When Losing Means Winning

Ever go to a WFTDA game and the winners look sad and the losers are happy? Welcome to the skewed world of the WFTDA rankings calculator. Some skaters understand it and some ignore it, but if you ever want to be competitive in WFTDA, you need to understand how the numbers of the game are like the 15^th player on the track.

What are WFTDA rankings?  There are currently 215 leagues that are competitively ranked throughout the world against each other. Each WFTDA sanctioned game that is played not only affects the leagues that play each other but they affect each of the 215 leagues throughout the world because our rankings are inter connected with each other.  Each team is ranked numerically from 1-215 and given a strength score based on their past 12 month rolling history of games. The current #1 team in the world, Gotham, has a strength score of 4.25, whereas the lowest team, located at #215 of WFTDA, has only a strength score of 0.50. 

So when is a WIN really a LOSS and a LOSS really a WIN in derby?  It all has to do with a team’s current rankings, the opponent’s strength score and the point spread of the game.  You can see WFTDA’s rankings calculations here: http://wftda.com/files/wftda-rankings-calculator.pdf , but here is the short version of how it is done.

When a team schedules to play another team, they must consider their own current ranking, and the strength score of their opponent.  The calculator can be tricky, but the basic equation states that you multiply 3 x (your points/total game points) x your opponent’s strength score x 1 (game weight) x 100.  Unless you are in a tournament or play off, the game weight will be 1.   

Let’s take LVRG as an example.  This last weekend they played Providence Roller Derby, ranked 69 in WFTDA, whereas LVRG is ranked 108.  That is a huge difference in rankings and both teams had a large gap in their strength scores.  LVRG, according to flattrackstats.com only had a 3% chance of winning, so why would LVRG even consider playing a team ranked 39 spots above them?  The answer is in the STRENGTH SCORE. LVRG’s strength score going into this game was .95 and Providence was 1.46.  Let’s explain how a game result of 250-99 (Providence won) ended up being really a win for LVRG.

LVRG’s WFTDA points average prior to this weekend’s game was 114.90 points. This included 8 games in a 12 month rolling year.  Let’s GEEK OUT for a second and run the numbers.  The total game points was 349 (250 for Providence plus 99 for LVRG). So using the ranking calculator: 3 x (99/349)x 1.46 (opponent’s strength score) x 1 x 100, this equaled approximately 124 WFTDA points.  Because 124 is HIGHER than LVRG’s current WFTDA points average (114.90), when combined into their current ranking, the end result after this weekend’s loss to Providence would result in an INCREASE in rankings for LVRG.  

LVRG will now have a 115.90 average including 9 games on a 12 month rolling scale. So in this case, LVRG’s LOSS was really a WIN for LVRG because they increased their WFTDA rankings.  As WFTDA rankings increase and decrease for each team, rankings change monthly and affect all other teams connected. This is how teams know going into a game how many total percentage of game points are needed to increase their rankings. Who knew derby included MATH!?

The moral of the story is to choose your opponents wisely.  It’s not important to just win, but sometimes you have to win by enough to cover a point spread to benefit your own team if your opponent’s strength score is low. And sometimes when you lose, as long as you get a certain percentage of the total game points, you will still benefit.  Roller Derby is a crazy sport. That is why every point counts, and that you should never give up until that 4^th whistle. 

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All photos compliments of Michael Hess.

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you

LVRG Double Header- Bout Wrap Ups 6/14/14

This weekend was double the excitement for the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls (LVRG) as LVRG’s Blast Furnace Betties took on the Reading Derby Girls and LVRG’s Metal Vixens took on the Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars. 

The Blast Furnace Betties versus the Reading Derby Girls game quickly established LVRG as the dominant team. About 10 minutes into the first half, the Betties had a commanding lead over the Reading Derby Girls, 65-17.  LVRG acquired lead jammer status the majority of the jams and continued to build the score to 91-19 with 15 minutes left in the first half of game play.   LVRG lived up to their reputation for having strong defensive walls and aggressive jamming. At half time, the score was 149-38 favoring LVRG.

After switching benches, and some strategy change ups, LVRG was expecting a new and refreshed Reading team after the half time.  LVRG however wanted no part of that and came off their benches looking to continue their point streak in the second half.  The Betties forced jammer track cuts, got natural grand slams (this happens when a jammer laps the opposing jammer while both jammers are in play and on the track), and rotated all blockers in to be jammers. Half way through the second half, the Betties continued their lead, 222-50.  Rounding out the last few minutes of play, the Betties shut the door on any possible Reading win.  The Blast Furnace Betties secured the win with a final score of 273-77.

In the second game of the night, the LVRG’s Metal Vixens immediately were met with fierce competition against the Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars (Pottstown).  Although LVRG got a quick jump in points in the first few minutes of play (38-2), Pottstown was a definite threat with relentless jammers.  LVRG was dominating in points, but it wasn’t reflective of the fight between both teams.  15 minutes into the first half of play, LVRG was up 56-9. However, most of points were gained through power jams and were not necessarily from jammer natural calls offs. A natural call off happens when both jammers are on the track, and the lead jammer strategically calls off the jam before the other jammer can gain points.

Slowly, LVRG seemed to show they were the more strategic team by bridging their packs and containing the opposing jammers. Once LVRG found their system to synced together to form a wall of force to keep out the opposing jammers, the score began to reflect it. By the end of the first half of game play, the score was 102-30, LVRG.

The Metal Vixens kept this rhythm going into the second half of game play and shut out Pottstown from getting any points for the first 12 minutes of play.   With 12 minutes left in the first half, the score was 176 (LVRG) to 37 (Pottstown).  The Metal Vixens began rotating in new jammers and began testing some new strategies, one in particular they call Omaha and another called Two Cats.  By the end of the game, the Metal Vixens took the win with a final score of 225-83.

Looking ahead, LVRG has 2 tough games ahead of them.  This weekend LVRG’s All-Stars will be meeting up with the Charlottesville Derby Dames at the East Coast Derby Extravaganza. According to flattrackstats.com, LVRG is not expected to win and should only score 8 points for every 19 of Charlottesville’s points.  This will be a tough game for LVRG, but if they secure at least 40% the game’s total points, even a loss will help LVRG in their overall WFTDA rankings.  And the following week, LVRG travels to Providence, RI to play their WFTDA team. In that game, LVRG is expected to get 11 points for every 30 that the Providence team scores. Again, if LVRG can secure at least 35% of the game’s total points, a loss will increase their standings.

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All photos compliments of Michael Hess.

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you

LVRG Metal Vixens vs. Dutchland Derby Rollers Blitz- Game Wrap-up 5/31/14

This past weekend, the Dutchland Derby Rollers’ Blitz traveled to Schnecksville, PA to face off against the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ (LVRG) Metal Vixens.  The last time these two leagues played was in 2011 when the Blitz beat LVRG’s SVU team 178-82.  Prior to that, the teams saw each other in 2009 with a resulting score of the Blitz 118- LVRG Hissy Fits 111.

From the first whistle, LVRG came out strong and gained lead jammer status the first 5 jams and put up a quick 26 points to Dutchland’s 2 points.  Jam after jam, the Metal Vixens continued to secure lead jammer and would call off the jam before the Blitz could sneak in any points. The Metal Vixens’ blockers showed great strategy in hitting out the Blitz jammers and then pulling the pack back to force the jammer to reenter the pack from the back to start her pass over.  After about 15 minutes into the first half, the Metal Vixens has a commanding lead of 74-8.  The Blitz were having difficulty getting through the massive LVRG wall of blockers and only scored while the LVRG jammers were in the penalty box. At half time, the score was Metal Vixens 114 to the Blitz’s 17.

With teams switching benches at half time, and a reshuffling of strategy, there was still time for the Blitz to come back from an early deficit in points. However, the Metal Vixens still were fighting tough and refused to let up.  They were earning natural grand slams and by half way through the second half, the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls had a sizeable lead (156-21).  The Blitz did enjoy a nice string of power jams at the end of the second half when LVRG’s jammer spent 2 minutes (4 penalties) in the box consecutively. However this wasn’t enough to make up the point spread. The final score was 233 (Metal Vixens) to 60 (Blitz).

Looking ahead, there will be a double header at home (Independence Family Fun Center in Schnecksville, PA) on June 14^th. The Blast Furnace Betties will be playing the Reading Derby Girls and the Metal Vixens will be playing the Pottstown Derby All-Stars.  The doors open at 5:00p.m., the first whistle is at 6:00p.m.

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All photos compliments of Michelle Messa-Hess.

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you