The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

NOTE: You are viewing the January 1, 2013 revision of The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby, which is officially retired.

The current version of the rules can be found at Rules Central.

8 - Scoring

8.1 - Only skaters wearing the designated Jammer’s star helmet cover with visible stars are eligible to accrue points.

8.2 - A Jammer does not score points on opposing Blockers on their first pass through the pack. The initial pass is to determine Lead Jammer status. (See Section 3.4 - Lead Jammer)

8.2.1 - A Jammer may score a Jammer lap point on their initial pass.

8.3 - After exiting the Engagement Zone and completing their initial pass, a Jammer scores points by passing opposing skaters on their second and subsequent passes. These are considered “scoring passes.” A Jammer can score a maximum of one point per opposing Blocker per scoring pass. Jammer lap points are independent of scoring passes. In order to receive a point for passing an opponent the Jammer must:

8.3.1 - Pass opposing skaters’ hips while in bounds and upright, legally, without committing penalties.

8.3.1.1 - Any legal pass counts. If a Jammer becomes ineligible for a point by committing an illegal action or passing while out of bounds, the Jammer is allowed an opportunity to re-pass and score the point.

8.3.1.2 - In order to earn points for passing while airborne, the Jammer must continue an in bounds and upright status at the moment of landing (see Section 6.8 - Out of Bounds Blocking).

8.3.1.3 - A Jammer who is in bounds but down may earn points for opposing Blockers who were ahead of the Jammer but skate clockwise behind the downed Jammer. This is considered to be a pass.

8.3.1.4 - Once the Jammer has exited the Engagement Zone, the Jammer’s scoring pass is complete (see Section 3.4 - Lead Jammer and Section 4.1 - Pack Definition) and the Jammer immediately begins the next scoring pass.

8.3.1.4.1 - Blockers that advance or chase forward ahead of the Engagement Zone are considered part of and belonging to point totals of the previous (just completed) scoring pass.

8.3.1.4.1.1 - Blockers that advance or chase forward ahead of the Engagement Zone (as described in Section 8.3.1.4.1) must return to the Engagement Zone immediately (see Section 6.10.6 and Section 6.10.12), and only after they have returned to play are they eligible to be scored on in the normal manner and counted in the totals of the current scoring pass.

8.3.1.4.1.2 - A Jammer may receive points during a scoring pass before the jam has ended for opposing Blockers who have advanced ahead of the Engagement Zone without having to physically pass them. These are the circumstances in which a Jammer can earn points in this manner:

8.3.1.4.1.2.1 - The Jammer must be on a scoring pass.

8.3.1.4.1.2.2 - The Jammer must have already scored one point on an opposing Blocker in the same scoring pass.

8.3.1.4.1.2.3 - The Jammer must have passed the foremost in play Blocker.

8.4 - A Jammer’s pass through the pack, either initial or scoring, must be initiated by approaching the pack counter-clockwise from the rear of the Engagement Zone.

8.4.1 - If a Jammer exits the front of the Engagement Zone but is then lapped by the pack, that Jammer returns to their previous pass (see Section 8.5.2.1) until re-exiting the front of the Engagement Zone. (See Section 8.5.5 for points scored before a Jammer returns to their previous pass.)

8.4.2 - If a Jammer is lapped by the pack before beginning their initial pass, it will not be considered their initial pass. The Jammer’s forward engagement of the pack on their subsequent pass will be considered their initial pass.

8.5 - Points

8.5.1 - Points are earned when the Jammer passes each opposing skater, including those who have been knocked to the floor, are out of play, or are considered to be in the box.

8.5.1.1 - The Jammer earns a point for each opposing skater who is not on the track immediately upon scoring the first point on any opposing Blocker in each scoring pass, including those opposing Blockers who are physically on the track but have been directed to the penalty box. If the jam ends before the Jammer scores, the additional points will not be awarded. The following are such circumstances when the Jammer will earn points in this manner:

8.5.1.1.1 - Opponents in the penalty box. (The moment a penalized skater is directed off the track the skater is considered “in the box” for scoring purposes.)

8.5.1.1.2 - Opponents who have failed to be on the track when the jam-starting whistle blows.

8.5.1.1.3 - Opponents who have removed themselves from play. The point is awarded immediately if the Jammer has already earned the first point on an opposing Blocker in that scoring pass.

8.5.1.1.4 - Opponents sent to the penalty box that have not yet been scored upon in that scoring pass. The point is awarded immediately upon the opposing Blocker being directed to the box if the Jammer has already earned the first point on an opposing Blocker in that scoring pass.

8.5.1.1.5 - Opponents returning from the penalty box behind the Jammer.

8.5.1.2 - Standard scoring rules and requirements apply to opponents returning from the penalty box that skate ahead of the Jammer before the Jammer is able to earn their first point in that scoring pass.

8.5.1.3 - Points for opponents who have not yet been scored upon in an incomplete scoring pass by a penalized Jammer, who themselves are penalized while the Jammer is serving penalty time, will be awarded to the penalized Jammer upon the Jammer’s legal in bounds re-entry onto the track in the same jam. If the jam ends before the Jammer legally re-enters the track in bounds, or if the Jammer illegally re-enters play (e.g. leaves the box early, enters in front of pack skaters, etc.), points for those opponents will not be awarded. The Jammer may still earn those points by legally passing those opponents in the same jam.

8.5.2 - Points are announced by hand signal once the Jammer has exited the front of the Engagement Zone (see Section 8.3.1.3).

8.5.2.1 - Once a scoring pass is complete (see Section 8.3.1.3), a Jammer cannot score points unearned in their previous scoring pass.

8.5.3 - Points are earned until the end of the fourth whistle of the jam-ending signal.

8.5.4 - If the jam ends when the Jammer is still in the pack, the points for any passed opponents will be announced immediately.

8.5.4.1 - The Jammer will also be awarded points for Blockers on the track and ahead of the Engagement Zone if said Blockers were not previously scored on during that scoring pass.

8.5.5 - Once a Jammer earns a point that point can never be taken away. (Note: this does not apply to points awarded in error.)

8.5.5.1 - Points awarded in error are points that have not been legally earned by a Jammer and have been awarded to their team incorrectly and/or erroneously by a referee, an official, or as the result of a technology malfunction.

8.5.6 - Jammers cannot accrue points while in the penalty box.

8.5.6.1 - When the Jammer finishes serving a penalty, the Jammer continues their scoring pass exactly where the Jammer left off. For example: If the Jammer has scored on opposing Blockers A and B when sent to the penalty box, the Jammer retains those points. When the penalty finishes in the same jam, the Jammer remains on the same scoring pass and can only score on opposing Blockers C and D. (See Section 3.4 - Lead Jammer for Lead Jammer details.)

8.5.6.2 - A Jammer exiting the penalty box will still be on the same pass the Jammer was on when the Jammer was penalized, even if all points for a pass have been awarded. The Jammer will immediately earn points for passing out of play Blockers that are behind the Jammer upon re-entry (see Section 7.2.7.3).

8.5.6.3 - When the Jammer’s penalty spans into the next jam, the Jammer starts all of their passes over. The Jammer’s points are announced at the end of the one jam and in the next jam the Jammer begins their initial pass when leaving the penalty box.

8.5.7 - Jammer Lap Point: If one Jammer completely laps the opposing Jammer, the Jammer will score one point each time the Jammer fully laps the opposing Jammer. The Jammer does not need to be on a scoring pass to score a Jammer lap point.

8.5.8 - In order to earn points for passing while airborne, the Jammer must maintain in bounds and upright status after landing (see Section 6.8 - Out of Bounds Blocking).

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