| Women's Flat Track Derby Association |
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Information AboutWomen's Flat Track Derby Association |
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Founded in April 2004 as the United Leagues Coalition (ULC) and renamed in early 2006, the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is an association of women's flat track Roller Derby leagues in the United States . It is registered as a 501(c)(6) business league organization.. It promotes and fosters the sport of women's flat track roller derby by facilitating the development of athletic ability, sportswomanship, and goodwill among member leagues. The governing philosophy is "by the skaters, for the skaters"—the primary owners, managers, and operators of each member league and of the association are women skaters, although this does not preclude any particular business structure (leagues don't have to be legally incorporated or internally egalitarian). Operational tasks include setting standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determining guidelines for the national and international athletic competitions of member leagues. According to its web site, all member leagues have "a voice" in the decision-making process, and agree to comply with WFTDA policies. HISTORY 2004 In its first year, the ULC was an informal electronic Message Board through which established leagues compared notes in order to prepare for interleague play, and it was also used to exchange information to help new leagues that were just getting started. 2005 The ULC evolved into a more formal organization in July 2005, when representatives of 20 leagues met in Chicago to discuss establishing a governing body for women's flat-track roller derby. At the meeting, a voting system was established, as was a set of goals and a timeline was established for facilitating interleague play. Among these goals was the production of a standard track design and standard game rules. The design and rules which were settled upon and distributed later that year. 2006 Another milestone was choosing new name for the organization. The new name, Women's Flat Track Derby Association, was chosen in early 2006, and a track design and rules were published on the organization's fledgling web site. By that time, the organization had grown to 30 leagues, a cap decided upon at the July meeting.1WFTDA press release: "FLAT-TRACK ROLLER DERBY SOLIDIFYS {Link without Title} NATIONAL PRESENCE / SECOND ANNUAL FLAT TRACK DERBY CONFERENCE MEETS IN ST. PAUL, MN" (June 2006) Induction of new member leagues was postponed until revised membership requirements could be discussed at the next face-to-face meeting, scheduled for the end of May. However, in February 2006, soon after the initial requirements were published and following the fragmentation of several leagues, a "multi-league per city" clause was added to the membership requirements. Although throughout early and mid-2006 the clause was listed as a requirement for membership, WFTDA claims the policy is "unofficial". WFTDA also claims the policy is intended to uphold goodwill between members — by excluding leagues not likely to find favor with established members — as well as to prevent rival leagues in the same city from being privy to each other's "proprietary information."2 Following the May 2006 meeting, a press release was issued to promote the organization and publicize the meeting.Ibid. (June 2006 WFTDA press release) The June statement covered the following points:
In addition, Eastern and Western divisions, delineated by the Mississippi River , were announced. Thus, each member league is either Eastern or Western, and Division 1, 2 or 3. 2007 |
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