The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

NOTE: You are viewing the March 1, 2014 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.

2.6 - Helmet Covers

2.6.1 - Teams must have two sets of different helmet covers available during the game. A team’s helmet cover colors must meet the definition of high contrast beyond a reasonable doubt or the Head Referee shall request that the team use helmet covers that meet the definition. The Jammer’s and/or Pivot’s helmet cover colors are of high contrast if there is a large degree of visual difference between the star/stripe color and the base color of the cover such that the star/stripe color stands out from the base color.

2.6.2 - A team’s helmet covers are easily identifiable if they can be readily distinguished by Officials, other skaters, and fans from the helmets of the Blockers on the track.

2.6.3 - All helmet covers used by one team must be of the same color scheme (e.g., a team cannot use black base and yellow star/stripe in one jam then yellow base and black stripe in the next jam, or mix color schemes in the same jam).

2.6.4 - An opposing team may challenge the use of a team’s helmet covers if they feel there could be confusion in distinguishing between the Jammers, Pivots stripe and other Blockers.

2.6.4.1 - In the event of a challenge by the opposing team that meets the above standard, the Head Referee must require use of the alternate color helmet covers. If a team’s helmet cover colors are not identical but very similar, the Head Referee may enforce the helmet cover switch, but is not required to.

2.6.4.2 - No helmets’ decorations, including numbers, should be able to be mistaken for a Jammer star or Pivot stripe. In the event of a challenge by the opposing team that meets the standard, the offending symbols on said helmet must be removed or covered.

2.6.5 - If a helmet cover falls to the ground or is removed from play by any means, a qualified skater (e.g., the Jammer or Pivot) may skate out of bounds to recover it, but only if the helmet cover is itself touching out of bounds. They are still subject to Out of Play and Out of Bounds Engagement penalties.

2.6.6 - Helmet covers must be on qualified skater’s head, or in a qualified skater’s hand, before the jam-starting whistle. Helmet covers cannot enter a jam in progress.

2.6.7 - Helmet covers may not be removed mid-jam by anybody (including teammates and opponents) except the skater holding the position designated by said helmet cover.

2.6.7.1 - It is legal to remove a teammate’s helmet cover if the designation provided by the cover is in error. For example, if a team fields two Pivots, a teammate may remove one Pivot’s helmet cover.

Real. Strong. Athletic. Revolutionary.