Dallas Derby Devils has been around since Derby's beginnings with some of its original women still skating and competing

THE ROAD TO D1 - Many think of Texas as the home of modern day Roller Derby. This contact sport, played on speed skates and a flat track, came to life in Austin, Texas about 15 years ago. Dallas, Texas wasn't far behind. In fact the Dallas metroplex probably boasts one of the highest counts of Derby leagues for a State, even for a big state. End Quote

Dallas, TX (1888PressRelease) September 09, 2015 - Today Dallas Derby Devil's all-star team, Army of Darkness, is proud to be ranked amongst the best and will be competing in the 2015 WFTDA International Tournament. Their all-star team, The Army of Darkness, has climbed from below Division 2 at #53 to a current ranking of #24 in the world. And they are set to compete on their own stomping grounds - in Dallas, Texas.

With their roots deep in the origins of modern-day roller derby, DDD was not proud of last year's season and narrowly missing getting into even Division 2.

"It was heartbreaking, but at the same time, it lit a fire that we refused to settle… From that point on every decision we made, each game we played, every extra practice we scheduled, was with the goal of being a Division 1 team." - Gillotine Grace, Captain, Dallas Derby Devils, Army of Darkness

A Wake up Call
If you know a Roller Derby athlete, you know how passionate they are about this sport. It is a form of immersion. It goes beyond a few practices a week. The level of commitment has always involved study of the ever evolving rule-set, watching games, and participation in WFTDA and other groups and forums. And of course, there is athletic training off the track.

With more and more leagues forming and making the commitments to go through the rigors of joining WFTDA, a new wave of high caliber of athletes is emerging.

So how did DDD climb so fast and far up the rankings in only one short season?

It took planning and a thoughtful restructure of the Coaches, Captains and Skaters. As the largest league in the metroplex, DDD was already highly regarded in skill-level and enjoying an influx of skaters who were migrating from smaller leagues looking for opportunities to be challenged and grow. With an open-minded and strong board of directors, the league assimilated new skaters, new ideas, and shared leadership. They created new training program from top to bottom, and developed and fostered new and existing talent. The travel team roster of 30 was refreshed with an eye for motivation as well as skill and talent. Goals were articulated and everyone held each other accountable. These all-stars were expected to also show their commitment across the league, as proud members of their respective and competing home teams. From fans to officials to league-mates, the support has flowed both ways and strengthened the league.

Dallas Derby Devils is unique in that it's one of the closest-knit large Roller Derby Leagues in the world. With that cohesion has come fiscal security and the ability to financially support the Army of Darkness on the road to Division 1.

How does the official international ranking of Roller Derby work?

The WFTDA competitive season runs from December 1 through June 30 of the following year. Each charter team must complete a minimum of four sanctioned games to be eligible for Playoff Tournaments. Games played throughout the year are factored into a team's rankings. WFTDA uses a math-based Rankings Calculator that ranks teams based on the average number of game points the team has accumulated in a 12-month period. These game points are based on an algorithm that takes into account the strength of the opponent and the percentage of game points scored against that opponent.

The Army of Darkness - Planning, Practicing, and Playing
Dallas was very deliberate in game scheduling not only to meet the WFTDA requirements but play additional games outside of the 4 required by the WFTDA to help bring up average game points. While the skaters had new requirements and expectations for training, this all stars team's leadership thoughtfully chose the right opponents to provide a challenge and pay-off for a win. And, with stronger opponents comes better experience.

The momentum of the Army of Darkness was evident when they took home the Clover Cup for the first time in the league's six-year history of that tournament. Subsequently they rolled out wins over leagues with a history of being in the top twenty including: Kansas City Roller Warriors, Houston Roller Derby, and Toronto Roller Derby. As the season progressed and new rankings released, DDD was rewarded with a climb though the numbers. The Army of Darkness skaters, their coaches and captains doubled back with new game play study, exploration of strategies, determination, and commitment.

#Darkness Rising
When the WFTDA announced that Dallas would be the host city for one of the four Division 1 playoff tournaments it was a defining moment in what was shaping up to be an incredible season. Now the Road to Division 1 will end with a chance for the Army of Darkness to complete locally, in front of their family, friends, and league-mates. They are excited to play for and thankful for the support of their own, as well as support from brother and sister leagues such as Texas Men's Roller Derby, NTDR, and Assassination City Roller Derby.

Skating New History
Whether you are new to Roller Derby or have seen a game, you can be part of the excitement and history of this exponentially evolving and popular sport. This is your chance to see the best game play from some of the top ranked teams in the world, including the Dallas Derby Devils who are #6 Seed. The tournament is opened to the public, at the Irving Convention Center, September 11-13, 2015. Dallas Derby Devil's first game will be Friday, Sept 11th at 8:00 pm. They will be playing #10 ranked Philly Roller Derby.

For Tickets:
www.wftda.com/dallas
For all things Derby and More Information:
www.wfta.com
www.wftda.com/tournaments/2015

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