In 2020, roller derby—like every other sport—came to a sudden halt. But while some leagues rushed to resume games, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) took a different approach. Under the leadership of Executive Director Erica Vanstone, WFTDA developed one of the most structured and cautious return-to-play protocols in modern sports.
Vanstone, who joined WFTDA leadership in 2016. She became Executive Director in 2019. Further, she helped navigate the organization through one of its most challenging periods in history.
In an interview on the Burn It All Down podcast, she explained how roller derby’s values (not just logistics) guided their decision-making.
“The baseline assumption was: we don’t want people to contract COVID-19. That freed us up to say leagues could step on and off if they had to.”
— Erica Vanstone, Burn It All Down Podcast (Source)
A Safety-First Framework
Rather than create a one-size-fits-all solution, WFTDA released its Return-to-Play Ladder. It allowed leagues worldwide to progress through five phases based on local conditions and public health guidance.
“We wanted to empower leagues to make decisions based on safety, not pressure,” Vanstone said.
The plan emphasized community responsibility and respected the reality that leagues operate in vastly different environments—from rural Texas to urban Melbourne.
Upholding Roller Derby’s Core Values
For Vanstone, safety was only one part of the equation. Maintaining the sport’s ethos of equity, accessibility, and care was just as critical.
“We have to remember that roller derby was built by people who had already been left out of traditional sport,” she said. That meant recognizing the extra barriers faced by queer skaters, people of color, and leagues with limited funding or facility access.
Leading Through Transparency
Vanstone emphasized clear, regular communication throughout the pandemic, releasing public statements, live briefings, and medical updates. She acknowledged that the plan was not perfect but believed that being honest about uncertainty built trust.
“We wanted to normalize saying, ‘We don’t have all the answers, but we’re doing our best,’” she shared.
The Road Ahead
While many leagues are now back on track, Vanstone knows the road to full recovery is ongoing. She believes WFTDA’s cautious model may have saved leagues from long-term damage—and perhaps lives.
Her advice for sports leaders going forward?
“Let your values lead. If the community is your priority, your policies should reflect that.”
Conclusion
Erica Vanstone’s steady leadership through crisis reaffirms roller derby’s reputation as a skater-led, values-driven sport. In prioritizing people over profit, WFTDA may not have returned the fastest, but it returned with integrity.