SO Derby

The Southern Oregon Rollergirls were established in January of 2009, to fill the growing demand in Southern Oregon for a grassroots, non-profit, member-driven derby organization. SORG started with a small group of skaters who met two nights a week in the heart of Medford at the local Armory. In September of 2010, Southern Oregon Rollergirls and the Jefferson State Rollers, another team in the area, successfully merged! This extraordinary merger doubled SORG's size, fan base, practice time, support staff and ability to serve our community.

The 2011 season was scheduled with the desire to become a WFTDA team and included bouts with teams in Oregon, Idaho and California. In April of 2011, with a recommendation letter by the Rose City Rollers, SORG was accepted as a WFTDA Apprentice league. In December of 2013, SORG graduated from the WFTDA Apprentice program to become a full-fledged member league.

January 2016, SORG voted to re-brand as Southern Oregon Derby (SO Derby) to encompass and encourage diversity and inclusion for the league. As SO Derby, the league has grown to include the original Women's All-Stars, the Juniors team, the Pear Blossoms, and a newly forming Men's Derby Club, Slaughter.

From our inception, SO Derby has been actively involved and present in the community. The league has supported and participated in many public events and fundraisers in Southern Oregon, including the Special Olympics Polar Plunge, Southern Oregon Pride Parade, and Project Greenway! SO Derby will continue to promote local non-profits and will support our community through public service.

MISSION STATEMENT: SO Derby is an all-female, full-contact flat track roller derby league based in the heart of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley. We are a grassroots, member-driven derby organization which offers and fosters empowerment through athletic and creative outlets for women.

VISION STATEMENT:

We aim to create an athletic environment, celebrate the diversity of all skaters, and advance an atmosphere of communtiy in the area we call home. We strive to create a sanctuary for our skaters and our support staff; a place where each of our strengths can be utilized to promote growth - individually and as a whole. We encourage the idea that individual growth and strength makes our team stronger, in turn making both our local community and our greater derby community stronger. We lead by example through direct participation, involvement, awareness, and cooperation within our community.

SO Derby pursues goals as diverse as its individual members. We strive to offer and foster empowerment through athletic and creative outlets for skaters, by improving the quality of roller derby through regional (and eventually national) competition, and by attracting positive attention to the Rogue Valley. Our commitment and dedication to positive promotion and the continued growth of the sport of roller derby, as well as maintaining goodwill among our surrounding leagues, ensures our league's continued expansion and success.