About MRD

That smell of burnt rubber around town? It isn't from high-speed hot rods, but high-speed hot quads.

Since February 2006, dozens of women have been racing their quads – the four-wheeled roller skates that pre-date inline skates – on the track for Memphis Roller Derby (MRD). Of course, the wheels are actually made of polyurethane (not rubber), but when you're burning wheels, it all smells the same. MRD is the region's only all-female, flat-track derby league open to women 18 years and older. These dedicated skaters practice speed, stopping, weaving, and jumping drills each week to hone their skills.

Aside from recruiting new team skaters, MRD is always on the look-out for volunteers, sponsors, and (of course) fresh meat. Visit our Contact page for more information.

Roller Derby Her-story

In 1935, during the worst times of the Great Depression, a man named Leo Seltzer invented a spectacle called roller derby. It became a full-contact physical sport, with elbows, body-checks and fights galore. The fans loved it. By the late '40s and '50s, roller derby bouts drew as many as 30,000-40,000 fans. Skaters, now household names, appeared on the covers of national magazines. This continued through the '60s and '70s, until the gas shortage caused the main derby leagues to fold.

In the early 2000s, groups of women began coming together to revive the sport. Trying to recapture the game and lose the commercialized glam that roller derby had acquired, new leagues were self-organized. Unlike the early days, these teams were run “for the skaters, by the skaters.” Contemporary leagues tend to be all-female, though there are some male and co-ed teams forming around the country.

The new generation of derby skaters pays homage to the traditions of the past by combining hard-hitting action with explosive entertainment. An abundance of adult beverages and live performances by local bands during half-time add to the excitement of bouts. Fans are often seated just a few feet away from the track in an area often known as “suicide seating.” Of course, a few lucky fans in suicide seating may end up with a derby girl in their lap, as skaters sometimes are knocked far off the track.

About the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)

(From WFTDA.com)

MRD is affiliated with WFTDA, which promotes and fosters the sport of women's flat track derby by facilitating the development of athletic ability, sportswomanship, and goodwill among member leagues. The governing philosophy is "by the skaters, for the skaters." Women skaters are primary owners, managers, and operators of each member league and of the association. Operational tasks include setting standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determining guidelines for the national and international athletic competitions of member leagues. All member leagues have a voice in the decision-making process, and agree to comply with the governing body's policies.

Community Service

Memphis Roller Derby is an active part in the community and has been since its inception. We strive to give back to and improve the public that supports us. We understand the need for thriving businesses in this economy and do everything we can to support and promote local businesses and organizations. We offer our time and service any opportunity we have. A few examples of our community services within the past year are listed below.

St. Jude Marathon:  For years, Memphis Roller Derby has volunteered their efforts to run a spirit station along the track for the annual St. Jude Marathon that benefits the patients of St. Jude’s Hospital. We look forward to share our spirits with the runners year after year.

Center for Southern Folklore:  Memphis Roller Derby sent dozens of their skaters out in shifts to the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival this year. Since the massive event was completely free to the public, the derby girls collected donations for the Center for Southern Folklore to help keep the institution running. We were instantly invited back next year and were told by the coordinator that we raised the most money out of every volunteer organization present!

Salvation Army / Toys for Tots:  Memphis Roller Derby held a toy donation drive for the Toys for Tots program this holiday season. Over the three-hour donation drive event, the Salvation Army contacts told us that we collected more toys for the children than they had collected standing outside of a Toys ‘R’ Us for a half a day!

Salvation Army / Angel Tree Program:  Memphis Roller Derby is proud to participate in the annual Angel Tree Program. This program provides gifts for qualified, underprivileged children so that their parents have something to put under their Christmas trees on Christmas morning. Memphis Roller Derby sponsored fifteen children from the Memphis area this year, and skaters went out and bought gifts from the children’s Christmas lists. The skaters bought everything from video games and CD players to bicycles and more. We were pleased to give our help to the program manager, Lynette Shettles, and we look forward to working with them next Christmas.

Verizon Wireless Hope Line Program:  Memphis Roller Derby held an extremely successful cell phone and accessory drive during our November bout to support Verizon Wireless’s Hope Line program, which repairs old cell phones and supplies them to recovering victims of domestic violence.

Shriner’s Car Show:  Memphis Roller Derby annually participates in the local Shriner chapter’s car show. We put on a demo bout for their entertainment, assisted in passing out awards, and generally helped liven up the mood. Last year, we raised $300 in raffle ticket sales for the organization.

The Church Health Center/Rock for Love:  Memphis Roller Derby donated a merchandise basket to help raise money in a silent auction for health benefits for the unemployed, and our skaters volunteered their time and energy at the event for two days. We can’t wait to do it again!