Marion, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Roller Girls have been accepted as an “Apprentice” affiliate with the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, the governing body for the women’s sport worldwide.

“This is an amazing opportunity for us,” SIRG Co-President Katy “Krush Groove” Rogers said in a statement Wednesday. “We have been working really hard since June 2009 to bring derby to Southern Illinois and this really helps us in our goal of developing female athletes right here at home.”

As an Apprentice affiliate of the WFTDA, SIRG joins the ranks of more than 100 all-female, skater-owned-and-operated leagues nationwide that have united to lead the growing sport of women’s flat track roller derby.

WFTDA apprentice leagues are matched with veteran member leagues who guide them in the processes and requirements necessary to become a full member of the association.

Additionally, the mentor offers advice and information related to the management and development of the apprentice league. WFTDA Apprentice leagues are considered “pre-members” of the WFTDA and have access to many of the resources and benefits of full WFTDA membership.

The Southern Illinois Roller Girls have a busy season ahead, starting with an intra-league scrimmage double header on February 19th. Their bouting schedule, skater profiles, and more can be found at www.soillrollergirls.com.

Link 26 Jan 13 notes The Roller Derby Tumblr Listing has been updated.»

Roller Girls:

derby-days: I’m a freshie at Northern Brisbane Rollers. Been doing it for two weeks, started blogging about it around the same time.

frostypeaches : Frosty Peaches from Winnipeg Roller Derby League. I’ve been with the league since the beginning - 2008.

iheartar : Hanna Solo with the Hellions of Troy, playing since February ‘10

seaandrhythm : emily / yostface killah // freshmeat for charm city roller girls

nomcakes : I’m Mya Bloody Valentine of the Charm City Roller Girls. I’ve been a roller girl for about 3 years.

catty-clysm : Still learning, new to Underground Derby League of Olympia, WA - real name: Cathy Hammen - no derby name yet,

8thlopez : i actually am a freshie. 2 weeks in with the Grand Raggidy Rollers in Grand Rapids, MI

paisleypainbow Paisley Painbow (Mason Dixon Roller Vixens, jammer and blocker)

xgemmax : Gemma (Black x Smith) Tiger Bay Brawlers 4 months.

darcysmash : Darcy Smash and I skate for south coast roller derby!

aphroditemine: I’m Sylvia Smash, Cape Girardeau Roller Derby co-founder.

morganism82 : Mae Bury from Cape Girardeau Roller

cupcakezombie : Bettie Bootheel from Cape Girardeau Roller Derby

almostgood : I’m fresh meat with the DC Rollergirls

rucavonriot : Ruca Von Riot of 709 Derby Girls in Newfoundland, Canada

shakewell: cruelwhip, injured jammer with the circle city socialites

talkderbytome : new member of the Meatgrinders Bremen Roller Derby team

aubretzio : Molly Flogger from Gate City Roller Girls/Greensboro Roller Derby.

nerdysouth : Your Mom, with CT Rollergirls.

thestateimin: Eryca (or Return to Sender), I’m formerly of The Chicago Outfit, but now I’m living in LA looking for a team!

malicemunro: My name is Malice Munro and I skate with the Circle City Socialites.

slaybelle: Slay Belle, retired skater with PRG

texaschainsawsasskicker: Texas Chainsaw Sasskicker, I’m an Ohio Roller Girl

castrostreet: Scary Antoinette from South Sea Roller Derby in Australia

girlwiththeedgexxx: Smash Bandi-cute, with the Eerie Roller Girls in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Team Tumblrs:

threeriversrollerderby: Hi! Three rivers roller derby is a new up and coming league in cecil county maryland.

SoIllRollerGirls: The Southern Illinois Roller Girls (So Ill/SIRG) from Marion, IL

Roller Derby Tumblrs:

WFTDA: Women’s Flat Track Derby Association

thederbydiaries: hi there. Your idea is great ! here’s the link to my tumblr.

fuckyeahrollergirls: This tumblr blog is filled with rollergirls and everything else derby related.

heckyeahrollergirls: HYRG is blogged by an avid roller derby fanatic and a STRG newbie skater. HYRG is here to celebrate the beauty and kick-assness of roller derby girls around the world.

There is also this listing here, courtesy of misfittoys:

misfittoys aka Lacy Bones (TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls’ Holy Rollers, Pivot/Blocker)

DerbyDreams aka *no name* (Long Beach Roller Derby, fresh meat)

meteorshow aka BeatHer Pan (OC Roller Girls, fresh meat?)

SeaAndRhythm aka *no name* (CCRG?, potential fresh meat)

JessLaRue aka *cannot find name* (Houston Roller Derby, ?team?, ?position?)

Oinaz aka *no name* (Macarthur Area Roller Derby (AU), ?team?, ?position?))

MrsDalloway aka Lez B. Friends (Cornfed Derby Dames)

MarvelousThing aka *no name* (Plattsburgh Roller Derby (new league), fresh meat)

TheRollerDerbyDiaries aka *no name* (Ladies of Hell Town (Sao Paulo, Brazil!), fresh meat)

TouJoursTaylor aka *no name* (Hanover Roller Derby (new league?), potential fresh meat)

AnyaTukhus aka Anya Tukhus (DC Rollergirls, Cherry Blossom Bombshell, blocker?)

EffyStoneem aka Effy Stone’em (Rat City Rollergirls, fresh meat?)

TheStateImIn aka ?cannot find? (The Chicago Outfit, ?position? [girl post some info!])

AshleyBethard aka *no name* (Sandusky Rollergirls, freshmeat)

TheDCRollergirls (DC Rollergirls, league page)

Cen-TexSirens (Cen-Tex Sirens, League page) [personally excited that the girls to the north have started back up!]

HoustonRollerderby (Houston Rollerderby , league page)

Derbygirl aka Mona Mour (Boston Derby Dames (previously Indianapolis), Wicked Pissahs, jammer)

Raenovafire aka Sulfuric Astrid (Los Angeles Derby Dolls, Meteorfights, blocker?)

NomCakes aka Mya Bloody Valentine (Charm City Rollergirls (they of the awesome-ass helmets), Mobtown Mods, pivot)

Lexiliu aka T. Lex (Charm City Rollergirls, Speed Regime, jammer?)

BrendanMC aka Filthy McNasty (New York Shock Exchange, blocker)

YoSamanthrax aka Erma Geddon (Cincinnati Rollergirls, retired)

RosaSparks aka Rosa Sparks (Providence Roller Derby, retired)

FactsAboutBarracudas aka Ivanna E. Chabrain (founder Charm City Rollergirls, retired)

MelissaNat aka J. Cruel (Garden State Rollergirls, Brick City Bruisers, blocker)

Sarahbella aka Bell DuBois (Victorian Roller Derby (AU), Toxic Avengers, jammer and blocker)

Unlalee aka Anne Frankenstein(Blue Ridge Rollergirls, fresh meat)

ColeImperi aka Doris Death (Independent, retired)

Secondary Artifacts aka ?????? (Carolina Rollergirls)

QueenoftheRink aka someone awesome who covers just about everything. I wish she’d leave me some details on my ask page :(

Somebodysaycheeba aka Senorita Cheeba (Central Coast Roller Derby, travel team manager)

EmptyThoughts aka Mulatto Mischief (Gate City Roller Girls(new league), ?team?, ?position?)

IHeartAr aka Hanna Solo (The Hellions of Troy, jammer)

slicktracy : aka Slick Tracy (Jammer for NH Roller Derby’s Skate Free or Die! All Stars.)

Nowherepixie aka Nico Warrior (Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames, jammer)

Fuckyeahrollerderby aka Tienty Deville (Man’s Ruin Roller Derby, Captain, all-around)

Roller-derby [unknown]

EightWheelsAndCounting aka Hella Swan (Rat City Rollergirls, Wreckers Recreational Team, fresh meat still?)

invaderblarghhh [hey girl I lost your info somewhere!]

FuckyeahRoseCityRollers (Rose City Rollers, league page)

Fuckyeahderbygirls aka Senorita Cheeba (co-founder of Central Coast Roller Derby)

FuckyeahTXRD - (by misfittoys), just getting her up and running while there is free time at work. Bear with me

via The Whip.

Text 26 Jan 4 notes WFTDA Fan Survey

WFTDA is conducting its second annual demographic survey. The survey will help WFTDA and its member leagues understand the modern roller derby audience. Respondents will be entered to win spectacular WFTDA prizes, so please take a few minutes to take the survey and help out WFTDA and your favorite league!

*if you are a SIRG supporter, our league name is listed with the apprentice leagues*

Take the Survey Here.

And as always, the So Ill Roller Girls appreciate your support!

Text 26 Jan We are a WFTDA Apprentice League!

After over a year of hard work, the Southern Illinois Roller Girls have been accepted into the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association’s Apprentice Membership Program!

View the Announcement Here