This incarnation of roller derby is still in its infancy.  As time has gone by, this latest iteration of roller derby has continued to face a vast number of growing pains pertaining to many different aspects of the sport.  The main thrust of this continuing column will be to look at these growing pains, individually, and to provide possible solutions – through the initial blog post itself, and the (hopefully) ensuing conversations with you, the reader.

The fan base for roller derby continues to increase.  As a result, a small portion of this growing fan base have become die-hards, or super-fans.  These fans travel to their team’s away bouts, follow the rankings of their team online, and usually have a desire for additional knowledge and information about roller derby.

However, recent events have shown that the governing body of flat track roller derby (the WFTDA) may not be fully aware of these types of fans, the number of these types of fans that exist, or how to deal with their craving for information.

Fact: Sadistic Sadie, member of the Cincinnati Rollergirls, pled guilty to fraud.

If you weren’t aware of this story, an article can be found here:

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9G3D4V00.htm

Fact: The WFTDA suspended Sadistic Sadie for six months for violating the WFTDA Code of Conduct.

If you weren’t aware of the suspension, a press release from the WFTDA can be found…

…nowhere.

We have learned in the fallout of this situation that this is not the first time the WFTDA has suspended a skater.  And whereas there were no press releases by the WFTDA for those suspensions either, there also was not as vocal a fan base as there seems to be now, nor were those issues as high profile as the issues surrounding the league’s most recent suspension.

The merits of the WFTDA’s action against Sadie is not what is being called in to question here.  Instead, the lack of communication on the part of the WFTDA to the fans of roller derby is what is being questioned.

The results of Sadie’s suspension by the WFTDA were that the Cincinnati Rollergirls skated without one of their star players for the North Central playoffs.  As a response, the Cincinnati Rollergirls skated their first bout at the playoffs with each skater wearing Sadie’s name on the backs of her jersey.

For those watching that bout that knew the story, the display of support for Sadie by the Cincinnati Rollergirls was not all that surprising.  However, for derby fans not familiar with the situation, little explanation was given.  That only continued to fuel speculation and rumors as to what actually had happened.

The topic fueled heated discussion between fans and skaters as to why exactly Sadie was suspended, why the WFTDA took so long to take action, whether or not the action taken by the WFTDA was appropriate, and why the whole process was so secretive.  Yet in the aftermath of all of this discussion, no official statement has been made public by the WFTDA.

One of the justifications postulated by backers of the WFTDA is that roller derby is “by the skaters, for the skaters.”  Unfortunately, for the derby fans that are not skaters, some have taken this response to ultimately mean, as a fan, their opinion and feelings about the situation aren’t of any consequence.  For a sport that is attempting to increase its fan base and its respect as a sport, this is probably not the best response.

Others have cited that all skaters are required (by the WFTDA) to sign a confidentiality agreement every year that covers a broad range of issues meant to protect individual skaters, teams, and leagues.  While the best of intentions were most likely considered when drafting the confidentiality agreement, those intentions do not appear to have taken into account the possible ramifications that a deafening silence can have on a situation.

Some of the ramifications of the WFTDA not addressing this issue have included additional rumors, innuendo, and conspiracy theories surrounding the story.  The following are just a sample of the questions that have been raised on derby message boards across the country:  Does the WFTDA have a grudge against Sadistic Sadie and/or the Cincinnati Rollergirls?  Was the suspension due to her legal issues, or was there something more we aren’t aware of?  Was the suspension delayed to hurt CRG’s chances in the playoffs?  Who exactly played what role in determining when, and how long Sadie was going to be suspended?

So, in effect, though most likely attempting to respect Sadie’s integrity and privacy by not publicly addressing the issue, the WFTDA has brought in to question its own integrity.

It is my sincere hope that roller derby will not face another issue such as this anytime soon.  That being said, I also realize that it is a hope, only.  There will someday come a time that another skater may need to be reprimanded for actions that were not on the track.  Hopefully by that time, a more transparent approach to dealing with the situation will be in place.