The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby

6.4 - Expulsion and Fouling Out

6.4.1 - Fouling Out: A Skater fouls out from the game when seven penalties have been assessed to that Skater.

6.4.1.1 - This includes penalties assessed to the Pivot or Captain for actions that other people committed (see Sections 6.1.4–6.1.5).

6.4.1.1.1 - This does not include time served without a penalty being recorded (see Section 6.4.2.3.1).

6.4.1.2 - 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 may join the audience for the game, but is not allowed to participate beyond the manner in which an audience member would be expected. 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 6.2.1.1).

6.4.1.2.1 - If a Skater who has fouled out interferes with game play, their team will be penalized according to Section 5.13.23. 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.

6.4.2 - Expulsion

6.4.2.1 - A Skater may be expelled from the game 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 (see Section 5.16.26), or for extremely unsporting conduct. Only the Head Referee may expel a Skater, coach, or manager. The Head Referee’s decision is binding.

6.4.2.2 - Referees may not downgrade an expulsion. Any behavior that does not clearly warrant an expulsion should use the examples in Section 5 - Penalties as guidelines to determine whether a penalty or expulsion is warranted.

6.4.2.3 - Expulsions are a special class of penalty; as such, the team an expelled Skater was on must play down one Skater for at least 30 seconds (except where shortened per Section 6.3 - Both Jammers Penalized/Both Jammers Off the Track), as if a penalty had been issued.

6.4.2.3.1 - Coaches and managers are held to the same standard of sporting behavior as Skaters. If a coach or manager is expelled (see Section 6.4.2.1), that team’s Captain will serve this time, but no penalty will be recorded for the Captain.

6.4.3 - The Head Referee does not need to meet with either Captain prior to expelling a Skater from the game.

6.4.4 - An 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 (such as the stands) 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.

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

The team of a Skater who is ejected from a game, either due to an expulsion or fouling out, must play down a Skater in the ejected Skater’s position, as if a penalty had been assessed. 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.

6.4.5.1 - Timing of the penalty for an ejected Skater begins as soon as they are seated, per Section 6.2.3.1. If they are not seated, their timing begins after a Referee:

6.4.5.1.1 - Has made sure the ejected Skater has immediately left the track (ejected Skaters must also return to the locker room or staging area per Section 6.4.1.2 and Section 6.4.4, and

6.4.5.1.2 - Has instructed the Penalty Box Official to begin timing the penalty for the ejected Skater, or

6.4.5.1.3 - Has provided that the substitute is seated at the beginning of the next jam.