The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

8.3 - Officiating Discretion

8.3.1 - The consensus of the Officials will be the final decision on any disputed point that is not clearly spelled out in these rules. An Official may increase the severity of a penalty at their discretion. Similarly, an Official may decrease the severity of a penalty to a warning as the Official sees fit.

8.3.1.1 - A warning does not have to be issued in order for a penalty to be given. The exception to this is Out of Play penalties for failure to reform and failure to return, before which warnings must be given. (See Section 5.10.4, Section 5.10.5, Section 5.10.11, and Section 5.10.12 for exceptions.)

8.3.1.2 - Officiating discretion is intended only to allow Officials to keep the game safe, fair, and consistent in the event that an unexpected situation arises. Discretion does not allow Officials to change rules.

8.3.2 - If an Official is in doubt on a call (e.g., they see the effects of a hit but do not see the action), a penalty must not be called.

8.3.3 - If an Official is in a position where intent must be inferred but is not clear, legal intent must be presumed.

8.3.4 - If an Official is not sure whether an action warrants a penalty, a penalty will not be assessed.

8.3.5 - If an Official is not sure whether an action warrants an expulsion, an expulsion will not be assessed.

8.3.6 - When an Official provides erroneous information to a Skater, the Skater will not be penalized for actions taken based on that information (see, for example, Section 5.13.2 and Section 5.13.5).

8.3.7 - The Head Referee may designate NSOs to signal and enforce penalties in situations in which said NSOs are able to observe the penalty. This includes, but is not limited to, obscene, profane, or abusive language directed at said NSOs or another Official (see Section 5.16.10); removal of safety equipment while in the Penalty Box (see Section 5.13.11); Penalty Box violations (see Section 5.13.9, Section 5.13.10, Section 5.13.11, and Section 5.13.20); and Delay of Game penalties (see Section 5.15 - Delay of Game).

8.3.7.1 - The Head Referee may designate which NSOs are empowered to call penalties, as well as which penalties said NSOs are empowered to call, and the manner in which said penalties are enforced.

8.3.7.1.1 - NSOs may only be designated to call penalties pursuant to their officiating role, to their person, or to those around them. For example, no NSO may be designated to call penalties that involve blocks or assists.

8.3.7.2 - NSOs who are empowered to call penalties in this manner are bound by the same requirements as Referees, per Section 8.3 - Officiating Discretion.