The Atlanta Rollergirls kick off 2019 season by championing inclusion by changing league name to Atlanta Roller Derby
Atlanta, Georgia – Modern roller derby was created by women who embraced empowerment and inclusion, values that Atlanta skaters will celebrate in 2019 by adopting a new league name to emphasize where we came from and who we are. The league formerly known as the Atlanta Rollergirls has voted to change their name to Atlanta Roller Derby (ARD).
The decision to drop the “girls” had two primary motivations. ARD is a league for adult skaters, many of whom feel uncomfortable referring to themselves as “girls.” The adult women of ARD have therefore chosen to begin the 2019 season by emphasizing their strength, experience, and power: this isn’t kid stuff. Further, Atlanta Roller Derby more accurately represents the league’s deep commitment to a gender inclusive policy. Women, including trans- and intersex- women, and gender-expansive people, have always been welcomed to skate with Atlanta Roller Derby or any other WFTDA league. We recognize that gender-expansive people who don’t identify as “girls” may feel more comfortable with a league whose name reflects our policy and our values.
ARD is not becoming a co-ed league. Instead of co-ed, ARD is what it always has been, a heart-thumping contact sport where women and gender-expansive people show off their speed, skill, and sass on the track. Men looking to strap on some skates are encouraged to seek out Atlanta Men’s Roller Derby. And non-male idnetifying youth looking for an extracurricular sport can join the rising stars of Atlanta Junior Roller Derby.
The root of roller derby is women and femmes. We are Atlanta Roller Derby, and you can catch us on the track at our season-opening game, February 16th. Tickets and additional information available at www.atlantarollerderby.com.
About Atlanta Roller Derby: As the city’s first and only internationally competitive women’s flat track roller derby league, Atlanta Roller Derby (www.atlantarollerderby.com) has been bringing this fast-paced, all-female, contact sport to sell-out audiences in metro Atlanta since 2004. We are proud that Atlanta’s league, established over 15 years ago, helped start the modern derby revolution. Atlanta skaters were founding members of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (www.wftda.com), an international governing body with over 130 member leagues that sponsors regional and international tournaments. Now ranked 12th internationally, the Atlanta Roller Derby’s all-star team, aka the Dirty South Derby, represents the city of Atlanta in national and international competitions. Atlanta’s league has always been skater-owned and operated, and over the past fourteen years it has grown into a strong, vibrant, and financially stable organization with deep roots in the Atlanta metro area. All of our volunteer athletes skate for the love of the game, practicing 6-10 hours per week, donating their time and skills to put on monthly bouts and support our community through charitable work.
Atlanta Roller Derby offers something for everyone, from the hardcore roller derby aficionado who wants to see nationally competitive teams live in action to the normally sports-phobic novice who is just looking for something fun to do with a date, a social group, or the family. Combining aspects of the traditional sporting event experience like tailgating with original innovations such as half-time shows by local bands, indie arts and crafts stalls in the courtyard, and door prizes, Atlanta Roller Derby bouts draw an eclectic audience with fun, family-friendly entertainment.
