, their culture, and how this changed over time. (And because they're almost all public, copyright-free records, other copies can be made of them, so the risk of them being lost to the world is negligible.)
By contrast, almost all of the debate in Roller Derby happens online, in text conversations on forums and chat rooms. Making available an "MRDA Hansard", or a "WFTDA Congressional Record" is almost trivial - the data already exists in written form, it just needs to be published somewhere, and with the correct level of access for the community. (We'd argue that if national governments can manage to make their debates Public to the World, it shouldn't be a big deal for any Governing Body of a sport whose founding ethic is "For The Skater, By The Skater").
There is obviously a trade-off here between transparency and the right to privacy. All organisations need private spaces - for grievance committees, embargoed information from other sources, and so on - but they need much fewer private spaces than they often create for themselves. Organisations also need to protect the rights of individuals to privacy of personal information - for example, any organisation in Europe needs to comply with the GDPR on this topic - and this will require some secrecy in some areas.
It's also important to note that just because a space is publicly accessible does not mean that it has to be open to public's input - only Members of Parliament may speak in the British House of Commons, but the entire world can see (and hear, nowadays) what they say. In the case of roller derby, Derbylisting.com records around 1800 leagues playing under WFTDA/MRDA rules - even though the majority are not members of either organisation, they do have some moral rights to know what the community has coming for it, in return for the legitimacy they lend the organisations merely by adopting those rules. (Transparency can also be a good way to engage your community in the present, as well as allowing your record to be preserved in the past!)
With more of our history and community in the public domain (both visible, and licensed to distribute more rights), maintaining our history becomes a shared possibility for the entire roller derby community. We at the Scottish Roller Derby blog are also looking a hosting some smaller-scale public resources to help encourage transparency and community - we'll be writing more about the technology side of this in the near future.
*The British Government also, since 2000/2002 commits to making a lot more of its internal documents and records available to the public of the world, via the Freedom of Information Acts (2000 - England & Wales, 2002 - Scotland), after consultation started in 1997 ("Your Right To Know"). Many other governments have committed to similar levels of free access to the public - not just their own citizens, but the world; Sweden may hold the record for first raising this issue in 1766!
**WFTDA deserves credit, for example, for the amount of material it does publish, when out of NDA, on officiating the rules; for making its rating calculations completely public (something MRDA does not do, by contrast); for (albeit without a good interface other than sending an email) making bout stats for all Sanctioned Games available to anyone who asks.
Non-US/Canadian Derby Roundup: 10th/11th Mar Edition
Predictions of bouts are from FTS, if possible, and from our own SRD Rank where FTS cannot make predictions (for example: Latin America, or non-MRDA men’s bouts). (SRDRank also has recent WFTDA rankings, including the 31st June ranking, as well as SRDRank, and allows you to make predictions from them.)
If we’ve missed you from our roundup, please let us know! [Or add yourselves to FTS and/or Derbylisting]
Scotland
There's not many events in Scotland this week:
- Friday, Glasgow: Glasgow Men's Roller Derby host their new skater night (GMRD aren't, apparently, on Derbylisting, so we missed this first pass) [EVENT]
- Sat, Elgin: Helgin Roller Derby host a Race Night Fundraiser - they're off to the races, and would like you to come with! [EVENT]
- Sat, Glasgow: Glasgow Roller Derby host their first games of the season, as their new home teams, Yellow Submarine and The Black Sabbath, play each other for the first time [EVENT]
United Kingdom
In the UK, British Champs continues to supply a lot of bouts, but there's tons of other derby also on display, as well as a bunch of recruitment/training sessions for new skaters.- Thurs, Cardiff,Wales,United Kingdom: Tiger Bay Brawlers Learn to Skate course continues (started on March 8th) [EVENT]
- Fri, Kent,England,United Kingdom: Southern Coed Roller Derby present WeJustRoll, explicitly "female-only" roller derby sessions for 11-25 year olds (started last week) [EVENT]
- Fri, Oldham,England,United Kingdom: Rainy City Roller Derby's New Skater Night Fridays continue as regular as clockwork [EVENT]
- Sat, Cambridge,England,United Kingdom: Cambridge Rollerbillies host British Champs Tier 3 South [FTS tournament] [EVENT]
- Cambridge Rollerbillies versus Dorset Roller Girls
- Hell's Belles Roller Girls (Hertfordshire) versus Wiltshire Roller Derby
- Sat, Exeter,England,United Kingdom: South West Angels of Terror host the "SWAT Juniors 100 Lap Challenge Skate-a-thon", a fundraiser for the Junior league [EVENT]
- Sat, Hull, England, United Kingdom: Hulls Angels Roller Derby (HARD) B host a game against Leeds Roller Derby's "challenge" team [EVENT]
- Sat, London,England,United Kingdom: London Rollergirls host "Part 1" of a year-long bootcamp series "Minimum Skills, Drills and Thrills". This is a gender-inclusive event, and open to all skaters who have done basic contact (even if they've not passed min skills) [EVENT]
- Sat, London, England, United Kingdom: Also, London Rollergirls are playing some derby, as they host Dublin Roller Derby for a double header [EVENT]
- Sat, Manchester, England, United Kingdom: Manchester Roller Derby host a Pub Quiz! [EVENT]
- Sat, Oldham,England,United Kingdom: Rainy City Roller Derby host a double-header [EVENT]
- Rainy City Revolution (Rainy B) versus Kent Roller Girls [FTS]
- Open Skater Debut Bout (WFTDA-gender policy - open to women and gender-expansive,non-binary individuals)
- Sat, Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom: Portsmouth Roller Wenches are hosting a double header [EVENT]
- Sat, Winchester, England, United Kingdom: Southampton Roller Derby host an open scrim with a Gladiators (the 90s TV show, not anything else) theme. [EVENT]
- Sun, Cardiff,Wales,United Kingdom: South Wales Silures Roller Derby host an open "Coed" (by which we think they mean "Open To All"/"Gender inclusive") Scrim [EVENT]
- Sun, Eastbourne, England, United Kingdom: Eastbourne Roller Derby host British Champs Tier4 South [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Bridgend Roller Derby versus Milton Keynes Roller Derby
- Eastbourne Roller Derby Bourne Bombshells versus Plymouth Roller Derby
- Sun, Kent,England,United Kingdom: Southern Coed Roller Derby's Introduction To Roller Derby course continues (Open To All/Gender inclusive) [EVENT]
- Sun, Oldham,England,United Kingdom: Rainy City Roller Derby host the next Artistic Skating Workshop run by Missy Rascal. This will cover jumps, spins and one-footed transitions. [EVENT]
- Sun, Sheffield,England,United Kingdom: The Inhuman League host an Open To All / Gender Inclusive Scrimmage [EVENT]
- Sun, Worcester,England,United Kingdom: Worcester Wyldlings Roller Derby's "learn Roller Derby" course starts today for those interested. [EVENT]
- Mon, Coventry,England,United Kingdom: Coventry Roller Derby host their monthly Open To All/Gender Inclusive Scrimmage [EVENT]
Europe
The French derby scene continues to dominate the European schedules, between the Nationale fixtures and the host of other events which seem to happen in addition to it. Denmark, Iceland, and the Netherlands also have a busier schedule than most.- Thurs, Lille,Nord-Pas-de-Calais,France: Switchblade Roller Grrrls' (Roller Derby Lille) Junior Roller Derby course continues [EVENT]
- Thurs, Warsaw,Mazowieckie,Poland: Worst Warsaw Derby Team host a Roller Derby workshop for those interested in trying and learning the sport. [EVENT]
- Fri, Ghent,East Flanders,Belgium: GO-GO Gent Roller Derby host their monthly Open Training, for anyone interested in trying the sport or just coming along. [EVENT]
- Fri, Hamburg,Germany: St Pauli Roller Derby / Harbor Girls Hamburg host their own "Rookie Day", for anyone interested in finding out about the sport. [EVENT]
- Sat+Sun, Aalborg,North Jutland,Denmark: Aalborg Roller Derby host a tournament: TNT - The Northern Takedown 2018 [FTS Tournament][EVENT] featuring
- Roller Girls of the Apocalypse: The Wreckoning (Tyskland) (B)
- Gothenburg Roller Derby: Badass Beavers (B)
- London Rockin' Rollers: Badasses (B)
- Tampere Roller Derby: Howlin' Rolls (B)
- Aalborg Roller Derby: Combat Bullies (B)
- Sat, Châteauroux,France: Les Pirnanas de Châteauroux are hosting Equipe de France Masculine de Roller Derby for training, with a bout at 4pm (open to the public, free entry) [EVENT]
- Sat+Sun, Montreuil,Île-de-France,France: Roller Derby Montreuil host the Championnat de France de Roller Derby N2 [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Nasty Pêcheresses (Montreuil) versus Rolling Candies (Amiens)
- Baronnes Von Schlass (Lille) versus Gueuses de Pigalle (Paris)
- Panthers Miaou (Saint-Gratien B) versus Black Tagada (Calais)
- Gueuses de Pigalle versus Rolling Candies
- Nasty Pêcheresses versus Baronnes Von Schlass
- Sat, Nantes,Pays de la Loire,France: Nantes Derby Girls host a triple header round-robin featuring their Rec League, Filles de Neptune [EVENT]
- Sat+Sun, Rouen,Haute-Normandie,France: Les Veuves Noires and Les Croque-Morts host a tournament [EVENT]
- Les Faucheuses (Rouen B) versus La Carcasse (La Boucherie de Paris C) [FTS]
- Les Croque-Morts (Rouen M) versus Unnamed Basterds (exhibition)
- Les Veuves Noires (Rouen A) versus La Douleur Angevine (Angers) [FTS]
- Les Veuves Noires versus Les Déferlantes (Rennes A) [FTS]
- Les Déferlantes versus La Douleur Angevine [FTS]
- Sat, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois,Île-de-France,France: Les Psyko'Quads host a "friends and family" open skate. [EVENT]
- Sat+Sun, Valence,Rhône-Alpes,France: Roller Derby Valence host their first Bootcamp, with places for Skaters, Referees and NSOs. Sunday session ends with a scrimmage to try out the stuff you've learned. [EVENT]
- Sat, Bremen,Bremen,Germany: Bremen Meatgrinders have a presence at the Passion Sports Convention 2018 [EVENT]
- Sat, Selfoss,Iceland: Roller Derby Iceland host a triple header round-robin [EVENT]
- Ragnarök (Iceland) versus Atlanta Rollergirls [FTS?]
- Royal City Rollergirls (Guelph, Ontario) versus Ragnarök [FTS]
- Atlanta Roller Girls versus Royal City Rollergirls [FTS?]
- Sat, The Hague,Netherlands: The Parliament of Pain host their first Double Header of 2018! [EVENT]
- Sat, Almada,Lisboa,Portugal: Almada Roller Derby's Liberty Dolls and Lisboa Derby Troopers are playing each other in an interleague [FTS?][EVENT]
- Sat, A Coruña, Spain: As Brigantias Roller Derby host the Black Thunders Roller Derby of Madrid for a bout [FTS][EVENT]
- Sat, Stockholm,Stockholm,Sweden: Stockholm Roller Derby are looking for recruits for their governing board (including, it seems, external candidates for positions such as Treasurer). [EVENT]
- Sat, Lucerne,Lucerne,Switzerland: The Hellveticats host Genève Roller Derby United for a bout [FTS?][EVENT]
- Sun, Dijon,Bourgogne,France: Roller Derby Dijon host a double header [EVENT]
- Velvet Owls (Dijon A) versus Cannibal Marmots (Grenoble A) [FTS]
- Velvet Must'Hard (Dijon B) + Fresh Meat versus Cannibal Marmots B + Fresh Meat (semi-expo/new skater debut game)
- Sun, Poitiers,Poitou-Charentes,France: Poitiers Roller Derby are co-hosting an event with "le Collectif des Étudiant-e-s pour la Liberté des Identités de Genre", who appear to be a student body acting to support gender-expansive, transgender and other individuals who expand gender identities. [EVENT]
- Les Broyeyses du Poitou (Poitiers) versus Le Grand Ouest (exhibition)
- Roller disco.
- Sun, Saintes,Poitou-Charentes,France: The Holy Terrors host Dépouilleuses of Pamiers for a game [FTS][EVENT]
- Sun, Galway,Connaught,Ireland: Galway City Roller Derby's learn to derby course continues (started March 4th) [EVENT]
- Sun, The Hague,Netherlands: The Parliament of Pain 's free training sessions for new skaters continue [EVENT]
- Sun, Lausanne,Vaud,Switzerland: Roller Derby Lausanne's Rolling Furies host Les Flèches Revêches of Dijon for a bout [FTS][EVENT]
- Mon, Köln,Nordrhein-Westfalen,Germany: Cologne Roller Derby are hosting their Recruitment Day for new skaters, and officials. This event and all training is "coed", by which they probably mean "Open To All/Gender inclusive". [EVENT]
- Mon, Ludwigsburg,Baden-Württemberg,Germany: Barockcity Roller Derby host their regular open-training event for anyone interested, including people who want to learn the sport. Officials (Referees and NSOs) also welcome. [EVENT]
Pacific
As usual for this time of year, the Pacific region is dominated by recruitment and fundraisers... but there's some home season bouts as well.- Thurs, Hobart,Tasmania,Australia: South Island Sirens' QuadFit 12-week fitness program continues (started 18th Jan) [EVENT]
- Thurs, Sydney,New South Wales,Australia: University of Sydney Roller Derby League's Beginner's training program continues (Intake was 8th March). [EVENT]
- Fri, Gladstone,Queensland,Australia: Gladstone PCYC Roller Derby host their March Roller Disco, open to all ages, with a Comic Book theme [EVENT]
- Fri, Hobart,Tasmania,Australia: Convict City Rollers host a Heroes VS Villians Quiz Night [EVENT]
- Fri, Tokyo, Japan: Kamikaze Badass Roller Derby host their regular Friday practice, open to new skaters. [no event, page HERE]
- Sat, Campbelltown,South Australia,Australia: Murder City Roller Girls host Summer Shovin', an intraleague between the T Birds and the Pink Ladies [EVENT]
- Sat, Albany,Western Australia,Australia: Albany Roller Derby League's Learn to Skate program continues (started on 17th Feb) [EVENT]
- Sat, Latrobe Valley,Victoria,Australia: Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby host a Meet And Greet event for those interested in learning more about roller derby - including a training session. [EVENT]
- Sat, Launceston,Tasmania,Australia: Van Diemen Rollers host another of their Open Scrims [EVENT]
- Sat, Newcastle,New South Wales,Australia: Newcastle Roller Derby League host the start of their intraleague series, as the Harbour Hellcats take on Fort Smashleys [EVENT]
- Sat, Napier,Hawke's Bay,New Zealand: Bay City Rollers host an Intraleague double header [EVENT]
- Black versus White intraleague
- "Guns & Roses" Scrimmage (15 minute halves, short game)
- Sat, Tauranga,Bay of Plenty,New Zealand: Moana Roller Derby host Whakatāne Roller Derby League for their first game as "Moana Roller Derby" (renamed from Mount Militia Derby Crew). [FTS?][EVENT]
- Sun, Darwin,Northern Territory,Australia: Darwin Roller Girls host a Learn to Skate Bootcamp for prospective new skaters [EVENT]
- Sun, Katoomba,New South Wales,Australia: Blue Mountains Roller Derby League host an intraleague double header! [EVENT]
- Juniors intraleague
- Women's (WFTDA-gender policy?) intraleague
- Sun, Keysborough,Victoria,Australia: South Sea Roller Derby host their monthly open scrimmage evenings, with three levels of scrimmage (non-contact, low-contact, and full-contact). [EVENT]
- Sun, Newcastle,New South Wales,Australia: Newcastle Junior Roller Derby present a fundraiser, selling Soy Wax Candles to fund their travel for the year. [EVENT]
- Sun, Sunshine Coast,Queensland,Australia: Coastal Assassins Roller Derby host another Roller Derby Freshmeat Intake 2018 information session. [EVENT]
- Mon, Palmerston North,Manawatu-Wanganui,New Zealand: Swamp City Roller Derby's Roller Derby Beginners Course continues (started March 5th) [EVENT]
- Mon, Tauranga,Bay of Plenty,New Zealand: Moana Roller Derby host another Open, All Gender, Skate Session [EVENT]
Latin America
Latin America is either quiet, or no-one is using Facebook events for their bouts anymore...- Thurs, Rosario,Santa Fe,Argentina: Rosario Roller Derby present their weekly (in March) Start Roller Derby events, presenting training and introductions to the sport for anyone interested. [EVENT]
- Sat, Buenos Aires,Buenos Aires,Argentina: Sailor City Rollers present Sailor Fest, a fiesta including standup comedy, music, food and drinks [EVENT]
Africa and Middle East
South Africa has the only event we're aware of in this region this week:- Thurs, Pretoria,Gauteng,South Africa: P-Town Roller Derby present their weekly Roller Derby Funskate, to welcome potential new skaters. [EVENT]
Non-US/Canadian Derby Roundup: 2nd/3rd Mar Edition
Predictions of bouts are from FTS, if possible, and from our own SRD Rank where FTS cannot make predictions (for example: Latin America, or non-MRDA men’s bouts). (SRDRank also has recent WFTDA rankings, including the 31st June ranking, as well as SRDRank, and allows you to make predictions from them.)
If we’ve missed you from our roundup, please let us know! [Or add yourselves to FTS and/or Derbylisting]
Scotland
Scotland has bouts this weekend, and also a recruitment.
- Friday, Glasgow: Glasgow Men's Roller Derby are hosting the start of their New Skater Programme for recruitment. [EVENT]
- Glasgow: Mean City Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Mean City WFTDA-gender-policy versus Team Metal Legs (exhibition team)
- Mean City Intraleague (Open gender policy / OTA).
UK
British Champs 2018 is in full swing, but there's also plenty of other derby, and recruitment, going on across the UK.- Friday, Strood, England: Southern Coed Roller Derby host "WeJust Roll", "female-only" derby sessions for junior and adult skaters (11-25 years). [EVENT]
- Birmingham, England: Central City Rollergirls host British Champs Tier 1 [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Glasgow Roller Derby versus Central City Rollergirls
- London Rockin' Rollers versus Liverpool Roller Birds
- Dorset, England: Dorset Knobs host the British Champs Mens Tier 3 South [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- East Anglo Smacksons (Norwich) versus Dorset Knobs
- Kent Roller Derby (M) versus Suffolk Roller Derby Men.
- Leeds, England: Leeds Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Newcastle, England: Newcastle Roller Girls host their first home games of 2018 in a double header. [EVENT]
- Sunderland, England: Sunderland Roller Derby host British Champs Tier 4 North [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Sunderland Roller Derby versus Furness Firecrackers (Barrow-in-Furness)
- Spa Town Roller Derby (Harrogate) versus Durham City Rolling Angels
- Sunday, Manchester, England: Manchester Roller Derby hosts an all-gender Derby Sevens tournament to celebrate their 8th Birthday. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Rochester, England: Southern Coed Roller Derby host their Introduction to Roller Derby course [EVENT]
Europe
The 2018 Derby Season gets off to a big start in Europe, and France, Sweden and Finland see a particularly busy set of triple and double headers.
- Thursday, Vienna, Austria: Vienna Roller Derby appear to be co-promoting an Austrian film festival, FrauenFilmTage, promoting great works of film (fiction or non-fiction) from women filmmakers. [EVENT]
- Thursday, Lille, France: Roller Derby Lille host the first of two dates for their Junior Roller Derby course, open for skates from 6 to 15 years old. [EVENT]
- Thursday, The Hague, Netherlands: The Parliament of Pain host the first day of their two day fresh meat event for new members - a derby demonstration bout followed by meet and greet for interested recruits, be they interested in skating, officiating, photographing, announcing... . [EVENT]
- Friday, Barcelona, Spain: Barcelona Roller Derby host their "Fresh Meat" tryouts for new skaters [EVENT]
- (from Friday), Camargo, Spain: Villanucas Cantabria Roller Derby host TIME4ROLLERDERBY, a three-day event which appears to exist to allow comparison and training for both WFTDA and FIRS based roller derby systems. (FIRS having branded their system as "World Skate"). [EVENT]
- Helsinki, Finland: Helsinki Roller Derby host the 5th fixture in the Suomi Cup 2017/8 [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Helsinki Roller Derby versus Tampere Roller Derby
- Oulo Roller Derby versus Kouvola Roller Derby
- Cholet, France: Cholet Roller Derby host a two-day bootcamp covering officials and competitive skaters, finishing in a scrimmage on Sunday. [EVENT]
- Dijon, France: Les Flèches Revêche (AMsports Roller Derby Dijon) are hosting a double-header [EVENT]
- Les Flèches Revêche versus Head Hunters (Narbonne) [FTS]
- Narbonne A+B versus "Les Flechettes".
- (FTS also lists a Dijon (Velvet Owls) versus Grenoble (Cannibal Marmots) bout, but we think that's displaced from next week.)
- Lorient, France: Roller Derby Lorient host a bout between their Les Morues and Roller Derby La Rochelle's Cheeky! [FTS][EVENT]
- Saint-Gratien, France: Roller Derby Panthers host a skater bootcamp run by Mick Swagger and Fags! [EVENT]
- (sat+sun) Strasbourg, France: Hell's Ass Derby Girls host the first fixture in the Elite Tier of the French Nationale [FTS tournament][EVENT] organised with 10 games involving
- Nothing Toulouse (Toulouse A)
- Paris Rollergirls All-Stars
- Lille Roller Girls Bad Bunnies
- Nantes Derby Girls' Duchesses
- Roller Derby Caen's Leopard Avengers
- Quads de Paris' la Boucherie de Paris
- Roller Derby Panthers' Panthers Graou
- Strasbourg's Hell's Ass Derby Girls
- Dublin, Ireland: the Ireland Roller Derby Association is hosting a Strategic Planning engagement workshop, to allow the Irish Derby community to mould the future of the IRDA as the NGB for Irish derby. [EVENT]
- Gorey, Ireland: strictly not Roller Derby, but Chicks In Bowls Dublin are having a road-trip to Gorey's indoor Skatepark, and we know there's a lot of Chicks in Bowls/Derby crossover. [EVENT]
- Rotterdam, Netherlands: Rotterdam Roller Derby host a double header against Brest's B.M.O Roller Derby Girls [EVENT]
- Bergen, Norway: Wet City Rollers host a triple header round-robin of roller derby [EVENT]
- Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm Roller Derby host the Swedish Eliteserien finals (and some extra games) over the entire weekend. [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Sunday, Aalborg, Denmark: Aalborg Roller Derby host a recruitment day. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Mikkeli, Finland: Mikkeli Roller Derby host an open skate / try derby event [EVENT]
- Sunday, Arras, France: Roller Derby Arras hosts a triple header event [EVENT]
- Roller Derby Arras Purple 2.0 versus Sirènes Hurlantes (Dunkerque/Dunkirk) [FTS]
- Open Men's Scrimmage (hosted by Men's Roller Derby Arras)
- Freshie / new skater scrimmage.
- Sunday, Dijon, France: Ateliers Sport + AMSports Roller Derby Dijon are offering a "roller derby workshop" event. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Lyon, France: Lyon Roller Derby host a triple-header with a Jumanji theme... [EVENT]
- Sunday, Mannheim, Germany: the DeltaQuads host their recruitment day, and signup for the associated Crash Course in basic skills. [EVENT]
- Sunday, The Hague, Netherlands: The Parliament of Pain's second day of their Fresh Meat event sees an open training session for those signing up from Thursday [EVENT]
- Sunday, Nijmegen, Netherlands: the Roadkill Rollers are also hosting a bootcamp event, for freshies, pre-minimum skills levels skaters. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Madrid, Spain: Roller Derby Madrid host their tryouts to join their league [EVENT]
Pacific
As usual, there's lots happening in the Pacific, but a lot of it is recruitment in Australia and New Zealand. Japan, however, has a Sur5al tournament!
- Thursday, Redfern, NSW, Australia: Inner West Roller Derby host a comedy fundraiser [EVENT]
- Thursday, Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney Roller Derby host the very start of their Roller Derby Fundamentals (Level 2) course for this year. [EVENT]
- Thursday, North Hobart, Tasmania, Australia: Convict City Rollers are also starting another season of their Introduction to Roller Derby course (their 25th since they started running them!) [EVENT]
- Friday to Sunday, Ikego, Japan: Yokosuka Sushi Rollers are hosting what might be the first Sur5al tournament in Japan as part of their annual Spring Fling tournament [EVENT]
- Friday: Tokyo Roller Girls versus Okinawa Roller Derby [FTS]
- Saturday: Tokyo Roller Girls versus Devil Dog Derby Dames [FTS]
- Sunday: Sur5al!
- Sunday: Mochi Pounders (Tokyo Juniors)
- Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Brisbane City Rollers host a double header against Newcastle (Australia) [EVENT]
- Brisbane City Rollers Hitmen (M) versus Newcastle Mens Roller Derby Men of Steel [FTS] (debut for BCRH)
- Brisbane City Rollers Punk Blockers versus Newcastle Roller Derby League Dockyard Dames [FTS]
- Gladstone, QLD, Australia: Gladstone PCYC Roller Derby host their two-day all-weekend Epic Scrim event, an open (and open to all, for this year) scrim event now in its 6th year! [EVENT]
- Gladstone, QLD, Australia: Gladstone PCYC Roller Derby also host their first bout of the year, a double header [EVENT]
- GRD Hornets (Gladstone Juniors) versus Team Epic Junior
- GRD Haul Stars versus Team Epic (selected skaters from Epic Scrim)
- Adelaide, SA, Australia: Light City Derby are hosting a "Black and Orange" open scrimmage event - with three scrimmages in the session (1 mixed juniors and seniors, 1 beginner/intermediate, 1 advanced). [EVENT]
- Wollongong, NSW, Australia: Wollongong (Illawarra) Roller Derby also host a double-header [EVENT]
- Steel City Derby Dolls (WIRD A) versus Outcast Roller Derby ( ) [FTS]
- CRASH Incredibles versus CRASH Ultimates (OTA bout)
- Napier, New Zealand: Bay City Rollers are hosting the Hawkes Bay event for SkateNZ's "Kiwi Skate Day", a whole day of skating demonstrations and tryouts, including a roller derby demonstration. [EVENT]
- Rotorua, New Zealand: Sulphur City Steam Rollers are also hosting an event for "Kiwi Skate Day", a "Skate the Corridor" event, group skating through the city. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Mountain Creek, QLD, Australia: The Coastal Assassins are hosting the start of their 2018 recruitment drive, for new recruits. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Campbelltown, Australia: Murder City Roller Girls host their Family and Friends Bout, showing off the debut performances of their 2018 season freshies. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Preston, VIC, Australia: Victorian Roller Derby League host an open day for junior scrimmage - three levels of scrim (Beginner, Intermediate (JRDA L2), Advanced (WFTDA-equiv) ) [EVENT]
- Sunday, Okinawa, Japan: Devil Dog Derby Dames run another recruitment day and beginners lessons (for skaters and officials). [EVENT]
- Sunday, Queenstown, New Zealand: Queenstown Roller Derby hosts a try-derby day [EVENT]
- Sunday, Wellington, New Zealand: Richter City Roller Derby are also hosting their continuing Learn To Skate series for those wanting to try skating, and derby. [EVENT]
- Monday, Preston, VIC, Australia: Victorian Roller Derby League host the start of their Learn To Skate programme. [EVENT]
- Monday, Palmerston North, New Zealand: Swamp City Rollers host their first beginners course for the year, teaching both skating and (eventually) roller derby! [EVENT]
Latin America
Latin America seems very quiet... but there is a birthday party.
- Thursday, Rosario, Argentina: Rosario Roller Derby host a recruitment and learn to derby evening - the start of a regular Thursday evening slot for this all through March. [EVENT]
- Peñalolen, Chile: Metropolitan Roller Derby host their first tryouts/recruitment session of the year. [EVENT]
- Cuauhtémoc, Mexico: Mexico City Roller Derby are celebrating their birthday, with a bout against the All Blacks (CDMX), and a party. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Montevideo, Uruguay: Pájaros Pintados hold their first scrimmage of the year. (No Facebook event, but there's this post.)
Africa and Middle East
There's only two things we're aware of in Africa and the Middle East this weekend:
- (from Saturday) Cape Town, South Africa: Cape Town Rollergirls host a weekend of derby - two days of roller derby demonstrations and tryouts. [EVENT]
- Monday, Tel Aviv, Israel: Tel Aviv Derby Girls are holding tryouts for both skaters and officials - there's no Facebook event for this, but there is a google form [LINK]
Non-US/Canadian Derby Roundup: 24/25th Feb Edition
Predictions of bouts are from FTS, if possible, and from our own SRD Rank where FTS cannot make predictions (for example: Latin America, or non-MRDA men’s bouts). (SRDRank also has recent WFTDA rankings, including the 31st June ranking, as well as SRDRank, and allows you to make predictions from them.)
If we’ve missed you from our roundup, please let us know! [Or add yourselves to FTS and/or Derbylisting]
Scotland
Scotland has bouts this weekend, with Bairn City Rollers hosting - but also bootcamps and recruitments across the central belt.
- Grangemouth: Bairn City Rollers start off 2018 with a double-header [EVENT]
- Skelpies (BCR M) versus Tyne & Fear B (Newcastle) [FTS]
- all-gender (OTA) mixed game.
- Sunday, Blackburn: Glasgow Men's Roller Derby host the #6th in their Jammer Club mini-bootcamp sessions, this time covering both the mental game, and 3 hours of juking, and working with offence. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Livingston: New Town Roller Girls host two events on the same day:
UK
British Champs 2018 is in full swing, but there's also plenty of other derby, and recruitment, going on across the UK.- Thursday, Durham, England: Durham City Rolling Angels are hosting an Open Gender Scrim Night - open in the sense that anyone can turn up, and open gender in that all genders are welcome. [EVENT]
- Thursday, Halifax, England: Halifax Bruising Banditas host their next new skater intake [EVENT]
- Friday, Oldham, England: Rainy City Roller Derby host their New Skater Intake Fridays [EVENT]
- Brighton, England: Brighton Rockers Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Rockerbillies (Brighton B) versus Team Dragon Roller Derby (London area exhibition)
- Brighton Rockers versus Blocka Nostra (Toulouse B) [FTS]
- Mansfield, England: Mansfield Roller Derby host the British Champs Tier 3 East [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Hulls Angels Roller Derby versus Nottingham Roller Girls
- Mansfield Roller Derby versus Lincolnshire Bombers Roller Girls
- Sheffield, England: Sheffield Steel Rollergirls host the British Champs Tier 2 North [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Wirral Roller Derby versus Norfolk Brawds (Norfolk Roller Derby)
- Sheffield Steel Rollergirls versus Auld Reekie Roller Derby All-Star Reserves (Edinburgh B)
- Swansea, Wales: Swansea City Roller Derby host Bristol Roller Derby [FTS][EVENT], followed by...
- Swansea, Wales: Swansea City Roller Derby host a mixed, intermediate-level, scrim [EVENT]
- Sunday, Manchester, England: Manchester Roller Derby holds another mixed-level all gender open scrim. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Rochester, England: Southern CoEd Roller Derby host a free open day for Roller Derby, for those interested in learning more about, and trying, roller derby; competitively or as an official [EVENT]
- Sunday, Queensferry, Wales: North Wales Roller Derby host their Try Roller Derby free taster sessions [EVENT]
Europe
The 2018 Derby Season gets off to a big start in Europe, and France, Spain and Finland see a particularly busy set of triple and double headers.
- Thursday, Brno, Czech Republic: Roller Derby Brno host their freshmeat / new skater introduction and recruitment [EVENT]
- Friday, Maromme, France: Drakk'Arrd (Association Rouen Roller Derby) are holding a recruitment and initiation event [EVENT]
- Friday, Rome, Italy: She Wolves Roller Derby Roma host a "Roller Night" music fundraiser [EVENT]
- Copenhagen, Denmark: Copenhagen Roller Derby host a double-header [EVENT]
- Tampere, Finland: Tampere Roller Derby host a nordic triple header [EVENT]
- Brest, France: B.M.O Roller Derby Girls host a double header [EVENT]
- Calais, France: Roller Derby Calaisis host "Hit My Valentine #5", a Sur5al tournament. [EVENT]
- Crés, France: DCCLM (Montpellier) host a double header [EVENT]
- (Sat+Sun) Merignac, France: SAM Roller Derby host the next fixtures of the French Nationale, Masculine N1 [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Hero'S QuaD (Lorient) versus Les Jules Vénères (Nantes)
- Les Bonhommes (Rennes) versus S.T.Y.X. (Bordeaux)
- Hero'S Quad versus Barons Cathares (Toulouse)
- Les Jules Vénères versus Les Bonhommes
- S.T.Y.X versus Barons Cathares
- Paris, France: Panam Squad host a triple header event [EVENT]
- Valence, France: Red Valentines Revenge host a double header of derby [EVENT]
- "Tutti Frutti" mixed new skaters exhibition
- Red Valentines versus Bones Breakers (Nîmes) [FTS]
- Berlin, Germany: possibly a closed bout between Bear City Roller Derby and Central City Rollergirls (Birmingham)?[FTS]
- Dresden, Germany: Roller Derby Dresden host a pair of bootcamps for the weekend
- Dresden, Germany: Dresden Pioneers host an open scrimmage, as their teams takes on The World, post bootcamps [EVENT]
- Breda, Netherlands: Suck City Rock'n'Roller Dolls host Utrecht's Dom City B (Thunderdoms) for a bout [FTS][EVENT]
- Rotterdam, Netherlands: Rotterdam Roller Derby host a Referees and NSOs Bootcamp, run by Dire Wolff and I Am Groot. [EVENT]
- A Coruña, Spain: As Brigantias host the Rocket Dolls of Coimbra for a bout [FTS][EVENT]
- Barcelona, Spain: Barcelona Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Ingles de Acero All Stars (Barcelona A) versus Namur Roller Girls [FTS]
- Ingles de Acero B versus Sicarias del Cierzo (Zaragoza) [FTS]
- Valencia, Spain: Rayo Dockers host the Anguanas of Vicenza for a bout [FTS][EVENT]
- Stockholm, Sweden: The Royal Swedish Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Sunday, Liège, Belgium: Liège's Holy Wheels Menace and Vi-Kings are both recruiting for skaters. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Aarhus, Denmark: Smile City Rollers, Aarhus's OTA league, are recruiting for all interested skaters. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Joensuu, Finland: Joensuu Roller Derby host a Suomi Cup Division 1 fixture [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Sunday, Taavetti, Finland: Lpr HCRollers are holding a recruitment evening for those interested in joining the league. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Pibrac, France: Pibrac's Harpies Braqueuses host a triple header! [EVENT]
- Harpies (Pibrac A) versus Unnamed Biches (exhibition)
- Green Is the New Block (Pibrac B) versus Unnamed Biches
- Harpies versus Head Hunters (Narbonnes) [FTS]
- Sunday, Galway, Ireland: Galway City Roller Derby host an open day / recruitment day for interested skaters [EVENT]
- Sunday, Amsterdam, Netherlands: Amsterdam Roller Derby host a double-header of derby [EVENT]
- B.ADD Girls (Amsterdam B) versus Arnhem Fallen Angels [FTS]
- All Stars (Amsterdam A) + Friends versus Aces of Parliament of Pain (The Hague) [mixed gender game]
- Monday, Zaragoza, Spain: Roller Derby Zaragoza host their tryouts for the league [EVENT]
Pacific
As usual, there's lots happening in the Pacific, but a lot of it is recruitment in Australia and New Zealand.
- Thursday, Perth, WA, Australia: the Dread Pirate Rollers host their "fresh meat info night" for interested skaters or officials. [EVENT]
- Thursday, Rimutaka, New Zealand: Rimutaka Roller Derby host the start of their Introduction to Roller Derby course (for skaters and officials). [EVENT]
- Friday, Otway, VIC, Australia: Otway Derby Dolls host their "freshie info session" for interested skaters. [EVENT]
- Friday, North Hobart, Tasmania, Australia: Convict City Rollers host their friends-and-family season opener, also showing off some of their newest skaters on track. [EVENT]
- Kadena, Okinawa, Japan: Okinawa Roller Derby are holding a free-entry intraleague bout to start off the year. [EVENT]
- Sydney, NSW, Australia: Sydney Roller Derby League hold a queer-culture-themed (and stereotype subverting) double header of bouts for Pride, as [EVENT]
- Team Rainbows play Team Sparkle
- Team Butch play Team Femme
- Sunday, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Rocky Roller Derby host their season intake and information day [EVENT]
- Sunday, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia: Devil State Derby League host their first scrim of the year, as always open to all mins-passed skaters. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Okinawa, Japan: Devil Dog Derby Dames are hosting their February intraleague, Angels versus Demons [EVENT]
- Sunday, Palmerston North, New Zealand: Swamp City Roller Derby host their tryouts for skaters [EVENT]
- Sunday, Waipapa, New Zealand: Peowhairangi Roller Derby League host the start of their Beginners Learn to Skate course for new members. [EVENT]
- Monday, Cairns, QLD, Australia: Reef City Roller Derby are holding their new-skater intake day [EVENT]
Latin America
Latin America seems very quiet...
- San Luis Potosi, Mexico : Furiosas Roller Derby host Leon Roller Derby for a bout [FTS] [EVENT]
- Morelia, Mexico: Michoacán Roller Derby host a tournament: Torneo Nevado 2018: Edición Monarca. [FTS tournament][EVENT] featuring leagues from across Mexico:
- Nebulosas (Querétaro, Qro.)
- Felinas (León, Gto.)
- Aguamalas (La Paz, BJS)
- Roller Devils (Toluca, Edo. Méx.)
- Medusas (Pachuca, Hidalgo)
- Ovejas Negras (Michoacán)
- Sunday, Porto Alegre, Brasil: Wheels of Fire Roller Derby Club are holding a recruitment and intro to derby day. [EVENT]
Africa and Middle East
There's no action in Africa or the Middle East we know of this weekend.
Non-US/Canadian Derby Roundup: 17/18th Feb Edition
Predictions of bouts are from FTS, if possible, and from our own SRD Rank where FTS cannot make predictions (for example: Latin America, or non-MRDA men’s bouts). (SRDRank also has recent WFTDA rankings, including the 31st June ranking, as well as SRDRank, and allows you to make predictions from them.)
If we’ve missed you from our roundup, please let us know! [Or add yourselves to FTS and/or Derbylisting]
Scotland
- Livingston: New Town Roller Girls host a pub meetup! [EVENT]
- Sunday, Glasgow: Glasgow Roller Derby host their new skater intake [EVENT]
- Sunday, Livingston: New Town Roller Girls host an open training session where the interested can meet and greet. [EVENT]
- Sat+Sunday, Kirkwall, Orkney: Orkney ViQueens host a bootcamp run by none-other-than Miracle Whips, of Team Canada Roller Derby and Montreal Roller Derby [EVENT]
UK
British Champs 2018 is in full swing, but there's also plenty of other derby, and recruitment, going on across the UK.
- Friday, Oldham, England: Rainy City Roller Derby host another of their new skater nights [EVENT]
- Croydon, England: Croydon Roller Derby host a double header [EVENT]
- Rookie open bout
- Croydon A (Riot Squad) v Team Unicorn
- Lincoln, England: Lincolnshire Rolling Thunder host British Champs Mens T2 [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Lincolnshire Rolling Thunder B versus Super Smash Brollers (Nottingham)
- Teeside Skate Invaders versus Wirral Pack Animals
- Northwich, England: North Cheshire Victory Rollers host Game Day 1 of British Champs Tier 4 W: [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Railtown Loco Rollers ( ) versus Riverside Rebels ( )
- North Cheshire Victory Rollers versus Blackpool Roller Coasters
- Wakefield, England: Wakey Wheeled Cats host British Champs Tier 3N [FTS Tournament][EVENT] (This is apparently a closed bout, despite being a Champs fixture)
- Wakey Wheeled Cats v Hallam Hellcats
- Halifax Bruisin Banditas versus Newcastle Roller Girls B (Whippin' Hinnies)
- York, England: York Minxters Roller Derby host "Speed Hating" - speed dating, but with the topic limited to things you hate! [EVENT]
- Wrexham, Wales: North Wales Roller Derby host Game Day 1 of British Champs Tier 3 M North. [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Bristol "Co-Ed" All Stars versus Furious Engine (Manchester)
- North Wales Men's versus Knights of Oldham
- Sunday, Sheffield, England: Sheffield Steel Rollergirls host their new intake for the year [EVENT]
- Sunday, Newport, Wales: Riot City Ravens host Plymouth Roller Derby for a bout [FTS][EVENT]
- Sunday, Queensferry, Wales: North Wales Roller Derby host a new skater recruitment evening [EVENT]
Europe
The 2018 Derby Season gets off to a big start in Europe, and France sees a particularly busy set of triple and double headers.
- Friday, Copenhagen, Denmark: Copenhagen Roller Derby are holding a recruitment day, onto their 4 month "learn to roller derby" course. [EVENT]
- Caen, France: Roller Derby Caen host a double-header [EVENT]
- Clermont-Ferraud, France: the Auver'Niaks host a triple-header event, featuring Annecy Seynod's Brütales Deluxe: [EVENT]
- Ptits Bou'Niaks (Junior derby demonstration bout)
- Auver'Niaks B versus Brütales Deluxe B [FTS]
- Auver'Niaks A versus Brütales Deluxe A [FTS]
- (sat+sun) Grenoble, France: The Quadstrators host the first bouts of the Championnat de France (Masculine) N1 [FTS Tournament][EVENT]
- Grenoble (Quadstrators) vs Paris (Banane Squad)
- Lille (Barbiers de Sévices) vs Chapet (Damnés)
- Grenoble (Quadstrators) vs Strasbourg (Menneles)
- Lille (Barbiers de Sévices) vs Dijon (La Raclée)
- Strasbourg (Menneles) vs Chapet (Damnés)
- Lille (Barbiers de Sévices) vs Paris (Banane Squad)
- Grenoble (Quadstrators) vs Chapet (Damnés)
- Dijon (La Raclée) vs Paris (Banane Squad)
- Metz, France: Roller Derby Metz Club host a double header [EVENT]
- Roller Derby Metz Club B versus Amiens Rolling Candies [FTS]
- Roller Derby Metz Club A versus Dom City Dolls A (Utrecht) [FTS]
- Paris, France: Les Gueuses de Pigalle host a double header [EVENT]
- les Gueuses B versus Unamed Bitches (exhibition team)
- les Gueuses A versus Hell's Ass Derby Girls (Strasbourg) [FTS]
- Paris, France: Paris Rollergirls are also hosting a triple header [EVENT]
- Paris' Fresh skaters versus mixed team of rookies from France and Navarre
- Paris B/C versus Unnamed Bitches
- Paris A versus Panam Squad (Paris Men) [FTS]
- Erfurt, Germany: Roller Derby Erfurt host a session/workshop on Empowerment in Sport, lead by their Eva and Koko. [EVENT]
- Dublin, Ireland: Dublin Roller Derby B host Gent's GO-GO Gent Roller Derby [FTS][EVENT]
- Milan, Italy: Roller Derby Milano's Harpies host a double header [EVENT]
- Harpies versus She-Wolves (Rome) [FTS]
- Seasters (Adriatic) versus BBTeam (Milan B?) [FTS]
- Rotterdam, Netherlands: Rollerdam Roller Derby host open-training for new skaters, officials and anyone else who wants to come [EVENT]
- Stavanger, Norway: Oil City Rollers host a "coed" (by which they hopefully mean Open To All) bootcamp over the weekend. [EVENT]
- Madrid, Spain: Roller Derby Madrid host a double-header [EVENT]
- Norrköping, Sweden: Norrköping Roller Derby host a beginners and intermediates bootcamp (tickets sold out). [EVENT]
- Sunday, Le Havre, France: Roller Derby Le Havre hold a triple-header event with Rouen and Namur: [EVENT]
- Sunday, Lille, France: Lille Roller Girls host an intensive bootcamp aimed at beginners and intermediates. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Mâcon, France: Roller Derby Mâcon host a double header [EVENT]
- Sunday, Saint-Gratien, France: The Roller Derby Panthers host a triple-header against La Boucherie de Paris (and Vagine Regime France): [EVENT]
- Sunday, Riga, Latvia: Riga Roller Derby host their first recruitment day post the Roller Derby World Cup (where they were one of the two countries contributing to Team Baltic in the Exhibition bout). [EVENT]
- Sunday, Arnhem, Netherlands: Arnhem Fallen Angels host a "Valentine's Open Game", double-header with two bouts, one described as "women" (which we assume is WFTDA-gender-policy) and one as "coed" (which we assume is OTA). [EVENT]
Pacific
As usual, there's lots happening in the Pacific, but a lot of it is recruitment in Australia.
- Friday, Windsor, NSW, Australia: Hawkesbury/Hills Area Roller Derby are recruiting for new skaters with the start of their "fresh meat" training sessions. [EVENT]
- Albany, WA, Australia: Albany Roller Derby host their first "learn to skate" session of the season. [EVENT]
- Bateau Bay, NSW, Australia: Bruisers Roller Derby host their traditional triple-header "Back To School" fixture for the year, with both Juniors (Level 3&4) and adult derby bouts. [EVENT]
- Wollongong, NSW, Australia: Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby host an officiating workshop (lead by ERRD officials) for beginner officials in the region. [EVENT]
- Mackay, QLD, Australia: Mackay City Roller Maidens host the "
Never Mind The Bullocks Derby Bout". [EVENT]
- Sunday, Brisbane, Australia: Brisbane City Rollers hold their "Mixed Gender Freshmeat Day" for recruitment for all of their teams (WFTDA-gender-policy, MRDA-gender-policy and OTA). [EVENT]
- Sunday, Mackay, QLD, Australia: Mackay City Roller Maidens are also having their recruitment day ... [EVENT]
- Sunday, Sydney, NSW, Australia: South Side Derby Dolls host a recruitment day for "Fresh Meat" [EVENT]
- Sunday, Gladstone, QLD, Australia: Gladstone PCYC Roller Derby host a recruitment day. [EVENT]
- Sunday, Wellington, New Zealand: Richter City Roller Derby host their learn to roller derby sessions for new recruits. [EVENT]
Latin America
Latin America sees some action, including fundraisers.
- Friday, Tucumán, Argentina: Rayo Naranja host their 5th Birthday Event, as a "coed" (by which we assume they mean "Open to All") mixed bout Team Blanco versus Team Negro [EVENT]
- Buenos Aires, Argentina: WonderClan host a double-header to raise funds for the Seleccion Masculine Argentina de Roller Derby attending MRDWC in Barcelona [EVENT]
- Blumenau, Brazil: Iron Ladies Roller Derby host a recruitment evening for those wanting to join the team. [EVENT]
- Monday, Piracicaba, Brazil: Capivaras Roller Derby host a recruitment evening. [EVENT]
Africa and Middle East
There's no action in Africa or the Middle East we know of this weekend.
Roller Derby Is Back in Grangemouth in 2018
Derby in 2018 has well and truly started after the Christmas break as we have just witnessed the Womens World cup in Manchester recently and still have the Men's world cup to look forward to in April. But this month sees the return of derby in Scotland, with the first games of 2018 taking place thanks to Bairn City Rollers. As they will be kicking of their 2018 by hosting a double header in Grangemouth Sports Complex on Saturday the 24th of February.
This is a double header with a Geordie feel to is as BCR's Skelpies take on Tyne and Fears Inglorious BStars for the first game of the day followed after there is an All Gender game made up of skaters from Newcastle. The Skelpies and the BStars have faced off against each other three times to date, with the B*Stars taking the win each time, can the Skelpies take the win this time? Be sure to come along to find out.
Doors open 1.30pm and tickets are priced at £5 on the door. If you would like to know more visit the facebook event page here.
