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2018 World Cup Coaches

By JRDA, 09/24/17, 10:00AM EDT

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Join us in congratulating these talented Coaches!

2018 JRDA World Cup Coaches


Team Australia

 

 

 

 

 

SAMANTHA "MAMA B" BURGESS

Sam has been involved in Junior Roller Derby since starting Lil’ Adelaide Rollers (LAR) in August 2010. In that time, she has been and continues to be the president and Head Coach of LAR. During this period Sam has been the VP for Roller Derby in South Australia as part of the Executive Committee for Skate South Australia which is part of the governing body Skate Australia.

In 2015 Sam  added Operations Manager and Head Coach / Bench Manager for the first Team Australia Juniors that competed in the inaugural Junior Roller Derby World Cup 2015.

Her relationship with the JRDA began in 2010 when planning began to launch LAR who were the first Junior Roller Derby League in Australia and since then has represented the JRDA as the AU Coordinator.

Sam continues to be an advocate for Junior Roller Derby in Australia and is excited about the future of our sport for our juniors.


Team Canada

 

 

 

 

Nicole "Scott Free" Scott

Nicole Scott has been playing derby for six years and is known as Scott Free. Nicole has been working with Jr. derby for the last four years and for the last two years has been the head coach for the Gapland Smashers. As a coach Nicole is known as Coach Nic, a name that caught on from the skaters that she coaches. Last year was the first year her team has competed in JRDA and was invited and played in Champs last July.

Nicole calls the small town of Whitewood, Saskatchewan home for her and her family. She currently works as a Registered Nurse, but will soon be a Nurse Practitioner.  Nicole's hobbies other then derby is volleyball and skiing; as well as running after her kids sports activities.

Nicole is looking forward to being part of Team Canada Jr. Roller Derby team. Nicole loves watching Jr. roller derby grow within her team and province, and now within the nation. Being part of the growing force is exciting  and causes Nicole to continually learn new things about the sport she loves.

DAVE "COACH DAVE" MORRIS

Dave is a sport and outdoor enthusiast and his hobbies include hiking, soccer, hunting, boating and coaching roller derby. 

In his professional career, Dave works in telecommunications enjoying the industry challenges and embracing its growth. He recently completed a Masters program in Broadband Communications. When Dave is not working, he enjoys spending his time with his family and coaching roller derby. 

Dave started coaching roller derby 4 years ago, in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada for a small growing junior team called NWO. The following year, Dave moved into the role of line coach of the adult travel team (NWO Wolf Pack). After coaching both adults and juniors, Dave settled into the role of Head Coach and Athletic Director of the NWO Junior League, attributing much of his success to the assistance of fellow coaches along the way.

Some of Dave's accomplishments include coaching skaters who have gone on to achieve national success on both the Canadian World and Olympic teams. Dave’s passion for roller derby and helping young skaters achieve their goals is what he finds most rewarding.

COACH VINSANITY

Vince has been coaching Roller derby for 5 years and has loved what the sport has done for him and his Family.  Vince has a coaching past in many other sports such as Football and Wrestling.  Vince has won many National Titles in both other sports.   He stumbled across this sport and fell in love with it from the start.  Vince has spent much of his free time coaching any team that wanted him to coach and watching as much of the game as he could.

Vince coaches for many different teams.  He coaches the JRDA Miss Demeanors from Regina SK.  Vince also coaches Team Saskatchewan which is the All Star team from the province.  He also coaches teams in Both senior and Junior derby in their clubs.  He also had the privilege of Coaching the Canada East Team at the 2016 JRDA Olympics.  Vince has coached 100's of games and has learned so much in doing so.  

Vince is honored to be chosen as the Head Coach of Team Canada in 2018 and has a great team working with him.  This is going to be a great year for Canada as they are all working hard getting ready for this upcoming event.  Vince is one of the most dedicated people you will find when it comes to coaching and he loves what he does.  He may look a little ruff on the outside but when you skate for Vince you become family and he would do anything for you all.  

Vince is so proud that JRDA gave him the privilege for Coaching this Team in the upcoming Junior World Cup.


Team USA East

 

 

 

 

TEFLON DONNA

Teflon Donna’s coaching philosophy is to coach based on her personal experience as a skater, but also from years as an elite competitive gymnast. She whole-heartedly believe that skaters want to "do well by their team" and that if we can start from that foundation, then we can approach critique from a positive perspective!

Tef’s favorite thing about coaching roller derby is that she didn't know how to skate when she started as a player in 2004. Tef believes that learning to skate while learning to play roller derby has developed her coaching style into a style sympathetic to recognizing effort and provides opportunities for personal growth. Tef knows that her roller derby career wouldn't have been what it is, if she hadn't have fellow teammates and coaches that saw potential and were willing to take a chance on her. She loves to recognize the potential in others and to focus her efforts on supporting their roller derby journey.

LISA "ROJO GRANDE" PONSSA

Rojo Grande (Lisa Ponssa) has been a part of Tampa Roller Derby for the last ten years. She is currently one of the Head Coaches of Tampa Bay Junior Derby as well as the WFTDA ranked Tampa Tantrums and skates for the Tampa Bruise Crew, Tampa’s B level travel team, and the Cigar City Mafia, a Tampa home team.
Rojo has been a long time member of Tampa Roller Derby‘s leadership and has worked diligently for the growth of the sport. She is inspired daily by the athleticism, camaraderie and drive of Tampa’s Junior and Adult skaters.

Rojo was also one of the coaches for the Southeast Thunder, one of the first Junior Roller Derby Olympic teams in 2016.

SCOTT VIERA

Scott has been involved with junior derby since 2011 when he founded the Hoosier Bruisers in order to give his daughter a place to play derby. Since that time he immersed himself in the sport. He soon joined JRDA as the Great Lakes Regional Coordinator to help other leagues and open lines of communication. 

Scott is currently an assistant coach for the Fort Wayne Derby Brats and has worked this year as the head coach of A Town Roller Derby in Anderson, IN. He can also be seen helping on the bench staff with Fort Wayne Derby Girls and Bone City Rollers. When he is not coaching roller derby he likes to attend games whenever possible to keep up with the latest strategies.

When Scott is not working on roller derby he works as a Reimbursement Specialist for R1RCM where he reviews hospital claims for correct coding and compliance before sending them to the insurance company for payment.

Scott looks forward to again working with the member leagues in his region to open lines of communication and help bring in new leagues while at the same time helping established leagues grow.


Team USA West

 

 

 

 

Wade “Coach B” Buchan

For the past seven years, Wade's life has been all about roller derby. Wade began his derby journey as a referee but soon transitioned to playing and coaching. Over the last couple years, Wade has focused on passing his derby knowledge to the junior skaters. Wade attend as many of the derby classes offered on the West Coast as he could to further his knowledge and be the best source of information possible for those he teaches. Wade currently hold positions as the JRDA Stats Committee Chair, a JRDA Congress Member, and a JRDA Coach for the Emerald City Junior Gems. Wade's coaching history doesn’t stop at roller derby. Before derby entered his life, Wade coached field soccer, field hockey, and roller hockey.

Wade believes that coaching teaches life lessons that young adults will use every day. Wade tries to instill values of respect, humility, accountability, and most of all, fun. Wade recognizes that the values that a coach brings translate to how these young individuals will interact in future jobs, home life, and relationships. It will also shape how they will lead and perhaps coach the next generation of skaters.

Michael "Quadfather" Castro

Coaching has been a passion for Michael Castro - his skaters call him Quadfather - for over two decades. He has coached youth and adults in soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, and hockey, dedicating the last ten years to the sport of roller derby on the flat and banked tracks.

Coach Quad helped build numerous youth and adult programs in the derby community . As Head Coach of the LA Ri-Ettes he lead the adults and Juniors to championship victories year after year.  He started the Angel City Junior Derby program, leading the team to second place in national championships in 2016 (from a ninth place seed) and third place in 2017. He currently serves as Director of Training for the Los Angeles-based Los Anarchists Junior Derby league.

Following the principles of the Positive Coaching Alliance, Coach Quad leads by emphasizing the positive traits of his athletes, in addition to helping them overcome their deficiencies. He believes, “Every player has something to offer and they need to understand that every time they hit the track it’s an opportunity to build on their foundation as well as to add to their toolbox.”

Coming from a derby family, Coach Quad’s wife and Co-Coach, RegulateHer, skates for Angel City and their 14-year old daughter, Lil’RegulateHer, skates for Los Anarchists.

Coach Quad is thrilled to be working with USA Team West Head Coach Dr. B on preparing these elite junior skaters for World Cup and has high expectations for the team based on the talent, skill, and dedication he has witnessed in try-outs. JRDA expects that his contribution will be as epic as his beard.