The Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 2 (WFTDA Division 2) was the second-highest level of play in women's flat track roller derby from 2013 through 2017. Comprising different structures over that time, in early 2018 the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) announced it was replacing the Division 2 Playoffs with geographically-based Continental Cups, the structure and quantity of which is expected to adjust and possibly expand over time.[1]
Organisation
Historically, the WFTDA divided member leagues into four geographical 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]
For 2013 and 2014, the division consisted of the members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association who were ranked from 41 to 100. The rankings were set at the start of each year, based on performance over the previous year. Although rankings are updated during the year, teams would only transfer between divisions at the start of each year. Teams in Division 2 played in bouts through the year, aiming to qualify for one of the end-of-year playoff tournaments. Any Division 2 teams which were ranked in the WFTDA's top forty at the end of June each year qualified for the WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs. Those ranked between 41 and 60, which might have included WFTDA Division 3 teams who met sanctioned-game play requirements, qualified for one of the two Division 2 Playoffs.
Starting with 2015, sanctioned-game play requirements were modified to be simply any four 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 did not play a minimum number of sanctioned bouts were not permitted to compete at the Playoffs.[2] Eligible teams ranked 41-60 as of June of the calendar year remained eligible for Division 2 Playoffs. If a team that meets eligibility requirements declines their invitation, the teams ranked next beyond 60 fill available spots so that 20 teams still take part.[4]
Starting with 2017, the system was restructured to place the top 36 teams in the WFTDA in Division 1, with teams ranked 37 through 52 qualifying for a single, 16-team Division 2 Playoff tournament and championship.[5] The 2017 tournament was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted by Steel City Roller Derby.[5]
2017 member leagues
The 2017 Division 2 member list was announced by the WFTDA on July 14.[6][7] Two eligible leagues, Sun State Roller Girls of Brisbane, Australia and Sac City Rollers of Sacramento, California both declined,[8] and combined with other higher ranked teams either declining or not meeting eligibility requirements, allowed teams as low as #58 Dublin Roller Derby to participate. As a result, the table below features 18 teams, including the two that declined participating in the Pittsburgh Playoffs and Championship.
- Notes
- 1 2 3 team declined invitation to Playoffs this year
- ↑ Sac City and Sacred City merged in late 2017, and in January 2018 rebranded as Sacramento Roller Derby.
Past members
The initial Division 1 membership list for 2013 was based upon the team's rankings as of June 30, 2012.[9] The 2014 Division 2 membership list was announced on 9 December 2013, based on the overall rankings that took effect as of 30 November 2013.[10][11] The membership of Division 2 in 2014 mostly comprised teams from the United States, but also three from Canada and two from Scotland. From 2013-14, membership comprised teams ranked 41-100 overall per those year's specified dates.
With Division 2 game play requirements abandoned starting with the 2015 season, membership currently denotes teams that meet gameplay requirements and thus eligibility for that year's Division 2 Playoffs, and includes teams who declined Playoff invitations, along with higher-ranked teams that competed.[3] The 2015 membership list was derived from that year's June 30 rankings.[12] The 2016 Division 2 member list was announced by the WFTDA on July 15 of that year.[13] Two eligible leagues, Auld Reekie Roller Girls of Edinburgh and Paradise City Roller Derby of Gold Coast, Australia both declined, allowing #61 Grand Raggidy Roller Girls and #62 Carolina Rollergirls to take part.[4]
- Notes
- ↑ Des Moines folded at the end of 2014. Team United Women's Roller Derby was subsequently founded as a new league in Des Moines.
- ↑ Mid Iowa is inactive as of 2017, but maintains a website. Team United Women's Roller Derby was formed with former Mid Iowa members.
- ↑ NEO merged with Rubber City at the end of 2016, and the merged organization rebranded as Akron Roller Derby.
- ↑ Oklahoma City merged into Oklahoma Victory Dolls in early 2017, and the combined organization continues under the latter's name.
- ↑ Paper Valley merged with Fox City Foxz in late 2015, and the merged organization rebranded as Fox Cities Roller Derby.
- 1 2 team declined invitation to Playoffs this year
- ↑ Sac City and Sacred City merged in late 2017, and in January 2018 rebranded as Sacramento Roller Derby.
Playoff tournaments
2013
Both of the 2013 Playoff tournaments were played in the United States.
| Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 16-18 August 2013 | Jet City Rollergirls | Blue Ridge Rollergirls | Treasure Valley Rollergirls |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 23-25 August 2013 | Santa Cruz Derby Girls | Sac City Rollers | Killamazoo Derby Darlins |
2013 Championship
| Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 8-10 November, 2013[14] | Jet City Rollergirls | Santa Cruz Derby Girls | Blue Ridge Rollergirls |
2014
The first 2014 Playoff tournament was held in Duluth, Minnesota,[15] and the second was held in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, the first WFTDA Playoff tournament to be held outside the United States.[16] At Kitchener-Waterloo, the Rideau Valley Roller Girls from Ottawa, Ontario became the first non-American team to win a WFTDA playoff tournament.[17]
| Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 15-17 August 2014 | Detroit Derby Girls[18] | Fabulous Sin City Rollergirls | St. Chux Derby Chix |
| Kitchener-Waterloo, ON | 22-24 August 2014 | Rideau Valley Roller Girls[19][17] | Bear City Roller Derby | Killamazoo Derby Darlins |
2014 Championship
| Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 31 October - 2 November, 2014 | Detroit Derby Girls[20] | Rideau Valley Roller Girls | Bear City Roller Derby |
2015
Both 2015 Playoffs were held in the United States.[21]
| Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | 21-23 August 2015 | Kansas City Roller Warriors | Demolition City Roller Derby | Santa Cruz Derby Girls |
| Detroit, MI | 28-30 August 2015 | Nashville Rollergirls | Sacred City Derby Girls | Naptown Roller Girls |
2015 Championship
| Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Paul, MN | 6-8 November 2015 | Sacred City Derby Girls | Nashville Rollergirls | Demolition City Roller Derby |
2016
Both 2016 Playoffs were again held in the United States.[22]
| Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS[23] | 19-21 August 2016 | Brandywine Roller Derby | Blue Ridge Rollergirls | Jet City Rollergirls |
| Lansing, MI[24] | 26-28 August 2016 | Calgary Roller Derby Association | Charlottesville Derby Dames | Charm City Roller Girls |
2016 Championship
| Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | 4-6 November 2016 | Blue Ridge Rollergirls[25] | Brandywine Roller Derby | Calgary Roller Derby Association[26] |
2017
Playoffs and Championship In 2017, the Playoffs were combined into a single two-track tournament in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with the Division 2 championship awarded at its conclusion.[27]
| Location | Dates | Champion | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 18-20 August 2017 | Boston Roller Derby[28] | Paris Rollergirls[28] | Naptown Roller Derby[28] |
References
- ↑ "WFTDA Announces 2018 and 2019 Playoffs Structure and New Continental Cups System – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
- 1 2 "WFTDA Competitive Division Systems" (PDF). WFTDA. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- 1 2 "WFTDA Releases Nov. 30 Rankings, Announces Change to Division Assignment Process". WFTDA. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- 1 2 Deadwards, Lisa (15 July 2016). "2016 WFTDA June Rankings and Tournament Seeding". Derby Central. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- 1 2 "WFTDA Releases Tournament Locations and New Playoffs and Championships Structure – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ↑ "WFTDA Releases June 30 Rankings and 2017 Playoffs Seeding – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ↑ Deadwards, Lisa (14 July 2017). "2017 WFTDA June Rankings and Tournament Seeding". Derby Central. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ↑ "The 2017 WFTDA Playoff Placement Announcement Is Out!". The Apex. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ↑ "WFTDA COMPETITIVE DIVISIONS SYSTEM" (PDF). wftda.com. WFTDA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- ↑ "Current Rankings". WFTDA. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
- ↑ "Nov. 30 WFTDA Rankings, New Division Assignments Released". WFTDA. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
- ↑ "Rankings: June 30, 2015 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- ↑ "WFTDA Releases June 30 2016 Rankings and Tournament Seeding - LatestNews - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. WFTDA. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ↑ 2013 Championships
- ↑ "Top women's roller derby teams head to Duluth". CTV News. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ↑ Rivet, Christine (23 August 2014). "Derby gals invade Waterloo". Waterloo Record. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- 1 2 Scholey, Lucy (29 August 2014). "Ottawa roller derby team scores first international tournament win". Metro. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ↑ "August 15-17, 2014: Duluth, Minnesota, USA". WFTDA. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ↑ "August 22-24: Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada". WFTDA. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ↑ "Oct. 31 - Nov. 2: Nashville, Tennessee, USA". WFTDA. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ↑ WFTDA, "2015 International Playoffs & Championships"
- ↑ "Welcome to WFTDA Tournament Central! - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. WFTDA. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ↑ "August 19-21, 2016 - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. WFTDA. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ↑ "August 26-28, 2016 - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. WFTDA. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ↑ Mishel Castro (6 November 2016). "WFTDA Champs: Blue Ridge takes 1st vs Brandywine 257-188". Derby Central. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ↑ "WFTDA Champs: Calgary takes 3rd vs Charlottesville, 252-197". Derby Central. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ↑ "Boston Takes 2017 Division 2 Championships – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 20 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- 1 2 3 Deadwards, Lisa (21 August 2017). "#7 Boston repeats victory against #3 Paris, 166-150". Derby Central. Retrieved 22 August 2017.