Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 1

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 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.

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. 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.

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. Teams which do not play a minimum number of sanctioned bouts are not permitted to compete at the Playoffs. The next 16-ranked teams as of June of the calendar year remain eligible for Division 2 Playoffs.

Member leagues

The 2017 Division 1 member list was announced by the WFTDA on July 14. 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. Two eligible leagues, #31 Rocky Mountain Rollergirls of Denver, Colorado and #33 Blue Ridge Rollergirls of Asheville, North Carolina both declined, 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.

LeagueCityCountryYear(s) of membershipVictorian Roller Derby League (VRDL)A CoruñaSpain20182×4 Roller DerbyBuenos AiresArgentina2017Angel City Derby GirlsLos Angeles, CAUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Ann Arbor Roller DerbyAnn Arbor, MIUnited States2016, 2017Arch Rival Roller DerbySt. Louis, MOUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Arizona Roller DerbyPhoenix, AZUnited States2013, 2015, 2016, 2017Atlanta RollergirlsAtlanta, GAUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Bay Area DerbyOakland, CAUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Blue Ridge RollergirlsAsheville, NCUnited States2017Calgary Roller Derby AssociationCalgary, ABCanada2017Charlottesville Derby DamesCharlottesville, VAUnited States2015, 2017Charm City Roller GirlsBaltimore, MDUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2017Crime City RollersMalmöSweden2015, 2016, 2017Dallas Derby DevilsDallas, TXUnited States2015, 2016, 2017Denver Roller DerbyDenver, COUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Detroit Roller DerbyDetroit, MIUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Gotham Girls Roller DerbyNew York, NYUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Helsinki Roller DerbyHelsinkiFinland2015, 2016, 2017Houston Roller DerbyHouston, TXUnited States2013, 2014, 2017Jacksonville RollerGirlsJacksonville, FLUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Kallio Rolling RainbowHelsinkiFinland2016, 2017London RollergirlsLondonEngland2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Mad Rollin' DollsMadison, WIUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Minnesota RollerGirlsSaint Paul, MNUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Montreal Roller DerbyMontreal, QCCanada2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Philly Roller DerbyPhiladelphia, PAUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Queen City Roller GirlsBuffalo, NYUnited States2015, 2016, 2017Rainy City Roller DerbyManchesterEngland2016, 2017Rat City Roller DerbySeattle, WAUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Rocky Mountain RollergirlsDenver, COUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Rose City RollersPortland, ORUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Santa Cruz Derby GirlsSanta Cruz, CAUnited States2014, 2016, 2017Stockholm Roller DerbyStockholmSweden2015, 2016, 2017Tampa Roller DerbyTampa, FLUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Terminal City RollergirlsVancouver, BCCanada2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Texas RollergirlsAustin, TXUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Victorian Roller Derby LeagueMelbourne, VICAustralia2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Wasatch Roller DerbySalt Lake City, UTUnited States2013, 2014, 2017Windy City RollersChicago, ILUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Notes

Past members The initial Division 1 membership list for 2013 was based upon the team's rankings as of June 30, 2012. 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. 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. 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. As the annual June 30 rankings now determines Playoff position, and as the divisional definition is only used for playoff assignments, the rankings as of June 30, 2016 determine Division 1 membership. 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.

LeagueCityCountryYear(s) of membershipCurrent statusBleeding Heartland RollergirlsBloomington, INUnited States2014out of PlayoffsBoston Roller DerbyBoston, MAUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016Division 2Brewcity BruisersMilwaukee, WIUnited States2013out of PlayoffsCarolina RollergirlsRaleigh, NCUnited States2013out of PlayoffsChicago Outfit Roller DerbyChicago, ILUnited States2013out of PlayoffsCincinnati RollergirlsCincinnati, OHUnited States2013, 2014out of PlayoffsDC RollergirlsWashington, DCUnited States2013out of PlayoffsDutchland RollersLancaster, PAUnited States2013out of PlayoffsGlasgow Roller DerbyGlasgowScotland2015out of PlayoffsJet City RollergirlsEverett, WAUnited States2014Division 2Kansas City Roller WarriorsKansas City, MOUnited States2013, 2014out of PlayoffsNaptown Roller DerbyIndianapolis, INUnited States2013, 2014, 2016Division 2Nashville RollergirlsNashville, TNUnited States2013, 2014out of PlayoffsNew Hampshire Roller DerbyNashua, NHUnited States2014out of PlayoffsNo Coast Derby GirlsLincoln, NEUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016Division 2Ohio Roller DerbyColumbus, OHUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016Division 2Oklahoma Victory DollsOklahoma City, OKUnited States2014Division 2Oly RollersOlympia, WAUnited States2013, 2014inactive in WFTDA playOmaha RollergirlsOmaha, NEUnited States2013out of PlayoffsPikes Peak Derby DamesColorado Springs, COUnited States2015out of PlayoffsRideau Valley Roller GirlsOttawa, ONCanada2015out of PlayoffsSacred City Derby GirlsSacramento, CAUnited States2013, 2014, 2016out of PlayoffsSteel City Roller DerbyPittsburgh, PAUnited States2013, 2014, 2015, 2016out of PlayoffsSun State Roller GirlsBrisbane, QLDAustralia2013, 2014, 2015, 2016Division 2Tallahassee RollergirlsTallahassee, FLUnited States2013out of PlayoffsTeam United Women's Roller DerbyDes Moines, IAUnited States2015, 2016out of PlayoffsToronto Roller DerbyToronto, ONCanada2014, 2015out of PlayoffsTri-City Roller DerbyKitchener-Waterloo, ONCanada2015out of Playoffs

Notes

Division 1 Playoffs Prior to 2015, 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, 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.

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

2013 Playoffs 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."Three Quarters of WFTDA D1 Championships Teams Set", WFTDA, 24 September 2013 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. Oly still remains a member of the WFTDA and could have qualified for 2014 WFTDA playoffs if they met their requirements.

LocationDatesChampionsSecondThirdFort Wayne, IN6-8 September 2013Denver Roller DollsOhio RollergirlsLondon RollergirlsRichmond, VA13-15 September 2013Texas RollergirlsPhilly Roller GirlsAngel City Derby GirlsAsheville, NC20-22 September 2013Gotham Girls Roller DerbyRocky Mountain RollergirlsWindy City RollersSalem, OR27-29 September 2013B.ay A.rea D.erby GirlsAtlanta RollergirlsRat City Rollergirls

2014 Playoffs 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.

LocationDatesChampionsSecondThirdSacramento, CA5-7 September 2014Gotham Girls Roller DerbyDenver Roller DollsMinnesota RollergirlsEvansville, IN19-21 September 2014London RollergirlsWindy City RollersTexas RollergirlsSalt Lake City, UT26-28 September 2014B.ay A.rea D.erby GirlsAngel City Derby GirlsRocky Mountain RollergirlsCharleston, WV3-5 October 2014Rose City RollersVictorian Roller Derby LeaguePhilly Roller Girls

2015 Playoffs The same format was used for the 2015 Playoffs.WFTDA, "2015 International Playoffs & Championships"

LocationDatesChampionsSecondThirdTucson, AZ 4–6 September 2015 Victorian Roller Derby League B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls Arch Rival Roller GirlsDallas, TX 11–13 September 2015 Rose City Rollers Texas Rollergirls Rat City RollergirlsJacksonville, FL 18–20 September 2015 London Rollergirls Jacksonville RollerGirls Denver Roller DerbyOmaha, NE 2–4 October 2015 Gotham Girls Roller Derby Angel City Derby Girls Minnesota RollerGirls

2016 Playoffs The 2016 Division 1 Playoffs followed the same format as previous years, once again distributing the qualifying teams using an S-curve seeding structure. 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, and the second in Vancouver, hosted by Terminal City Rollergirls. Montreal Roller Derby became the first Canadian team to qualify for the Division 1 Championship by placing third at their own tournament in September.