The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

5.12 - Skating Out of Bounds

Skaters must remain in bounds. No part of the Skater’s skate(s) may touch the ground outside the track boundary. Skaters may not pick up momentum for a block until in bounds (see Section 5.8.2). Skaters may not use the out-of-bounds section of the track in order to decrease the distance needed to travel. Skaters may also not exit the track in order to avoid game play under their own power, even if due to poor judgment of speed.

Examples of Legal Play

5.12.1 - Maintaining or increasing speed while out of bounds in the outfield to travel to or from the Penalty Box.

5.12.2 - Exiting the track of one’s own accord in order to avoid an obstacle (e.g., spills, debris, or downed Skaters).

5.12.3 - Exiting the track as a result of receiving a block.

5.12.4 - Exiting the track as a result of executing a block, or missing a block.

5.12.5 - Exiting the track of one’s own accord as a result of injury.

5.12.6 - Exiting the track of one’s own accord to address an equipment malfunction.

5.12.7 - Exiting the track of one’s own accord to retrieve a helmet cover that is out of bounds (if allowed to do so; see Section 2.6 - Helmet Covers).

5.12.8 - Cutting across the infield in order to legally re-enter the track behind an opponent (for example, one Jammer attempting to return to the track after the other Jammer has skated clockwise).

No Impact/No Penalty

5.12.9 - Intentionally adopting a straddling state, for any reason, so long as the Skater does not fully exit the track.

5.12.10 - Exiting the track due to the belief that one had reason to be out of bounds legally.

5.12.10.1 - Mistakenly exiting the track due to mishearing an Official’s instruction (e.g., a Skater thinking that they have been called on a penalty when in fact they were not).

5.12.10.2 - Exiting the track after a maneuver that the Skater believes brought them out of bounds (e.g., an apex jump).

5.12.11 - After a warning (see Section 5.10 - Out of Play), exiting the track whilst out of play, as a result of an immediate attempt to return to the Engagement Zone, so long as this does not substantially cut the lap distance short.

5.12.12 - Exiting the track at any point during the four jam-ending whistles.

5.12.13 - Exiting the track due to a loss of balance (even if the Skater remains upright). This Skater is still potentially subject to penalties under Section 5.11 - Cutting the Track.

5.12.14 - Exiting the track due to a failed apex jump. This Skater is still potentially subject to penalties under Section 5.11 - Cutting the Track.

5.12.15 - Being propelled fully out of bounds by a teammate. The out-of-bounds Skater is still potentially subject to pack destruction penalties (see Section 5.10 - Out of Play).

Penalty

5.12.16 - Skating while out of bounds in a manner that significantly cuts the lap distance short. For example:

5.12.16.1 - Cutting across the infield on the way to the Penalty Box.

5.12.16.2 - Repeatedly cutting small amounts of the lap distance short, which together add up to a significant portion of lap distance having been cut short over the course of the game.

5.12.17 - Crossing the track while down, from the outfield to the infield.

5.12.18 - Skating while out of bounds to maintain or increase speed. For example, performing a crossover while touching out of bounds.

5.12.19 - A Skater fully exiting the track, perhaps straddling along the way, entirely under their own power (except where defined as legal or no-impact, above), including while down.

5.12.19.1 - A Skater who returns from the outfield to the track and misjudges their speed, causing them to exit the track on the infield, has left the track entirely under their own power.

5.12.19.2 - A Skater who fully exits the track in order to avoid receiving a block is considered to be exiting the track entirely under their own power.

Expulsion

5.12.20 - Not applicable.

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