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Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 1

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The Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 1 (WFTDA Division 1) is the highest level of play in women's flat track roller derby.

Organisation

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The division consists of the 36 highest-ranked members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, based on performance over the previous year, who compete across three Playoff tournaments with 12 teams at each Playoff.[1]

Historically, the WFTDA instead operated four regions: East, North Central, South Central and West. At the start of 2013, these were redivided into three divisions, each operating worldwide. However, foreseeing continued growth in membership, the WFTDA stated that future developments were likely to include new regional structures alongside the divisional system.[2] Through 2016, under the original divisional system, Division 1 comprised the top 40 eligible teams, with the next 20 eligible teams qualifying for Division 2 Playoffs.[2]

Teams in Division 1 play in bouts through the year, aiming to qualify for one of the three Division 1 Playoffs. Starting with 2015, sanctioned-game play requirements were modified to be simply any 4 WFTDA-sanctioned games played between December 1 of the previous calendar year and June 30, without a requirement to play a certain number of games against similarly-ranked opponents.[3] Teams which do not play a minimum number of sanctioned bouts are not permitted to compete at the Playoffs.[2] The next 16-ranked teams as of June of the calendar year remain eligible for Division 2 Playoffs.[1]

Member leagues

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The 2017 Division 1 member list was announced by the WFTDA on July 14.[4] Two teams that were in the top 36 on June 30 - #23 Adelaide Roller Derby of Adelaide, Australia, and #26 Team United Women's Roller Derby of Des Moines, Iowa - did not meet gameplay requirements to qualify for WFTDA Playoffs.[5] Two eligible leagues, #31 Rocky Mountain Rollergirls of Denver, Colorado and #33 Blue Ridge Rollergirls of Asheville, North Carolina both declined,[6] and this allowed teams as low as #40 Wasatch Roller Derby to participate. As a result, the table below features 38 teams, including the two that declined participating in the 2017 Division 1 Playoffs.

League City Country Year(s) of membership
Victorian Roller Derby League (VRDL) A Coruña Spain 2018
2×4 Roller Derby Buenos Aires Argentina 2017
Angel City Derby Girls Los Angeles, CA United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Ann Arbor Roller Derby Ann Arbor, MI United States 2016, 2017
Arch Rival Roller Derby St. Louis, MO United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Arizona Roller Derby Phoenix, AZ United States 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
Atlanta Rollergirls Atlanta, GA United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Bay Area Derby Oakland, CA United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Blue Ridge Rollergirls Asheville, NC United States 2017[a]
Calgary Roller Derby Association Calgary, AB Canada 2017
Charlottesville Derby Dames Charlottesville, VA United States 2015, 2017
Charm City Roller Girls Baltimore, MD United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017
Crime City Rollers Malmö Sweden 2015, 2016, 2017
Dallas Derby Devils Dallas, TX United States 2015, 2016, 2017
Denver Roller Derby Denver, CO United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Detroit Roller Derby Detroit, MI United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Gotham Girls Roller Derby New York, NY United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Helsinki Roller Derby Helsinki Finland 2015, 2016, 2017
Houston Roller Derby Houston, TX United States 2013, 2014, 2017
Jacksonville RollerGirls Jacksonville, FL United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Kallio Rolling Rainbow Helsinki Finland 2016, 2017
London Rollergirls London England 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Mad Rollin' Dolls Madison, WI United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Minnesota RollerGirls Saint Paul, MN United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Montreal Roller Derby Montreal, QC Canada 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Philly Roller Derby Philadelphia, PA United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Queen City Roller Girls Buffalo, NY United States 2015, 2016, 2017
Rainy City Roller Derby Manchester England 2016, 2017
Rat City Roller Derby Seattle, WA United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Rocky Mountain Rollergirls Denver, CO United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017[a]
Rose City Rollers Portland, OR United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Santa Cruz Derby Girls Santa Cruz, CA United States 2014, 2016, 2017
Stockholm Roller Derby Stockholm Sweden 2015, 2016, 2017
Tampa Roller Derby Tampa, FL United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Terminal City Rollergirls Vancouver, BC Canada 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Texas Rollergirls Austin, TX United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Victorian Roller Derby League Melbourne, VIC Australia 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Wasatch Roller Derby Salt Lake City, UT United States 2013, 2014, 2017
Windy City Rollers Chicago, IL United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Notes
  1. ^ a b team declined invitation to Playoffs this year

Past members

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The initial Division 1 membership list for 2013 was based upon the team's rankings as of June 30, 2012.[2] The 2014 Division 1 membership list was announced on 9 December 2013, based on the overall rankings that took effect as of 30 November 2013.[7][8] The same methodology was employed in 2014, and membership of Division 1 that year mostly comprised teams from the United States, but also Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Eight teams which were original members dropped out of Division 1 membership at the conclusion of the 2013 WFTDA season.[9] Since then, additional teams have dropped out of Division 1.

Starting in 2015, division assignments were announced based on June 30 rankings, and in-division gameplay requirements were removed.[3] As the annual June 30 rankings now determines Playoff position, and as the divisional definition is only used for playoff assignments,[3] the rankings as of June 30, 2016 determine Division 1 membership.[10] Membership includes all teams that are eligible for Division 1 Playoffs, even if a team declines their invitation to Playoffs, as well as teams ranked beyond the usual Division 1 cutoff who are invited due to higher-ranked teams not competing. Teams that do not meet minimum gameplay requirements are ineligible to receive a Playoffs invitation and therefore not included as Division 1 members. In 2016 Division 1 also included members from Finland and Sweden.

League City Country Year(s) of membership Current status
Bleeding Heartland Rollergirls Bloomington, IN United States 2014 out of Playoffs
Boston Roller Derby Boston, MA United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Division 2
Brewcity Bruisers Milwaukee, WI United States 2013 out of Playoffs
Carolina Rollergirls Raleigh, NC United States 2013 out of Playoffs
Chicago Outfit Roller Derby Chicago, IL United States 2013 out of Playoffs
Cincinnati Rollergirls Cincinnati, OH United States 2013, 2014 out of Playoffs
DC Rollergirls Washington, DC United States 2013 out of Playoffs
Dutchland Rollers Lancaster, PA United States 2013 out of Playoffs
Glasgow Roller Derby Glasgow Scotland 2015 out of Playoffs
Jet City Rollergirls Everett, WA United States 2014 Division 2
Kansas City Roller Warriors Kansas City, MO United States 2013, 2014 out of Playoffs
Naptown Roller Derby Indianapolis, IN United States 2013, 2014, 2016 Division 2
Nashville Rollergirls Nashville, TN United States 2013, 2014 out of Playoffs
New Hampshire Roller Derby Nashua, NH United States 2014 out of Playoffs
No Coast Derby Girls Lincoln, NE United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Division 2
Ohio Roller Derby Columbus, OH United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Division 2
Oklahoma Victory Dolls Oklahoma City, OK United States 2014 Division 2
Oly Rollers Olympia, WA United States 2013, 2014 inactive in WFTDA play[a]
Omaha Rollergirls Omaha, NE United States 2013 out of Playoffs
Pikes Peak Derby Dames Colorado Springs, CO United States 2015 out of Playoffs
Rideau Valley Roller Girls Ottawa, ON Canada 2015 out of Playoffs[b]
Sacred City Derby Girls Sacramento, CA United States 2013, 2014, 2016 out of Playoffs[c]
Steel City Roller Derby Pittsburgh, PA United States 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 out of Playoffs
Sun State Roller Girls Brisbane, QLD Australia 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Division 2
Tallahassee Rollergirls Tallahassee, FL United States 2013 out of Playoffs
Team United Women's Roller Derby Des Moines, IA United States 2015, 2016 out of Playoffs
Toronto Roller Derby Toronto, ON Canada 2014, 2015 out of Playoffs
Tri-City Roller Derby Kitchener-Waterloo, ON Canada 2015 out of Playoffs
Notes
  1. ^ Oly was a Division 1 team in both 2013 and 2014, however they did not meet their sanctioned game requirements for Playoffs, and have not since.
  2. ^ Rideau Valley merged with Capital City Derby Dolls in January 2018, and they rebranded as Ottawa Valley Roller Derby.
  3. ^ Sacred City merged with Sac City Rollers in late 2017, and they rebranded as Sacramento Roller Derby in January 2018.

Division 1 Playoffs

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Prior to 2015,[7] teams in Division 1 played in bouts through the year, aiming to qualify for one of the four Division 1 Playoffs. Each Playoff includes ten teams. However, Division 1 teams are not guaranteed a playoff spot, as teams in lower divisions can qualify by being ranked among the top forty WFTDA members. Additionally, teams which do not play a minimum number of sanctioned bouts are not permitted to compete at the Playoffs,[2] with Division 1 teams required to play at least 4 WFTDA-sanctioned bouts following the previous year's championship and the current year's June 30, with at least 3 of those being against other D1 teams.[11]

After 2015, in-division gameplay requirements for playoff consideration were dropped, leaving the June 30 rankings as the sole determinant of division eligibility.[2]

2013 Playoffs

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All four of the 2013 Playoffs were played in the United States. The top three teams from each Playoff qualify for the WFTDA Championships, and the London Rollergirls became the first ever non-U.S. team to achieve this.[12] The Oly Rollers, who on June 30, 2013 were ranked 3rd overall, chose not to compete in the required minimum sanctioned games, with the full knowledge they would miss the WFTDA tournaments as a result.[13] Oly still remains a member of the WFTDA and could have qualified for 2014 WFTDA playoffs if they met their requirements.[13]

Location Dates Champions Second Third
Fort Wayne, IN 6-8 September 2013 Denver Roller Dolls Ohio Rollergirls London Rollergirls
Richmond, VA 13-15 September 2013 Texas Rollergirls Philly Roller Girls Angel City Derby Girls
Asheville, NC 20-22 September 2013 Gotham Girls Roller Derby Rocky Mountain Rollergirls Windy City Rollers
Salem, OR 27-29 September 2013 B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls Atlanta Rollergirls Rat City Rollergirls

2014 Playoffs

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All four of the 2014 Playoff tournaments were again played in the United States, and again the top three teams from each tournament qualified for the 2014 WFTDA Championships.

Location Dates Champions Second Third
Sacramento, CA[14] 5-7 September 2014 Gotham Girls Roller Derby[15] Denver Roller Dolls Minnesota Rollergirls[16]
Evansville, IN[17] 19-21 September 2014 London Rollergirls[18] Windy City Rollers Texas Rollergirls
Salt Lake City, UT[19] 26-28 September 2014 B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls[20] Angel City Derby Girls Rocky Mountain Rollergirls
Charleston, WV[21] 3-5 October 2014 Rose City Rollers[22] Victorian Roller Derby League[23] Philly Roller Girls

2015 Playoffs

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The same format was used for the 2015 Playoffs.[24]

Location Dates Champions Second Third
Tucson, AZ 4–6 September 2015 Victorian Roller Derby League B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls Arch Rival Roller Girls
Dallas, TX 11–13 September 2015 Rose City Rollers Texas Rollergirls Rat City Rollergirls
Jacksonville, FL 18–20 September 2015 London Rollergirls Jacksonville RollerGirls Denver Roller Derby
Omaha, NE 2–4 October 2015 Gotham Girls Roller Derby Angel City Derby Girls Minnesota RollerGirls

2016 Playoffs

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The 2016 Division 1 Playoffs followed the same format as previous years, once again distributing the qualifying teams using an S-curve seeding structure.[25] For the first time, two of the Division 1 tournaments were held outside the United States, both in Canada: the first in Montreal, hosted by Montreal Roller Derby,[26] and the second in Vancouver, hosted by Terminal City Rollergirls.[27] Montreal Roller Derby became the first Canadian team to qualify for the Division 1 Championship by placing third at their own tournament in September.[28]

Location Dates Champions Second Third
Montreal, QC[29] 2–4 September 2016 London Rollergirls Texas Rollergirls Montreal Roller Derby
Columbia, SC[30] 9–11 September 2016 Rose City Rollers Denver Roller Derby Jacksonville RollerGirls
Vancouver, BC[31] 16–18 September 2016 Victorian Roller Derby League Angel City Derby Girls Rat City Rollergirls
Madison, WI[32] 23–25 September 2016 Gotham Girls Roller Derby Arch Rival Roller Derby Minnesota RollerGirls

2017 Playoffs

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A new structure was announced for 2017, whereby Division 1 membership was reduced to the top 36 eligible teams, to be spread over three Playoff tournaments with 12 teams each; the top four teams from each playoff will advance to Championships.[1] The 2017 Division 1 Playoffs were held in Seattle, Washington September 1–3, Malmö, Sweden September 8–10, and Dallas, Texas September 22–24, feeding into the 2017 Championships in Philadelphia.[33] The participating teams were announced on July 14, 2017.[34]

Location Dates Champions Second Third Fourth
Seattle, WA[35] 1–3 September 2017 Rose City Rollers Angel City Derby Girls Montreal Roller Derby Rat City Rollergirls
Malmö, SWE[36] 8–10 September 2017 Gotham Girls Roller Derby Denver Roller Derby London Rollergirls Crime City Rollers
Dallas, TX[37] 22–24 September 2017 Victorian Roller Derby League Texas Rollergirls Arch Rival Roller Derby Minnesota RollerGirls

References

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  1. ^ a b c "WFTDA Releases Tournament Locations and New Playoffs and Championships Structure – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "WFTDA COMPETITIVE DIVISIONS SYSTEM" (PDF). wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "WFTDA Releases Nov. 30 Rankings, Announces Change to Division Assignment Process". WFTDA. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  4. ^ "WFTDA Releases June 30 Rankings and 2017 Playoffs Seeding – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  5. ^ Deadwards, Lisa (14 July 2017). "2017 WFTDA June Rankings and Tournament Seeding". Derby Central. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  6. ^ "The 2017 WFTDA Playoff Placement Announcement Is Out!". The Apex. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Nov. 30 WFTDA Rankings, New Division Assignments Released". WFTDA. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Rankings: November 30, 2013 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  9. ^ Jennings, Hannah (11 December 2013). "WFTDA Releases November Rankings – Top 3 stable, big gain for London". Derby News Network. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Rankings: June 30, 2016". WFTDA. July 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  11. ^ Coby, Alex Sassoon (8 June 2013). "Oly Tournament Eligibility in Question". Derby News Network. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Three Quarters of WFTDA D1 Championships Teams Set", WFTDA, 24 September 2013
  13. ^ a b Coby, Alex Sassoon (19 June 2013). "Oly Confirms 2013 WFTDA Playoff Absence". Derby News Network. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  14. ^ Mednick, Matthew (5 September 2014). "WFTDA Division I playoffs: Denver dusts Santa Cruz Derby Girls". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  15. ^ Wise, Beck (7 September 2014). "D1S: Gotham Surmounts Denver, 193-89". Derby News Network. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  16. ^ Wise, Beck (7 September 2014). "D1S 3rd: Minnesota Slaughters Rat City, 197-142". Derby News Network. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  17. ^ Frye, Andy (17 September 2014). "Meet Julie Brandt-Glass, The Usain Bolt Of Roller Derby". ESPN. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  18. ^ "London Rollergirls Win WFTDA Playoffs Evansville". WFTDA. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  19. ^ Sheehan, Gavin (21 August 2014). "Wasatch Roller Derby: 2014 Championship Preview". City Weekly. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  20. ^ "Bay Area Wins WFTDA Playoffs Salt Lake City". WFTDA. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  21. ^ "Ten of world's best roller derby teams competing in Charleston". Herald-Dispatch. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  22. ^ Vondersmith, Jason (30 October 2014). "Wheels of Justice compete to be queens of the world rink". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  23. ^ "Oct. 3-5: Charleston, West Virginia, USA". WFTDA. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  24. ^ WFTDA, "2015 International Playoffs & Championships"
  25. ^ "2016 International Tournaments - Who Plays Where?". WFTDA. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  26. ^ Deadwards, Lisa (1 September 2016). "2016 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Montréal Preview". Derby Central. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  27. ^ "Roller derby ready to rumble at Olympic Oval". Richmond News. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  28. ^ Khaos, Merry (4 September 2016). "D1M 3rd Place: #4 Montréal punches champs ticket over #3 Bay Area, 178-166". Derby Central. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  29. ^ "2016 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Montréal Central". Derby Central. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  30. ^ "2016 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Columbia Central". Derby Central. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  31. ^ "2016 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Vancouver Central". Derby Central. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  32. ^ "2016 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Madison Central". Derby Central. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  33. ^ "WFTDA Releases Tournament Locations and New Playoffs and Championships Structure – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  34. ^ Deadwards, Lisa (14 July 2017). "2017 WFTDA June Rankings and Tournament Seeding". Derby Central. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  35. ^ "2017 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Seattle Central". Derby Central. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  36. ^ "2017 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Malmö Central". Derby Central. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  37. ^ "2017 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Dallas Central". Derby Central. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
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