Flat-Track Dolls vs. Banked-Track Queens...Which Are Best?

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Permalink Reply by anonymous rollergirl on July 21, 2008 at 8:40am

"A recent example was in the past 2 years over 200 girls wanted to skate in roller derby.

From that, perhaps 5 are still skating?"

These numbers don't make any sense. Where did you get them?

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Permalink Reply by anonymous rollergirl on July 21, 2008 at 9:27am

So the numbers 200 interested, 5 still skating are about *your* league? That's fine, but please, don't act like those numbers are representative of ALL modern women's roller derby leagues.

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Permalink Reply by anonymous rollergirl on July 21, 2008 at 9:50am

What is the name of the league you're talking about?

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Permalink Reply by anonymous rollergirl on July 21, 2008 at 10:14am

OK, I was just curious. Don't say if you don't want to.

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Permalink Reply by Michi-chan on July 21, 2008 at 8:45am

One of the things too is that the overall game has changed. As the rule books keep getting thicker and thicker, many of the elements that for some, made the game more fun in their eyes have gone away and that's one of many reasons why many "rollergirls" are dropping out. In one derby market that I cover, several skaters split off and started their own league. That league is selling out 4-figure venues while the league that decided to go with the rulebook has suffered dismal attendance. In the other market that I cover, there is no other choice. The league decided to follow the rule book (some fans feel they follow the rulebook too hard). For this league, they are still getting 3-figure attendance at bouts (they were selling out before) and many veteran skaters have dropped out (with more going this year).

In the markets that I cover, the primary fan type are those who want to go see women beat the crap out of each other (e.g. catfights, etc.). Leagues that allow this are the ones that are drawing the attendance. This is your male 18-34 type.

One of the problems that we have with one of our leagues that decided to adopt the rule-book is that the rules are being taken too literaly, especially on intra-league home bouts. As a result, the game has become much slower (both the pack and jammers) and that the refs have been having itchy penalty fingers. With the new rules, the skaters seem to be going to the box for every single little minor.

Is this what the fans want? I had one fan just recently told me that the way the refs are calling penalties is similar to how they call them in NBA basketball. Every minor contact, even a brush gets a whistle and no explanation to the fans (and in some cases the skater) of why.

Mind you, there is some great inter-league derby. If anyone had followed last weekend's KC vs. Texas bout, WOW! That was a nailbiter.

I think what some leagues forget is that the policies and rules of their national association apply to inter-league play and not to what leagues do at home.

While it is good to have a rule-book and the fact that it can be conveniently used for home bouts, leagues need to make good judgement calls and balance out what is best for the league and what is best for the fans.

The fans will keep this sport alive. It's time to shelve the old "by the skater and for the skater" mantra. For some leagues, that attitude is the reason for their downfall.

The fans are out there, waiting to be heard.

with derby love...
Michi-chan
THE ARIZONA DERBY REPORT
michichan.com
=m

(opinions are those of myself and not of any affilliated league or association)

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Permalink Reply by Derby Girl on July 21, 2008 at 2:41pm

Probably not the best idea to have footage from a band's music video and non-affiliated leagues in your publicity material!

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Permalink Reply by Derby Girl on July 21, 2008 at 2:46pm

"By the skater and for the skater" certainly has its place in DIY derby. If it wasn't for that mantra and different way of thinking, the sport wouldn't have come back at all, as the old derby promoters didn't have a clue on how to revive the sport.

And each market is different. I've seen "by the rules" games be poorly attended, but I've also seen other "by the rules" games be sold out in a 1,000+ venue month after month. I've seen games with plenty o' fights, but the fights themselves got boring to the crowd, and subsequent attendance was greatly affected.

And another thing about "by the rules"...if refs are taking the rules "too literally", maybe there's something wrong with the way the rules are written, or the skate captains aren't communicating clearly with their refs in their before-the-game powwows of what they expect calls-wise from refs.

Though I do have to ask, why does Arizona have more than its fair share of league splits?! It's mind-boggling!

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Permalink Reply by Father James on July 21, 2008 at 8:06pm

I wish I knew. Maybe Arizona is just cursed??

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Permalink Reply by Michi-chan on July 21, 2008 at 9:08pm

Arizona has had its history of league splits mainly because of the power struggles that have come from the "by the skater" attitude. I will say that, yes, it was the skaters who started this resurgence of derby and to the skaters, "by the skaters" has a lot of meaning but to the fans, it really means nothing now.

The league splits happened for a couple of reasons:
- One league split happened because of the evolution of the flat-track rules.
- Another league split was pretty much a part of that too.
- Another league split was totally an issue of geography.
- The most recent league split had to do with lack of opportunities to skate and issues with a male minority owner of the league.

League splits are not just limited to Arizona, they have just been more widely publicized here, mainly because of our long standing in the derby community. Oklahoma had a major (and from what I understand, very nasty) split last year.

Our future looks good here if we continue to run the leagues with business savvy and not let personal feelings get in the way. Get the right people in charge and not base it on a popularity contest.

=m

(opinions are those of myself and not those of any affiliated league or association.)

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Permalink Reply by Father James on July 22, 2008 at 9:47am

Ahhh ok.. Thank you for clearing the air as it were Michi-Chan =0)

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Permalink Reply by Tim Patten on July 22, 2008 at 6:56am

You said a mouthful!

We have a league that has been on the verge of split because the younger skaters do not get enough skate time in front of the fans.

Fortunately, with some creative methods of training and working together the older skaters are finally letting many of these newbies into the limelight.

League splitting is not new. It's been around for a long time and it generates individual star athletes! You will need these star skaters.

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Permalink Reply by Tom on July 23, 2008 at 4:12am

here's an interesting look, from the 3 dozen girls or so pictured from about 5 years ago from the very 1st modern day rollergirl league, bggw, only about 3 of them are still active skaters. Thats a turn over rate of over 90%
http://www.txrd.com/photos/6.htm

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