My Proposal

Here's my suggestion for rules for a Derby Ladder of Nations.  Of course, I am open to suggestions, counterpoints, etc.  This only becomes ours when we agree on it.

Preamble:   In keeping with the spirit of Roller Derby, this ladder is of derby, by derby, and for derby. This is a formula for skaters, coaches, and fans to use to rank the national teams, and remains fully and fundamentally their property. Should a group enjoy their confidence, it shall be free to maintain this formula for as long as that confidence is maintained.

1.   The final standings of a Roller Derby World Cup, or world championship by another name, shall immediately upon completion of the championship bout replace any pre-existing rankings.
   11. Nations not competing in the tournament shall be ranked below those competing, preserving the relative position between them.
2. The final standings of a regional championship, such as a European Cup of Nations, shall affect the relative positions of those nations eligible to compete. No non-eligible nation shall have their ranking affected by the tournament.
   21. If the number of nations in the tournament is limited by the organisers, then no nation not competing shall have their ranking changed.
       1. The responsibility of proving that a nation was excluded from a tournament due to a decision of the organisers lies with that nation. These rules assume any tournament is not limited unless communication from the organisers states otherwise. This may be forwarded communication provided by a nation so excluded.
   22. Nations which are eligible but do not compete will have their rankings adjusted as rule 11, except in cases fitting rule 21.
3. Except for tournaments and inactivity, the nation in 1^st position cannot be affected by bouts in which that nation is not competing.
4. Two nations, competing in a friendly bout, even as part of a friendly tournament, may have new rankings assigned as a result of that single bout:
   41. If the winning nation is one place below the losing nation, the two shall swap positions.
   42. If the winning nation is more than one place below the losing nation, the winning nation shall be moved up to a position half the distance between the two, and the losing nation shall move down one place.
       1. If the two would now be at the same position, the winning nation takes precedence, and the losing nation the position below. Thus, if Nation 3 defeats Nation 1, Nation 3 takes 2^nd position, and Nation 1, 3^rd position.
   43. If the winning nation is no more than 4 places above the losing nation, the winning nation shall move up one position, unless this would result in a new nation in 1^st position as rule 3. The losing nation shall move down one position.
       1. If the bout is decided after the regulation period has expired, then the losing nation shall not change position.
   44. If the winning nation is more than 4 places above the losing nation, the losing nation shall move down one position. The winning nation shall not change position.
       1. If the bout is decided after the regulation period has expired, then the losing nation shall not change position, and both nations remain at their current ranking.
   45. If two nations both play the same nation on the same or consecutive days, and both achieve the same result, their position may be adjusted on based on the score at the end of regulation. This adjustment will be made after all adjustments due to the result of the two bouts.
       1. If the nation with the higher ranking lost by a greater amount or won by a lesser amount than the nation with the lower ranking, the two nations shall have their positions adjusted as rule 42.
       2. If the nation with the higher ranking lost by a lesser amount or won by a greater amount than the nation with the lower ranking, the two nations shall not change position as a result of rule 45.
   46. If one team is unranked due to being a regular league team or all-star type team, the ranked nation shall be adjusted as follows:
       1. If the ranked nation loses, they shall move down one position.
       2. If the ranked nation wins, they shall move up one position unless that would put them into 3^rd position or higher.
5. Inactivity:
   51. If the nation in 1^st position does not compete in a bout or tournament for 24 months, that nation shall be moved down to 2^nd position.
   52. If a nation in 2^nd position or below does not compete in a bout or tournament for 24 months, that nation shall be moved no more than 4 positions down, but not below another nation fitting this criterion.
   53. For tournaments, the 24 month count shall begin for all nations competing at midnight immediately following the championship bout.
   54. For friendly bouts, the 24 month count shall begin at midnight immediately following the bout.
6. A nation which has not competed previously shall be listed as “unranked” below all those with ranked positions.
   61. For the purposes of a bout as in Rule 4, any such nation is considered ranked the position immediately below the lowest ranked nation. Upon completion of the bout, the previously unranked nation shall be given a position according to Rule 4.
   62. Such a nation should only be listed when a bout or tournament in which they are involved is announced publicly.
7. Each nation may only be represented once on in the rankings. No nation shall have a B-team or other lower level team ranked.