Roller Derby Rules Overview

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Roller Derby Rules Overview

V1.1 21/02/2011

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Introduction• Modern roller derby is generally played

according to WFTDA rules– http://wftda.com/rules

• This presentation is only intended as an introduction to the WFTDA rules– The rules can (and do!) get complex– Games tend to throw up lots of odd situations…– Focus here is on core rules players need to know– Not intended to be comprehensive!• Some parts have been deliberately simplified!

http://wftda.com/rules

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But I just want to play not read rules!• Do I really need to know the rules?– No... but you’re limiting how good a player you can be,

and making it more difficult for you and your team• Huh? How does knowing rules help?– The cleaner you skate, the more choice you have for

when you want to deliberately break the rules• Whilst keeping bad effects to a minimum

– Less penalties means you’re in the sin bin less• If you’re in the sin bin, the only team you’re helping is the

opposition– You can use the rules to your advantage

• Tactics, strategy

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I’m not convinced...• It’s a personal opinion...– Strongly encourage you to try!

• At the very least, if you only take three things away from this overview, make it these:– The pack (slides 11 – 13)– Legal target and blocking zones (slide 19)– Cutting the track (slides 35 – 37)

• Knowing those three will give you the most bang for your buck when you start out!

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Core game

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Overview• A game (“bout”) is two periods of 30 minutes• Each period is made up of a series of jams• The skaters go around the flat, roughly oval, track• In each jam, most of the players from the two teams skate

near each other, forming a pack• A jammer from each team tries to keep passing through

the pack by lapping the pack• Jammers score points by passing opposing players• Pack players can block to try and stop them• Next jam starts 30 seconds after the last one• Team with the most points wins!• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2W2b1WBmm4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2W2b1WBmm4

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Team composition• Ten players on the track at once (five per team)• One jammer per team

– Wears a helmet cover with large stars on– Only jammers can score points!

• One pivot per team– Wears a helmet cover with a stripe on– Pivots often play a leader type role for their team

• Three blockers per team– No helmet covers

• Pivots can do everything blockers can, but can also receive a star pass– This is an advanced move, and usually pre-planned and well practiced,

don’t worry about it for the moment!– For now, think of a pivot as just another blocker

WFTDA Rules Sections 3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6

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Boutfits• Quad skates, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist

guards, helmet and mouth guard– Must be in good working order

• Number must be clearly visible– On back– On both arms (marker pen is fine!)

• No loose patches, numbers, etc.– Must not be any safety pins or similar!

• Remove or tape up jewelry

WFTDA Rules Sections 3.7, 3.8, 3.9

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Jam line-up• Jammers line up on jammer line• Pivots line up on pivot line• Blockers line up behind pivots– In any order– ‘Behind’ is determined by hips!

• The pack is the group of skaters formed by the pivots and blockers– Jammers are not part of the pack

• Skaters go round counter-clockwise (CCW)

WFTDA Rules Sections 4.2

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Jam start• The two teams line up for the jam• Referee blows one long whistle blast– Pack sets off– Jammers stay where they are– Any player not on track and in-bounds when the

whistle blows must sit out the jam – don’t be late!• Referee waits for pack to cross pivot line– All the pack must cross

• Referee then blows two rapid whistle blasts– Jammers set off

WFTDA Rules Sections 4.4

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The pack• Largest group of blockers...– Containing blockers from both teams– Skating in proximity (close together)

• What does ‘close together’ mean?– Not more than 10 feet from another pack skater

• This is confusing...ok, let’s try an experiment– Think about two skaters, one from each team, that are 10 or

less feet apart – this is the pack– Now look for any skaters that are 10 feet or less from those

two – these are also in the pack– Repeat this for any skaters that are 10 feet or less from any in

the pack• It’s much easier to understand with a picture...WFTDA Rules Section 4.1

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Defining the pack

• The blue and red circles are the skaters• Blue 1 is not part of the pack• Red 2, 4, 6 and Blue 3, 5 are the pack• Blue 5 is in the pack?– 10 feet or less from another pack skater (blue 3)

• Hang on, Red 6 is in the pack?– 10 feet or less from another pack skater (blue 5)

WFTDA Rules Section 4.1

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41 5 6

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5 feet 5 feet12 feet

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The pack and being in / out of play• Blockers are in play except when:– They are more than 20 feet from the pack– They are out of bounds

• Anything touching outside track boundary is out of bounds

• The area 20 feet in front of the pack and 20 feet behind the pack is the Engagement Zone

• Blockers not in play are out of play:– May not block opposing jammer or team

• Must actively move out of the way of the jammer!– May not assist their jammer or team– Must re-enter the engagement zone

• If ahead, must drop back; behind, must catch upWFTDA Rules Section 4.3

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No pack situations• If the players aren’t forming a pack, a no pack situation

has developed– E.g. Three red and one black are in a group at the front; 15

feet behind are three black and one red• When a no pack situation develops…– The refs will shout ‘No pack’– Must immediately attempt to reform the pack

• Failure to attempt to reform will result in a minor penalty to a skater from both team

• Sustained failure will result in majors– Blockers are all considered out of play

• A skater or team deliberately creating a no pack situation will be given a major penalty

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Jamming• No points are scored on first pass

– Instead determines which jammer is lead jammer• Points are scored on subsequent passes

– One point for each opposing player legally passed– Extra point for lapping the opposing jammer

• Lead jammer is gained on first pass by:– Not stepping outside the track before getting within 20 feet of

the pack– Passing all blockers (both teams!) legally and in-bounds– Being the first jammer to get through the pack– Not getting sent to the penalty box– Minor penalties don’t matter!

• So long as you meet the other criteria above…WFTDA Rules Section 3.4, 8

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Lead jammer• How do I know if I’m lead?

– Your jam referee will be pointing at you with one hand, whilst other will be pointed straight up (like an L shape)

– Referee will blow two rapid whistle blasts• How long does it last?

– That jam only• What does it mean?

– Lead jammer can call off the jam by repeatedly placing hands on hips

• How is it lost?– By getting a major penalty

• Is there always a lead jammer?– No, e.g. if both jammers do illegal passes


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Jam end• Jam ends by either:– Maximum time of two minutes reached• Time starts from first (long) whistle blast

– Lead jammer calls jam off• By repeatedly placing hands on hips• Allowed at any time (skating, lying on the ground, out

of bounds, etc.) until directed off track (i.e. majored)

• Referee blows four rapid whistle blasts• Next jam starts 30 seconds later– If you’re not on track and in-bounds when the

next jam starts, you’ll have to sit it out!WFTDA Rules Section 2.4, 3.4

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Blocking

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General• Blocking is both positional and contact– Counter-blocking is held to the same standards

• Must be in play to block• Must be moving counter-clockwise to block– Don’t have to be facing that way though!– Cannot be stationary to execute a block

• Must have at least one skate on the floor• Targets must be standing, stepping or skating• Stationary or moving clockwise targets are ok!– If they counter-block they’ll be penalised

WFTDA Rules Section 5

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Legal target and blocking zones


You can hit these areas You can hit with these areas

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Penalties

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General concepts• Two main types – minor and major– Minors are, well, minor – no advantage was obtained by a team,

nor really a safety concern– Majors usually mean an advantage was obtained– A major means 1 minute in the penalty box

• The fourth minor on a skater is treated as a major• Initiator of a block is always responsible for the legality of

that block– Penalise the bullet not the gun– E.g. Red 1 pushes red 2 into blue 3 – red 2 is penalised

• Also expulsions for really serious stuff– Fighting, intentional / negligent / reckless actions, etc.– 7 trips to the penalty box (used to be 5)


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‘Position’• Many penalties make reference to ‘loss of

relative position’• This is when your position in relation to other

skaters is lost due to the actions of another skater– E.g. an opponent behind you blocks into you and

by doing so gets in front of you– Forced out of bounds is always loss of position– Loss of position isn’t always a penalty!• E.g. legal block that puts you off track

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‘Impact’• Good refs judge certain penalties on the impact it has on

the opponent or game– Mainly blocking related penalties– Not every illegal block is a penalty!

• Some examples…– Red 6 contacts Blue 2 in the back, Blue 2 doesn’t adjust their

stance or is affected in any way• Illegal target zone, but no impact on blue 2 so no penalty

– Red 8 has just passed Blue 12 and touches Blue 12 in the chest with trailing arm; Blue 12 isn’t affected in any way• Illegal blocking zone, but no impact so no penalty

– Blue 22 blocks into Red 10 with an elbow but bounces off; Red 10 doesn’t move or adjust stance in any way• Illegal blocking zone, but no impact so no penalty

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How are penalties signalled?• Minors– Referee will call out colour, number and penalty

whilst making the appropriate hand signals– E.g. “Red 12 back block”– There is no whistle blast (unless it’s the fourth

minor)• Majors– Referee will blow one long whistle blast and then

call out colour, number and penalty whilst making the appropriate hand signals

– E.g. Whistle then “Red 12 back block major”WFTDA Rules Section 6, 7

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I’ve been majored!• Go straight to the penalty box

– As fast as you can, going counter-clockwise– Must not go clockwise, even if it would be quicker!– Skate outside the track and keep your mouth guard in!

• If you take your mouth guard out, you’ll be getting another major!

• As fast as I can?– Your 1 minute only starts when you’re sat down in the box!

• I’m not sure the ref was calling me, should I just head off?– No! Keep playing if you’re not sure – let the refs worry about getting your attention! If it’s you

they meant, they’ll get your attention!• Don’t deliberately ignore them (that’s an insubordination major)!

– It’s ok to ask a ref if they meant you when they called a penalty• I’m not sure the ref got it right, am I ok to question the call?

– No, go straight to the penalty box – querying it could get you another major!– Note that this is not the same as asking a ref if they meant you

• No, really, the stupid ref has it completely wrong!– Go straight to the penalty box! Arguing will probably get you another major!

• Only your Captain can confer with the referees...– Probably best to do it after the jam or in a timeout

WFTDA Rules Section 6, 7

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In the box• Remain seated until told you can go

– This includes between jams, time-outs, etc.– With 10 seconds to go, you’ll be told to stand

• You must stand up when directed

• Spells in the box are 1 minute long– Unless you pick up another major on the way to it…– Sometimes, jammers are in for less

• Do not remove any equipment (helmet, etc.)– You may take out your mouth guard whilst seated– You may adjust your safety equipment

• You may ask how long you have left• If the jam ends, time left carries on into the next jam (and

you must skate in it)WFTDA Rules Section 7

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Leaving the box• Re-enter behind the rear-most pack skater– Out of play skaters don’t matter

• What about no pack situations?– Rules aren’t entirely clear on this one…• Some refs read it as you can enter anywhere, others

read it as you must enter behind all the skaters– Pretty rare, packs normally quickly re-form• Recommend you enter at behind all skaters

• Before entering the track, you may skate clockwise outside the track


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Back blocking• Hitting to the back in a non-legal target zone– Ok to hit from behind to legal target zones

• Minor– Opponent loses balance, is pushed forward or

sideways, but doesn’t lose position• Major– Opponent is forced down, out of bounds, loses

position


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Head / above shoulders blocking• You must not hit above shoulders!– Always a major (doesn’t matter what you hit with)

• You must not use your head to block with!– Always a major (so long as it’s by mistake)– If you do it deliberately, you’ll be expelled

• What about accidental contact?– Minor if you force opponent to lose balance, go

forward or sideways, but they don’t lose position– Major in all other cases

WFTDA Rules Sections 6.2, 6.6

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Low blocking (tripping)• Contact below the legal target zones

– Includes skates and wheels making contact, but only when outside the ‘normal skating motion’

– Knees are not legal targets!• Contact from downed skaters re-entering the track• Minor

– Opponent loses balance, is pushed forward or sideways, but doesn’t lose position

• Major– Opponent is forced down, out of bounds, loses position– Flailing / sprawling skaters that trip opponents– A skating motion that results in habitual contact between skates and

wheels (3 times in a bout)– Habitual falling in front of opponents that cases them to lose position (3

times in a bout)WFTDA Rules Section 6.3

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Use of elbows• Must bend elbow when blocking with arm• Must not swing your elbows into opponents• Minor– Opponent loses balance, is pushed forward or

sideways, but doesn’t lose position• Major– Opponent is forced down, out of bounds, loses

position– Hooking an opponent to impede mobility


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Use of forearms and hands• Must not grab, hold or push opponents– Includes following through in a block


sideways, but doesn’t lose position– Touching an opponent for 3 seconds or more

• Major– Opponent is forced down, out of bounds, loses

position– Grabbing or holding an opponent that results in them

being forced down, out of bounds or losing positionWFTDA Rules Section 6.5

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Blocking out of bounds• Initiating a block whilst out of bounds– Out of bounds includes when you’re straddling the

track boundary• A skate touching outside the track boundary means you’re

out of bounds


sideways, but doesn’t lose position– Continuing a block after you’ve gone out of bounds

• Major– Opponent is forced down, out of bounds, loses

positionWFTDA Rules Section 6.8

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Direction of play• Must skate counter-clockwise

– Stepping counts as skating– It’s about direction, not the way you’re facing– Can’t block, assist or engage if going clockwise

• Minor– Blocking whilst stationary or moving clockwise and opponent loses

balance, is pushed forward or sideways, but doesn’t lose position– Giving an assist whilst stationary or moving clockwise that doesn’t

improve position• Major

– Blocking whilst stationary or moving clockwise and opponent is forced down, out of bounds, loses position

– Giving an assist whilst stationary or moving clockwise that improves recipient’s position


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Out of play• Leaving the engagement zone• A referee may give you an out of play warning• Minor

– Not returning to the engagement zone– Not reforming the pack in a no pack situation– Blocking whilst out of play where the opponent loses balance, is pushed

forward or sideways, but doesn’t lose position– Out of play assist that doesn’t improve recipient’s position

• Major– Not returning to the engagement zone after getting a minor for not

returning– Sustained failure to reform the pack– Blocking whilst out of play where the opponent is forced down, out of

bounds, loses position– Out of play assist that improves recipient’s position


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Cutting the track• Let’s keep this simple to start with and only consider skaters

completely on the track– i.e. not touching outside the track in any way

• Leaving the track and then re-entering in front of a skater in a way that improves your position– Downed, out of bounds or out of play skaters don’t affect your

position (they’re not in play)– Still applies in a no pack situation!

• Minor– Re-entering in front of one in-play skater (any team)

• Major– Re-entering in front of more than one in-play skater (any team)– Re-entering in front of the foremost in-play opposing blocker

• Note that they might be in the middle of the pack!


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Cutting the track – after being blocked• If you’ve been blocked out of bounds, you

must re-enter behind the skater who blocked you out

• Except…– If the initiator has been sent off– If the initiator went out of bounds• A skate touching outside the track is out of bounds!

– If the initiator was forced or fell down• Or chose to down themselves (e.g. single knee fall)

– If the initiator left the engagement zone


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Cutting the track – straddling skaters• Straddling means you’re touching both inside the track

boundary and outside it• Straddling ends when you cease contact with outside

the track boundary– You re-enter the track when you cease contact– Normal skating motion is treated as constant contact

• Minor– Re-entering in front of one in-play skater (any team)

• Major– Re-entering in front of more than one in-play skater (any

team)– Re-entering in front of the foremost in-play opposing blocker


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Skating out of bounds• Must remain in-bounds (on the track)• No penalty for– Being forced out by a block– Going out after missing or performing a block

• Minor– Skating out of bounds to avoid a block– Skating out of bounds to maintain/increase speed

• E.g. cutting the turn apex

• Major– Substantially cutting short the lap distance by skating

across the in-field• Very rare, getting this takes some doing!


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Illegal procedures• Usually where there’s no specific opponent• Minor– False starts where the player yields– Trying to call off the jam when not lead jammer– Re-entering the track in front of one pack skater– Leaving the penalty box during time-outs, etc.

• Major– False start and not yielding– Re-entering the track in front of 2+ pack skaters– Removing safety equipment (e.g. mouth guard)– Improper uniform, jewelry or skates


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Insubordination• “Wilfully failing to comply with a referee”– Rules only give one example…• “Wilfully failing to leave the track for a penalty”• But specifically state it is not limited to just this...

• Always a major– Expulsions for “deliberate and excessive

insubordination” to a referee• Some referees have an itchy insubordination

finger and will use it whenever they can…• Querying a penalty can get you this…


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Misconduct• Making contact whilst in the air• Blocking a downed opponent• “The use of obscene, profane or abusive language or

gestures directed at an official, mascot or audience member”– Don’t swear or gesture at the refs or NSOs!– If a ref penalises you for this and you keep on going at them,

there’s a good chance you’ll be getting a second misconduct – and for that you might also be expelled for excessive abuse

• “Excessive use of obscene, profane or abusive language or gestures directed at an opposing skater, manager or coach”– Don’t repeatedly swear or gesture at opponents!

• Always a major• Like insubordination, some refs are misconduct-happy


Roller Derby Rules Overview

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