How the Game of Roller Derby is Played
Basically it's two teams on a oval flat track. Each team has 5 players on
the track, 4 blockers and 1 jammer each. The blockers start ahead of the jammers. A
whistle is sounded and the blockers and the jammers start.
The jammers have to make their way through the pack of blockers and go
around the track again. On their second pass through the pack the jammers score a point
for every blockers hips on the opposing team they pass. While this is all going on the
blockers are hip checking, shoulder checking, and booty blocking opposing team members to
help their jammer get through and prevent the opposing jammer from getting through.
A bout or scrimmage is made up of lots of mini games called jams. Each jam
lasts up to 2 minutes. At the end of the bout or scrimmage whichever team has the
most points wins.
Basic overview of those involved in roller
derby
It takes the efforts of a lot of people to make a
roller derby game happen...
Role of the Pivot: is a
blocker who wears a striped helmet cover who typically gives strategy instructions to the
other blockers on their team. Other blockers who are not a pivot must start behind their
hips if the Pivot(s) is/are touching the blocker starter line at the start of a jam.
Should control pack speed and strategy. A Pivot is able to take over the jammer position
if the jammer passes them their star helmet cover. Once the star helmet cover is on their
helmet the pivot then becomes the jammer and is eligible to score points. A pivot may
acquire penalties on behalf of her team.
Role of Blockers: Blockers play simultaneous
offense and defense to assist their jammer to get through “the pack” while
trying to prevent the other teams jammer from getting through the pack. Blockers may touch
and interact with players from their own team. There are specific legal target zones and
legal blocking zones in which players from opposing teams may initiate shoulder checks or
hip checks. Blockers also manipulate one another by booty blocking, stall blocking and
leaning. Blocker 1, usually the biggest and slowest holding the line. Blocker 2, usually a
hard hitter controls toward the outside. Blocker 3 is usually fast, hard hitting, and
often hangs around the back to assist the jammer and as the first line of defense.
Role of the Jammer: Score
points. The jammer is the skater with the star helmet cover (a.k.a. jammer panty) on her
helmet. While that star is on her helmet she must try to get through “the pack”
legally and as quickly as possible while being pursued by blockers and the jammer from the
opposing team. The jammer who makes it through the pack on the first pass legally and in
bounds first is declared the lead jammer and while lead jammer they can call off the jam
before the 2 minutes ends. If the lead jammer is sent to the penalty box in the jam she
looses lead jammer status and the jam goes the entire 2 minutes. Both jammers start
scoring points on the second and following laps where 1 point is awarded for legally
passing the hips of an opposing blocker. A jammer may choose to pass the position of
jammer during a jam by passing her star helmet cover to the pivot. Once the pivot has the
star cover on her helmet she is then the jammer and is able to begin scoring points. As
soon as the helmet cover is removed from a jammers helmet they are not eligible to score
points. If the cover falls off the jammer’s helmet or if the helmet cover is being
passed from the jammer to the pivot and it falls on the ground then only the jammer or the
pivot may pick up and put on the star cover. If anyone else picks up the fallen star cover
it is a major penalty.
Role of Team Captain and
Alternates: Both Captains and Alternates can call time outs, request official reviews,
bring concerns to head referee between jams. They must denote themselves with a
“c” or an “a” on their arm. Captain may acquire penalties on behalf of
her team. The team Captain must be a roster skater.
Line Up Coach: Calls out
each jam line up and ensures all players are fielded. Keeps eye on penalty box to ensure
not too many skaters are fielded. Tracks estimated penalty times for players in the box.
Keeps team focused, positive, and motivated.
Bench Coach: Assists Line
Up Coach in ensuring everyone is fielded. Watches what works and what doesn’t work
and makes strategy suggestions. Keeps team focused, positive, and motivated.
Referees are there to ensure
the game is played safely and fairly. Once a referee sees a penalty in progress and
sees the outcome and aftermath of the action they determine the severity of the penalty,
either Minor impact, or Major impact. Major calls begin with a whistle blast, the ref will
then call out the team color, skater number, and penalty loud enough for the skater and
the penalty tracker or penalty wrangler to hear and also make the hand signal for the
penalty. Minor penalties are not preceded with a whistle. Referees will only call a
penalty that they personally see happen. They can not make a call based on only the
aftermath or what a skater claims has happened. They must witness the penalty themselves
to make a call.
Role of Pack Referees: To
watch the pack for penalties, define the pack, and assist other referees.
Role of Jammer Referees:
watch a jammer from a specific team. Declare lead jammer status if warranted, be
knowledgeable of how many penalties their jammer has at the start of each jam, keep track
of jammers additional penalties, keep track points scored in each pass, and jam total, to
call penalties on the jammer and anyone who interacts with jammer.
Role of Head Ref: HR is a
pack ref. Oversees all officiating. Gives referee assignments to the ref squad. Goes over
rules and procedures with team captains and alternates at the Captain’s meeting.
Hosts the referee meeting pre-game. Oversees equipment check just before game starts.
Watches everything going on during a jam. Teams communicate only with the Head Ref. When
teams request reviews or time out to discuss something with the officials the Head Referee
acts on behalf of all officials, and is constantly communicating with refs and nsos. The
Head Referee makes the official decision and tries to ensure the utmost fairness. If the
other referees have questions about a call or a rule they consult the Head Referee. The
Head Referee’s decision is final.
Non Skating Officials (NSO)
along with the Referees ensure games are fair and impartial.
Head NSO: Trains other NSOs as needed. Is the go to person if any of the NSOs have
questions or need to correct an error. The Head NSO communicates on behalf of the NSOs to
the Head Referee. The Head NSO may also perform another NSO task at the same time as being
Head NSO.
Penalty Tracker: There is
one tracker per team. They keep track of each skater from that teams penalties on a
tracking form. They receive penalty information from referees, penalty wranglers and other
NSOs. They communicate the penalties for their team to the Big Board Penalty Tracker. They
notify a referee when a skater has 4 minors and needs to serve time in the penalty box.
They also notify the head referee when a skater is on their 7th trip to the
penalty box so the skater can be ejected.
Score Keeper: There is one
score keeper per team. Each score keeper works with one team’s jammer ref to acquire
the number of points each pass. The Score Keeper records which jammer starts each jam, if
there is a star pass, and points. The score keeper reports the running score total after
each jam to the score board operator and/or skating score girl.
Penalty Wrangler: Relays
penalty information from referees to the Penalty Trackers, catches overflow penalties.
Big Board Penalty Tracker: On
a large dry erase board the tracker keeps a general track of penalties acquired by all
skaters. The board is facing the team benches so they can view player penalties. The
tracker gets the information for the board from the Penalty Trackers for each team.
Penalty Box Timer: This
team of officials uses a stop watch to time the skaters penalty time. Typically there is 1
timer for each teams blocker seats and 1 timer for each teams jammers. The timer is
informed by the referees if more than a minute penalty is to be served. When the skaters
butt hits the seat the timer starts. The timer is stopped if the jam ends before their
time is up and then is started at the start of the next jam. When the timer gets to 10
seconds the skater is told to stand then when time is up the skater is told
“done”.
Jam Timer: Uses two stop
watches, or kitchen timers; one to time each jam and one to time the 30 seconds between
jams. When there is a time out called by a team the Jam Timer times the 1 minute time out
and calls out “10 Seconds” when there is 10 seconds left of the time out. Once
the 10 seconds is up the 30 seconds between jams is started. The Jam Timer announces
“5 seconds” then blows a single short blast whistle and bring hand down in front
to declare the start of the jam. When the last blocker in play hips pass the blocker start
line then the Jam Timer blows two short blast whistles and brings hand from down to out to
the right side to declare the jammers start. If the jam timer reaches 2 minutes then the
Jam Timer calls off the jam by blowing 4 short whistle blasts.
Period Timer: Uses one
stop watch which is started at the start of the first jam. If there is a time out called
by a team, an official time out, or if the game comes to a stop due to an injury or unsafe
condition then the period timer is stopped and is started again at the start of the next
jam. The period timer lets the Announcer and the Head Referee know how much time is left
through out each period. When the time gets to 25 minutes in the 30 minute period the
Period Timer needs to let the Head Referee know there is 5 minutes left. Then when time is
up the Period Timer needs to report it to the Head Referee.
Scoreboard Operator or Score
Person: Reports the score to the Announcer, teams, and fans using a scoreboard.
Common Terms:
Helmet Covers= two helmet covers are in play for each
team every jam. They are helmet covers worn by the jammer and the pivot. The jammers
helmet cover has a star on it. The pivots helmet cover has a stripe on it. The jammer can
only score points while wearing the helmet cover. If it falls off she does not score
points while it is not being worn. The jammer can pass the helmet cover to the pivot as a
strategic move and once the pivot puts it on they become the jammer. If the jammer had
lead jammer status the pivot who became jammer would lose the lead jammer status once the
star was passed.
Passing the Star= is when the jammer passes their helmet
cover to the pivot. Once the stared helmet cover is on the helmet of the pivot they become
the jammer and are eligible to start scoring points.
Points= A jammer starts scoring points on the 2nd pass
through the pack. They score 1 point for every opposing players hips they pass.
Grand Slam= If an opposing jammer is either stuck in the
pack or in the penalty box when the jammer from the other team gets through the pack they
score a grand slam, which is 5 points. A point for the 4 blockers and 1 for the jammer.
Poodle or Poodling= is when a player starts a jam where
they deliberately get a minor penalty. Most commonly by starting a jam somewhere in front
of the blocker starter line. This is done by a skater who has 3 minor penalties and wants
to clear it and serve their time in the box so they get their 4th minor and goes to the
penalty box.
Power Play= is when the jammer from one team is in the
penalty box. The opposing team has the power play.
Common Referee Penalty Hand Signals:
