The Rules of Roller Derby

You can find the Official Rules at the Women's Flat Track Derby Association's website.

How to Play:

• There are two teams on the track at once.
• Each team can have no more than five skaters on the track at one time.
• Each team is made up of one pivot, three blockers, and one jammer.
• There might be fewer girls on the track at once, depending on if any girls are in the penalty box.

Positions:

• Pivot - Skates in the very front of the pack, controls pack speed and serves as a last line of defense against the opposing jammer. The Pivot has a solid stripe on their helmet cover.
• Blocker - The blocker's job is to make sure the opposing jammer never gets past them. They work together with other blockers and her pivot to help her jammer through the pack while stopping the opposing jammer. They can help their girl out by whipping them through the pack. Blockers do not wear helmet covers
• Jammer - The “money maker“. They score all the points. Jammers starts 30 feet behind the pack. They have to skate through the entire pack once and lap the pack before she can begin to score points. Every girl on the opposing team she passes is a point. That includes girls in the penalty box and girls on the floor. The Jammers have a large star on each side of their helmet cover.
• Lead Jammer - The first jammer to get through the pack passing all skaters legally and in-bounds. The lead jammer can call off the jam anytime she wants after lead jammer status has been earned. Referees will signify lead jammer status with two rapid whistle blasts and by pointing at the jammer.

The Game:

A bout is 60 minutes broken into two 30 minute periods. Each period is composed of an unlimited number of jams which can last up to 2 minutes. After each jam, the teams have no more than 30 seconds to line up for the next jam. If a skater is not on the track when the whistle blows, her team must skate short.

• One long whistle blast signals the beginning of a jam and for the pack to begin skating.
• Two rapid whistle blasts are blown to signal the jammer start.
• Four whistle blasts signal the end of the jam, which can happen because the two minutes have elapsed or because the lead jammer called off the jam.

Penalties to watch out for:

• Pushing, shoving, punching, grabbing or holding
• Hitting or jabbing with the elbows
• Hitting from behind
• Tripping, kicking, or blocking with skates or legs
• Blocking or assisting a jammer while twenty feet ahead or behind the pack
• Blocking or passing skaters out-of-bounds