Dundee Roller Derby (The DRD) are a full-contact, flat-track roller derby league based in Dundee, Scotland.
The league currently has two travel team (Silvery Tayzers), a B team (Bonnie Colliders) and three home teams (Jutes of Hazzard, Press Gangsters and Jammin’ Dodgers). The Home Teams' names reference aspects of Dundee life and history often summed up as jam, jute and journalism.
The DRD is for anyone who loves to play, officiate or support roller derby.
Roller Derby in Dundee
Roller derby started in Dundee with the formation of the Dundee Destroyers in March 2009. The fourth Scottish league to appear after Glasgow Roller Derby, Auld Reekie Roller Derby (ARRD) and Granite City Roller Derby (GCRD). The Dundee Destroyers became the Dundee Roller Girls at the start of 2011, then rebranded to Dundee Roller Derby at the start of 2018. The league is a now a 50+ member group and is continually growing and involving new people as skaters, officials, volunteers and fans. Dundee is commited to the inclusion of any individual that aligns with womens flat track roller derby. In conjunction with WFTDA's Gender Statement we welcome all those who identify as women (including cisgender, transgender and intersex women), gender-expansive individuals and non-binary individuals to train and competitively compete as DRD members. Further to this policy, the New Skater Programme is open to all gender identities and avenues for competiting outside of this WFTDA policy will be highlighted to anyone wishing to take their competitive skating further (Granite City Brawlers and Glasgow Men's Roller Derby being two open to all league). As DRD, all identities are welcomed to train as officials; referees and non-skating individuals, and to join Dundee Roller Derby in any volunteer capacity. Dundee are committed to making a safe and inclusive environment for our league members and guests. DRD have implemented a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion role and have created individual policies to ensure this commitment to safety, inclusion and continued education of our league members.
From humble beginnings in a car-park, roller derby in Dundee has grown to support a nationally competitive travel team with a European ranking. Celebrating the first Home Teams' season in 2014, DRD boasts an extensive league of officials, skaters and volunteers who continue to push to make the league bigger and better.
The success and determination of the league as a whole is reflected in the presence of DRD officials throughout the UK (and further afield) at varied events from first bouts to high level tournaments. This support from their 'herd' of dedicated, nationally and internationally renowned officials - referees and non skating officials (NSOs) - as well as enthusiastic volunteers is the greatest asset that DRD holds.
WFTDA Membership
From March 2017, Dundee Roller Derby became the third league in Scotland to be accepted as a full member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. WFTDA stands at the head of roller derby as the sports governing body, with full membership giving leagues access to a wide variety of training resources, to tournaments and ranking systems. Membership also offers a platform for leagues worldwide to contribute to the development at the heart of the sport. The DRD are incredibly proud to represent Scottish roller derby at this level and look forward to the opportunities WFTDA membership provides.
Dundee Roller Derby now!
Remaining entirely member-driven, volunteers organise every aspect of the team: from training to games, travel to PR, merchandise to fundraising. The league also runs regular open-scrimmages in which leagues from all over Scotland are invited to come join for an evening! The DRD supports the wider development of roller derby across Scotland and the UK, as well as providing a training programme for any locals who want to take part in the sport whether as a skater, official or volunteer. The Dundee officials also hold semi-regular mini bootcamps catering to referees, NSOs and anyone wanting to increase their rules knowledge, formed as DRD's Late 'n' Lite Bootcamps.
The worldwide representation of this league is highlighted through the international presence of four DRD skaters in the national squad of Team Scotland for the 2018 Roller Derby World Cup, which will be held in Manchester! League members have also been heavily involved in the organisation, training and coaching of Power Of Scotland.
With these strides into international recognition for Dundee Roller Derby, the league represents a driving force in the wider community of roller derby, supporting skaters and officials alike.
