The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

3.4 - Lead Jammer

3.4.1 - The Lead Jammer is the only skater who has the privilege of calling off (ending) the jam prior to the expiration of the full two minutes. Lead Jammer is a strategic position established on the Jammers’ initial pass through the pack during each jam. The Lead Jammer is the first Jammer to pass the foremost in-play Blocker in bounds and upright, legally, having already passed all other Blockers in bounds and upright, legally. A Jammer who is in bounds but down may earn a pass for opposing Blockers who were ahead of the Jammer but skate clockwise behind the downed Jammer.

3.4.1.1 - Lead Jammer status will be signaled immediately after it is earned (see Section 3.4.2).

3.4.1.1.1 - A Jammer must be in bounds to become Lead Jammer. No part of the Jammer’s body or equipment may be touching out of bounds. A Jammer does not have to stay in bounds to remain Lead Jammer.

3.4.1.2 - A Jammer must be ahead of the foremost in-play Blocker, as demarked by the hips, in order to become Lead Jammer.

3.4.1.3 - Jammers do not need to pass Blockers ahead of the legal Engagement Zone in order to become Lead Jammer.

3.4.1.4 - During a no pack situation (per Section 4.1.2), the Jammer must pass all Blockers to become Lead Jammer.

3.4.2 - In order to gain Lead Jammer status on the Jammer’s initial pass through the pack, a Jammer must pass the foremost in-play Blocker in bounds and upright, legally, having already passed all other Blockers in bounds and upright, legally. A Jammer who is in bounds but down may earn a pass for opposing Blockers who were ahead of the Jammer but skate clockwise behind the downed Jammer.

3.4.2.1 - Any legal pass counts. If a Jammer becomes ineligible for Lead Jammer by passing while out of bounds, the Jammer is allowed an opportunity to re-pass and regain eligibility for Lead Jammer status.

3.4.2.2 - To remain eligible for Lead Jammer, a Jammer must remain in bounds until they are within the Engagement Zone, the area in which the Jammer may be legally engaged by a Blocker. In the event of a no pack or no Engagement Zone, a Jammer must remain in bounds until reaching within 20 feet (6 meters) of the rearmost Blocker to remain eligible for Lead Jammer. No part of a Jammer’s skate(s) or body may touch the ground outside the track boundary before initially entering the Engagement Zone. Until initially reaching the Engagement Zone, a Jammer may be blocked out of bounds by the opposing Jammer, rendering the Jammer ineligible to become Lead Jammer.

3.4.2.3 - Once the Jammer has exited the front of the Engagement Zone that Jammer is no longer eligible to re-pass. If the Jammer has not passed all of the Blockers on both teams in bounds, upright, and legally, the Jammer will be declared NOT Lead Jammer at this point.

3.4.2.4 - In the event both Jammers simultaneously meet all requirements for Lead Jammer, the foremost Jammer will be declared Lead Jammer.

3.4.2.5 - See Section 3.4.7 and Section 7.2.3.2.2 for further information on how a skater sent to the penalty box affects Lead Jammer.

3.4.3 - A pass is determined by the skaters’ hips.

3.4.4 - If the first Jammer to emerge from the pack does not earn Lead Jammer status on their initial pass through the pack, the second Jammer is eligible to become Lead Jammer, provided that the second Jammer meets the specified requirements. If the second skater also fails to earn Lead Jammer status on their initial pass through the pack, there will be no Lead Jammer for that jam.

3.4.5 - A Jammer who begins the jam in the penalty box is eligible to earn Lead Jammer status provided that the other Jammer has not already been declared Lead Jammer. A Jammer sent to the penalty box while making their initial pass through the pack is not eligible to become Lead Jammer upon returning to the jam.

3.4.6 - The Lead Jammer may call off the jam at any time after their position has been established unless the Jammer has been removed from the jam due to a penalty or their helmet cover has been removed. If the helmet cover is removed by an opponent’s action or in the course of natural gameplay, the Jammer may replace the helmet cover and regain Lead Jammer status. The Lead Jammer calls off the jam by repeatedly placing both hands on their hips until the referee whistles the end of the jam. The jam is not over until the referee officially calls off the jam. If there is no Lead Jammer, the jam will run until the full two-minute time limit expires.

3.4.7 - Once a Jammer has been declared Lead Jammer, Lead Jammer status is retained for the duration of the jam unless the status is forfeited by:

3.4.7.1 - The Jammer removing the helmet cover for any reason.

3.4.7.2 - Committing a major penalty.

3.4.7.3 - Having the helmet cover removed by a teammate.