The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

5.16 - Misconduct/Gross Misconduct

When a Skater engages in extremely unsporting conduct, that Skater may receive a penalty or expulsion based on the degree to which the action is deemed inappropriate. This may include being rude to opponents, support staff, or audience members; physical contact outside the range of appropriate contact for the sport,; or any act that undermines the dignity of the sport.

5.16.1 - Initiating contact with both skates off of the ground to a teammate is legal, regardless of the impact on that teammate. The impacted teammate is, however, responsible for the legality of their own actions.

5.16.2 - Entry to the Penalty Box that causes a teammate to either move or be forcibly contacted.

5.16.3 - Entry to the Penalty Box that causes contact only to persons intruding on either the safety lane and/or the Penalty Box.

5.16.4 - Contact, either actual or potential, by the Skater’s penalty seat to another person that is caused by a structural failure of the seat, not by the entry of the Skater to the Penalty Box.

5.16.5 - Initiating contact with both skates off of the ground that forces the receiving opponent off balance, forward, and/or sideways, but does not cause the opponent to lose their relative position.

5.16.6 - A Skater initiating contact or engaging an opponent before the jam-starting whistle that forces the receiving opponent off balance, forward, or sideways, but does not cause the opponent to lose their established starting position.

5.16.7 - A Skater initiating contact or engaging an opponent after the fourth jam-ending whistle that forces the opponent slightly off balance, forward, or sideways, but does not cause the opponent to fall.

5.16.8 - Initiating contact with both skates off of the ground that forces the receiving opponent out of established position. This includes forcing an opponent down, out of bounds, or out of relative position.

5.16.9 - Executing a block on an opponent who is down.

5.16.10 - The use of obscene, profane, or abusive language or gestures directed at a mascot, announcer, audience member, or other event production individuals. If no one can be singled out as the offending party but it is clearly coming from a Skater, this penalty will be issued to the corresponding Captain.

5.16.11 - The excessive use of obscene, profane, or abusive language or gestures directed at an opponent, teammate, manager, coach, or other team support staff. If no one can be singled out as the offending party but it is clearly coming from a Skater, or if a team as a whole is being offensive (though no individual Skater’s offensive speech is considered “excessive”), this penalty will be assessed to the corresponding Captain.

5.16.12 - A Skater who, on their way to the Penalty Box during a jam, causes another person (including Officials, opponents, and audience members, but not including teammates) to vacate their position to reasonably avoid being forcibly contacted. This includes people correctly positioned in their team area and is not limited to people in the Penalty Box.

5.16.13 - Habitual entry to the Penalty Box during a jam in which contact, either actual or potential, by the Skater’s seat to another person (including Officials, opponents, and audience members, but not including teammates) is caused by a structural failure of the seat and not the entry of the Skater. Penalty is to be issued where proper precaution is not being shown by the offending Skater, causing the habitual failure of a seat or seats.

5.16.14 - Intentionally adopting a downed position so as to deceive a Referee into incorrectly calling a penalty on an opponent.

5.16.15 - Intentionally adopting a downed position in an attempt to avoid a block.

5.16.16 - Any contact initiated by a downed Skater that causes an opponent to fall or lose relative position, or allows a teammate to gain relative position.

5.16.17 - A Skater initiating contact or engaging an opponent before the jam-starting whistle that forces the receiving opponent out of their established starting position. This includes forcing an opponent down, out of bounds, severely off balance, or into an illegal starting position.

5.16.18 - A Skater initiating contact or engaging an opponent before the jam-starting whistle that allows the initiator to gain a superior starting position. This includes gaining a legal starting position (gaining an in-bounds or legal starting position via the contact), or breaking a wall of opponents.

5.16.19 - A Skater initiating contact or engaging an opponent after the fourth jam-ending whistle that forces the receiving opponent down or severely off balance, forward, or sideways.

Gross Misconduct is defined as an indiscretion so serious that it justifies the instant expulsion of a Skater, even on the first occurrence. The following egregious acts will be an automatic game expulsion, even if not during a fight.

5.16.20 - Illegal interference in game play by Skaters or support staff not involved in the jam.

5.16.21 - The repeated use of obscene, profane, or abusive language or gestures directed at a mascot, announcer, audience member, or other event production individuals.

5.16.22 - The repetitive and excessive use of obscene, profane, or abusive language or gestures directed at an opponent, teammate, manager, coach, or other support staff.

5.16.23 - Fighting, defined as a physical struggle that is not part of regular game play. A Skater who only defends blows and does not engage in the fight will not be penalized (see Section 6.4.2).

5.16.24 - Biting.

5.16.25 - Jumping onto or into a pile of fighting Skaters (i.e., “dog pile”).

5.16.26 - Serious physical violence or any action deemed by the Officials to cause an extraordinary physical threat.

5.16.27 - A Skater who, on their way to the Penalty Box during a jam, makes forcible contact with another person (other than a teammate), or who causes a Penalty Box seat to do so. This includes contact made to people correctly positioned in their team area and is not limited to people in the Penalty Box.

5.16.28 - Forcible contact to an Official that is either avoidable or intentional.