The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

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.