Rules 2017: Changes to Game Structure
The February 15, 2017 version of The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby introduces some changes to game structure, reviewed and developed by the WFTDA Rules Committee with input and guidance from WFTDA and MRDA member leagues. The following is a list of notable changes that highlight game structure differences from the 2015-2016 rule set.
|
January 1, 2015 Rule Set
|
February 15, 2017 Rule Set
|
|
|
Penalties are assigned to the Pivot when no one Skater can be determined most responsible.
|
Penalties are assigned to the Skater nearest to the Official calling the penalty when no one Skater is most responsible.
|
|
|
Skaters leaving the Penalty Box without direction to do so by an Official receive a second penalty.
|
Skaters leaving the Penalty Box without direction to do so by an Official only receive a second penalty if their time was not completed yet.
|
|
|
Skaters who have a jam called off due to injury must sit for 3 jams. Skaters who have a jam called due to injury more than once in one period must sit out the rest of the period.
|
Skaters who are a) substituted in the Penalty Box, b) have a jam called off due to injury, or c) require an OTO to be called in order for them to exit the track area must sit for 3 jams. Skaters who alter the flow of the game more than once in the game due to injury must sit out the rest of the period.
|
|
|
Designated Alternates cannot be replaced after they are ejected from a game.
|
Teams can choose a new Alternate.
|
|
|
Entering the Penalty Box by any amount while communicating with a penalized Skater is a penalty.
|
Fully entering the Penalty Box regardless of communication is a penalty.
|
|
|
Leaving the Penalty Box slightly when not instructed to do so regardless of venue constraints is a penalty.
|
|
|
|
All Protective Gear is required regardless of whether it actually has a benefit to the Skater wearing it.
|
Protective Gear that doesn’t provide additional benefit to a particular Skater is not required for that Skater.
|
|
|
An OTO taken with less than 30 seconds left on the period clock requires the remaining seconds to be counted down.
|
Officials can decide after taking an OTO with less than 30 seconds remaining on the period clock whether to run another jam automatically or let the time count down and allow either team to stop the clock for another jam.
|
|
|
A jam that ends unnaturally with no time left on the period clock can cause another jam to occur at the discretion of the Head Official.
|
A jam that ends due to officiating error with no time left on the period clock can cause another jam to occur at the discretion of the Officials.
|
|
|
If a Jammer hands the Star to a Blocker, the Blocker receives the penalty.
|
|
|
|
Ambiguity around being an out-of-bounds Skater versus being a NOTT point.
|
Leaving the track for an equipment issue makes the Skater a NOTT point.
|
|
|
Ambiguity around when a Skater can be penalized for hitting an Illegal Target Zone when the opposing Skater changes their body position.
|
If a Skater cannot reasonably avoid contact to an Illegal Target Zone because the opposing Skater changed their body position, no penalty.
|
|
|
Skaters in queue must wait for an Official to tell them to report to the Penalty Box.
|
Skaters in queue may self-report when there is an opening to sit in the Penalty Box.
|
|
|
Ambiguity around how to avoid track cuts when opposing Jammer has superior position and then Passes the Star.
|
A Jammer cedes their superior position when they Pass the Star.
|
|
|
If a team is granted a timeout with none remaining, they receive a penalty.
|
If a team is granted a timeout with none remaining but they have an official review, they will be presumed to have used their official review as a timeout (and vice versa).
|
|
|
Silent on Officials issuing warnings before jams.
|
Strongly suggests that, when possible, Officials should warn Skaters about technical issues prior to them becoming penalties (false starts, too many skaters, etc).
|
Read more:
Policy Items Moved to WFTDA Policy and Officiating Documents