4. Penalties¶
When a Skater commits a rule infraction or a foul, a penalty may be assessed as a punishment, handicap, or loss of advantage. Penalties are applied to both a Skater and the position that Skater is currently playing.
Officials signal and enforce penalties and warnings as they occur during a game. Penalties should not be assessed for actions that have little to no impact on the game or the Skaters.
The following types of penalties are addressed in detail in the sections listed below and in the Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby Casebook. These sections hold specific examples that are to be followed explicitly.
Illegal actions that do not fall cleanly into one of the categories below should be penalized using these descriptions and examples as guidelines.
If one Skater’s illegal action causes an opponent to unavoidably commit another illegal action, the opponent will not receive a penalty for the unavoidable illegal action. The initial Skater should be penalized if the initial illegal action has sufficient impact on the game.
4.1. Contact Penalties¶
Gaining position on an opponent, or causing an opponent to lose position to another teammate, due to illegal contact is always considered to have sufficient impact on the game.
Star Passes can only be blocked by legal means. Skaters who prevent a Star Pass using illegal contact should be penalized.
4.1.1. Impact to an Illegal Target Zone¶
Making contact to an Illegal Target Zone should be penalized based on the impact it has on the target (see Section 2.4.1).
Illegal Target Zones include:
Back of the body, including the back of the buttocks and the back of the thighs
Head, down to the collarbone
Below mid-thigh
For safety reasons, avoidable forceful contact to the back, or any forceful contact to the head or neck should be penalized regardless of impact.
A Skater suddenly presenting an Illegal Target Zone to an opponent, giving that opponent no reasonable opportunity to avoid illegal contact, is considered to be initiating with that target zone.
Fig. 4.1 Legal Target Zones¶
4.1.2. Impact with an Illegal Blocking Zone¶
Making contact with an Illegal Blocking Zone should be penalized based on the impact it has on the target (see Section 2.4.2).
Using an Illegal Blocking Zone also has sufficient impact to warrant a penalty if:
The contact puts an opponent significantly off balance;
The contact significantly alters an opponent’s trajectory or speed (for example, significantly holding them back);
The contact with an opponent allows the Skater to maintain an in-bounds position (that otherwise would not have been maintained); or
The contact with an opponent allows the Skater to maintain an upright position (that otherwise would not have been maintained).
Illegal Blocking Zones include:
Head, down to the collarbone
Forearm, from the point of the elbow to the fingertips
Legs, from below mid-thigh to the wheels of the skate
For safety reasons, any forceful contact initiated with the head or neck, intentional use of the head or neck to positionally block, or intentional and forceful jabbing with elbows or strikes with knees should be penalized regardless of impact.
Forearms are considered a Legal Blocking Zone when they are held close against the initiator’s torso.
Fig. 4.2 Legal Blocking Zones¶
4.1.3. Other Illegal Contact¶
Initiating a block is legal when a Skater is moving counterclockwise, in play, upright, and in bounds during a Jam using Legal Contact Zones. Other contact may be dangerous because it is unexpected.
Accordingly, Skaters cannot initiate a block while down, out of bounds, out of play, airborne, stopped, or skating clockwise. Skaters also cannot initiate a block on opponents who are down, fully out of bounds, or out of play. Skaters may initiate a block on an opponent who is straddling the track boundary, stopped, or skating clockwise.
Initiation of assists should be held to the same metrics as that of blocking, with the exception of assisting a downed teammate to return to an upright position.
4.1.4. Multiplayer Blocks¶
Skaters may not form a wall by linking with or grasping a teammate, or otherwise forming an impenetrable connection. This action warrants a penalty if an opponent attempts to get between them and fails to do so due to the illegal formation.
4.2. Game Structure Penalties¶
When the basic rules of the game are violated in a manner that would give a team an advantage, the individual or team who violates the rule should be penalized.
A team gains advantage if an illegal act results in:
An opponent becoming (or remaining) unable to block
A gain of position or a teammate’s gain of position
The game flow being altered
4.2.1. Illegal Positioning¶
Since all Blockers are unable to block when a Pack cannot be defined, if a Skater’s illegal action destroys the Pack, or if a Skater’s actions prevent or delay the reformation of a Pack, that Skater should be penalized.
It is illegal to adopt or maintain a position in which one cannot be blocked. Skaters may not intentionally leave the track, nor may Blockers intentionally leave the Engagement Zone. While there are many legal actions that would cause a Skater to be put into an illegal position (for example, out of bounds or out of play), intentionally adopting such a position should be penalized. It is legal for Jammers and Pivots to leave the track to retrieve an out-of-bounds helmet cover. A Skater who is illegally positioned must immediately act to regain a legal position.
If a Skater has reason to believe that they are legally positioned (even though they are not), or has reason to believe that they cannot legally return to a legal position, they must be warned before being assessed a penalty for failing to return to a legal position.
If a Skater is not legally positioned at the start of a Jam, the Skater should immediately yield position to everybody in the vicinity. Failing to do so after a warning is considered to be intentionally maintaining an illegal position and should be penalized accordingly.
4.2.2. Gaining Position¶
It is illegal for a Skater to use the out-of-bounds area to gain position on someone who is upright and in bounds. This action is referred to as “cutting the track.” Skaters who are out of bounds must return in bounds behind any upright and in-bounds Skater who they were behind when they left the track. The position of downed Skaters is not assessed until they are upright. If there is a Pack, Skaters who are out of bounds may return in bounds in front of any out-of-play Skaters. If there is no Pack, Skaters who are out of bounds may return in bounds in front of any Skaters more than 20 ft (6.10 m) from the last defined Pack.
Skaters who intentionally, but legally, leave the track (examples include to report to the Penalty Box or to fix equipment) must return to the track behind all in-play Blockers. If there is no Pack, they must return to the track behind all Blockers within 20 ft (6.10 m) of the last defined Pack. Skaters returning to the track from the Penalty Box must do so without illegally gaining position.
If a Skater is put out of bounds due to an opponent’s block, the Skater must return in bounds behind that opponent, even if the Skater was in front of the opponent before being blocked. That opponent gives up this advantage if they go down, out of bounds, or out of play (or more than 20 ft [6.10 m] from the last defined Pack if there is no Pack) prior to the Skater reentering the track. Skaters other than the initiator of the block are able to reestablish their superior position if they are upright, in bounds, and in play before the Skater returns to the track. Skaters who illegally reenter the track may immediately cede by returning fully out of bounds. Cutting one single teammate does not have enough impact to warrant a penalty.
4.2.3. Interfering with the Flow of the Game¶
All efforts should be made by teams and Officials to ensure that the period clock runs according to the rules of the game, and that Jams start and end as specified in the rules. Any inappropriate action that interferes with the game—including causing the period clock to stop, preventing a Jam from starting, or ending a Jam prematurely—should be penalized. Examples of inappropriate actions include, but are not limited to:
Skaters queued for the Penalty Box not on the track at the Jam start
No Blockers from one team on the track at the Jam start
All Blockers from one team entirely out of position at the Jam start
Either team not fielding a Jammer for the Jam
A team fielding too many Skaters during a Jam which results in an advantage that cannot be removed by the removal of the extra Skater(s)
A team successfully requesting a Team Timeout when they have none remaining
A team member who is neither the Captain nor the Designated Alternate successfully requesting a Team Timeout or Official Review
Officials and Skaters should work together to ensure that the game flows according to the rules.
4.2.4. Other Illegal Procedures¶
Skaters who violate the rules of the game should be penalized if the violation has a significant impact on the game. Examples of this are listed in the Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby Casebook; however, Skaters and Officials should work to ensure that the rules are followed as swiftly as possible, and to rectify any illegal or potentially illegal play before it has sufficient impact on the game to warrant penalization. Nevertheless, if a technical violation by one team results in an advantage, this should be penalized.
4.3. Penalties for Unsporting Conduct (Misconduct)¶
All participants in a game of roller derby must be respectful of one another. This includes but is not limited to Skaters, Team Staff, Officials, mascots, event staff, and spectators. When Skaters or Team Staff behave in an unsporting manner, their misconduct should be penalized accordingly.
Misconduct can take many forms and does not have to be intentional to be considered unsporting. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Deceiving or ignoring Officials
Engaging in dangerous and illegal actions that pose a substantial hazard to oneself or another
Disrespectful contact to an Official or forceful contact which is negligent or avoidable
Being abusive toward another person
Failure to abide by Governing Body policies during the game pertaining to Skaters, Team Staff, and the immediate play area
Actions which seriously undermine the legitimacy of the sport or display a lack of respect for the sport, its execution, and those who contribute to it may also be penalized.
4.4. Enforcing Penalties¶
Upon completion of the correct verbal cue and hand signal from an Official, the penalized Skater must immediately leave the track. Upon sitting in any seat in the Penalty Box, the Skater’s penalty time begins. Skaters serve 30 seconds of Jam time for each penalty assessed to them. The final 10 seconds of their penalty time must be served while standing.
If a Skater stands early, their time stops until they are seated again.
If a Skater does not stand in a manner that makes it clear to Officials, Skaters, and spectators that they are serving their final 10 seconds, their timing stops until they stand.
If a Skater sits in the Penalty Box between Jams, their time does not start until the beginning of the following Jam.
If a Skater is assessed a penalty but unable to serve it—for example, due to an injury or an equipment malfunction—a substitute may serve in their place once the Jam ends. In this case, the Skater who was unable to serve their own penalty may not skate for the following three Jams.
Skaters may remove their mouthguard, but no other protective gear, while seated in the Penalty Box. Skaters must replace their mouthguard prior to leaving the Penalty Box.
Nobody may enter the Penalty Box except for Officials, and Skaters who are serving penalties.
4.4.1. Penalty Enforcement for Blockers¶
No more than two Blockers for the same team may sit in the Penalty Box at the same time. If a third Blocker reports to the Penalty Box while two Blockers for their team are seated, the third Blocker will be placed in queue and instructed to return to play. If a Blocker is standing in the Penalty Box, another Blocker may sit in the open seat.
A Blocker in queue may return to the Penalty Box when there is space in the Penalty Box, unless doing so would destroy the Pack. A Blocker must immediately return if instructed to do so by an Official. Once a Blocker in queue returns to the track, they should be treated like any other unpenalized Blocker.
4.4.2. Penalty Enforcement for Jammers¶
A Jammer may have their penalty time shortened if the other Jammer also receives a penalty. In this case, the two Jammers serve as little time as possible so long as:
The two Jammers serve an equivalent amount of penalty time, per penalty
Whenever possible given point 1, there is at least one Jammer who is not serving a penalty
Jammers who are to be released due to the other Jammer sitting should be released immediately once the other Jammer sits. If one Jammer sits between Jams, the other Jammer should be released at the start of the next Jam. If both Jammers sit simultaneously, they will both be released immediately. If both Jammers sit between Jams, they should be released at the start of the next Jam.
If a Jammer is sent to the Box when there is no opposing Jammer (for example, because the opposing Jammer has an equipment malfunction), the Jam will end once the Jammer is seated. This ensures that there is one Jammer who is not serving a penalty.
4.5. Fouling Out & Expulsions¶
When seven penalties are recorded for a Skater, that Skater fouls out of the game. This includes penalties assessed to a Skater on behalf of someone else (examples include penalties assessed to a Captain or a Blocker on behalf of their team).
Expulsions are a way to penalize a Skater or Team Staff who has committed an act that is sufficiently dangerous or unsporting as to remove the individual from the game for that action alone. Negligent, intentional, or reckless actions should be considered for expulsion independently of their impact. A substitute must serve the penalty for an expelled Skater. If a Non-Skater is expelled, the team’s Captain will serve the penalty when possible (as a Blocker), but no penalty will be recorded for the Captain.
In the event that a Skater is to be removed from play (either due to fouling out or expulsion), that Skater’s penalty time should begin as soon as possible. Timing for a fouled-out Skater begins when either the Skater (or an appropriate substitute between Jams) is seated in the Penalty Box, or after the foul out is confirmed between Officials during the Jam.
If a Skater is removed from the game mid-Jam, their penalty will be timed as if a Skater were seated even though there is no Skater formally in the Box. If the Jam ends before the time is complete, the Skater’s team must be given the opportunity to substitute a different Skater to serve the remainder of the penalty in the same position as the removed Skater. Substitutions may not occur during the Jam in which the Skater is removed.
The Head Referee is the only Official with the authority to expel a Skater, manager, coach, or similar Team Staff. Other Officials may recommend expulsions to the Head Referee.