Junior Roller Derby - Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA)

Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA)

On October 1 2009 The Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA) was formally established to promote the sport of junior roller derby by: 1) Assisting with new league start-up

2) Assisting with the expansion of existing leagues

3) Creating rules that allowed for participation at all skill levels

4) Creating a skills assessment that allows coaches to

a) Plan skater development

b) Match skaters for safe and fair interleague play during their first few years of development

5) Creating a Trainer's Handbook containing best known drills for advancing skater skills

6) Partner with USARS to provide insurance and develop short and long term opportunities

In the last three months of 2009 the Board of Directors with assistance from dedicated committee volunteers drafted all of the documents needed to begin local grass roots junior roller derby programs. These documents are part of a free service provided by the JRDA to meet the JRDA purpose and mission.

In 2010 the JRDA began the process of incorporating in Austin, Texas as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation for promoting the advancement of national and international amateur athletics through roller derby.

As of February 2010 there are over 40 junior roller derby programs across four countries at various stages in development. A map of their locations is maintained by the JRDA.

Prior to October 2009, the JRDA existed as an informal association of junior leagues. Before JRDA, it was the Junior Flat Track Derby Association (JFTDA).

As of February 2010, there were 40 junior leagues. Not all teams have just girls, some have just boys, and some are mixed. The state with the most junior teams is California. They have 1 team in Singapore, a few in Canada, and a few others around the world. One thing hard about scheduling bouts for junior teams, is that they are all different skill levels, and taught different things about rules and what is acceptable on and off the track.