MRDA Goes International With Its Six New Members

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12/24/2012 – The Men’s Roller Derby Association is proud to announce the addition of six new member leagues. Boise Men’s Roller Derby, Drive-By City Rollers, Manchester Roller Derby (UK), Milwaukee Blitzdkrieg, Mont Royals Montreal Men’s Roller Derby (Canada), and Southern Discomfort Roller Derby (UK) have all passed the application process and were approved by MRDA’s member leagues. The latest expansion marks the first time the MRDA has added members outside of the United States thus making it a truly international men’s derby organization. MRDA now boasts 31 teams as it continues in its mission to grow men’s roller derby around the world.

Here is a little information about each new team:

Boise Men’s Roller Derby, founded in October of 2010, has competed all over the Northwest United States from Utah to Oregon under the name the Capital City Skull Crushers.

The Drive-By City Rollers were established in August of 2011. Located in Los Angeles, California, they will be a welcome addition to the Southwest US.

Founded in March of 2010, Manchester Roller Derby of the United Kingdom is one of MRDA’s first international teams. Manchester had a solid showing at the Men’s European Roller Derby Championships in July.

The Milwaukee Blitzdkrieg has been around since April of 2009. They have already played a variety of MRDA teams including their Wisconsin rivals the Green Bay Smackers.

Mont Royals Montreal Men’s Roller Derby is Canada’s first MRDA league. Since their first bout in April of 2011, they have come a long way in a short time and have developed a nice rivalry with the Mean Mountain Boys of Vermont.

Founded in November of 2010, Southern Discomfort Roller Derby is located in London, United Kingdom. Based on their victory in the Men’s European Roller Derby Championship, you can expect to see Southern Discomfort having an immediate impact on MRDA.

These new leagues represent the biggest jump in MRDA membership since its inception in 2007. As member leagues, they will have full voting rights within MRDA and will shape the future of men’s roller derby. Member leagues also have access to MRDA insurance and are eligible to compete for a spot at the MRDA Championships, men’s roller derby’s top tournament.

Congratulations to all the newest leagues!

For more information on MRDA’s new members, visit their websites:

• Boise Men’s Roller Derby
• Drive-By City Rollers
• Manchester Roller Derby
• Milwaukee Blitzdkrieg
• Mont Royals Montreal Men’s Roller Derby
• Southern Discomfort Roller Derby

MRDA Releases MRDA Branded Version of WFTDA’s Rules

For Immediate Release

12/3/2012- The Men’s Roller Derby Association proudly announces the release of an MRDA branded version of the recently-updated Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby published by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. With permission from the WFTDA, the MRDA has branded the new rule set with an MRDA logo watermark on every page, MRDA skaters pictured on the front cover, and inclusion of the MRDA’s Board of Directors alongside the WFTDA’s organizational leadership. The WFTDA, the international governing body of women’s flat track roller derby, has hundreds of member and affiliate leagues around the world, and the Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby is considered to be the most widely used roller derby rule set in the history of the sport.

There are no rule differences between the MRDA branded version of the WFTDA rules; both organizations play under the universal and consistent “Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby. All sanctioned games of the Men’s Roller Derby Association will be played by the newly-released MRDA branded version of the WFTDA’s rules effective January 1, 2013.

For more information & to download the rules visit http://www.mrda.org/resources

MRDA Announces New Executive Board of Directors

For Immediate Release

11/29/2012 – The Men’s Roller Derby Association is proud to announce its newly-elected Executive Board of Directors. The Executive Board of Directors oversees the MRDA as the governing body for men’s flat track roller derby and will continue to build relationships with other roller derby organizations. Representatives from the 25 leagues voted for the following newly elected Executive Board of Directors:

• President: Erich Bennar (Pioneer Valley Roller Derby – Northampton, MA)
• Vice President: Graham Espe (aka Grambo, The Quadfathers – Utica, NY)
• Secretary: Geno Guerrero (Puget Sound Outcast Derby – Tacoma, WA)
• Treasurer: Jill Vidal (aka Girl Fawkes, Connecticut Death Quads – Waterbury, CT)
• Executive Director of Public Relations: James Brains (Lane County Concussion – Eugene, OR)
• Executive Director of Sanctioning and Games: Jonathan Rockey (aka Jonathan R, New York Shock
  Exchange – NYC, NY)
• Executive Director of Member Relations: Filup Bagby (aka Uncle Jesse McNasty, Dallas
  Deception – Dallas, TX)

The new Executive Board of Directors will officially take office January 15, 2013.

Stepping down from the MRDA Executive Directors is the St. Louis GateKeepers’ Scott Meyer (aka Magnum, p.i.m.p.). Meyer has served on the MRDA’s Board of Directors since its creation. In his role as Vice President over the last year and a half, Meyer worked hard to further the MRDA’s mission. His biggest legacy is working with the WFTDA to offer universal insurance coverage between MRDA and WFTDA. This allows men’s and women’s teams to more easily train and compete together. Please join MRDA in thanking Meyer for his work for the MRDA and for roller derby as a whole.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 17, 2012 – The Men’s Roller Derby Association announced the final rankings for the 2012 season. These rankings will be used to determine the seeding for the MRDA Championships “Gateway to the Best.” The top eight teams have earned an invitation to compete October 20 and 21 in Ballwin, Missouri to determine who the 2012 Champion will be.

With convincing wins over Puget Sound (who fell from #4 to #5) and Rock City (#11, no change), Your Mom Men’s Derby continues to hold the number one spot in the new rankings. The St. Louis GateKeepers, hosts for this year’s Championships, are the biggest movers in the rankings soaring from #5 to #2 thanks in large part to a big victory over the New York Shock Exchange (#3, no change). The previous rankings are available here.

With a big victory over the Race City Rebels, the Mass Maelstrom took the Rebels’ spot in the top eight. Previously ranked #10, the Maelstrom beat the former #7 team to earn a date with Your Mom in the first round of the championship playoffs.

As it continues to expand as part of its mission, MRDA welcomed three new teams to the rankings. These teams qualified by competing in four sanctioned bouts. Teams making their debut are Capital District Trauma Authority at #15, Cowtown Butchers at #17, and the Mean Mountain Boys at #19.

Keep your browser refreshed at mrda.org as we prepare for Championships with team profiles, previews, and skater interviews leading up to men’s roller derby’s most exciting weekend. And, be sure to buy your tickets NOW!

2012 MRDA Mid Season Rankings

1. Your Mom Men’s Derby – Des Moines, Iowa
2. St. Louis GateKeepers – St. Louis, MO
3. New York Shock Exchange – NYC, NY
4. Magic City Misfits – Jacksonville, FL
5. Puget Sound Outcasts – Olympia, WA
6. Portland Men’s Roller Derby – Portland, OR
7. Dallas Deception – Dallas, TX
8. Mass Maelstrom – Lancaster, MA
9. Race City Rebels – Indianapolis, IN
10. Twin Cities Terrors – Minneapolis/St Paul, MN
11. Rock City Riot – Fargo, ND
12. Harm City Homicide – Baltimore, MD
13. Connecticut Death Quads – Waterbury, CT
14. The Dirty Dozen – Northampton, MA
15. Capital District Trauma Authority – Albany, NY
16. Sioux City Korn Stalkers – Sioux City, IA
17. Cowtown Butchers – Kansas City, MO
18. The Quadfathers – Utica, NY
19. Mean Mountain Boys – Burlington, VT

Unranked (In Alphabetical Order)

• Arizona Men’s Derby – Phoenix, AZ
• Carolina Wreckingballs – Columbia, SC
• Deep Valley Belligerents – Ukiah, CA
• Green Bay Smackers – Green Bay, WI
• Lane County Concussion – Eugene, OR
• Tampa Bay Men’s Roller Derby – Tampa Bay, FL

Miss Trial Named MRDA Director of Officiating

For Immediate Release

July 7, 2011– The Men’s Roller Derby Association is proud to announce the addition of Miss Trial to the MRDA Executive Board of Directors. Miss Trial, head ref of the New York Shock Exchange, has been voted by the members as MRDA Director of Officiating. As Director of Officiating she will represent the needs and concerns of all MRDA officials, including the development of a core officiating program specific to men’s roller derby.

If you are interested in being a part of the MRDA and officiating men’s derby please contact Miss Trial here: http://forum.mensderbycoalition.com/

Calling all Referees and NSOs for 2011 MRDA Championships!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 5, 2011 – On Saturday, Oct 22nd, the NY Shock Exchange will be hosting the 2011 Men’s Roller Derby Association Championships at Skate Safe America in Old Bethpage, New York.

The top 6 teams from the MRDA will be competing for the title in the 2011 Championships, and one team will skate away with the Athletic Cup Championship trophy.
MRDA is looking for the finest in stripes and those with special powers when they have a mechanical pencil and clipboard in their hands. If you are interested in participating in this Championship event as a Referee or NSO, please email the following to Miss Trial at [email protected]:

Name
Skater/Ref Name
League Affiliation
Insurance Information (including #)
Email
Phone Number
3 Derby References (their Name, Derby Affiliation & Contact Info)
Ref/NSO Positions you are capable of performing
Emergency Contact information
Any medical issues that would effect your ability to officiate

Please also attach your complete Ref/NSO Resume. Deadline for applications is August 15, 2011.

More information about the 2011 MRDA Championships: http://www.nyshockexchange.com/mrda-championships/

MRDA Reopens Membership and Announces 3 New Member Leagues:

Your Mom Men’s Derby from Des Moines, Iowa

Quadfathers Men’s Roller Derby from Utica,

NY Rock City Riot from Fargo-Moorhead, ND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 27, 2011 – Your Mom Men’s Derby becomes the first of three new members of Men’s Roller Derby Association of 2011. YMMD strives to promote roller sports in all its forms, and have been involved in several disciplines of roller sports for a number of years. YMMD’s sister league is the Des Moines Derby Dames, a WFTDA apprentice league. This upstart men’s team from Iowa displays prowess and is ready for some serious competition. Your Mom’s travel team has scheduled bouts against the top ranked teams of the MRDA for this summer in their quest to be ranked amongst the elite. For more information about YMMD and you are in the Des Moines, Iowa area, you can find information about them here: http://www.yourmommensderby.com

Quadfathers Men’s Roller Derby joins 2010 Champions, NYSE as the second MRDA members in the state of NY. Quadfathers started like many from the reffing community of their local sister league, who are WFTDA members Central New York Roller Derby. Quadfathers have a home bout against Capital District Trauma Authority on July 30th in Rome NY and then take on veteran MRDA members NYSE at the Empire Skate Showdown in August. For more information about the Quadfathers you can find them here: http://www.quadfathers.com

Rock City Riot from Fargo, North Dakota, complete the first group of new members of 2011. RCR’s sister league is WFTDA apprentice league Fargo-Moorhead Derby Girls, who were key in their development. Neighboring MRDA members are the Twin City Terrors of Minnesota. On June 25, Milwaukee Blitzdkrieg will visit Fargo to bout the Rock City Riot. For more information about Rock City Riot find them here: http://www.rockcityriot.com

The Men’s Roller Derby Association membership opened June 1st for more information about joining: http://www.mrda.org/membershiprequirements

MRDA Names Its Executive Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 17, 2011 – On June 7th, the Men’s Roller Derby Association voted and named the inaugural Executive Board of Directors. The Executive Board of Directors will oversee the MRDA as the governing body for men’s flat track roller derby and continue in building relationships with other roller derby organizations. Representatives from the 11 leagues voted in favor of designating the Executive Board of Directors.

The following are the newly elected Executive Board of Directors:

Director of Public Relations: Geno Guerrero (aka G.No Evil, Puget Sound Outcast Derby)
Director of Games: Jon Rockey (aka Jonathan R, New York Shock Exchange)
Director of Member Relations: Filup Bagby (aka Uncle Jesse McNasty, Dallas Deception)
Secretary: Dave Weir (aka Jewbacca / Dave Atonement, Race City Rebels)
Vice President: Scott Meyer (aka Magnum p.i.m.p., St. Louis GateKeepers)
President: Erich Bennar (aka Dr. Spankenstein, Pioneer Valley Roller Derby)
Pending to be filled: Treasurer and Director of Officiating

The MRDA’s Executive Board of Director’s first orders include; membership benefits and new member registration, refine branding and marketing efforts, finalize policies for game sanctioning and tournament play, marketing and public relations.

For any questions concerning the MRDA can be directed to: [email protected]

MRDA releases 2011 Midseason Rankings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 8, 2011 – The Men’s Roller Derby Association is pleased to announce its 2011 midseason rankings. After expanding to a national presence, the MRDA has begun determining member rankings by a vote from each club. The final, September rankings of the 2011 season will determine the top 6 teams that battle it out at the MRDA championships on October 22, 2011 in Old Bethpage, New York.

Men’s Roller Derby Association 2011 Midseason Rankings

1) St. Louis GateKeepers
2) New York Shock Exchange
3) Magic City Misfits
4) Puget Sound Outcasts
5) Pioneer Valley Roller Derby: The Dirty Dozen
6) Dallas Deception
7) Twin Cities Terrors
8) Harm City Homicide
9) Connecticut Death Quads
10) Race City Rebels
11) Central Mass Roller Derby: Mass Maelstrom

Men’s Roller Derby Association Releases Unisex Version of WFTDA Ruleset

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2, 2011 – The Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA) proudly announces the release of a unisex version of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association ruleset. With permission from the WFTDA, the MRDA modified the feminine ruleset to an inclusive, gender neutral version. The WFTDA ruleset governs hundreds of leagues around the world and considered to be the most widely used roller derby ruleset in the history of the sport.

In April of 2007, the first modern men’s roller derby game was played by WFTDA v.1 with the standardized procedures of the inaugural East Coast Derby Extravaganza Rules. The only modification was making all feminine pronouns masculine. Major changes since that ruleset include the elimination of match races, the termination of penalty box substitutions, the switch from “first pass” scoring to “any pass” scoring, and the change from 3×20 minute periods to 2×30 minute period halves. Additionally, the clarifications concerning how game impact determines the difference between minor and major penalities has allowed for more standardized officiating.

There are no rule changes in the MRDA Ruleset; MRDA has preserved all nuances of the current WFTDA Ruleset. All sanctioned games of the Men’s Roller Derby Association will be governed by the newly released MRDA Ruleset, effective immediately.

For more information & to download the rules: http://www.mrda.org/

Men’s Roller Derby Association Membership:

Central Mass Roller Derby

Connecticut Death Quads

Dallas Deception

Harm City Homicide

Magic City Misfits

New York Shock Exchange

Pioneer Valley Roller Derby

Puget Sound Outcast Derby

Race City Rebels

St. Louis GateKeepers

Twin Cities Terrors