Version 2.0
The 4th edition of the European Roller Derby Organizational Conference was a 2.0 version of the event in a new venue able to host up to 5 conferences at the same time.
Except for the traditional scrimmage in the end, everything was off-skates. And I am not talking about physical workout but brain workout here! It was for the best as everyone could take part in the various debates on national and European structurations of Roller Derby, ask questions, say comments, compare experiences and situations, give and take advice...
The EROC adapted successfully to the current needs of European Derby. Of course, on-skate classes are fun and exciting, and I will not conceil that I was a bit disappointed in discovering the schedule at first... But thinking it over and with hindsight, we all basically know how to run a practice now... and derby has developped in Europe so that there are other (and better appropriate) occasions to attend punctual classes on bootcamps.
The appointment is given every year since 2009, to observe what was achieved so far in Europe, put national situations into a European perspective, and set hints of homeworks for the next annual meeting.
Attendees
This year, more than 80 leagues had registered... eight times more than for the first edition, only four years ago! France was the most represented country with England, after Germany of course.
I was representing the Paris RollerGirls together with Cherry Lielie (co-head coach with me), Sally Broyeur (interleague booker) and Watzé (ref).
For the first time, there were Men's leagues attending, proof that changes are happening in the derby audience!
Conference Content
There were different classes for leagues and officials, on various subjects from conflict resolution, to sponsoring and fundraising, through statistics, nutrition, line-up management, WFTDA rules, bout preparation, training for trainers, footage analysis, equipment workshop etc.
Some other classes were positionned according to whether you were a rookie, intermediate or veteran league/official, and according to whether you were a WFTDA member or not.
There were also "face times" for each country, enabling the league representatives who had made the trip to gather and discuss their national situations. France was treated to one extra face-time...
It seems that our current situation arouses lots of curiosities worldwide!
I remain evasive on purpose, it would take too long to explain all the details and I do not think this is the best place to do so anyway.
European evolution so far...
The conclusion of the EROC 2012 was that we were too young to organize ourselved at a European level and that we first had to create national structures.
The observation of the EROC 2013 is as following: in 12 months, FOUR European countries have national structures officially recognized by their federations (England, Germany, Sweden and Finland) and FOUR others are in progress (Belgium, France, Denmark and Holland). How awesome is that?
Miscellaneous
► There must be some serious curse cast on planes from Paris to Berlin. Last year we had to cancel our bout due to a company strike (great story related here, here and there), and this time the flight was delayed because there was a computer failure in the plane which took hours to be fixed...
► Ate twice at the same Indian restaurant as last year in two days. And makis at the Vietnamese too.
► Went for some midnight shopping at the Quad Shop and could not resist those amazing roll-line truck cushions which I tried at the scrimmage the next day. Titty Twista was of great advice!
► Had lots of flashbacks walking along the streets I had hopped around with crutches in the snow last year.
► The event finished with a big scrimmage. Was really disappointed with my performance as I was short of breath. I understand now that I am sick at home, that I was coming down with bronchitis or something. Almost everybody that I knew who was there this weekend is sick.
► Am one head shorter than Swede Hurt whom I will never thank enough for making me realize that I was heading to the wrong airport to take my plane back.
► The girls from Bordeaux finally caught their train back.
► For those concerned, have finished my meeting minutes BEFORE writing this post. It is coming!
RELATED POSTS:
USEFUL LINKS:
Except for the traditional scrimmage in the end, everything was off-skates. And I am not talking about physical workout but brain workout here! It was for the best as everyone could take part in the various debates on national and European structurations of Roller Derby, ask questions, say comments, compare experiences and situations, give and take advice...
The EROC adapted successfully to the current needs of European Derby. Of course, on-skate classes are fun and exciting, and I will not conceil that I was a bit disappointed in discovering the schedule at first... But thinking it over and with hindsight, we all basically know how to run a practice now... and derby has developped in Europe so that there are other (and better appropriate) occasions to attend punctual classes on bootcamps.
The appointment is given every year since 2009, to observe what was achieved so far in Europe, put national situations into a European perspective, and set hints of homeworks for the next annual meeting.
Attendees
This year, more than 80 leagues had registered... eight times more than for the first edition, only four years ago! France was the most represented country with England, after Germany of course.
I was representing the Paris RollerGirls together with Cherry Lielie (co-head coach with me), Sally Broyeur (interleague booker) and Watzé (ref).
For the first time, there were Men's leagues attending, proof that changes are happening in the derby audience!
Conference Content
There were different classes for leagues and officials, on various subjects from conflict resolution, to sponsoring and fundraising, through statistics, nutrition, line-up management, WFTDA rules, bout preparation, training for trainers, footage analysis, equipment workshop etc.
Some other classes were positionned according to whether you were a rookie, intermediate or veteran league/official, and according to whether you were a WFTDA member or not.
There were also "face times" for each country, enabling the league representatives who had made the trip to gather and discuss their national situations. France was treated to one extra face-time...
It seems that our current situation arouses lots of curiosities worldwide!
Let's objectively sum up the French situation:The above dilemma is quite similar in every European country with an already existing national federation. How much should we blend into it? This was one of the themes of the closed face to face international debates taking place on Sunday run by Master Blaster, Bloody Mary and Miss Trial.
On the one hand there is the FROG (French Rollerderby Organizational Group) On the other hand there is the FFRS (French Federation of Roller Sports). Roller Derby has the opportunity to enter the FFRS as a real sub-category with a board -- not just to be classified for membership and insurance under the speed skating commission like currently, which has some advantages as we would be recognized as a discipline, acknowledged by the FFRS, and thus by the FIRS as well as by the IOC -- the International Federation of Roller Sports and the International Olympic Committee. Here are the two options:
1) We enter the FFRS and become full members of the federation, using its structure.
2) We structure ourselves under the FROG which whe ask the FFRS to officially recognize.
The first option would be implemented faster as the structure is already made, the second option would offer more independance and thus more freedom to handle roller derby on a national scale.
I remain evasive on purpose, it would take too long to explain all the details and I do not think this is the best place to do so anyway.
European evolution so far...
The conclusion of the EROC 2012 was that we were too young to organize ourselved at a European level and that we first had to create national structures.
The observation of the EROC 2013 is as following: in 12 months, FOUR European countries have national structures officially recognized by their federations (England, Germany, Sweden and Finland) and FOUR others are in progress (Belgium, France, Denmark and Holland). How awesome is that?
Miscellaneous
► There must be some serious curse cast on planes from Paris to Berlin. Last year we had to cancel our bout due to a company strike (great story related here, here and there), and this time the flight was delayed because there was a computer failure in the plane which took hours to be fixed...
► Ate twice at the same Indian restaurant as last year in two days. And makis at the Vietnamese too.
► Went for some midnight shopping at the Quad Shop and could not resist those amazing roll-line truck cushions which I tried at the scrimmage the next day. Titty Twista was of great advice!
► Had lots of flashbacks walking along the streets I had hopped around with crutches in the snow last year.
► The event finished with a big scrimmage. Was really disappointed with my performance as I was short of breath. I understand now that I am sick at home, that I was coming down with bronchitis or something. Almost everybody that I knew who was there this weekend is sick.
► Am one head shorter than Swede Hurt whom I will never thank enough for making me realize that I was heading to the wrong airport to take my plane back.
► The girls from Bordeaux finally caught their train back.
► For those concerned, have finished my meeting minutes BEFORE writing this post. It is coming!
RELATED POSTS:
USEFUL LINKS:
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