The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

5.10 - Out of Play

Out of Play penalties are applied for actions occurring in front of and/or behind the Engagement Zone and for actions that illegally destroy the pack (putting all perviously in-play Blockers out of play). Out of Play actions include but are not limited to blocking, assisting, destroying the pack, failure to reform a pack, and failure to return to the Engagement Zone. A penalty will be applied to each offending Skater for each action.

5.10.1 - A Blocker who is in front of or behind the Engagement Zone may receive an Out of Play warning from a Referee.

5.10.2 - Illegally destroying the pack is the illegal creation of a “No Pack” situation. When two or more groups of Blockers equal in number are on the track, are more than 10 feet (3 meters) from one another, and no single group meets the pack definition, no pack can be defined. If the actions of a Skater, team, or group of Skaters create a “No Pack” situation, one penalty for destroying the pack will be applied to a single Skater who is most responsible or the Pivot (see Section 6.1.5). Both teams are responsible for maintaining a legally defined pack.

5.10.2.1 - Examples of illegally destroying the pack may include but are not limited to a Skater, Skaters, or a team running away, braking or coasting to drop back more than 10 feet (3 meters) behind the opposing team; taking a knee; intentionally falling; or intentionally skating out of bounds in such a manner that the legally defined pack is destroyed.

5.10.2.1.1 - The rules do not define pack speed. Gradual deviation from the speed of the pack as established through game play is legal, unless said deviation is sudden, rapid, and marked, leaving the opposing team no opportunity to adjust and maintain a pack.

5.10.2.2 - A Skater or group of Skaters is always responsible for the consequences of their actions. If their actions create a No Pack situation (excepting those covered in Section 5.10.2.3 and Section 5.10.2.1.1) they must be penalized as directed in Section 5.10.17, regardless of intent. When determining responsibility of a No Pack situation, per Section 3.1.2 and Section 5.10.2, both teams are responsible for maintaining a legally defined pack.

5.10.2.3 - Pack destructions as a result of normal game play are not to be considered illegal pack destructions and should not be penalized. Skaters still must reform a pack immediately or be subject to Out of Play penalties (see Section 5.10.6 and Section 5.10.7). Examples of normal game play that should not be considered illegal pack destructions include:

5.10.2.3.1 - Forcing an opponent down or out of bounds.

5.10.2.3.2 - A pack being destroyed as the result of a missed block. This is not the same as intentionally skating out of bounds to destroy a pack, which should be penalized according to Section 5.10.2.1.

5.10.2.4 - When no Skater or team can be clearly found responsible for illegally destroying the pack, no penalty for illegally destroying the pack may be enforced; however Skaters and teams are still responsible for immediately reforming a pack (see Section 5.10.6, Section 5.10.11, and Section 5.10.12).

5.10.3 - No Skater may initiate a block while out of play, or to a Skater who is out of play. It is, however, legal to counter-block in such a situation.

5.10.4 - Blockers who are outside of the Engagement Zone will be warned to return to the Engagement Zone, and will be penalized if they do not immediately attempt to return to the Engagement Zone.

5.10.4.1 - Blockers ahead of the Engagement Zone are compelled to skate clockwise to return to the Engagement Zone if the pack is stopped or moving clockwise.

5.10.5 - During a No Pack situation, Skaters will be warned that there is no pack and will be penalized if they do not immediately attempt to reform the pack. For Skaters in the rear group, this includes stepping or skating in the counter-clockwise direction. For Skaters in the front group, this includes coasting, braking, or coming to a complete stop.

5.10.5.1 - A Blocker who is out of bounds must attempt to return in bounds if doing so would be legal and would reform the pack. Said Blocker is not, however, required to skate clockwise in order to find a legal re-entry point.

5.10.5.2 - If all of one team’s Blockers are out of bounds and cannot legally re-enter in bounds, the opposing team must immediately begin moving in a counter-clockwise direction. The out-of-bounds team will then be responsible for returning in bounds to reform the pack as soon as it is legal to do so (see Section 5.10.5.1).

5.10.5.3 - If a Blocker is “in between” potential packs, such that skating clockwise or counter-clockwise would potentially reform a pack, a Blocker may skate either clockwise or counter-clockwise (per Section 5.10.5.1 or Section 5.10.5.2).

5.10.6 - An attempt to reform is considered “immediate” if the action is taken as soon as legally possible. If an immediate action is not sufficient to reform the pack, however, additional effort is required. If a Blocker is in the rear group, they must accelerate (until sprinting) toward the front group until a pack is reformed (coasting, stepping slowly, or stepping in an only somewhat-counter-clockwise direction are insufficient). If a Blocker is in the front group, they must actively brake until they come to a complete stop (coasting is insufficient).

5.10.6.1 - During a No Pack scenario, the front-most group is never required to skate clockwise to reform a pack.

5.10.6.2 - When pack reformation is imminent, the rear group may slow in order to avoid unsafe contact.

5.10.7 - Skaters may not assist teammates while out of play.

5.10.8 - No Pack situations without a measurable impact on game play.

5.10.9 - Any illegal blocking while out of play that forces the receiving opponent off balance, forward, and/or sideways, but does not cause an opponent to lose relative position or allow the initiator or a teammate to gain relative position.

5.10.10 - An Out of Play assist that affects the recipient but does not improve relative position.

If the Out of Play action has a measurable consequence for the game a penalty will be assessed.

5.10.11 - A Blocker who, after being warned, does not immediately attempt to return to the Engagement Zone. A penalty must be applied to each offending Blocker who does not attempt to return to the Engagement Zone.

5.10.12 - Immediate Failure to Reform: After a warning, a failure to immediately attempt to reform a pack (see Section 5.10.6). If a pack is not immediately reformed, a penalty will go to one Blocker from each team, if the team has any Blockers who made no immediate effort to reform the pack.

5.10.12.1 - A Blocker who continues a block or initiates a new block after a No Pack situation is declared will be considered to be making no effort to reform.

5.10.13 - Sustained Failure to Reform: A Blocker engaging in any action (or inaction) that inhibits or delays their attempt to reform a pack, or prolongs the No Pack scenario, if prior attempts to reform were not sufficient (see Section 5.10.6). Only one Blocker from each team, at a time, who is most responsible for the sustained No Pack scenario may be penalized in this manner.

5.10.14 - A Blocker returning to the Engagement Zone from behind, having lapped the pack. A penalty must be applied to each offending Blocker (see Section 3.3.3.2).

5.10.15 - A Blocker returning to the Engagement Zone from the front, having fallen behind the pack. A penalty must be applied to each offending Blocker (see Section 3.3.3.2).

5.10.16 - Any illegal blocking while out of play that forces the receiving opponent out of their established position. This includes forcing an opponent down, out of bounds, or out of relative position.

5.10.17 - Any illegal blocking while out of play that allows the initiator or a teammate to gain relative position.

5.10.18 - Illegally Destroying the Pack: The act of illegally destroying the pack causes all Blockers to lose relative position. The Skater responsible for destroying the pack will receive the penalty.

5.10.19 - An Out of Play assist that improves the recipient’s relative position. The penalty is given to the initiator of the assist.

The following egregious acts will be automatic game expulsions. Expulsions will be issued for a conscious attempt to block an opponent in an egregious manner while out of play, whether or not the action was successful.

5.10.20 - Negligent or reckless contact with an opponent while out of play.

5.10.21 - Negligent or reckless contact with an opponent who is out of play.