Official Rules Q+A

Blockers On Or Behind The Jammer Line

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:12:37 -0700

Can a Blocker start a jam positioned on the Jammer Start Line?

Only Jammers may start a jam in position on or behind the Jammer start line. If at the start of the jam a Blocker is touching on or behind the Jammer line, she is considered to be out of position ahead of the pivot line and has committed an Illegal Procedure False Start minor penalty.

When a blocker false starts she must yield that advantage by ceasing all counterclockwise motion to avoid a major Illegal Procedure False Start major penalty. The skater may choose to speed up her yield by skating clockwise, but is not required to skate clockwise to complete the yield.

Until a false starting Blocker joins the pack, she must yield her advantage, even if the pack moves clockwise, stops or is moving forward slowly. The advantage is considered yielded after the false starting skater has been passed by a single opponent who is a member of the pack.

The opposing team chooses to not take advantage of the yielding Blocker when the yielding Blocker is within ten feet of the pack, and therefore a member of the pack, and the opposing team comes to a stop, reverses direction and skates clockwise, or are not actively moving in the derby direction at a rate of speed that makes it evident that they are immediately taking back the advantage. Such actions by the opposing team should be interpreted as the team opting to not take back the advantage. When the false starting Blocker is within ten feet of the pack and the opposing team is not actively and immediately taking back the advantage as defined, the false starting Blocker is no longer required to yield her advantage.

Jammers Simultaneously Meet All Requirements For Lead Jammer

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:44:20 -0700

Q: In the event that both Jammers simultaneously meet all requirements for Lead Jammer which Jammer should be declared Lead Jammer?

A: If both Jammers meet the requirements simultaneously, then neither Jammer can be considered "the first" to have done so, and as a result neither Jammer is Lead Jammer.

For example, both Jammers have legally passed all blockers while in play, and the foremost blocker goes Out of Play by exiting the Engagement Zone in front of the pack before the Jammers can pass her. At this moment, they have both met the criteria for Lead Jammer at the same time, so neither Jammer can be Lead Jammer.

Downed Pivot On The Pivot Line

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 06:35:54 -0700

What does "on the Pivot line" mean in 4.2.2 and 4.2.3?

On the Pivot line means on the Pivot line. A Pivot is considered on the line if any part of her body, skates or equipment is touching the line. Per 4.2.3 a Non-Pivot Blocker is required to line up behind a Pivot who is on the Pivot line.
If a Pivot is not on the Pivot line, Non-Pivot Blockers are not required to line up behind her.

Penalized Inactive Jammer During Star Pass

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:39:19 -0700

If during the time between the star pass and the Pivot placing the star on her helmet, the inactive Jammer is sent to the box for a penalty. What position will she serve her penalty as?

The inactive Jammer must serve her penalty as the inactive Jammer. Once she is released from the box the Pivot may place the star on her helmet and become the Jammer or she may return the star to the Jammer. While the Jammer is in the penalty box the Pivot may not place the Jammer cover on her helmet. If she does the referee must tell her she is the Pivot (and not the Jammer) and she must remove the Jammer Cover. A Pivot who does not follow the referee's instruction shall receive an insubordination major.

Star Passes And The Engagement Zone

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 06:29:57 -0700

Assuming that the physical transfer of the star happened legally (in play), may a Pivot place the star on her helmet (thus completing the "star pass") while out of bounds or out of play?

The Pivot need not be in the engagement zone to place the star on her helmet. It is only required that the star pass take place in the engagement zone. However, until the star is on the Pivot's helmet and she has become the Jammer all out of play penalties still apply.

Pack Destruction Prior to Pack and Jammer Start Whistles

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 06:43:47 -0700

1) Can Blockers illegally destroy the pack and receive a major penalty prior to the pack start whistle?

2) Can Blockers illegally destroy the pack and receive a major penalty prior to the Jammer start whistle?

1) No, it is legal for Blockers to line up in such a way that there is no pack. However, Blockers must immediately reform a pack or penalties will be given per section 6.10

2) Yes, after the pack start whistle has blown and once a pack is formed with an established pack speed an illegal destruction of the pack penalty shall be enforced per section 6.10. In addition, a group of Blockers who skate clockwise prior to the Jammer start whistle which results in a no pack situation shall also receive a penalty for illegal destruction of the pack.

Relative Position

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:04:49 -0700

1) Should relative position be judged by all skaters on the track, or only by the skaters directly involved/impacted by an engagement?

2) An illegal hit puts a player off balance. The initiator of that hit doesn't gain position on the recipient. Some other player completely uninvolved and unaffected by the engagement passes the off-balance skater. Minor or Major?

1) Relative position should be judged only by the skaters directly involved or impacted by an engagement.

2) The referee must determine the impact of that hit on the recipient in order to determine if it is a major or minor; if the illegal action only causes the skater to be off balance but does not physically move/propel her or cause her to fall or go out of bounds then it would be a minor.

Both Jam Refs Award Lead Jammer

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:44:00 -0700

Both scoring referees award and signal Lead Jammer status to their Jammers (the second, mistakenly). If the second Jammer successfully calls off the jam (incorrectly believing she is the Lead Jammer), should she be assessed a penalty?

No. It is only a penalty for a Jammer who is NOT Lead Jammer to call off a jam (6.13.8 and 6.13.19). If both Jammers are awarded Lead Jammer status, even in error, then an appropriate use of referee discretion should be to dismiss any penalty assessment.

Assist Which Causes A No Pack

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:08:04 -0700

Should an assist which results in a no pack situation be penalized for illegally destroying the pack?
Situation: 4 green Blockers are 8 feet in front of 1 white Blocker. The remaining white Blockers are 4 feet behind the frontmost white Blocker. The frontmost white Blocker assists her Jammer. As a result of the assist the front most white blocker abruptly slows down, destroying the pack and is now 12 feet behind the green Blocker.

Per 6.10.20 the frontmost white Blocker must be given an out of play major for illegally destroying the pack. Regardless of who initiated the assist, her abrupt change in speed caused a no pack situation and the frontmost white Blocker must be penalized.

Penalty Box Rights and Restrictions

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 22:22:00 -0700

Is it legal to enter the penalty box to hand a penalized skater water?

It is only a penalty to enter the designated penalty box area to communicate with a penalized skater. Communicating is the passing of information. You may communicate with a skater in the penalty box from outside the designated penalty box area.