The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

7.4 - Expulsion and Fouling Out

7.4.1 - Fouling Out

7.4.1.1 - Skaters who are sent to the box for an excessive amount of major penalties will foul out of the game and will not be permitted to return to play for the remainder of the game. All major penalties count, not just repetitions of the same penalty or family of penalties.

7.4.1.1.1 - A skater fouls out from the game for seven accumulated penalty turns in the penalty box in a game.

7.4.1.2 - When a skater fouls out of a game, that skater must immediately leave the track and may not remain on the team’s bench. The fouled out skater is not allowed to participate in the remainder of the game in any way. Another skater from that skater’s team must serve any applicable penalty time; this substitute must serve in the same position (Pivot, Blocker, or Jammer) as the skater who has fouled out. Substitutions for skaters who have fouled out cannot happen during an in-progress jam. The fouled out skater is not permitted to return to play and their team must skate a skater short for the remainder of the jam (see Section 7.2.1.1).

7.4.1.2.1 - If a skater who has fouled out interferes with game play, their team will be penalized according to Section 6.13.36. Additionally, that skater may no longer remain on the floor and must return to the locker room or staging area. The skater may not remain on the floor with their team or in an area where the fouled-out skater can interfere with skaters on the track.

7.4.2 - Expulsion and Suspension

7.4.2.1 - A skater may be expelled from the bout at the Head Referee’s discretion for serious physical violence or any action deemed by the officials to cause an extraordinary physical threat to others. Only the Head Referee may expel a skater, coach, or manager. The Head Referee’s decision is binding.

7.4.2.2 - Depending on the severity of the incident, an expulsion may result in the skater being suspended from their next game.

7.4.2.3 - Insubordination can be grounds for expulsion, but it will not cause a skater to be suspended. Any intentional contact with a referee is grounds for suspension.

7.4.2.4 - Referees may not downgrade an expulsion. Any behavior not warranting expulsion must be penalized according to guidelines set forth in Section 6 - Penalties.

7.4.2.5 - If a skater is expelled from a game during a tournament, the skater may not be replaced by a substitute from their team roster during the in-progress game. Unless suspended (see Section 7.4.2.2), the skater is allowed to play in the next game in the tournament.

7.4.2.6 - Coaches and managers are held to the same standard of sportsmanlike behavior as skaters. If a coach or manager is expelled (see Section 7.4.2.1), that team’s Captain will serve a one minute penalty. However, that penalty does not count toward the skater’s penalty cap (see Section 7.4.1.1.1).

7.4.3 - The Head Referee does not need to meet with the Captain prior to expelling a skater from the game. However, any suspensions must be recommended by the Head Referee and signed off by Captains prior to collecting signatures on the IBRF/ITRF at the end of the game.

7.4.4 - The expelled skater must immediately leave the track and return to the locker room or staging area. The expelled skater may not remain on the floor with their team or in an area where the expelled skater can interfere with skaters on the track. The expelled skater is not allowed to participate in the remainder of the game in any way. Another skater from the expelled skater’s team must serve the major penalty. This substitute must serve the penalty in the same position (Pivot, Blocker, or Jammer) as the expelled skater. The expelled skater’s team must skate a skater short while the penalty is being served.

7.4.5 - Timing a Fouled Out/Expelled Skater’s Penalty

A fouled out/expelled skater’s time off the track does count toward any required penalty time (e.g., major per expulsion, seventh trip to the box foul out). If the jam ends before the penalty time is complete, the remainder of the penalty time will be served by a substitute in the following jam.

7.4.5.1 - Timing of the minute penalty for a fouled out or expelled skater begins after the referee:

7.4.5.1.1 - Has made sure the fouled out/expelled skater has immediately left the track. Expelled skaters must also return to the locker room or staging area (per Section 7.4.1.2 and Section 7.4.4).

7.4.5.1.2 - Has instructed the penalty box official to begin timing the penalty for the fouled out/expelled skater.

7.4.5.2 - If at the moment a skater is penalized it is not known that the skater is on their seventh turn in the box and the penalized skater, who has now officially fouled out of the game, is already seated in the penalty box, the timing of penalty has already begun upon the penalized skater’s arrival in the box. The skater must be instructed by the referees to leave the track, and the timing of the penalty will continue in their absence.