Dixie Derby Girls
Metro area | Huntsville, Alabama |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Founded | December 2004 |
Teams |
Rocket City Rollers (Home Team) Raging Rockets (Charter Team) |
Track type(s) | Flat |
Venue | NSS Conference Center / Skate Odyssey |
Affiliations | WFTDA |
Org. type | 501(c)(3) NPO |
Website | dixiederbygirls.com |
The Dixie Derby Girls Roller Derby League[1] is an all-women, flat-track roller derby league that was founded in December 2004. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, DDG is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[2]
League History
The Dixie Derby Girls were established and began training in 2004. In 2006, they began bouting at Roller Time with two home teams, the Thrill Killers and the Red Hot Riots, and an All-Star team that travelled and played teams from other leagues. The Thrill Killers and Red Hot Riots were dissolved in 2008 and an A and B team were established, with the A team playing for WFTDA ranking and traveling to play other leagues. The B team was primarily a home team and did not play for rankings. This change coincided with the league moving their games to the Von Braun Center. In 2010, the A team was renamed the Raging Rockets, and the B team was renamed the Rocket City Rollers. With the WFTDA rolling out a new divisions system to replace the geographic regions, DDG is currently a Division 3 team as of January 2013. As the league has changed, so to has its venues and partnerships. With the dissolution of a sister league, Rolling Arsenal of Derby, the Dixie Derby Girls partnered with the local junior roller derby team, the Rocket City Rebels (formerly the RAD Recruits). The two teams now play their home seasons at the NSS Conference Center and Skate Odyssey as partnered double headers.
Being one of the original WFTDA Charter Leagues, the Dixie Derby Girls can boast a long history of sponsoring neighboring leagues to become members of the WFTDA. The league is proud to have been the first bout opponent for many leagues in the southeast and southern midwest. The team has also travel to Puerto Rico. A major asset to the league is that it has one of the few 5 Star Certified WFTDA officials in the world. This helps to ensure a high quality of officiating wherever the team plays.
League governance
The League is governed by the Board of Directors. They ensure the league maintains a sound business structure. Most league decisions, however, are made by the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee is composed of the chair and co-chair of each working committee. These are Marketing, Fundraising, Sponsorship, Events, Training, and Officiating. Each committee, with the exception of Officiating, gets to vote in Executive Committee decisions. There is also a non-voting Grievance Committee, which takes care of all skater conflicts.
Service
The League operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and partners with local charities for every home bout. In addition, the league and individual skaters participate in events to raise money and awareness for local charities. In the past, money has been raised for:
- Habitat for Humanity[3]
- Harris Home for Children[4]
- Breaking Free Rescue Mission
- American Heart Association[5]
- Hope Place[6]
- Life Cycles
- The Boys & Girls Club[7]
- A New Leash on Life[8]
- The American Red Cross[9]
- Huntsville Friends of Rabbits[10]