The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

NOTE: You are viewing the June 15, 2013 revision of The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby, which has been officially retired.

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

4.2 - Pre-Jam Positioning

4.2.1 - Prior to the start of a jam all skaters must be in position with the Blockers in front of the Jammers. The Pivot Line is a straight line across the track at the head of the straightaway. The Jammer Line is exactly 30 feet (9.14 m) behind the Pivot Line.

4.2.1.1 - Blockers must be in a position pre-jam so that the pack will exist behind the Pivot Line and in front of the Jammer Line at the jam-starting whistle, or immediately after the jam-starting whistle should the jam begin with a no pack.

4.2.1.1.1 - It is required that more than half of the on-the-track Blockers from each team begin in this pre-jam positioning. A major Illegal Procedure false start penalty will be assessed to the Pivot in that jam of the team(s) that did not field enough Blockers in proper pre-jam position (see Section 6.13.38).

4.2.1.1.1.1 - If all of one team’s Blockers are lined up out of position per Section 4.2.1.1, a Delay of Game penalty should be issued when the 30 seconds between jams has expired (see Section 6.13.38 and Section 6.15.4).

4.2.1.2 - At the jam-starting whistle, Blockers are permitted to be either upright or down on one knee.

4.2.1.2.1 - Blockers may not intentionally take starting positions which purposefully prolong that skater’s ability to return to an in-play position or a team’s ability to reform a pack (e.g., intentionally starting on one’s back, intentionally starting in a dog-pile), see Section 6.13.37

4.2.2 - Pivot Starting Position: Only the Pivots may line up on the Pivot Line. Pivots are considered on the Pivot Line when they are upright and also touching the line.

4.2.3 - Non-Pivot Blocker starting positions: Blockers line up behind the Pivots as demarked by the hips. If a Pivot is not upright and on the Pivot Line, non-Pivot Blockers are not required to line up behind that Pivot.

4.2.4 - Jammer Starting Position: Jammers line up on or behind the Jammer Line.

4.2.5 - Blockers may line up in any order behind the Pivots.

4.2.6 - The pack and Jammers may begin rolling at the jam-starting whistle from the Official.

4.2.7 - Jammers may not be accelerating at the jam-starting whistle. They are, however, permitted to be moving, coasting, or braking.

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