4. Penalties¶

White Blocker, falling as a result of contact with Red Blocker, “falls small” by tucking their arms and legs close into their body. Red Jammer, skating close behind, trips over White Blocker and falls.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: White Blocker did everything in their power to prevent themself from being a hazard.

Keep in Mind: Were this the third time White Blocker had caused an opponent to fall in this manner, they should receive a penalty. While “falling small” mitigates the safety risk of a Skater falling on the track, excessive falling with impact represents a larger safety risk that should result in a penalty.

Red Jammer skates along the inside line and attempts to jump the apex to pass the Pack. White Pivot legally initiates a block to Red Jammer’s upper arm, which knocks Red Jammer off balance, and their jump comes up short. Red Jammer falls out of bounds. They fall small, but their momentum causes them to slide back onto the track, into White Blocker’s legs. White Blocker trips over Red Jammer and falls.

Outcome: Red Jammer is penalized.

Rationale: Red Jammer is considered in bounds when White Pivot initiates a legal block. Though Red Jammer fell small, their forward momentum back onto the track means that they are a safety risk for more than just a “small” space. White Blocker’s loss of position as a result of that risk is enough to warrant a penalty.

Red Pivot and two Red Blockers form a three-person wall. White Blocker initiates a block to the back of Red Pivot with a Legal Blocking Zone. Red Pivot does not fall but is pushed out of the center of the wall. White Jammer is able to pass the other two Red Blockers at the hips before Red Pivot reclaims their position.

Outcome: White Blocker is penalized.

Rationale: White Blocker did not gain advantage from their block to an Illegal Target Zone, but a teammate did: White Jammer earned passes and therefore scored points.

Keep in Mind: If White Blocker had fully moved through the wall and continued on, that would also justify a penalty for gaining position, even though they were not scoring points.

Red Blocker initiates a chest-to-chest block against White Blocker. The force of the impact causes secondary contact of Red Blocker’s upper arm to White Blocker’s neck. White Blocker’s head jerks back, but they do not fall off balance or go down.

Outcome: Red Blocker is penalized.

Rationale: Though Red Blocker’s hit was to a Legal Target Zone with a Legal Blocking Zone, and White Blocker lost neither position nor advantage, forceful contact to the head or neck should always result in a penalty.

Keep in Mind: Incidental contact to the neck or head that is not forceful and does not have any other impact should not result in a penalty.

Red Blocker skates clockwise when White Blocker steps behind them, positionally blocking Red Blocker’s back with a Legal Target Zone. Red Blocker stops skating clockwise.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: A Skater cannot be penalized for positionally blocking an Illegal Target Zone. Skaters may be oriented and be moving in various directions during a game.

White Jammer approaches the rear of the Pack, targeting Red Blocker. Well before impact is made, Red Blocker side-steps, presenting their back (an Illegal Target Zone). White Jammer makes contact anyway and knocks Red Blocker down.

Outcome: White Jammer is penalized.

Rationale: Red Blocker established a new position before White Jammer made contact. White Jammer is responsible for their initiated block, regardless of what their original target had been.

Keep in Mind: If White Jammer had no reasonable opportunity to avoid Red Blocker’s Illegal Target Zone because Red Blocker had presented that Illegal Target Zone at the last moment, Red Blocker would then be initiating with their back, a Legal Blocking Zone. Because White Jammer would not be considered the initiator, no penalty is warranted.

White Jammer skates fast and directly into Red Blocker’s back, who was not prepared for the contact. Red Blocker falls wildly and slides into the skates of a wall of White Blockers in front of them, who fall.

Outcome: White Jammer is penalized. Red Blocker is not penalized.

Rationale: White Jammer made illegal contact to Red Blocker. Due to this illegal contact, Red Blocker was unable to avoid committing their illegal action and should not be penalized.

Red Jammer skates around the track at a high rate of speed. They slam very forcefully into White Blocker’s back without making any attempt to avoid illegal contact. White Blocker, however, does not fall and Red Jammer does not gain position on anybody as a result of this action.

Outcome: Red Jammer is penalized and should be considered for an expulsion.

Rationale: Contact to an opponent’s back is illegal, in part because it is unsafe. A flagrant violation of this rule poses a safety hazard to White Blocker, which has sufficient impact on the game to expel Red Jammer if judged to be negligent, intentional, or reckless, regardless of if White Blocker lost position.

Red Jammer is stuck behind a wall of White Blockers. Red Jammer forcefully blocks White Blocker 1 in the back, but due to a legal assist from White Blocker 2, White Blocker 1 remains in position.

Outcome: Red Jammer is penalized.

Rationale: Contact to an opponent’s back is illegal, in part, because it is unsafe. Red Jammer was in control of their actions and initiated illegal forceful contact to the back of White Blocker 1. This action is penalized regardless of impact or outcome.

Keep in Mind: If Red Jammer initiated non-forceful contact to the back of White Blocker 1 with a Legal Blocking Zone, the threshold for a penalty would be that of Illegal Target Zone contact.

Red Jammer is approaching White Blocker 1. White Blocker 2 initiates a legal block on Red Jammer at the last second, forcing them out of their trajectory and directly into the back of White Blocker 1 (without any opportunity to recover before making contact). White Blocker 1 receives forceful contact but maintains their position ahead of Red Jammer and does not otherwise lose position.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: Red Jammer was hit into the illegal contact with White Blocker 1 by an opponent’s legal gameplay; as such, their forceful contact to the back was unavoidable. The illegal contact did not result in any other impact (such as loss of position) that warranted a penalty.

Keep in Mind: A Skater is responsible for maintaining control of their body and the contact they initiate as a result of legal gameplay. If White Blocker 1 had lost position, Red Jammer would be penalized.

Keep in Mind: If Red Jammer made forceful contact to the back of White Blocker 1 due to the assist of a Red teammate, then the contact would be considered avoidable and Red Jammer penalized.

Red Jammer initiates a block with their forearms tucked into their torso, to a Legal Target Zone of White Blocker. White Blocker is knocked out of bounds.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: Red Jammer’s forearms were fully tucked into their torso. While forearms are an Illegal Blocking Zone, tucking them into the torso effectively makes them part of the torso, and thus a Legal Blocking Zone.

White Blocker initiates a block against Red Jammer, using their upper arm against a Legal Target Zone. The natural momentum of the impact causes additional contact, sliding down to White Blocker’s elbow. Red Jammer ends up out of bounds as a result of the action.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: White Blocker used their upper arm to initiate the block. Red Jammer’s loss of position was a result of a block from a Legal Blocking Zone and not the additional contact that resulted from the momentum of the impact. Both examples are legal play.

Keep in Mind: Many legal blocks include incidental or meaningless contact using an Illegal Blocking Zone, or to an Illegal Target Zone. If the illegal contact does not have further impact, no penalty should be assessed.

White Jammer is stuck behind a Red wall. They push forward, but cannot find a way to break through. They strike their knee into Red Blocker’s buttocks. Red Blocker stumbles but does not go down or out. White Jammer fails to break through the wall.

Outcome: White Jammer is penalized.

Rationale: A Skater who intentionally and forcefully jabs an opponent with their elbow or strikes with their knee should receive a penalty regardless of whether it leads to a loss of position or advantage. This action is unsafe and unsporting.

Keep in Mind: The fact that this action was intentional is only part of the reason a penalty is warranted. Intentional illegal action is not always penalized even though it is tacitly unsporting. Intentional actions designed to harm an opponent should always be penalized.

As White Jammer advances, Red Blocker is knocked off balance and into White Jammer’s path, bending over and positionally placing their head in front of White Jammer. White Jammer comes to a complete stop to avoid contact with Red Blocker’s head.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: Though White Jammer lost significant momentum as a result of Red Blocker’s positional block with an Illegal Blocking Zone (head), unintentional positional blocking with the head does not warrant a penalty.

Keep in Mind: If Red Blocker had intentionally presented their head in order to slow White Jammer’s momentum, or continued to use the threat of harm to their own head as a barrier, Red Blocker should be penalized for unsafe and unsporting conduct.

White Blocker is knocked off balance and grabs hold of Red Blocker’s jersey in an attempt to regain their balance. Red Blocker remains standing, but is significantly slowed by the pulling at their jersey. White Blocker regains their balance.

Outcome: White Blocker is penalized.

Rationale: Assists taken from an opponent, such as whips or braces, are penalizable if they result in some kind of advantage for the initiator or disadvantage for the opponent. White Blocker significantly slowed Red Blocker by using an Illegal Blocking Zone.

White Pivot attempts to join the other White Blockers but is held back by a wall of Red Blockers. White Pivot wiggles past Red Blocker on the outside line, using their forearms on those Red Blockers to hold themself in bounds.

Outcome: White Pivot is penalized.

Rationale: White Pivot gained superior position to Red Blocker by using their forearms to remain in bounds during an action that would have otherwise taken them out of bounds.

Red Jammer has passed all but the foremost White Blocker. White Blocker faces clockwise with their arms outstretched and initiates a block against Red Jammer with the entirety of their arm: upper arm, elbow, and forearm. Red Jammer is not knocked down, but they are brought to a stop.

Outcome: White Blocker is penalized.

Rationale: Though Red Jammer did not lose position, their progress was significantly impeded by Illegal Blocking Zones.

Keep in Mind: If White Blocker had dropped their forearm and elbow as soon as contact was made, no penalty should be called. It was the prolonged impact of the forearm and elbow that made the action penalizable.

Red Jammer enters the rear of the pack and is blocked towards the outside line by White Pivot. Red Jammer is knocked off-balance and grabs onto White Pivot’s jersey, which prevents Red Jammer from stepping out of bounds. Red Jammer regains their balance in-bounds, without gaining relative position. White Pivot remains stable and unimpeded.

Outcome: Red Jammer is penalized.

Rationale: Red Jammer used their forearms to maintain an in-bounds position that they otherwise would not have been able to maintain.

Red Pivot loses their balance due to a teammate’s action and grabs onto White Blocker’s arm - which prevents Red Pivot from falling down.

Outcome: Red Pivot is penalized.

Rationale: Red Pivot used their forearms to maintain an upright position that they otherwise would not have been able to maintain.

Keep in Mind: If White Blocker had grabbed onto and stabilized Red Pivot, preventing Red Pivot from falling - no penalty would be warranted.

White Pivot stands still on their toe stops and initiates a block against Red Jammer. Red Jammer counter-blocks, but is brought to a stop by the White Pivot, who remains stopped.

Outcome: White Pivot is penalized.

Rationale: If Red Jammer loses position or has their momentum or trajectory severely affected by a block initiated in an illegal way, the initiator should receive a penalty. In this example, if White Pivot had not maintained their stopped position, but had returned to counterclockwise motion while blocking, no penalty would be warranted.

Keep in Mind: It is not the use of toe stops that warrants penalization in this scenario, but the fact that the White Pivot had an impact on the Red Jammer while stopped. If White Pivot had continued to move counter-clockwise on the track while on their toe stops, no penalty would have been warranted.

Red Blocker uses a Legal Blocking Zone to initiate a block to a Legal Target Zone of White Blocker. White Blocker is pushed until one skate is in bounds and one skate is out of bounds. Red Blocker continues to block until White Blocker is fully out of bounds. Red Blocker re-initiates a new block that knocks White Blocker down.

Outcome: Red Blocker is penalized.

Rationale: A Skater should not expect to be blocked while out of bounds. It is only legal to block a Skater who is in bounds or straddling. The secondary block is what warrants the penalty.

Red Blocker is knocked out of bounds and recycled to the rear of the Pack. They accelerate and move in bounds, directly into White Blocker, who falls.

Outcome: Red Blocker is penalized.

Rationale: Even if the Target and Blocking Zones were legal and both Skaters were in bounds, Red Blocker gained an unexpected advantage by accelerating while out of bounds into the block. White Blocker should not expect to be blocked by an out-of-bounds opponent.

Red Blocker is knocked out of bounds by White Blocker, who also goes out of bounds, leaving an opening on the inside line. The out-of-bounds Red Blocker grabs the in-bounds Red Jammer by the hips and pushes them past the in-bounds White Blockers.

Outcome: Red Blocker is penalized.

Rationale: The threshold for penalization of assists follows similar metrics to blocks. They cannot come from an unblockable position, such as out of bounds, while down, or while stopped. Because Red Blocker could not legally be blocked, it would also be illegal to provide an assist.

White Jammer, having lined up just behind the Jammer Line, is contacted by Red Jammer attempting to take the same space. White Jammer falls out of bounds before the Jam-Starting Whistle.

Outcome: Red Jammer is penalized for blocking before the Jam start. White Jammer is allowed to participate in this Jam. Red Jammer has lost the ability to earn Lead Jammer status in this Jam.

Rationale: It is illegal to block before a Jam has begun. Because White Jammer was not in a legal starting position due to an opponent’s illegal action, they are allowed to participate in the Jam.

Keep in Mind: Should White Jammer be blocked into a false starting position rather than out of bounds, White Jammer is allowed to participate in the Jam (without the need to yield). Red Jammer would still receive a penalty for blocking before the Jam start.

Keep in Mind: A Skater penalized before the start of a Jam should serve their penalty in the position in which they appear to be acting.

White Blocker initiates contact to Red Jammer during the Jam-Ending Whistle. Red Jammer stumbles significantly off balance after the Jam-Ending Whistle.

Outcome: White Blocker initiated legally before the end of the Jam. No penalty.

Rationale: It is illegal to block after a Jam has ended. It is, however, legal to initiate during the Jam-Ending Whistle, even if the outcome happens once the Jam has ended.

Keep in Mind: Should that same hit start after the Jam-Ending Whistle, Red Jammer need not fall nor be knocked out of bounds. Being hit significantly off balance after the Jam-Ending Whistle is sufficient to penalize the initiator of that hit.

Keep in Mind: A Skater penalized after the end of the Jam should serve their penalty in the position in which they appear to be acting.

Red Jammer is 18 ft (5.48 m) ahead of the Pack alongside White Pivot. They continue to skate, and an Official gives an Out of Play warning to both players. White Pivot continues to skate alongside Red Jammer, and then blocks Red Jammer, making hip-to-hip contact. Red Jammer counter-blocks White Pivot in an attempt to remain upright and continue on their way. White Pivot falls as a result.

Outcome: White Pivot is penalized. Red Jammer is not.

Rationale: White Pivot received an Out of Play warning and failed to immediately attempt to return to the Engagement Zone; rather, they continued to block Red Jammer. Skaters who are illegally blocked while out of play may legally counter-block, so Red Jammer’s actions do not warrant a penalty.

Keep in Mind: If Red Jammer’s action was not a counter-block, but instead a separate and distinct initiation of a block, Red Jammer should be penalized as White Pivot falling is enough impact to warrant a penalty for illegal contact.

Red Jammer is 18 ft (5.48 m) ahead of the pack. White Pivot is alongside Red Jammer. They skate forward, and an Official gives an Out of Play warning to both players. After the warning is given, White Pivot initiates a block to Red Jammer. Red Jammer counter-blocks and is able to maintain their upright status and their momentum. Red Jammer then actively continues blocking White Pivot until White Pivot is Out of Bounds.

Outcome: Both players are penalized.

Rationale: Both players received an Out of Play warning. White Pivot illegally failed to immediately attempt to return to the engagement zone. Skaters who are illegally blocked while Out of Play may legally counter-block, so Red Jammer’s initial counter-block does not warrant a penalty.

Red Jammer’s continued blocking after absorbing the impact of White Pivot’s block should be considered a new block. While Jammers are never considered Out of Play, blocking an Out of Play skater is illegal for all Skaters. By significantly altering White Pivot’s trajectory, Red Jammer’s illegal block had sufficient impact to warrant a penalty.

Keep In Mind: Initiating a block after an Out of Play warning is, by definition, failing to attempt to return to the engagement zone. As such, White Pivot should be penalized for maintaining an illegal position regardless of the impact of their block on the Red Jammer.

White Blocker is standing while legally out of bounds. A Red Blocker is blocked off the track and collides with the White Blocker. White Blocker moves toward the Red Blocker and brings up their arms to actively absorb the force of the contact and protect both Skaters. Red Blocker falls to the ground as a result of the contact.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: While White Blocker moved towards the opposing block, the purpose of the action was to actively absorb the contact, rather than intentionally force the Red Blocker down. The White Blocker’s action was taken in the interest of safety, and should not be penalized. The preservation of player safety supersedes any gameplay concern not already enumerated in the Rules.

White Pivot is currently the only white Blocker in the Pack. White Jammer approaches White Pivot and initiates an assist off White Pivot, which abruptly reduces White Pivot’s speed enough to cause them to fall back more than 10 ft. (3 meters).

Outcome: Officials declare a No Pack situation. No penalty.

Rationale: The destruction of the Pack occurred as a result of normal gameplay. It should not be considered an illegal Pack destruction.

Keep in Mind: Taking or giving assists are considered parts of normal gameplay. If the White Jammer instead pushed White Pivot out of bounds or to the ground, White Jammer should be penalized instead. This action is considered a deliberate destruction of the Pack, and the White Jammer should be issued a penalty for Unsporting Conduct (Misconduct).

Red Blockers form a three-person wall, separating White Pivot from the other White Blockers. The middle Red Blocker hooks arms with the outside Red Blocker. White Pivot initiates a block against the middle and outside Red Blockers, attempting to drive between the two Skaters, but fails to make any progress. All Blockers remain upright.

Outcome: The middle Red Blocker was most responsible for hooking arms and should receive a penalty.

Rationale: The middle and outside Red Blockers gained an advantage by creating a link that White Pivot cannot break. Once White Pivot challenged that link, their action became worthy of a penalty.

Keep in Mind: If it cannot be determined who initiated the link, then the Skater closest to the Referee calling the penalty should be penalized.

Keep in Mind: If the middle Red Blocker had also been hooked to the inside Red Blocker, no additional penalty would be warranted because White Pivot did not attempt to get between those two linked opponents.

Red Pivot is the only Red Blocker on track. White Pivot forces Red Pivot out of bounds.

Outcome: Officials declare a No Pack situation. No penalty.

Rationale: The destruction of the Pack occurred as a result of normal gameplay. It should not be considered an illegal Pack destruction.

Red Pivot is the only Red Blocker on the track. Red Pivot attempts to block White Jammer as they pass. Red Pivot misses, and ends up out of bounds.

Outcome: Officials declare a No Pack situation. No penalty.

Rationale: The destruction of the Pack occurred as a result of normal gameplay. It should not be considered an illegal Pack destruction.

Red Pivot is the only Red Blocker on the track. Red Pivot intentionally skates out of bounds.

Outcome: Officials declare a No Pack situation. Red Pivot is instructed to remain on the track, and is penalized.

Rationale: Red Pivot’s illegal action (stepping out of bounds) destroyed the Pack. Red Pivot is the final remaining Red Blocker, and must remain on the track so that a Pack can be formed.

Red Pivot is the only Red Blocker on the track, and is being blocked by White Pivot and White Blocker. White Pivot forces Red Pivot out of bounds, and Officials declare a No Pack situation. White Pivot and White Blocker immediately skate ahead of Red Pivot, who is now behind all other Blockers. Red Pivot still does not return to the track. As a result, the Pack is unable to be reformed.

Outcome: Red Pivot is penalized and instructed to return to and remain on the track until another Red Blocker returns to the Pack.

Rationale: Red Pivot was able to legally reenter the track once all other Blockers were ahead of them. Red Pivot is not required to return to the track until they can legally do so, and is not required to skate clockwise in order to find a legal reentry point. In this scenario, however, Red Pivot had a legal opportunity because all other Blockers were ahead of them. Further, Red Pivot did not heed the warning from the Officials, and thus should be penalized for preventing a Pack from reforming. As Red Pivot is the final remaining Red Blocker, they must remain on the track so that a Pack can be formed.

Keep in Mind: If White Pivot or White Blocker had not skated forward, one or both of them would have been penalized instead of Red Pivot for preventing a Pack from reforming by forcing the only opposing Blocker to remain out of bounds.

Red Pivot is skating 9 ft (2.74 m) behind the White Blockers and 9 ft (2.74 m) ahead of the other Red Blockers. Their knee pad slips down their leg, and is no longer protecting their knee. Red Pivot takes themself off the track in order to adjust their equipment, creating a No Pack situation.

Outcome: Officials declare a No Pack situation. No penalty.

Rationale: Although Red Pivot’s actions directly caused a No Pack situation, it was in order to resolve a safety issue. Skaters should not be penalized for rectifying a safety issue.

White Jammer removes their helmet cover and attempts to hand it to White Pivot. During this process, the Star falls, touching out of bounds. White Jammer leaves the track to retrieve the helmet cover.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: The Jammer and the Pivot may leave the track of their own accord to retrieve a helmet cover that has fallen at least partially out of bounds. Not allowing them to do so would leave them unable to recover the helmet cover.

White Jammer attempts an apex jump and fails to land in bounds. They land fully out of bounds, enter behind all Blockers, and continue to skate.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: White Jammer did not intend to remove themself from gameplay.

Keep in Mind: Should White Jammer successfully make the apex jump but still remove themself due to the belief that they did not complete it successfully, no penalty would be applicable.

White Jammer is calling off the Jam. They skate out of bounds during the Jam-Ending Whistle.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: Skating out of bounds during the four whistles of a Jam call-off does not allow a Skater to score additional points nor gain meaningful advantage over any other Skater.

Immediately after the Jam-Starting Whistle, all Red Blockers remain stationary. All White Blockers skate counterclockwise, resulting in more than 10 ft (3.05 m) between any White Blocker and Red Blocker.

Outcome: Officials declare a No Pack situation. No penalty. Officials assess penalties for failing to reform a Pack, as warranted.

Rationale: Destroying the Pack penalties are issued when Skaters illegally create a No Pack situation. For a penalty to be issued, one team or Skater must be clearly at fault for the Pack’s destruction. Usually, this will be the team or Skater who changes their speed from the established speed of the Pack. In this scenario, neither team’s speed has changed: Red team remained stationary, while White team skated counterclockwise when the Jam started. As there has been no speed change, neither team is clearly at fault for the Pack’s destruction. No penalty is warranted.

Keep in Mind: Had White skated clockwise at the start of the jam and caused a No Pack, a penalty for destroying the pack should be issued, as destroying the pack by skating clockwise is illegal when there is no established pack speed.

White Blockers form a four-person wall, blocking Red Jammer at the rear of the Pack when “No Pack” is declared. One White Blocker skates forward to reform the Pack but does not do so for several seconds. The remaining three White Blockers continue to actively block Red Jammer before the Pack is declared reformed.

Outcome: One of the White Blockers who was actively blocking Red Jammer should be penalized.

Rationale: All Blockers are obligated to attempt to reform the Pack, not just those who choose to do so. Continued blocking during a No Pack situation is considered a failure to attempt to reform the Pack.

Keep in Mind: If the Pack had been reformed immediately, no penalty should be issued.

Keep in Mind: If all the White Blockers had been accelerating in an attempt to reform the Pack, no penalty should be issued, even if they did so while maintaining their wall and holding Red Jammer back.

Red Jammer passes all members of the Pack except for White Pivot, who forces Red Jammer out of bounds to the outside of the track. While Red Jammer is out of bounds, the Pack skates counterclockwise ahead of Red Jammer. Red Jammer takes several strides while out of bounds, counterclockwise, to maintain their position ahead of the Pack and behind White Pivot, before returning in bounds.

Outcome: Red Jammer is penalized.

Rationale: Skaters are not allowed to accelerate or maintain speed while out of bounds, unless they are doing so to hasten their return to the track or entry to the Penalty Box.

Keep in Mind: Accelerating or maintaining speed while out of bounds in the clockwise direction should not be penalized, as it does not allow the out-of-bounds Skater to maintain their position relative to in-bounds Skaters.

Red Blocker is serving a penalty in the Penalty Box. Once their time completes, they are informed by the Penalty Box Official with the proper verbal cue, but Red Blocker remains within the designated Penalty Box area. The Penalty Box Official notices and warns Red Blocker to return to play. Red Blocker acknowledges the warning but remains in the Penalty Box area.

Outcome: Red Blocker is penalized.

Rationale: By remaining in the Penalty Box beyond their allotted penalty time, a Skater maintains an unblockable position. The Skater’s maintained position also interferes with normal Penalty Box operation (see Scenario C4.2.4.F).

Keep in Mind: If a Skater has been warned multiple times within the course of a game but returns to play after each warning, the Skater should receive a penalty. By repeatedly requiring a warning for the same action, the Skater is continually interfering with normal Penalty Box operation.

Keep in Mind: Skaters who maintain their position in or near the Penalty Box momentarily due to safety reasons (for example, waiting for an Outside Pack Referee to pass) before they return to play should not be warned or penalized.

White Blockers form a four-person wall blocking Red Jammer at the front of the Pack when “No Pack” is declared. White Blockers continue to engage the Red Jammer and make no attempt to reform the Pack. Red Blockers in the rear of the Pack remain stationary for several seconds until one of the Red Blockers skates forward to reform the Pack.

Outcome: One White Blocker and one Red Blocker should be penalized.

Rationale: All Blockers are obligated to attempt to reform the Pack, not just those who choose to do so.

Keep in Mind: Even if multiple blockers fail to reform the Pack, only one blocker per team should be penalized, as it is the team’s responsibility to maintain a Pack.

Keep in Mind: Both teams should be penalized again if the Pack continues to remain undefined.

White Pivot and White Blocker are ahead of Red Pivot. Red Pivot is forced out of bounds by White Pivot. White Blocker skates clockwise behind both Skaters. Red Pivot reenters the track behind White Pivot and ahead of White Blocker.

Outcome: Red Pivot is penalized.

Rationale: White Blocker had superior position when Red Pivot went out of bounds. Red Pivot is required to reenter behind both White Pivot and White Blocker.

White Pivot and White Blocker are ahead of Red Pivot when “No Pack” is declared. Red Pivot is forced out of bounds by White Pivot. White Blocker skates clockwise behind both Skaters. Red Pivot reenters the track behind White Pivot and ahead of White Blocker.

Outcome: White Pivot and Red Pivot are both penalized.

Rationale: White Pivot is penalized because they executed a block while out of play (due to the No Pack situation). Accordingly, Red Pivot was not required to reenter behind White Pivot. Even though there is no Pack, White Blocker had superior position when Red Pivot went out of bounds. Red Pivot must enter behind White Blocker.

Keep in Mind: If White Blocker were more than 20 ft (6.10 m) from the last defined Pack, Red Pivot should not be penalized.

White Pivot and White Blocker are ahead of Red Pivot. White Pivot forces Red Pivot out of bounds. White Blocker skates clockwise behind both Skaters. White Blocker loses their balance, takes a knee, and returns upright. Red Pivot reenters the track behind White Pivot and ahead of White Blocker.

Outcome: Red Pivot is penalized.

Rationale: Although White Blocker lost their superior position briefly while down, they returned upright before Red Pivot reentered. White Blocker was not the initiator of the block that forced Red Pivot out of bounds, and thus is able to reestablish their superior position.

Red Blocker blocks White Jammer out of bounds to the outside just as White Blocker blocks Red Jammer out of bounds to the inside. Both Blockers were ahead of both Jammers before the blocks, and race clockwise to pull their opposing Jammers to the rear of the Pack. White Jammer returns behind all opponents, but Red Jammer returns behind White Blocker but ahead of Red Blocker.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: Cutting a single teammate does not have enough impact to warrant a penalty.

Keep in Mind: Cutting more than one teammate should be penalized.

Keep in Mind: The same metrics should be applied when a Skater is returning to play from the Penalty Box.

Red Pivot is forced out of bounds by White Pivot. White Blocker, who is behind both Pivots, skates counterclockwise past both Pivots, and then clockwise to their previous position. Red Pivot reenters the track behind White Pivot and ahead of White Blocker.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: When Red Pivot went out of bounds, White Blocker did not have superior position. Red Pivot is only required to reenter behind White Pivot.

White Pivot is in bounds but down. Red Pivot dodges White Pivot, ending up out of bounds. White Pivot returns to an upright position. Red Pivot reenters the track ahead of White Pivot.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: Downed Skaters do not have superior position to out-of-bounds Skaters.

White Pivot and White Blocker are ahead of Red Pivot. White Blocker forces Red Pivot out of bounds illegally and receives a penalty. As White Blocker leaves the track, they accidentally clip the skates of their teammate, White Pivot, who falls. Red Pivot reenters the track ahead of both Skaters.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: White Pivot was down when Red Pivot reentered the track, and did not have superior position.

White Pivot, White Blocker, and Red Jammer are 18 ft (5.48 m) ahead of a stopped Pack. Red Jammer is blocked out of bounds by White Pivot. White Pivot and White Blocker roll forward, and both are given an Out of Play warning. White Pivot and White Blocker skate clockwise back to the Pack. Red Jammer reenters the track ahead of both Skaters.

Outcome: Red Jammer is penalized.

Rationale: White Pivot, as initiator of the block, lost their superior position on Red Jammer by leaving the Engagement Zone. Although White Blocker lost their superior position briefly by going out of play, they regained it by returning to the Engagement Zone before Red Jammer reentered. White Blocker was not the initiator of the block that forced Red Jammer out of bounds, and thus is able to reestablish their superior position.

White Pivot, White Blocker, and Red Jammer are 18 ft (5.48 m) ahead of a stopped Pack. White Blocker skates forward and is given an Out of Play warning as White Pivot blocks Red Jammer out of bounds. White Blocker skates clockwise back to the Pack. Red Jammer reenters the track ahead of White Blocker and behind White Pivot.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: White Blocker was out of play when Red Jammer went out of bounds, and thus did not have superior position.

Red Pivot blocks White Jammer to the inside and forward, across the apex. White Jammer returns fully in bounds with both skates for a moment, and then immediately leaves the track.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: White Jammer did not meaningfully gain position on anybody because they immediately left the track.

Keep in Mind: If White Jammer had not immediately left the track, they should be penalized.

Red Jammer is on their second trip through the Pack, having passed no White Blockers. Before Red Jammer can pass any opponent, White Pivot forces Red Jammer out of bounds across the apex. Red Jammer, while down, slides back in behind White Pivot. White Blocker skates clockwise behind Red Jammer. Red Jammer stands, completely in bounds and starts skating forward.

Outcome: Red Jammer is penalized.

Rationale: Skaters cannot reestablish their position on the track while down. Despite being completely in bounds, the downed Red Jammer did not reestablish their in bounds position until they were upright and not immediately exiting the track. White Blocker had superior position to Red Jammer when Red Jammer left the track, so Red Jammer cannot gain superior position due to their out of bounds status.

Immediately after the Jam start, White Jammer blocks Red Jammer out of bounds. The Pack remains stopped while White Jammer skates clockwise around the track. Red Jammer remains out of bounds. White Jammer approaches the front of the Pack and legally passes the Star to White Pivot. Red Jammer re-enters the track behind the Pack, and ahead of both the new and former White Jammers.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: When out of bounds, Skaters must reenter the track without improving their position relative to other Skaters. Because the new White Jammer did not earn position on Red Jammer, Red Jammer did not need to reenter behind the new White Jammer. The former White Jammer, becoming a Blocker, is considered to be far ahead of Red Jammer (like all the other Blockers).

Red Jammer passes all members of the Pack except for White Pivot, who forces Red Jammer out of bounds on the inside of the track. While Red Jammer is out of bounds, White Pivot skates clockwise behind the stopped Pack and past Red Jammer. Red Jammer takes several skating strides while out of bounds, counterclockwise, but reenters the track ahead of the Engagement Zone.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: When out of bounds to the inside of the track, Skaters may skate in any direction to return to the track. By re-entering the track ahead of the Engagement Zone, rather than being penalized, Red Jammer is considered to be entering to the rear of the Engagement Zone, behind the Pack and White Pivot.

White Pivot is issued a penalty, leaves the track, and reports to the Penalty Box. The Penalty Box is full at this time, and White Pivot is waved back onto the track. Just as White Pivot returns to the Pack, the Jam is called off. White Pivot returns to their team bench.

Outcome: Officials should attempt to warn White Pivot that White Pivot is in queue for a penalty. If they are not successful, when 30 seconds have passed since the end of the previous Jam, Officials must call an Official Timeout instead of starting the next Jam. White Pivot should be penalized.

Rationale: White Pivot is in queue to serve their penalty, and must be on the track so they can serve their penalty during the next Jam.

Officials give Skaters a five-second warning before the start of the next Jam. White team finishes their discussion, and five White Skaters approach the track. All are out of bounds or straddling as the lineup time expires.

Outcome: Instead of starting the next Jam, at that moment, the Officials must call an Official Timeout. White Captain is penalized.

Rationale: White team’s failure to field any Skaters in correct position prevented the Jam from starting in a timely manner, thus stopping the period clock illegally.

Officials give Skaters a five-second warning before the start of the next Jam. White team finishes their discussion, and five White Skaters approach the track. All are in bounds, but ahead of the Pivot Line as the lineup time expires.

Outcome: Instead of starting the next Jam, at that moment, the Officials must call an Official Timeout instead of starting the next Jam. White Captain is penalized.

Rationale: White team’s failure to field any Blockers in the correct position prevented the Jam from starting in a timely manner.

As the lineup time expires, White team has four Blockers correctly positioned, but White Jammer is still out of bounds.

Outcome: Instead of starting the next Jam, at that moment, the Officials must call an Official Timeout. White Captain is penalized.

Rationale: White team’s failure to field a Jammer in the correct position prevented the Jam from starting in a timely manner.

Keep in Mind: If Red Jammer had also been out of bounds, both Captains would have received a penalty for preventing the Jam from starting in a timely manner.

Keep in Mind: If a White Skater had been correctly positioned as a Jammer but did not possess a visible Star, they are not the Jammer. Assuming the White team does not have a Jammer serving a penalty, White’s team’s Captain would receive a penalty for preventing the Jam from starting in a timely fashion.

White team has used three Team Timeouts during the game. White Captain calls for a Team Timeout. Officials, mistakenly believing that White team has timeouts remaining, grants the request.

Outcome: If White team has an Official Review remaining, they should be considered to have used it as a timeout. If not, White Captain is penalized and the next Jam is started as soon as possible, but at least 30 seconds after the end of the previous Jam.

Rationale: White Captain’s successful, but illegal attempt to stop the period clock prevented the next Jam from starting in a timely manner. If White Captain had legal means to prevent the Jam from starting, legal means should be assumed.

Keep in Mind: Officials should deny requests for a Team Timeout if that team has none remaining. No penalty is warranted if an invalid request for a Team Timeout is denied.

Jam 23 is called off for an injury sustained by White Pivot. The same Skater lines up on the track for the start of Jam 26.

Outcome: Officials should attempt to communicate to the White Skater that they are not allowed to participate. If the Officials fail, when 30 seconds have passed since the end of the previous Jam, Officials must call an Official Timeout instead of starting the next Jam. White Pivot is returned to their team bench to sit out the remaining Jam, as required. White Captain is penalized.

Rationale: The White Skater’s failure to sit out the required number of Jams prevented the next Jam from starting in a timely manner. The White Skater cannot serve the penalty at this time for the same reason, so it is issued to their Captain instead.

Keep in Mind: If Officials believe the White Skater’s injury poses a serious and immediate threat to that Skater or others, Officials should not allow the White Skater to skate no matter how many Jams have elapsed.

White Pivot (who is neither the Captain nor the Designated Alternate) walks up to an Official and requests a Team Timeout. That Official, mistakenly believing White Pivot is the Captain, grants the request.

Outcome: When the mistake is realized, Officials must call an Official Timeout. White Pivot is penalized. The next Jam is started as soon as possible, but at least 30 seconds after the end of the previous Jam.

Rationale: White Pivot’s successful, but illegal attempt to stop the period clock prevented the next Jam from starting in a timely manner.

Keep in Mind: If the illegal requester is not a Skater, the penalty is issued to the Captain instead. Officials should deny requests for a Team Timeout if the requester is neither a Captain nor a Designated Alternate. No penalty is warranted if an invalid request for a Team Timeout is denied.

White Pivot (who is neither the Captain nor the Designated Alternate) uses hand signals to communicate with their Captain, asking for a Team Timeout to be called. Officials, mistaking the White Pivot’s hand signals for a legal request, call a Team Timeout.

Outcome: When the mistake is realized, Officials must call an Official Timeout. White Pivot is not issued a penalty. White team is not charged for a Team Timeout. The next Jam is started as soon as possible, but at least 30 seconds after the end of the previous Jam. No penalty.

Rationale: White Pivot was attempting to communicate with their Captain. They were not attempting to request a Team Timeout from the Officials.

During the lineup time, a Red Blocker is seated in the Penalty Box. Red team fields four Blockers on the track. Officials do not notice the extra Blocker, and the next Jam begins. Immediately after the Jam starts an Official notices and instructs a Red Blocker to return to their team bench. The Red Blocker leaves as instructed.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: The extra Blocker was removed from gameplay before their presence had any impact on the Jam in progress. If the Skater who was instructed to leave instead remains on the track, the Officials should end the Jam and assess a penalty to the Skater.

Keep in Mind: If the extra Blocker was not immediately noticed, and therefore had impact on the Jam in progress, the Officials should end the Jam and assess a penalty to the Captain instead.

Keep in Mind: If an Official notices the extra Blocker before the five-second warning, they should attempt to warn the team that there are too many Skaters on the track before the five-second warning occurs.

White Captain is not visibly wearing a “C”. They signal for a Team Timeout to be called.

Outcome: Officials grant the Team Timeout. White Captain is penalized.

Rationale: Despite not visibly wearing an “C”, the Captain retains the privilege of calling a Team Timeout. Officials should grant this request if they have a Team Timeout remaining; however, exercising a privilege of the Captain while not visibly displaying a “C” warrants a penalty.

Keep in Mind: This same principle should also be applied to a Designated Alternate not wearing an “A”. If the Designated Alternate is not a Skater, the penalty is issued to the Captain.

White Captain calls an Official Review. Officials grant the request. Red Designated Alternate, while not visibly displaying an “A,” conferences with the Head Referee during the Official Review.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: Red Designated Alternate’s failure to visibly display an “A” while conferencing for an Official Review does not meaningfully affect the game, nor warrant a penalty.

While seated in the Penalty Box, White Blocker removes their mouthguard. They are instructed to stand by a Penalty Box Official and they do so without putting their mouthguard back into their mouth. White Blocker skates to the corner of the Box and is instructed that their penalty is done. They put their mouthguard back into their mouth and return to play.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: Players are allowed to have their mouthguard out while in the Box, regardless of whether they are standing or sitting.

Keep in Mind: If White Blocker leaves the Box without putting their mouthguard back in, even if they put it back in before they return in bounds, this should result in a penalty.

Red Jammer arrives at the Penalty Box for a penalty, sits, is told to stand 20 seconds later, and stands. They then watch the scoreboard count down 10 seconds, and leave the Box without being told to do so by an Official.

Outcome: Red Jammer should be penalized if they left the Box even a fraction of a second early.

Rationale: If Red Jammer’s time had completed and they had not been released, this would be an officiating error and Red Jammer should not be punished for it. However, leaving the Box early without good reason should always be penalized.

Keep in Mind: If an Official had told the Red Jammer their time was up, Red Jammer had good reason to leave the Box early.

White Blocker is seated in the Penalty Box and asks someone on the bench to toss them their water bottle. A teammate on the bench throws a full bottle of water at White Blocker, who catches it just before it strikes a Penalty Box Official in the face.

Outcome: Whoever threw the water bottle should be penalized. If Team Staff threw the bottle, the team’s Captain should be penalized. Officials should warn the White team that throwing things around is dangerous. On a future offense, the thrower of the water bottle should be expelled.

Rationale: This action is unsafe and thus inappropriate.

Keep in Mind: If the water bottle had hit the Official forcibly and unexpectedly, the thrower should be expelled on the first offense.

White Blocker, who is seated in the Penalty Box serving a penalty, is talking with their Captain, who is hovering near the Penalty Box boundary. While communicating, said Captain shifts their weight and one skate rolls over the Penalty Box boundary line and back.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: While the Captain is not allowed to enter the Box, this entry was brief and the Captain did not enter fully. Partial entry to the Box is not penalized.

Keep in Mind: If the Captain (or any unpenalized Skater/Team Staff) fully enters the Box and communicates with a penalized Skater or interferes with normal Penalty Box operation, they should be assessed a penalty.

Keep in Mind: If the Captain (or any unpenalized Skater/Team Staff) had passed through the Box, without interacting with their penalized teammate or interrupting the operation of the Box, no penalty should be assessed even if the Captain (or Skater/Team Staff) had fully entered the Box.

During the jam, an official notices a mouthguard on the track. No Skater is making an immediate attempt to retrieve the mouthguard.

Outcome: The jam is immediately called off. An Illegal Procedure penalty is assessed to the Skater without a mouthguard.

Rationale: A mouthguard is required safety equipment for all Skaters. If a skater is completely missing a required piece of safety equipment, unless it is immediately replaced, the jam should be called and the skater penalized.

Keep in Mind: If the mouthguard was not removed intentionally, and a Skater immediately retrieves and replaces the mouthguard before the officials call off the jam, play may continue without a penalty. If the mouthguard is not immediately retrieved, officials should call off the jam and issue the penalty.

White Blocker arrives at the Penalty Box and is instructed by a Penalty Box Official to sit in the right-most seat. White Blocker sits in the left-most seat.

Outcome: The Penalty Box Official should begin timing the penalty then ask White Blocker to move to the preferred seat.

Rationale: Penalty time begins as soon as the penalized Skater is seated in the Penalty Box. Timing does not stop while they move seats.

Red Pivot stands in the Penalty Box. The dimensions of the Box are not very deep and their skates already touch the line. Two Red Blockers enter the Box together. Red Pivot attempts to give them room to sit, and in doing so, their skates fully move out of the Penalty Box boundary. They immediately return inside the boundary.

Outcome: No penalty.

Rationale: Though Skaters are not allowed to leave the Box early, the mitigating circumstances of this example make the impact to the game negligible. Red Pivot was not attempting to gain some kind of illegal advantage or negligently exiting illegally, but was constrained by the shape of the Penalty Box.

White Jammer receives a penalty, reports to the Penalty Box, and is seated. They serve 25 seconds of their penalty when Red Jammer arrives and sits to serve their own penalty. White Jammer is released, thus consigning Red Jammer to serve 25 seconds. White Jammer returns to the track illegally, and is back in the Box 10 seconds after their prior release to serve their second penalty. Red Jammer leaves the Box.

Outcome: Red Jammer is penalized for leaving the Box 15 seconds early. White Jammer owes 30 seconds from the time they are seated.

Rationale: To serve the same amount of time “per penalty”, Red Jammer must serve all 25 seconds that White Jammer served initially. In other words, White Jammer sitting for an unrelated penalty does not affect the time that Red Jammer owed.

Keep in Mind: Red Jammer owes 45 more seconds: 15 from their first penalty, and 30 from their second penalty.

Keep in Mind: Red Jammer’s second penalty could reduce the time White Jammer owes for their own second penalty, but the 15 seconds from Red Jammer’s first penalty cannot be reduced.

White Jammer arrives at the Penalty Box immediately behind Red Jammer. Both attempt to be the first one seated, and in so doing, they sit at the exact same moment.

Outcome: The Penalty Box Official should inform both Jammers that their time is complete and release them from the Box.

Rationale: When sitting simultaneously in the Box, or when arriving between Jams, Jammers cancel each other’s penalties. Both should be immediately released.

Keep in Mind: If there is any time differential at all between Jammers sitting, it is not considered to be simultaneous.

Keep in Mind: If both Jammers sit between Jams, they are considered to have sat simultaneously and must be released immediately at the beginning of the following Jam.

Red Jammer is seated in the Penalty Box and has served 15 seconds when the Jam ends. White Jammer receives a penalty at the Jam-Ending Whistle and reports to the Box between Jams.

Outcome: White Jammer reported to the Box between Jams, which will end Red Jammer’s penalty at the start of the next Jam. A Penalty Box Official must instruct Red Jammer to stand and inform them their penalty time is done at the Jam-Starting Whistle. White Jammer must serve 15 seconds.

Rationale: Though White Jammer’s penalty ended Red Jammer’s penalty early, Red Jammer must still begin the next Jam from the Box. Penalties are only timed while Jams are active; as such, Jammer swaps only happen while a Jam is ongoing.

White Jammer receives a penalty and sits in the Penalty Box for 15 seconds. Red Jammer receives a penalty and arrives at the Box, but before they sit, White Jammer leaves. Red Jammer sits. White Jammer is issued a penalty for leaving early and returns to the Box. White Jammer sits and Red Jammer is released.

Outcome: White Jammer is penalized for leaving the Box early. Red Jammer sat in the Box when no other Jammer was serving time. Red Jammer is released upon White Jammer’s return. White Jammer serves the time remaining from their first penalty, plus the amount of time Red Jammer served while seated in the Box.

Rationale: A Jammer serving time in the Box is only released by another Jammer being seated in the Box to serve a penalty. Even though White Jammer was penalized first, they were not present when Red Jammer sat. Thus, Red Jammer was the “Jammer serving time in the Box” who was released by the White Jammer “being seated in the Box to serve a penalty.”

Keep in Mind: Each penalty is a 30-second segment that may be shortened as long as the Jammers serve equivalent time.