Playoffs & Championships

By Shelly Shankya

In 16 days, WFTDA tournament season will be upon us with the first round of the 2015 International WFTDA Division 2 Playoffs, Aug. 21-23 in Cleveland, Ohio. Attending any of the WFTDA tournaments is a great way to let your derby flag fly and to revel in the teams you love (and love to hate). Here are six tips for being a well-prepared flat track superfan at any or all of the six tournaments.

1. Know your schedules and keep them handy.
   WFTDA Tournament Central has printable brackets for each tournament, ready for download and printing RIGHT NOW. The final brackets will have times posted for each game. You’ll want to keep these on hand to know when you’ll have time to eat, drink, and be merry, and when you, the superfan, need to be trackside.

   SUPERFAN INSIDER TIP: Be a schedule showstopper with a DIY schedule lanyard for each tournament. This will take some crafting on your part and a trip to your local office supply store, but it’ll be worth it when you don’t have to flip back-and-forth in the program for game times.

2. Know your peeps, tweeps and friends.
   The WFTDA Playoffs and Championships bring fans from around the globe to seven derby “hotspots,” and the tournaments are a perfect way to connect with folks you might only see once or twice a year. Check in on your social media to find out who’s going and who’s watching from home. You’ll want to be prepared for the spare minutes you’ll have between games to hit the best restaurants, bars and local gems with your fellow superfans.

   SUPERFAN INSIDER TIP: Start a hashtag for your tweeps. You can always go with WFTDA-sanctioned hashtags (#WFTDAplayoffs or #WFTDAchamps), but you can also make your own. Maybe you should try #WFTDAsuperfan to rally your group of rabble-rousers.

3. Know your team chants (or make some new ones).
   Just about everyone knows that WINTER IS COMING for Minnesota RollerGirls, that BAAAAAAY ARRREEEAAA will have their fans in gold and black, and that Wheels of Justice want justice, and they want it NOW. But what about the other leagues? Spend some time on the plane, in the car, on the way to the hotel figuring out what chants will make your favorite team’s opponents quake in their skates.

   SUPERFAN INSIDER TIP: Get your superfan chant onto the interwebs ahead of time. Grab your pals, write your chant and post it for the world to see BEFORE heading to the tournament. You’ll have the added benefit of jeering your rivals before the first whistle blows.

4. Know your angles and take note.
   Deciding where you want to sit can be one of the biggest decisions of your tournament superfandom. If you’re there for big hits that blow up into the crowd, try a floor seat (bring a cushion!) in one of the turns. If you want to watch jam-start trends, set yourself up in the straightaway, elevated from trackside so you can get the bird’s-eye view. Tournament season is the time when potentially game-changing plays will happen, so be sure to pay attention to where you’re setting up for a weekend of watching.

   SUPERFAN INSIDER TIP: Grab a notebook and pen to keep track of things that will change the way you watch (and play) roller derby. And get to the venue early! You might see a warm-up that will change the way your league gets prepared for games.

5. Know your gear.
   Some people joke about wearing the band’s shirt to the concert, but not the WFTDA superfan. You’ll come to the venue decked out in a team shirt, unicorn leggings and witty socks. And if you don’t have the team shirt, unicorn leggings or witty socks, don’t worry. The vendor village is the perfect spot to get geared up for roller derby. You’ll want to schedule time to check-in with your favorite vendors, get shirts signed and meet the stars of the track.

   SUPERFAN INSIDER TIP: Pack an extra bag for all of your derby finds. Maybe you’re in the market for new boots or plates or wheels. You’ll need a way to get those home. And if you win the prizes in the Booty Basket, you’ll definitely need the space!

6. Know that tournament season is a marathon, not a sprint.
   You’re a superfan, and you’re in for the long haul. That means 17 games at each of the Playoffs and 16 games at Champs; that’s 236 periods during 118 games. If you can’t make it to all six tournaments, that’s okay. Stay connected as a superfan with WFTDA on WFTDA.tv and on Twitter at @WFTDALive.

   SUPERFAN INSIDER TIP: Host a watch party and take video of your group having a grand time watching your favorite teams. Upload it to your team’s page and just wait for it to go viral.