About the Sport

Key Terms

Jammer: Scores points for their team.

Lead Jammer: The first Jammer that passes through the entire Pack while inbounds without earning a penalty earns the ability to call off a Jam to prevent the opposing team’s Jammer from scoring. Lead Jammer status can only be obtained the first time a skater gets through a Pack during each Jam.

Blocker: Keeps the opposing team’s Jammer from scoring points while clearing a path for their own team’s Jammer to score.

Pivot: A blocker at the front of the Pack who can switch positions with the jammer but cannot earn Lead Jammer status.

Pack: The formation of Blockers and Pivots.

Jam: A two minute countdown during which Jammers attempt to score points for their team.

Period: A twenty or thirty minute session of Jams.

Engaging: A move or strategy used to impede the progress of an opposing team member. Jammers cannot be engaged by blockers who are more than 20 feet from the pack.

Penalty: Penalties are earned whenever a skater performs an illegal move. Illegal moves include back blocking, hitting with the forearm, grabbing, or pushing members of the opposite team.

Bout: A game or match between two roller derby teams. Bouts consist of three twenty minute Periods or two thirty minute Periods depending on the nature of the competition.

Scrimmage: An unofficial game or match between two roller derby teams. Scrimmages can take place between skaters within the same league or team, or as friendly practice with a team from another league. Teams are not ranked by results of scrimmages.

Rules of the Game

Two teams send five girls onto a circular and flat track. Each team consists of one jammer, one pivot, and four blockers. The pivots from each team take position on the first line on the track. Behind them, a row of four blockers takes position, and a final row of two girls take position in the back, forming a pack.

Twenty feet behind the pack, the two jammers take position on their own line. The referee blows the first whistle, signaling pack formation, during which the pack skates counter-clockwise around the track. Pivots and blockers must remain within the pack and no more than twenty feet ahead of or behind other pack members. After the last girl in the pack has skated past the pivot line, the referee blows a second whistle, which signals the start of a jam.

A jam is a two-minute countdown during which the jammers attempt to score points for their teams. After the second whistle is blown, jammers sprint towards the pack. Jammers are allowed to engage each other on their way to the pack. Jammers skate counter-clockwise and attempt to pass the pack and lap around as many times as possible. The first time the jammers pass through the pack determines if there will be a lead jammer for the current jam. The first jammer to pass through the pack while inbounds without earning a penalty earns lead jammer status. Jammers earn one point per opposing team member that they pass while in-bounds in subsequent laps.. Jammers also have the option of passing on their jammer status to a pivot.. If a jammer has lead jammer status and passes their jammer status on to the pivot, the new jammer does not retain lead jammer status.

To impede the progress of the opposing team’s jammer, players may block using body parts above the hips, excluding hands, elbows, and head. If a skater makes an inappropriate block, they are sent to a penalty box, during which time, the opposing team’s jammer can score points by passing the penalty box. Penalties are also given for fighting and unsportsmanlike behavior, and skaters can be ejected from a bout if they get too many penalties. A jammer can be blocked by any member of the opposing team, including the opposing team’s jammer. A jammer cannot be blocked by a member of the opposing team that is further than 20 feet from the pack. Illegal blocking moves include tripping, pushing with elbows or forearms, and pushing an opponent from behind (back-blocking).

The jam ends at the end of the two-minute countdown. The lead jammer can decide to end the jam before the end of two minutes by placing their hands on their hips, which signals the referee to officially call off the jam. At the end of each jam, skaters re-form the pack and continue play.

See wftda.com/rules for the latest updated rules and regulations.