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Officiating Applications for MRDA Playoffs

Officiating applications for MRDA Playoffs are open

 For immediate release

 02/21/2018 – Officiating applications are now open for the North America and European MRDA 2018 playoffs.  These exciting two day, one track events will host the top 8 ranked MRDA teams from the regions and will be hosted by Manchester Roller Derby and Mass Maelstrom Roller Derby.

Applications and deadlines for applications for each of the playoffs are noted below:

  • Applications for European playoffs; August 18-19, 2018 in Halifax, England

https://goo.gl/forms/wsJPVVnX3YODuNF33

  • Applications for North America playoffs; August 4-5, 2018 in Fitchburg, MA, USA

https://goo.gl/forms/f7RYTdyMSD4WltJY2

Application deadlines

March 16, 2018; midnight EST

  • Tournament Head Referee
  • Tournament Head NSO
  • Tournament Apprentice

April 13, 2018; midnight EST

  • All other officiating applications

Further information regarding the event and applicant expectations are within in the applications.

Update: MRDA Recognized Officials

The MRDA Recognized Officials program was created as a way to acknowledge those officials who dedicated themselves to furthering officiating within MRDA. As the WFTDA and MRDA continue to align their values, policies and organizations; we find that this program will no longer be necessary under the joint Certification program that is set to be released later this year.

To that end, the MRDA will be suspending any new registrations of MRDA Recognized Officials effective immediately.

MRDA Announces February’s Skater of the Month: Tommy Gun

Each month, the Men’s Roller Derby Association selects a skater that we believe to be the embodiment of the values we represent and the achievements that we wish to see all of our skaters attain. This skater showcases teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship both on and off the track. We believe that these values are the building blocks for any successful league, team, skater, and person.

This month, the MRDA is pleased to announce our choice for Skater of the Month to be: Tommy Gun of Bridgetown Roller Derby.

We were able to ask Tommy some questions about his role in the derby-verse and the interview is posted below.

Name: Tommy Gun
Number: 12
League Affiliation: Bridgetown
Position: Blocker/Pivot

Time in Derby: 6 years

What got you into roller derby?

That’s a funny story. I was in German class and we had to partner up. We were talking about sports in German and I told my class mate I played hockey all my life. She stops me and in English (which is funny because you would get in trouble for speaking English) tells me that she coaches men’s roller derby in Portland. She tells me to come out to a practice, so I did, and I have been playing ever since. Thanks, Hurt Vonnegut!

What is your biggest accomplishment thus far?

I think my biggest accomplishment is having the honor of making Team USA. Being able to skate against the best skaters around the World and to represent my country with my awesome USA teammates is something I never thought would happen.

How do you push yourself to be a better athlete?
I push myself to be a better athlete by being positive and having fun. This sport can be frustrating at times and it’s important to me to stay positive on and off the track. Also, my teammates help me push myself to be a better athlete. Without them I would not be the skater I am today.

What are your goals for the upcoming season?
Having fun is always my main goal but I think this year I have the same goal as everybody on my team and that is winning the gold medal in Portland.

Who inspires you the most?
The skaters in Portland inspire me the most. Wheels of Justice and Menace. The talent, skill level, and work ethic here is amazing.

What do you do outside of derby (work, fun, etc.)?

Outside of derby I like to hang out with my teammates. We do things together as a team, which to me is important, because being a family and trusting your teammates is a big part of this sport. I also like to work out outside of derby, which I think is important for any athlete. I also enjoy hanging out with my girlfriend Yoga Nabi Sari who skates for the Rose City Rollers.

What song do you listen to get pumped before a bout?

The Boys are back in town by Thin Lizzy.

What advice would you give to new skaters?

My advice would be to have fun, be patient, and don’t be afraid to fail.

Anything else you would like to share?

I would like to give a shout out to my coaches Licker n Split and Tarantula and to my teammates at Bridgetown especially my blocking line “3 men and a baby” Cozmo Damage, Demolition Man, and Juke Blocks Hero.

WFTDA, MRDA, and JRDA unite on an Anti-Abuse Statement and Call for Help

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Dear roller derby community,

When our beloved sport was founded in Austin, Texas more than a decade ago, it was clear that this was the start of something truly special. The incredible DIY spirit of our community, the revolutionary actions of groundbreaking women, and the powerful voices of athletes from a diverse spectrum of identities helped roller derby grow into something more celebrated and inclusive.

As the sport itself has changed, from minor penalties to Roller Derby World Cups and from the birth of National Governing Bodies to a revitalized Officiating Certification, the WFTDA has grown rapidly — along with our partner organizations, the Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA) and the Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA).

Our collective growth has happened so quickly, in fact, that our policies and culture no longer serve the needs of our community, nor do they keep all members feeling safe and welcome.

Athletes, officials, and support staff have rightfully called out the WFTDA, the MRDA, and the JRDA for issues of ignorance, abuse, lack of inclusiveness, and lack of empathy for our community’s needs. We have been listening. We have heard the call to do better and are working to find ways to collaborate together so we can make roller derby safer for everyone.

What we have not done is clearly communicate that exclusion, abuse, harassment, and discrimination are not tolerable.

It is time to do so.

We are initiating a cross-organizational effort to investigate, develop, educate, improve reporting requirements, and implement more inclusive, and more proactive anti-abuse, anti-harassment, and anti-discrimination policies — policies that are worthy of the revolutionary sport that we have built. These policies will be supported by educational resources for our organizations, and for the roller derby community worldwide.

WFTDA, MRDA, and JRDA events are natural starting points for strengthening event-based Codes of Conduct. JRDA is leading the way with a clear and mandated Code of Conduct and an anti-bullying program; they are reinvesting in United We Skate Against Bullying to help share resources for tackling issues of bullying across our community by providing support and educational tools to all members. The WFTDA is currently reworking both an event-based and a member-focused Code of Conduct over the next few months, and a streamlined grievance process. The MRDA has spent this past fall overhauling its grievance process and reporting functions to make it easier for members to feel confident about reporting any issues. The MRDA is also looking to expand its member league Code of Conduct with a section dedicated to sexual harassment and its reporting.

But beyond this, all of our organizations are looking to build a deeper commitment to safety and inclusiveness at the league level. We need our member leagues and supporting community to take issues of harassment, abuse, and discrimination seriously. We need to report abuses and believe survivors. We need to work collaboratively and creatively to find a system that offers dignity and compassion.

Together, our organizations recognize that we need a system for fielding and responding to these issues, and we must work hand-in-hand with our members to make that happen. We are turning to you — our athletes, officials, announcers, photographers, volunteers, fans, and our member leagues — for help.

As the WFTDA, the MRDA, and JRDA work together in the coming months to collaborate on policy, we challenge our member organizations to work on their own at the league and local levels. Several of our member leagues have made their policies public, and we encourage others to do the same.

For those of you who are members of a WFTDA league, we ask that you work with your Skater and Official Reps to take ideas back to the forum. As you know, our Reps are the cornerstone of the work that is done within our organizations, and this work is important.

For MRDA members, we encourage you to forward ideas to MRDA Central directly or through your League Reps. You are also welcome to reach out to the Member Relations Committee or Executive Board if preferred.

JRDA members can bring questions and concerns to their Regional Coordinators or their league’s Member Congress representative. JRDA also has reporting available to members for abuse and harassment through our Grievance Form here.

We also know that many of you may not be members of our organizations, yet are still an important and valued part of our community. Your feedback, ideas, questions, and concerns are necessary to help develop the sport we all want to see. Please reach out to us using the following contact information:

WFTDA: [email protected]
MRDA: [email protected]
JRDA: [email protected]

To our friends who have been made to feel marginalized, or unsure of your place in the sport of roller derby, you are absolutely valued and wanted. To those of you who are survivors, we believe you.

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MRDA Announces New Executive Board of Directors

MRDA Announces New Executive Board of Directors

For immediate release

 01/17/2018 – the Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA) is proud to announce the newly-elected Executive Board of Directors for the upcoming year as elected by MRDA member leagues.  The Executive Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the MRDA as the international governing body for men’s roller derby.

 

  President: Jimmy Rage

League Affiliation: Mass Maelstrom

 

• enthused • hyper • hysterical •

 

MRDA work powered by a big ol’ cup o earl grey with sugar and cream!  “Come to me, caffeine and bergamot!”

 

Photo credit: Hispanic Attack

  Vice President: Sin Diesel

League Affiliation: Philadelphia Hooligans

 

• tenacious • direct • loyal •

 

MRDA work powered by chimichangas, empanadas or a good asado!

 

Photo credit: Corinne Ryan Photography

Secretary: Goldie Gloves

League Affiliation: Casco Bay Roller Derby

 

• snap • crackle • pop •

 

MRDA work powered by chilaquiles.

No photo credit required.

  Treasurer: Girl Fawkes

League Affiliation: Connecticut Death Quads

 

• quixotic • tenacious • lit AF •

 

MRDA work powered by sushi boats during MRDA board meetings and tacos for MRDA paperwork and emails!

 

*Photo credit: Bob Dunnell

  Director of Member Relations: Wombo Combo

League Affiliation: Austin Anarchy

 

• fiesty • fun-sized • goofy •

 

MRDA work powered by a big bowl of ramen and a Topo Chico.

 

*Photo credit: Lady Sharknado Rollz

  Director of Officiating: Ninja Sassem

League Affiliation: St. Louis Gatekeepers

 

• tenacious • supportive • humorous •

 

MRDA work powered by…sushi!

 

*Photo credit: Bob Dunnell

  Director of Public Relations: Lumberjerk

League Affiliation: St. Louis Gatekeepers

 

• hungry • sleepy • positive •

 

MRDA work powered by breakfast food at any time of the day!

 

No photo credit required.

 

The new Executive Board of Directors took on their positions beginning January 15, 2018.

Winter 2018 Rankings

The Men’s Roller Derby Association is proud to announce the Winter Rankings for the 2018 season. The MRDA rankings committee calculated these rankings based on games played between 12/5/2016 through 12/4/2017. The rankings were voted on by the member leagues.

 
1    St. Louis Gatekeepers
2    Bridgetown Roller Derby
3    San Diego Aftershocks
4    Southern Discomfort
5    Roller Derby Toulouse
6    Manchester Roller Derby
7    New York Shock Exchange
8    Puget Sound Outcast Derby
9    Magic City Misfits
10    Vancouver Murder
11    Philadelphia Hooligans
12    Lincolnshire Rolling Thunder
13    Tyne and Fear Roller Derby
14    Austin Anarchy
15    Oklahoma Men’s Roller Derby
16    Mass Maelstrom
17    Race City Rebels
18    Thunderquads Roller Derby Masculino
19    Denver Ground Control
20    Toronto Men’s Roller Derby
21    Victoria Men’s Roller Derby
22    Wheels of Mayhem
23    Montreal Men’s Roller Derby
24    Minnesota Men’s Roller Derby
25    Glenmore Reservoir Dogs
26    Panam Squad
27    Drive-By City Rollers
28    Brisbane City Rollers
29    Varsity Derby League
30    Sydney City SMASH
31    Carolina Wreckingballs
32    Lane County Concussion
33    The Skaters Grim
34    Cincinnati Battering Rams
35    Wisconsin Men’s Roller Derby
36    Dakota Men’s Roller Derby
37    Collision Men’s Derby
38    Harm City Men’s Derby
39    Casco Bay Gentlemen’s Derby
40    Flour City Fear Men’s Roller Derby
41    Chicago Bruise Brothers
42    Capital City Hooligans
43    Detroit Men’s Roller Derby
44    Pittsburgh Blue Streaks
45    New Orleans Brass Roller Derby
46    Cleveland Men’s Roller Derby

Unranked Teams:
Atlanta Men’s Roller Derby
Barrow Infernos
Capital District Trauma Authority
Crash Test Brummies
Derby Club le Crès Lattes Montpellier
East Anglo Smacksons
Granite City Brawlers
Houston Men’s Roller Derby
Lille Moustaches
Manneken Beasts
Men’s Roller Derby Japan
Nottingham Roller Derby
Pioneer Valley Roller Derby
Quadfathers Men’s Roller Derby
Red Deer Dreadnaughts
Sioux City Korn Stalkers
South Wales Silures
Star City Offense
Tampa Bay Men’s Roller Derby
Texas Men’s Roller Derby
The Inhuman League
West Swedish Roller Derby Society
Wirral Roller Derby
                                                                                                                                         

MRDA announces 2018 Qualifiers and Championship Details

With the excitement and thrills of the 2017 Men’s Roller Derby Association Championships finally starting to settle, the MRDA announces the leagues and locations that will be hosting our 2018 North American Qualifier, European Qualifier, and Championship. After researching several applicants over many weeks, we are proud to announce the following:

The North American Qualifier (NAQ) will be hosted by Mass Maelstrom Roller Derby (Massachusetts, USA) on August 4th and 5th at

Fitchburg State University – Wallace Civic Center
1000 John Fitch Hwy
Fitchburg, MA 01420

Mass Maelstrom has been a staple in men’s derby for just under a decade and with the great action we saw at last season’s playoffs, 2018 NAQ is certain to be a great weekend of  derby.

Up next, the European Qualifier will be hosted by Manchester Roller Derby’s New Wheeled Order (Manchester, UK) on August 18th and 19th at

North Bridge Leisure Centre
North Bridge Street
Halifax, HX3 6TE
United Kingdom

With an impressive showing at the 2017 MRDA Cymru Clash, New Wheeled Order has been a team to watch for several seasons. The 2018 European Qualifier will highlight the best men’s derby Europe has to offer.

And finally, the Men’s Roller Derby Association is pleased to announce that 2018 Championship will be hosted by Portland Men’s Roller Derby (Portland, Oregon) on October 12th through 14th at

Salem Armory
2310 17th St NE
Salem, OR 97301

Who’s town? Bridgetown! Well, slightly down the road a bit. We are very excited to co-host with Portland Men’s Roller Derby bring you 2018 MRDA Champs. This league has the talent and know-how to put on one helluva show!

Now that the locations have been set and the dates are on the calendar, it’s time to put in the work! We saw a lot of growth in 2017 from all the leagues and teams within the Men’s Roller Derby Association and we can’t wait to see what happens next year! See you on the track!

The Men’s Roller Derby Association announces new member league!

MRDA, the international governing body of men’s roller derby, has added a new league to its ranks. This addition to the MRDA family hails from Houston, Texas. We’ve seen a lot of growth in the Lonestar state and we’re excited to see Houston on the map.

Houston Men’s Roller Derby
Houston, Texas, USA
http://www.houstonmensrollerderby.com/

This league worked hard to gain membership into the MRDA and we look forward to their contribution to men’s roller derby! Good luck and we will see you on the track!

More information on MRDA can be found at: www.mrda.org

The Men’s Roller Derby Association announces two new member leagues!

MRDA, the international governing body of men’s roller derby, has added two new leagues to its ranks. The first league, birthed from a team first seen at  Men’s Roller Derby World Cup, hails from Japan.

Men’s Roller Derby Japan – NinJapan Rollers
Japan
https://www.facebook.com/mrdj.web/

The second league represents Montpellier, France and is helping grow the number of leagues we’re seeing out of France.

Les Kamiquadz
Derby Club Lecres Lattes Montpellier
Montpellier, France

These leagues worked hard to gain membership into the MRDA and we look forward to their contribution to men’s roller derby! Good luck and we will see you on the track!

2017 MRDA Champs Preview

The hard hits and trophies are right around the corner and the men’s game is taking it international as the 2017 MRDA Championships, the Cymru Clash will take place this year in scenic Wales, just outside the capital city of Cardiff. This exciting weekend of top level derby is co-hosted by South Wales Silures Roller Derby and the MRDA and is taking place at the Cwmbran Stadium, Cwmbran, South Wales October 13-15, 2017.

This year’s championships feature 11 of the top teams in the MRDA including 4 teams making their first appearance at MRDA Championships. Fans can expect the action on the track to be as intense and exciting as ever during this three day event. The first day of derby will start with the first round of games and winners will advance to face the top 3 seeds who have a first round “bye” and are already one step closer to the Championship game. If your favorite team falls short on day one, don’t fret as there will be rounds of consolation games to keep things interesting on both Saturday and Sunday of the Cymru Clash.  

St. Louis, Missouri’s GateKeepers Roller Derby (8-0 record in 2017), the 2015 and 2016 MRDA Champions, show up as the #1 team in the MRDA as of the Fall rankings and are looking to crown themselves as three time champs in 2017.  While they have not played a sanctioned game since the Sibling Rivalry Invitational in late June, their impressive results against Magic City, Denver and Twin Cities leaves no one doubting they mean business in Wales. Their roster remains filled with incredible talent and skill, but every team is going to want to make a name for themselves to be the first team to defeat the Gatekeepers in sanctioned play since 2015. The action starts for the defending champs on Friday, October 13th against the winner of Manchester vs. Vancouver earlier that day.  

Coming in ranked at #2 in the MRDA is surging Bridgetown (5-1 record in 2017), who notched a league breakthrough fourth place finish at last year’s MRDA tourney and almost upset the St. Louis Gatekeepers in a classic scrum at the Big O in May that went down to the very last jam. With an impressive stifling defense and explosive offense, do the skaters from Portland have enough to wrest the title from St. Louis? The bracket is such that a rematch between the Menace and the Gatekeepers only happens in the Championship game, so stay tuned! Their quest to claim the title begins on Friday, October 13th when they face the winner of Toulouse vs. Austin earlier in the day.

One of the two local favorites (relatively speaking), Southern Discomfort (3-0 record this season) takes the track in Cardiff as the #3 team in the MRDA, their highest ranking ever as a league. While they have only played a limited amount of games this season and have not faced any of the top teams from the MRDA, this team never disappoints at the Championship level. Their roster remains strong and talented and they will play the winner of Puget vs. Austin on the second day of competition. If they can survive their first opponent, a potential clash awaits them against Bridgetown, must see viewing for any fans of the men’s game.  

The newly minted version of the San Diego Aftershocks (7-1 record in 2017) will travel to Wales as the #4 ranked team in the MRDA and they could be the wild card for this weekend that turns this tournament on it’s head. With a diverse roster of skilled skaters, the Aftershocks have put up some impressive outcomes in sanctioned play this year, only suffering a loss to Bridgetown in May. Their first round opponent on day one is against the New York Shock Exchange, a challenging start to their dreams of winning it all, but everyone has permission to cheat a little bit and glance at their potential match-up on day two with the St. Louis Gatekeepers. Safe to say that one speaks for itself.

The New York Shock Exchange (#5 in the current rankings), a perennial MRDA Champs entrant, is 5-2 in sanctioned play heading into the Cymru Clash with competitive contests at the March “Man-Ness Invitational” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and then in May at the Big O. The Brokers have claimed tight wins over #7 Magic City (149-140) and host #11 Philly Hooligans (191-121) this season. They did suffer a loss to Bridgetown and 2017 has been a challenging one for the venerable organization as they continue to integrate skaters and adapt to changes in their roster. They hope to advance out of their first round match-up with San Diego on day one.   

The first of our 6 teams playing in the first round on the first day is the #6 team in the MRDA, the Puget Sound Outcasts (4-3 season in 2017).  The Outcast suffered a 182-130 setback to Vancouver in early April, but avenged that loss with a win in their rematch just a month later. Their other two losses were handed to them by the #1 and #2 teams in the MRDA, so there is no question Puget is battle tested prior to this tournament. They play Austin to start their run and a victory in that game allows them to advance to play the next day against Southern Discomfort. Not an easy road, but the combination of veteran and up and coming skaters from Portland gives them a shot to have a very productive visit abroad.  

Making their MRDA Championship tournament debut is our next entrant, the skaters of Roller Derby Toulouse (ranked #8 in the world with a 9-1 season in 2017), the “Quad Guards” from of course Toulouse, France. The hosts of this year’s European Qualifier “The Harvest of Champions”, not only delighted fans by putting on a wonderful event, but by taking care of business on the track as well. They posted solid margins of victory against all of their opponents and have only suffered one loss this year to the #3 team in the world, Southern Discomfort. Their first round opponent is going to be a spirited contest with Philadelphia and if they advance, they will take on the Bridgetown Menace.  

The Vancouver Murder (3-4 season in 2017) are #9 in the MRDA and after notching their first trip to the MRDA Champs last season, they are poised to perform even better this year. With challenging games all season, the Canadian skaters have seen some of the toughest the MRDA has to offer and it will be the positive outcomes at the Big O and the Wild West Showdown that they will look upon for motivation when the first whistle blows on October 13th. They face Manchester in their first game and if they can advance, will face the #1 seed, the St. Louis Gatekeepers.

The second team emerging from the European Qualifiers, is the #10 team in the MRDA, Manchester Roller Derby (8-3 season record in 2017). The New Wheeled Order is going to have their own home track advantage as well as their fans only have a few hours of travel down the M6 to make this game and generate some noise. Manchester has played a prolific amount of derby in 2017, with a total of 16 sanctioned and unsanctioned games under their belt, time together on the track is not a problem for this squad. Their three defeats this season all came at the hands of Toulouse (including an 11 point setback in the European Qualifiers), but their results and success have grown as the season progressed. They face the Murder from Vancouver in the first round and this game is going to be intense as both teams want nothing to do with an early loss at this tournament. If they win, they will advance to play St. Louis and a shot to take out MRDA’s reigning Champions.

The Philadelphia Hooligans (6-4 season in 2017) head off to Cardiff just outside of the top 10 in the MRDA, coming in at #11 and they want nothing more than to make enough noise to end up even higher. The early part of the season for Philly was a challenge to find wins, but they took their lumps, picked up some valuable experience and as 2017 progressed, turned things around ending up with two wins (over Austin and Race City) at the Salish Sea Slam, the MRDA North American Qualifiers while winning a rematch against the Mass Maelstrom. Fired up and ready to show the world what Philadelphia derby has to offer, the Hooligans will take on Toulouse in a tough first round match-up on the first day.  

The final team in the 2017 MRDA Championship is Austin Anarchy Men’s Roller Derby (7-4 season in 2017) out of Austin, Texas. The scrappy Texans opened up some eyes with their excitement and solid play on the track at the North American Qualifiers, coming up just three points shy of beating Race City in their opening game and then bouncing back with a win against Montreal the next day. With a solid weekend at the 2017 Midwest Derbyfest and 2017 Clover Cup, Austin travels to Wales with nothing to lose and everything to gain. They have a tough first round game against the hard hitting talent of Puget Sound, but the Anarchy hope to live up to their name and break some brackets along the way.   

Eleven teams head to Cardiff, Wales with dreams of a Championship as their singular focus. A two-time Champion looks to make themselves into a dynasty and a host of hungry teams await them in the wings looking to dash those dreams and start their own path to greatness. New teams and new faces look to make the 2017 MRDA finale one not soon to be forgotten, so start your watch party planning right away and with six MRDA games on Day one, you might need to start stocking up on those snacks too!

For more information on the 2017 MRDA Championships, go to the event’s official webpage or to the event’s official Facebook page.

Cymru Clash:  Day One

FRIDAY, October 13th

  • Game One – Vancouver Murder vs. Manchester Roller Derby
  • Game Two – Roller Derby Toulouse vs. Philadelphia Hooligans
  • Game Three – Puget Sound vs Austin Anarchy
  • Game Four – St. Louis Gatekeepers vs. Winner of Game One
  • Game Five – San Diego Aftershocks vs. New York Shock Exchange
  • Game Six – Bridgetown Menace vs. Winner of Game Two

Schedule with time zone breakdowns: https://tinyurl.com/y8rg4hmh
(Team rankings are from the MRDA’s Fall 2017 rankings.)
(Preview written by Magilla Guerilla aka Coach Dad)