Continuing our first annual The State of Derby series, we hear from the [Modern Athletic Derby Endeavor (MADE)][1]. We sent our questionnaire to the initial invitees list and allowed them to respond by topic in general (omitting questions which may not apply to them) or the questions individually. Brandy Tomhave, aka Marzipain, from MADE responded to the individual questions. Hear how MADE is making something old, new again.

Introduction

Modern Athletic
Derby Endeavor

RDIT: Who are you & how did you become involved in roller derby?

MADE: My name is Brandy Tomhave, aka Marzipain, and I have been skating roller derby 5 years, but have been a fan of roller derby for 40 years. I grew up watching the Oakland Bay Bombers with my grandfather. I am 47 now, and am proud to be competing in a sport pioneered by Anne Calvello and Joanie Weston.

I began playing roller derby at Charm City Roller Girls, where I assumed multiple leadership positions, including WFTDA legal committee representative (I am a lawyer, so I get suckered into all that kind of stuff). After playing for Charm City for a couple of years, and captaining one of their home teams, I quit to open the first roller derby skate shop on the East Coast: Black Eyed Susan Skate Shop (aka BESSS).

My partners and former league mates, Siouxsie Slaughter and Mibbs Breakin’ Ribs, and I were determined to provide athletes who play roller derby the same customer service and “try before you buy” opportunity that folks who play main stream sports take for granted. Our mission was to grow our sport by helping to create an industry that would support it. Unfortunately, we never found that most manufacturers, except Atom Wheels and Monster Wheels, shared our vision.

Through BESSS, we took roller derby gear directly to roller derby leagues throughout the east coast, mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, from Lexington, KY to Burlington, VT. We conducted regular coaching clinics known as “Drills and Spills” at many of these same leagues, and regularly conducted Drills and Spills classes in Baltimore, which helped make Charm City Roller Girls become the league it is today because we pre-trained their newbies before they even tried out.

Two years ago, my husband, HomeScar Runner and I, founded Chesapeake Roller Derby (CRD), which is a pirate themed co-ed league that raises money for charity. When we first began, we played under OSDA rules. However, OSDA’s new focus on “turning pro” did not match our mission, so we shifted our focus to MADE, which is better suited to skaters who are content being amateur and do not see competition and inclusion as being contradictory values. To better accommodate CRD’s growth and mission, we are in the process of transforming the ownership and leadership structure of CRD from being a closely held corporation to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

What is your title or primary responsibility?

MADE: MADE is a conglomeration, so there are no titles, however, Chesapeake Roller Derby is the official MD State Representative, which is responsible for mentoring other MADE members in our area

What is the mission of your organization?

MADE: The mission of MADE is to serve as a modern implement of roller derby; to protect and promote our athletes while providing our spectators with an organized and entertaining experience.

• For our Fans: MADE delivers fierce, honest competition- with clear and concise rules that fans can easily understand- that caters to the gamut of spectators, including young and old, men and women, first timers and die hard fans.
• For our Skaters: MADE operates under the direction of league representatives, rather than an elected or appointed board of directors, to provide a system of support and representation for individual skaters- men and women alike- and a system for leagues- flat track, banked track, established and start up- to plug into for inter-league play.

Roles

What is your organization’s role in roller derby?

MADE: MADE promotes a highly-competitive style of play, in which there are three divisions, men’s, women, and co-ed. As well as, experience classes, Class I, II and III (Advanced, Intermediate, Rookie). Leagues may have multiple teams competing within MADE, each for their own ranking. Our ruleset offers a highly-competitive, strategic, and fast-paced version of the sport.

How many teams (leagues) are in your organization and how many skaters does this represent?

MADE: There are currently 13 MADE leagues at the moment, and even more that play MADE, but are not full-fledged members currently. And then there are dozens, upon dozens of MADE skaters, who might skate with WFTDA or other leagues, but hold individual MADE memberships, and guest skate at MADE games. Membership grows every day, but as of today, we represent approximately 600 skaters.

What separates your organization from the other derby organizations?

MADE:

1. Our ruleset – more a tune with original roller derby (not Roller Jam). Is often described as intense. Is fast-paced, hard-hitting, and high endurance.
2. Men and women skate under the same ruleset, often in the same game.
3. Co-ed games – our skaters love them.
4. Easy reffing system.
5. Attitude- we seek to be inclusive rather than exclusive.

How does your organization compliment the other derby associations?

MADE: Our members are encouraged to go out and learn all they can about Derby, and try all the different rulesets. Many MADE leagues’ seasons feature MADE, OSDA, MRDA, WFTDA and Renegade games on it. Although, our skaters prefer MADE.

Are there too many derby associations? Why or why not?

MADE: No. I believe we are THE only truly co-ed association. Not everyone is going to be able to be members of WFTDA, nor do they want to be, we are filling a niche.

As a sport, how would you rate the health of derby and what can your organization do to make it stronger, healthier, etc?

MADE: Very healthy. MADE can give co-ed players the public endorsement they deserve -spread MADE even more to the West Coast.

What can other derby organizations do to contribute to the health of the sport?

MADE: Support each other, rather than bash each other.

Let’s talk about challenges

What’s the largest challenge your organization is facing currently?

MADE: Keep up with the demand.

The largest challenge to derby?

MADE: Unity and acceptance.

What’s the biggest or most common misconception about your organization?

MADE: I haven’t heard any. But what we want people to know is that we are highly competitive and organized. Maybe that we’re only co-ed. For some leagues that seems scary, but we have a very healthy women’s only division, as well.

What do you, as an organization, know you need to improve on?

MADE: Getting the message out that there is a whole other derby world out there, besides WFTDA.

History

Obviously without the invention of derby, we wouldn’t be here today. Outside of the actual creation of the sport, what from derby’s past has been the most important aspect of modern roller derby?

MADE: That this has always been a sport for men and women.

For your organization?

MADE: That the rules of Roller Derby had already been tweaked over decades of use, they did not need to be completely rewritten.

What from derby’s past has hurt or hampered modern derby the most?

MADE: The theatrics. But perhaps at that time, the nation wasn’t ready for a co-ed or women’s athletic only sport — they needed the kitsch appeal at the time.

How important is it to your membership to know the history of derby?

MADE: Important.

How important is it to your membership’s fans to know derby history?

MADE: Important, but there are many new fans to derby. Especially the under 10 set, who drag their parents to our games time and again.

Future

What do you see as the biggest change happening for derby in the next 3 years?

MADE: More skaters embracing our style of play.

Over the same time frame, what big changes or improvements do you foresee in your organization?

MADE: We will be rolling out our national ranking system to the derby community, as well as, a co-ed derby online magazine, which will lead to more exposure.

In 50 years, what will derby fans say about you/your organization’s contribution to the evolution of derby?

MADE: That we helped keep it exciting and dynamic.

Media/Culture

With 500+ teams, sellout crowds in various cities, several teams using full-size arenas, and increasing mainstream-sponsors, there’s a growing awareness and following of roller derby. Why do some teams struggle to get fans, while others, in less populace cities, have no challenge in selling out games or attracting fans?

MADE: Every sports team needs local support, and that can be easier to cultivate in small markets, where derby does not have to compete so hard against other sports/entertainment activities.

Why can’t derby get on TV?

MADE: Because there is no ball, which makes it hard for the average spectator to follow, and the very theatrics that made it the most popular programming on tv for more than 20 years is what we are trying to keep out of modern derby in order to maintain the integrity of our sport.

There are various tournaments inside and outside of the WFTDA. Yet attendance at these events is almost exclusively derby players, coaches, or other “derby insiders.” Is modern derby still not ready for primetime?

MADE: Derby’ s strength and popularity stems from the fact that it is not a mainstream sport, but is instead a quirky, DYI phenomenon that allows average men and women to do something extraordinary. Trying to market it like volley ball or soft ball guts the fun right out of it, which leaves the stands empty. At a time when the major sports with long standing television network contracts are struggling, it is unrealistic at best for derby to try to be like them.

The current brand of roller derby has its roots as a sport for the players, not so much for the fans. Since we mentioned the sellout crowds and sponsors, do you believe the sport still “belongs” to the skaters?

MADE: Absolutely. It is a support whose sustainability depends upon players getting their friends, family and neighbors into the stands. This is a good thing. It means that derby can remain authentic rather than becoming co-opted by corporate media managers.

Going back to Roles & Professional derby, do you think competitive and recreational teams can exist together in the same association? Why or why not?

MADE: Absolutely, so long as the association does not take it upon itself to decide why people should want to play derby. Trying to do that is like trying to impose your idea of why people should want to have sex. There are as many reasons for doing so as there are people, and none is superior to the other.

Describe how your organization is structured to be better suited for recreational or competitive oriented teams?

MADE: Our association is structured to accommodate both by having a leadership structure premised upon league representatives who are part of a round table of equals rather than a hierarchy of derby deciders.

Why is there a tug-of-war between those who want to hold onto derby’s grass roots vs. those who want to “take it to the next level?”

MADE: Because the very nature of modern roller derby is to enable people who will never have the chance to succeed at a high level in other sports to become stars in their local community, which fosters delusions of grandeur and the desire to take over the world.

As professional derby begins to develop, there will almost certainly be an outside interest (non-skater) in ownership. This could take the form of a/an individual investor(s), a corporation or a combination. Presuming your organization isn’t the governing body for pro-level derby, would pro-level players and/or teams be allowed membership and to compete in your association?

MADE: Probably not.

How does your association deal with outside ownership inquiries and interests?

MADE: We recognize that individual league ownership is none of our business, but instead should be left to the sole discretion of the leagues themselves.

Equipment & Business Development

Companies such as Reidell, PRO-TEC, Triple 8, etc., have benefited greatly from the rebirth of roller derby. Several individuals in the roller derby community have also prospered as roller derby entrepreneurs. How are these companies contributing to the development and promotion of roller derby?

MADE: They are not contributing significantly at all to the promotion of roller derby because they refuse to invest significant money into sponsoring national events in the same way that skate boarding and snow boarding equipment makers invested in promoting their sports in the early days. That said, they are contributing to the development of roller derby by continuing to develop equipment that is designed specifically for roller derby, which enables skaters to keep pushing the boundaries of their own performance.

Which company/companies has received the greatest benefit from roller derby?

MADE: Riedell. No question.

Do these companies have an obligation to develop products specifically for derby?

MADE: No. They are only obligated to operate their companies to maximize their own profits, and if they go out of business, roller derby is screwed. Even though roller derby is becoming increasingly popular, it is still a niche sport without a enough skaters to support a large industry that has to compete for each skater’s dollar.

Which company/companies have lead the way in derby product development?

MADE: Atom wheels.

The NFL and NHL both have lists of approved equipment. When do you anticipate your organization restricting equipment selection to an approved list as other contact sports have?

MADE: Never. Our skaters are not professional athletes whose equipment is being supplied to them. Therefore, they are free to make their own purchase decisions.

There seems to be a resistance to earning a profit in derby as there are several roller derby teams set up as not-for-profit organizations, yet other teams have signed contracts with sports marketing organizations involved with professional level sports. As roller derby continues to evolve, will not-for-profit teams have to change classifications (to for-profit) to remain competitive at the higher levels?

MADE: No. The corporate ownership status of a league has no bearing on the performance of its players.

How does your association help individual teams develop their business plans, fan base, and attract advertisers/sponsors?

MADE: We have a strong state-representative program, in which a designated experienced league helps newer leagues in their territory with all of these things. Included in this is also an extensive document library, shared through a member’s only forum.

How does being either not-for-profit or for-profit help or hurt a team’s growth?

MADE: Being non-profit enables the players to play for a purpose larger than themselves, which can be very inspiring and unifying. Profits can be very divisive distractions that can totally undermine the sustainability of a league. If there are any profits from derby, and that is the rare exception, who should be cut in on them? How do you distribute those gains to the players whose personal investment of time, talent and risk have earned them? Who decides? These are just some of the questions that few leagues seem to have successfully answered, if they have addressed them at all. However, you do not have to have a Non-Profit structure to succeed; many successful leagues are LLCs, and simply roll profits, if any, back into the League year-to-year.

Why would either classification be a better fit for your organization?

MADE: See above.

Disparity in Play/Set Season 

As of now, there isn’t a set derby season. The closest is the tournament season which happens mostly through the fall. The WFTDA is currently the most widely used rule set. Some of the rules have allowances for venue restrictions. Example: 10ft ref lane. With new teams joining the WFTDA, these allowances won’t go away soon. The WFTDA hasn’t set a saturation point for membership, nor has any other derby association.

What will be the process and determining factors for your organization to mandate a single playing surface for all teams? Which surface do you see becoming the standard?

MADE: We will not mandate a single playing surface. Like WFTDA, we do have a track ideal, but allow for accommodations based upon venue.

Does your organization have a size limit or capacity? Why or why not?

If the potential membership is unrestricted, aren’t you really creating a big blanket trying to cover everyone? Why not?

MADE: We stand for the proposition that anyone can play roller derby, and everyone should be encouraged to do so.

Why or why shouldn’t the various associations define a calendar-based season?

MADE: Because the more you regiment roller derby, the closer you get to killing it.

Do the associations have a responsibility to their members and derby fans to place teams in different divisions based on ability? Would this be better addressed internally at the association level or should different associations be for different levels of play? Why/why not?

MADE: We are addressing this internally. While it is not necessarily an association’s responsibility, it is a “best practice” that guards against blow-out interleague competitions, which nobody wants to see. It is in everyone’s best interest, including the skaters themselves, to not lead lambs to slaughter on roller skates. Nobody wants to pay to see that.

Officiating

Derby is very unique in that local teams are responsible for recruiting and training officials in their region. While it isn’t a requirement for them to do so, having access to some level of officiating practically mandates this.

What has been the largest challenge to “home grown” officials?

MADE:We have not had a hard time doing this, since we make all of our players also ref. That way, everyone must learn the rules to higher level of proficiency, and everyone shares the burden of having to sacrifice their own playing time.

What has been the biggest benefit to derby with this type of officiating recruiting?

MADE: See above.

If previous officiating experience was required to become a derby referee, which two sports would you say best prepare potential derby referees?

MADE: Perhaps football and basketball, since you have to closely follow the action, while looking for penalties. However, neither of these sports track players as points, they are obviously watching the ball to pass through or into something.

The WFTDA and OSDA have implemented certification programs. Do you see the certification process as the first step in creating a derby officiating organization that is not entirely controlled by its associated governing body?

MADE: Yes.

What would it take to bring the different derby governing bodies in agreement on a unilateral referee certification/accreditation program?

MADE: One rule set, which is never going to happen.

What advantage(s) do you see in keeping officials part of a governing body, rather than having their own association or union?

MADE: Simplification.

International

With the exception of a few professional hockey and baseball teams in North America, most countries have their own levels of amateur and professional sports. The WFTDA and USARS both have taken steps in becoming the preeminent internationally governing body or roller derby.

How can a sport whose membership is nearly 100% from the U.S.A. fairly oversee and govern teams not only in other countries, but on other continents?

MADE: It cannot govern leagues in other countries, and should not try to colonize derby elsewhere. Instead, American leagues and association should consider themselves ambassadors of roller derby and merely reach out to international colleagues in the spirit of fun and support.

It seems a governing body whose purpose is to govern international competition, such as FIFA (soccer) or the International Olympic Committee, would be better suited for such a role. How do you envision a derby governing body developing, which is truly international?

MADE: It will never happen.

Outside of the North America market, where is your organization focused to further promote and help develop roller derby?

MADE: The moon. No seriously, we have leagues in several other countries at this time promoting the Endeavor, however, current negotiation have prevented us from disclosing them at this time.

Pro Derby/Olympic

While it may not be a topic in the immediate future, there are hopes for derby to expand beyond its current amateur and mostly adult leagues. There are different sports associations for the various levels of play. For example, ice hockey has the NHL (pro-football), the Olympics, the ECHL and AHL (semi-pro), NCAA (college), various state high school athletic associations, and numerous little leagues.

How do you define professional or semi-professional roller derby?

MADE: The only distinction is in the player’s heads, since professional derby does not really pay, and there is no such thing as semi-professional.

How does your membership feel about creating semi-pro or professional level derby?

MADE: Not interested.

Explain how your organization is can help pave the way in both directions, towards professional derby and youth recreational derby.

MADE: For liability reasons, we are going to stay away from youth derby. For sanity reasons, we are going to stay away from professional derby.

With nearly every Olympic event being having a men’s and women’s competition, it stands to reason that derby must become more gender inclusive, specifically more male competitors. How is your organization helping promote gender equality in the sport?

MADE: We are 100% inclusive of men and promote co-ed derby.

Why or why not is gender equality necessary for roller derby to continue to grow?

MADE: Because roller derby’s biggest threat to its own sustainability is the “mean girls” phenomenon that happens in a community exclusively comprised of alpha females. That is why so many leagues feel like Lord of the Flies satellites.

How would male or co-ed derby hurt or help modern derby grow in popularity or move towards becoming an Olympic event?

MADE: Our fans love seeing men and women, husbands and wives, giants and itty bitty players, skate against each other holding nothing back. Where else can you see that? Derby should stop trying to be like other sports and celebrate being a quirky alternative to all the boring stuff spectators are watching less and less.

Please explain the 3 biggest obstacles in derby becoming an Olympic event or some level of professional sport?

MADE:
1. The market is moving away from organized team sports and is moving towards individual extreme sports, so derby’s desire to “go legit” through the Olympics or other internationally sanctioned venues is poorly timed
2. There is no ball in derby, which too often makes it both confusing and boring to watch.
3. Unless we are willing to play derby in bikinis and follow beach volleyball’s fast track to the Olympics, it aint gonna happen.

How should the derby community as a whole overcome these issues?

MADE: By having a beer together with a toast that and celebrates who we are right now, because, in the words of Steward Smiley, “We are good enough just as we are, and gosh darn it, people like us.”

Next Year

When we revisit this conversation next year, what will be the most noticeable changes in derby?

MADE: There will be more leagues than ever.

What changes would pleasantly surprise you if they happened within the next year?

MADE: Communication and cooperation among the associations.

What is your personal derby mission for the next 12 months?

MADE: Play!

Final thoughts?

MADE: MADE started with only a few forlorn leagues who realized the current status quo did not fit their league’s needs. Whether because of close proximity to current WFTDA leagues, a co-ed status, the desire to evolve to banked track, or the simple wish to play a more streamlined ruleset, these leagues had no place to call home, or a structured ranking system to showcase their talents. They bonded together and started holding tournaments, clinics, and scrimmage-athons; and what started as an underground network of skaters, has now evolved into more than a dozen affiliated leagues, and hundreds of skaters nationwide.

It is a serious organization, with serious intentions.

******

Next: The State of Derby – Part IV: MRDA

Previous: The State of Derby – Part II: OSDA & JRDA

Editors note: We had intended to run MADE & MRDA’s responses back-to-back but decided to split them into their own columns due to the length the article would have become.
MADE logo courtesy of MADE.