The Ithaca League of Women Rollers (ILWR) has been accepted as an apprentice affiliate of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), the governing body for women’s amateur flat track roller derby.
“The Ithaca League of Women Rollers is excited to become a part of this revolutionary athletic organization,†said Momo-A-Gogo, ILWR’s WFTDA liaison. “Joining the WFTDA apprentice program gives our league the opportunity to grow into an even stronger competitive organization, while we continue to provide empowering athletic opportunities for women and girls in the Ithaca area,†she continued. WFTDA apprenticeship is a first step toward competing at the national level.
As an apprentice affiliate of the WFTDA, ILWR joins the ranks of more than 100 all-female, skater-owned-and-operated leagues nationwide that have united to lead the growing sport of women’s flat track roller derby.
An apprentice league is matched with a veteran member league that guides it in the processes and requirements necessary to become a fullmember of WFTDA and offers advice about managing and developing as a growingleague. WFTDA apprentice leagues are considered pre-members of the WFTDA, with many of the resources and benefits of full WFTDA membership.
The Ithaca league is already planning its 2011 season, which will include match-ups between the league’s flagship team, the SufferJets, and several WFTDA teams—preparing the SufferJets to compete at the WFTDA level. Spectators in 2011 will see the SufferJets take on WFTDA leagues from Utica, Buffalo, and Montreal, as well as rival and fellow WFTDA apprentice league Roc City Roller Derby of Rochester.
About the WFTDA
The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is the governing body for women’s flat-track roller derby and a membership organization for the leagues. The organization created and maintains the first standardized rule set for the flat-track game, now in its fourth edition. The WFTDA also serves as the sanctioning body for games, hosts tournaments, sets safety standards, and provides insurance to athletes and leagues. There are currently 78 WFTDA member leagues and more than 35 apprentice leagues in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
About the Ithaca League of Women Rollers
The Ithaca League of Women Rollers’ flagship team, the SufferJets, hosted the first home game in Ithaca in May 2008. Since then, the league has continued to grow, fostering the formation of a second team, the BlueStockings, in 2010.During the 2010 season, the SufferJets began competing against WFTDA teams,with games against Long Island Roller Rebels and Maine’s Port Authorities. The league is embarking on its fourth season over forty skaters strong. In addition, the league launched the Ithaca League of Junior Rollers (ILJR) in July 2010.
