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]
(Note: we're especially likely to be missing items this week, as Facebook's response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal has resulted in them turning off large parts of the services we use to automatically collate events for this article. We don't think we've missed too much, but...)We're trying a new colour coding this week, to differentiate BOUTS from RECRUITMENTS and OPEN SCRIMs, and BOOTCAMPs.
The Mexican Torneo Nacional de Roller Derby, run by the Asociación Mexicana de Roller Derby, is one of the longest running continuous national tournaments in Roller Derby. Since 2012, the tournament has selected teams from across Mexico for multiple fixtures to determine a champion; and in more recent years, a full ranking system (derived from WFTDA rating calculations) has been applied for cut-offs into the Division 1 and 2 categories.
The tournament proper begins in August of each year, and so we are rapidly approaching the 2018 edition. In anticipation of this, we're bringing you a quick overview of the event, and the teams involved.
The top 12 teams in the AMRD ranking, at the time of selection, are sorted into Division 1, with the chance to play for the Championship. In this case, one team (Ovejas Negras) was forced to withdraw from the competition this year - allowing the 13th ranked team to replace them.
Division 1 is run as two "playoff" fixtures, each with 6 teams, selecting the top placed teams from each in the Final fixture, to play for the top spot. This year, the Playoffs will be hosted in Monterrey (by Monterrey Roller Derby), and Juárez (by Medias Rotas Roller Derby).
Division 1 Playoff Teams for AMRD Nationals 2018, coloured by Playoff location
The Division 1 teams cover almost all of Mexico, except the extreme East, with their distribution roughly matching the population of the country.
Monterrey Roller Derby and Mexico City Roller Derby have both won the Championship at least twice over the past 6 Nationals, with Mexico City's wins in both 2016 and 2017. However, at this point in the season, fellow Mexico City based team, Quimeras (of Liga Cuidad de Mexico Roller Derby, LCMRD) are just pipping them in the rankings, making this a pretty contested championship. The alternating seed placement for Playoffs has placed the Quimeras in Monterrey's group, and outside MCRD's group, which will give the current champions some breathing room until the finals themselves.
Third in the rankings so far, All-Stars Juárez, have never won the Championship to date, and will be hoping to pick up a win for the northernmost city in the AMRD. Their placement in a group with Quimeras, Monterrey and another former Champion, Minervas, will make this a tough battle. Their fellow Juárez team, Medias Rotas, have relatively less experience, and a weaker season (we have only 2 bouts on record this year in Flat Track Stats, against fellow D1 teams Division del Norte and Minervas).
Of the remaining teams, Baja California's Baja Roller Derby and Guadalajara's Minervas are the only other teams to have won the championship, and are seeded into different groups. Minervas have the challenging group with a total of three former champions (including themselves), whilst Baja face the most Mexico City centric group - although at least their travel costs will be moderated, given the closer proximity of Juárez. With Baja currently the second lowest rated and ranked team in Division 1, it will be a big ask for them to make the qualifier for the Finals - Minervas are having a much better year (in a close 5th place), but qualification will require them to defeat All-Star Juárez in their home city...
We should not forget the currently fourth-place Division del Norte, of Chihuahua - whilst they haven't won the Championship yet, their current rating places them close to Juárez All-Stars in third (and just ahead of former Champions Minervas). As the second strongest team in their group, they are very likely to qualify - but could easily cause disruption in the finals if they do.
The unexpected addition to the Division 1 list, Fugaz Roller Derby, of Toluca+Mexico City, replace Ovejas Negras, effectively getting a free promotion from Division 2 for the tournament. We assume that they'll be anxious to capitalise on the opportunity to prove themselves against their group - as a relatively new team (formed in the past year from Animas [Toluca] and Valkirias [Mexico City]), they have everything to prove.
Playoffs (Division 1): August 11th-12th (Monterrey) [EVENT], August 25th-26th (Juárez) [EVENT] Final: 18th-20th November (EMEXRD, Mexico City).
Division 2, meanwhile, sees the next 5 [14 to 19 rank] teams fight it out in a single fixture to determine the top of their group.
Division 2's teams cover the extremes of Mexico's geography, from Tijuana's Vipers, on the USA/Mexico border to the extreme West, to Cancùn's Reinas Rojas, to the Eastern extent of the country. The remaining three teams are clustered in the densely populated central region of Mexico; Tamaulipas, Nebulosas of Queretaro, and Furiosas of San Luis Potosí. Tamaulipas Roller Derby, as well as being one of the newer teams to the Nationals (being formed in March this year, as a collaboration between Fairy Dust Roller Derby and Jaibronas Roller Derby), is also hosting Division 2 this year, in October. So far, their performance has placed them at the bottom of the rankings for Division 2, but they have been improving rapidly as their team and coaching gels. With the home-team advantage, they could be a wild-card here.
Short of an upset, however, the safer money is on a very close battle between Cancún's Red Queens and Queretaro's Nebulosas' space-adventurers for the top spot in the Division. The two teams are exceptionally closely rated in the official AMRD ratings - although FTS has very little data about the Red Queens to day - and so this should be an exciting matchup.
Division 2: October 6th+7th, hosted by Tamaulipas Roller Derby.
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]
(Note: we're especially likely to be missing items this week, as Facebook's response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal has resulted in them turning off large parts of the services we use to automatically collate events for this article. We don't think we've missed too much, but...)We're trying a new colour coding this week, to differentiate BOUTS from RECRUITMENTS and OPEN SCRIMs, and BOOTCAMPs.
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]
(Note: we're especially likely to be missing items this week, as Facebook's response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal has resulted in them turning off large parts of the services we use to automatically collate events for this article. We don't think we've missed too much, but...)We're trying a new colour coding this week, to differentiate BOUTS from RECRUITMENTS and OPEN SCRIMs, and BOOTCAMPs.
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]
(Note: we're especially likely to be missing items this week, as Facebook's response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal has resulted in them turning off large parts of the services we use to automatically collate events for this article. We don't think we've missed too much, but...)We're trying a new colour coding this week, to differentiate BOUTS from RECRUITMENTS and OPEN SCRIMs, and BOOTCAMPs.
This weekend (30th June) Dundee Roller Derby are heading out for their first international tournament!
Artwork by Lila Poppins
Paris is Burning! is hitting the streets of France's capital as hosts La Boucherie de Paris Roller Derby invite three WFTDA teams to compete in sanctioned games across the weekend. [WFTDA Rankings May 2018]
La Boucherie de Paris (aka Les Quads de Paris)[276] GO-GO Gent Roller Derby[287] London Rockin' Rollers[279] Dundee Roller Derby[225]
The Dundee side are looking strong, coming off their 373 to 144 win against Glasgow Roller Derby last month[FTS], with the Rockin' Rollers coming in at 267 to 132 against the Glasgow side earlier this month in Tier 1 British Championships[FTS]. GO-GO Gent will be looking for a close rematch having played the Rockin' Rollers in tournament earlier this year; narrowly missing the win with 201 to 155 in favour of the Rollers[FTS]. With both Dundee and the Parisian team having not played the tournament attendees previously, it looks like a fantastic weekend of derby is upon us.
Feminist Killjoy - Image courtesy Peter Troest
Representing Dundee Roller Derby, as well as Resistance Roller Derby, Feminist Killjoy will also be attending to referee hot off the heels of their involvement in the WFTDA Recognised Officiating Clinic in Marburg, hosted by Roller Derby Marburg!
The Silvery Tayzers!
Dundee are taking their 15 skater strong Silvery Tayzer roster to the city of Paris in the hopes of making a name for themselves in the European derby scene. Previously DRD have played in Copenhagen, celebrating Copenhagen Roller Derby's 5th birthday in a DRD v CRD double header[FTS]. The Parisian tournament is an excited step forward for the Dundee side in opening game avenues for WFTDA sanctions for their recent full WFTDA membership.
Event Page: Facebook
As a democratic organisation, the UK Roller Derby Association undergoes a yearly AGM, in which vacancies for its Directorships can be filled by vote within the member leagues. The most recent AGM was held this month, 5th of June, and resulted in a particularly large number of changes to the Directorships, due to retirements and the filling of previously empty posts.
We're giving you a quick overview of the current Directorships and their holders, to help you get to know your organisation.
Halo Jones - Secretary
Halo Jones remains in the position of Secretary for UKRDA from before the AGM. Outside of UKRDA, she is well known in the world of NSOing around the Oxford area (especially for Oxford Wheels of Gory), and beyond. A nominee for the Talk Derby To Me NSO Listener Awards in 2017 and 2016, she has officiated at multiple high level events, including the 2017 MRDA Championships, and both the Roller Derby World Cup and the Men's Roller Derby World Cup 2018.
Maw Deuce - Director for Internal Communication
Maw Deuce continues in her role as Director for Internal Communication from the last elections. The longest term member of the UKRDA family, Maw previously served as the UKRDA National Squads chair, responsible for interactions with and support of the affiliated national teams, and has held additional roles before then. Outside of UKRDA, Maw is a member of Glasgow Roller Derby, and a referee and official.
Rollin Rat - Director for Officials
Rollin Rat continues as a Director from before the AGM, moving from the position of Director of Policy & Strategy to Director of Officials. Outside of UKRDA, he is a Referee for Central City Roller Derby, Birmingham, and has refereed at many high level events, including the Roller Derby World Cup 2018.
Stat Man - Director for Gaming
Stat Man has a long history in Roller Derby, as both an Announcer and an Official. As well as starting one of the first attempts to rate and rank European teams, he was one of the individuals responsible for establishing the ongoing Men's Roller Derby World Cups, of which he remains the Chair of the Organising Committee. He may also have been involved in the short-lived attempt to have a roller derby team based in Sealand. He has also continued to announce at high level events, including both World Cups this year. Stat Man has also previously served as Executive Director of Sanctioning and Games for the MRDA (2017).
Smacktivist - Director for Communications
Smacktivist is new to the Director of Communications role. She hails from Cambridge Rollerbillies, where she's currently Line Up Manager for their B-Team, the Punt Rockers.
Dorkmistress - Director for External Engagement
Dorkmistress has a very strong history in Roller Derby, as both an Announcer and an Official. She has previously Managed several iterations of Team Wales Roller Derby, as well as announcing for Swansea City Roller Derby and announcing and officiating for South Wales Silures; she's also been seen announcing across a gamut of high level events, including the most recent Men's Roller Derby World Cup, and Newcastle Roller Girls' EuroClash tournament. As well as UKRDA External Engagement, she currently holds the position of Roller Derby Nations Committee Regional Representative for Northern Europe, representing all the World Cup Nations from that region.
Buckfast - Head of Tech
Buckfast is new to the role of Head of Tech (which is not a Directoral role, and has been semi-empty since the last AGM). He's relatively new to Roller Derby - having recently begun Bench Coaching at York Minxters.
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]
(Note: we're especially likely to be missing items this week, as Facebook's response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal has resulted in them turning off large parts of the services we use to automatically collate events for this article. We don't think we've missed too much, but...)We're trying a new colour coding this week, to differentiate BOUTS from RECRUITMENTS and OPEN SCRIMs, and BOOTCAMPs.
As we reported last year, Torneo Violentango, 2x4 Roller Derby's yearly tournament, has taken various forms over recent years.
Starting as a smaller scale tournament, Violentango 4 (2016) was already a Latin America-wide event, with teams from Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay in two divisions. Violentango 5 (2017), which we reported on for the first time, was similarly large in scope, with only Uruguay missing, and more teams from the other regions.
Violentango 6 is changing things up a little again - driven by the demands of WFTDA rankings, 2x4 Roller Derby's Team OSOM will be taking a pass from the tournament for the first time, as the event is remoulded into a "B/C" level tournament, with teams from Argentina and Uruguay attending the two divisions. We're especially happy to see Uruguay returning to the tournament, given the general lack of Uruguayan derby in the popular eye.
In the B-tier, competing are:
The C-tier is a little larger, and also slightly more diverse in origin:
With just 6 teams in the B Tier, this will be organised as a 2 groups of 3, feeding into a 4 team single elimination from the top 2 teams in each group. (With unseeded teams, this is the second best possible arrangement to guarantee accurate final placements, and the best using a single elimination phase. It also guarantees a minimum of 3 games per team.)
B Tier: Group 1 | B Tier: Group 2 |
2x4 B: Las Pibas | Desalmadas Roller Derby |
Alianza Rebelde Roller Derby | MDQueens |
Mandrágoras Roller Derby | Wonderclan |
B Tier Elimination Structure | |
Round 1 (Semifinal) | Round 2 (Final) |
Group 1 Winner | Winner (1,2) |
Group 2 Second | |
Group 1 Second | Winner (3,4) |
Group 2 Winner |
C Tier Tournament Structure | ||
Round 1 | Round 2 (Semifinal) | Round 3 (Final) |
Centellas RN | Winner (1,2) | |
Hienas de la Calle | ||
Sarcásticats Roller Derby | Winner (3,4) | |
Fawkes Roller Derby | ||
Atomic Bombs Roller Derby | Winner (5,6) | |
Pájaros Pintados Roller Derby | ||
2x4 C: Team C | Winner (7,8) | |
Morón Roller Derby |
Consolation 1: Losers Game 1 v 3 | Consolation 2: Losers Game 2 v 4 |
Violentango 6 will run from 7 to 9 July 2018, at Martín Fierro Oruro 1310, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tickets available online here.
A perennial question from people starting derby: from rookies joining a new team, through to the most scary challenge, people starting an entirely new league or team, is "how do I do this?".
Whilst there are actually a lot of resources out in the wild concerning various aspects of roller derby, they're often fairly disorganised and dispersed, or strewn across various Facebook and other social media groups which aren't necessarily the easiest to find. (The original roller derby leagues in the UK created a newsgroup for this, which eventually evolved into UKRDA, but things have moved on since then.) Additionally, there's a big problem with link-rot and social media decay in modern resources, which can easily lead to a given source of information vanishing, becoming stale, or otherwise more useless over time. (We wrote a little about this issue earlier this year.)
Derby Directory aims to solve all of this, at least in the UK; although its resources are mostly useful regardless of where your league is based. The brainchild of two of Border City Roller Derby, Carlisle's members - coach, referee, and founder Schrödinger's Phat #1691, and coach and skater Hoolia #2122 - this website aims to collect together, and organise, all the information you need to start up a league, or start off as a newbie skater. As Border City has only very recently transitioned to the state of being a "bouting" league, the issues of beginning skaters, and beginning leagues, are very fresh in the minds of all involved.
Perhaps as a result, the site's organisation is really very good, with categories from the Rookie Corner (a step-by-step guide to the frequently asked questions of people new to derby), and Kit (including an itemised list of the mandatory kit items, with suggested products, ordered by price), through a comprehensive guide to Skate Care, links to Bootcamps and Coaches who are available to run sessions, and even a guide on Starting a New League. In all cases, the clean, simple style, and clearly defined categories help to get to the information you need, quickly.
As with all projects like this, the proof of the pudding will be in the longer term - but both of the founders seem committed to maintaining and updating the site - both expanding it, and fighting the entropic forces of link rot.
They're also still collecting offers of additional information - and especially Coaches available to run sessions for their mini-classified section there. If you're a Coach whose time is available for other teams, do let the Derby Directory team know!