The following is a summary of the changes in the WFTDA Rules for Flat Track Roller Derby released on December 1, 2014. Leagues may begin playing sanctioned games under the new rules immediately, and all sanctioned games must use these rules starting January 1, 2015.
Please note that this is not a comprehensive listing of new and changed rules. It is only provided as a convenience to highlight the most significant changes. Skaters, coaches, officials, and fans are encouraged to read through the new rule set in its entirety.
For a line-by-line review of all changes, download our change detail document: Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby Line-by-Line Change Detail
Added in rules to mandate that the Official Score is the one which everyone can see.
| Old Rule | New Rule |
|---|---|
| 7.2.5 - Once a Jammer earns a point, that point can never be taken away. (Note: This does not apply to points awarded in error.) 7.2.5.1 - Points awarded in error are points that have not been legally earnedby a Jammer and have been awarded to their team incorrectly and/or erroneously by an Official or as the result of a technology malfunction. |
1.9.5.1 The Official Score must be highly visible to Officials, Skaters, and audience members. 7.2.6 - Once a Jammer earns a point, that point can never be taken away. 7.2.6.1 - Points awarded in error are points that have not been legally earned by a Jammer and have been awarded to their team incorrectly and/or erroneously by an Official or as the result of a technology malfunction. As these points have not been earned, they can be revoked after they have been awarded. 7.2.6.2 - Points denied in error are points that were legally earned by a Jammer, but have not been awarded to their team; for example, due to officiating error or technology malfunction. As these points have been legitimately earned, they may be bestowed after they normally would have. 7.2.6.3 - If a point is awarded or denied in error, this error must be corrected prior to the conclusion of the following jam. 7.2.6.3.1 - If an error persists past the conclusion of the following jam, it will stand as part of the Official Score. Any changes made to the visible score during the following jam may be reviewed (per Section 1.11 – Official Reviews) after that jam concludes, as the score change was made during that jam, even if the original incident occurred earlier. 7.2.6.3.2 - If less than two minutes remain on the period clock during the second period, points awarded or denied in error must be corrected prior to the start, rather than the conclusion, of the following jam. Officials may take Official Timeouts as necessary to ensure that the score is correct prior to the start of such a jam. |
Teams may now opt to use the time allocated for an Official Review as a timeout instead.
| Old Rule | New Rule |
|---|---|
| 1.11.1 - Official Review: A team may request for a review of an Official’s decision. There is no limit to the type of objection brought up during an Official Review. 1.11.1.1 - To request an Official Review, the Captain or Designated Alternate will signal the Officials with the appropriate hand signal. Officials will signalfor the clock to stop. 1.11.1.2 - During the Official Review, the Head Referee will conference with both teams’ Captains and/or Designated Alternates. 1.11.1.3 - The Captain and/or Designated Alternate requesting the review will explain the purpose of the review. 1.11.1.4 - The Head Referee will investigate the review with the other referees and Officials, and use the information gathered to render a decision. 1.11.1.5 - The Head Referee will announce a decision. This decision is final. 1.11.2 - A team is guaranteed one Official Review per period. 1.11.2.1 - If, during a team’s first Official Review of the period, the Head Referee determines that an officiating error was made in relation to the objection, the team will retain their Official Review. 1.11.3 - Official Reviews must be requested before the following jam starts, or after the final jam of the period (but before the score is declared “final”). Only the immediately preceding jam is subject to Official Review. |
1.11.1 - Official Review: A team may request the attention of the Officials. 1.11.1.1 - To request an Official Review, in between jams or immediately following the conclusion of the last jam of the period, the Captain or Designated Alternate will signal the Officials with the appropriate hand signal. Officials will signal for the clock to stop. 1.11.1.1.1 - The period clock will remain stopped for a minimum of 60 seconds. 1.11.1.2 - During the Official Review, the Head Referee will conference with both teams’ Captains and/or Designated Alternates. 1.11.1.3 - During this conference, the Captain and/or Designated Alternate requesting the review may request to have an Official’s decision reviewed. If such a request is made: 1.11.1.3.1 - Decisions made during the prior jam may be reviewed, as may decisions made during the lineup time prior to that jam. Decisions made during the final jam may also be reviewed, but only until the score has been declared final. 1.11.1.3.2 - Decisions outside the purview of The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby may not be reviewed. 1.11.1.3.3 - The Head Referee will then investigate the review with the other Officials, and use the information gathered to render a decision on the item under review, as well as related decisions. 1.11.1.3.4 - The Head Referee will announce a decision. This decision is final. 1.11.1.4 - If the Captain or Designated Alternate does not request that a decision be reviewed, they may use this 60-‐second period (see Section 1.11.1.1.1) as they please. 1.11.2 - A team is guaranteed one Official Review per period. 1.11.2.1 - If, during a team’s first Official Review of the period, a review of an Official’s decision is requested and the Head Referee determines that an officiating error was made in relation to the objection, the team will retain their Official Review. 1.11.2.2 - If the Captain or Designated Alternate does not request review of a decision according to Section 1.11.1.3, or if upon review it was determined that no officiating error occurred, their team will not retain their Official Review. |
Forearms no longer includes a penalty for 3-second tracking, but penalties for holding an opponent back or significantly altering an opponent's trajectory have been added.
| Old Rule | New Rule |
|---|---|
| 5.5.1 - Forearms or hands may never be used to grab, hold, or push an opponent. 5.5.2 - Incidental forearm or hand contact between opponents is acceptable. Examples of Legal Play 5.5.3 - Contact, including extended contact, made with forearms or hands that are pulled into the body. 5.5.4 - A block initiated with the shoulder, sending an opponent forwards or sideways, in which there is either simultaneous or subsequent contact with forearms or hands. No Impact/No Penalty 5.5.5 - Illegal forearm or hand contact to an opponent that forces the receiving opponent off balance, forward, and/or sideways but does not cause the opponent to lose relative position or the initiator or a teammate to gain relative position. For example, a slight but observable push with the hands or forearms. Penalty 5.5.6 - Extended touching (lasting three seconds or more) with the forearms or hands to an opponent’s legal and/or illegal target zone. 5.5.7 - Any illegal forearm or hand contact to an opponent that forces the receiving opponent off balance, forward, and/or sideways and causes the opponent to lose relative position. 5.5.8 - Any illegal forearm or hand contact allowing the initiator or a teammate to gain relative position, or causing an opponent to lose relative position. 5.5.9 - Use of hands or forearms to grab or hold onto an opponent, impeding that opponent’s mobility. 5.5.10 - Contact to an opponent, using the hands or forearms, in order to assist oneself in blocking an opponent. Expulsion The following egregious acts using the forearms or hands will be automatic game expulsions. Expulsions will be issued for a conscious and forceful attempt to commit any of the following egregious acts, whether or not the attempt was successful. 5.5.11 - Holding or pinning an opponent to the ground. 5.5.12 - Shoving an opponent. |
5.5.1 - Forearms or hands may never be used to grab, hold, or push an opponent. 5.5.2 - Incidental forearm or hand contact between opponents is acceptable. Examples of Legal Play 5.5.3 - Contact, including extended contact, made with forearms or hands that are pulled into the body. 5.5.4 - A block initiated with the shoulder, sending an opponent forwards or sideways, in which there is either simultaneous or subsequent contact with forearms or hands. No Impact/No Penalty 5.5.5 - Illegal forearm or hand contact to an opponent that forces the receiving opponent off balance, forward, and/or sideways but does not cause the opponent to lose relative position or the initiator or a teammate to gain relative position. For example, a slight but observable push with the hands or forearms. Penalty 5.5.6 - Any illegal forearm or hand contact to an opponent that forces the receiving opponent off balance, forward, and/or sideways and causes the opponent to lose relative position. 5.5.7 - Any illegal forearm or hand contact allowing the initiator or a teammate to gain relative position, or causing an opponent to lose relative position. 5.5.8 - Use of hands or forearms to grab, hold onto, or hold back an opponent, impeding that opponent’s mobility. 5.5.9 - Contact to an opponent, using the hands or forearms, in order to assist oneself in blocking a different opponent. 5.5.10 - Any pushing with the hands or forearms that significantly alters an opponent’s established position, trajectory, or speed. Expulsion The following egregious acts using the forearms or hands will be automatic game expulsions. Expulsions will be issued for a conscious and forceful attempt to commit any of the following egregious acts, whether or not the attempt was successful. 5.5.11 - Holding or pinning an opponent to the ground. 5.5.12 - Shoving an opponent. |
How points are scored on Jammers now more carefully mimics how points are scored on Blockers.
| Old Rule | New Rule |
|---|---|
| 7.2.7 - Jammer Lap Point: If one Jammer completely laps the opposing Jammer, the Jammer will score one point. The scoring Jammer does not need to be on a scoring pass to score a Jammer lap point, nor does the Jammer need to be “ahead” in terms of the number of scoring passes completed. | 7.2.8 - Jammer Lap Point: If one Jammer completely laps the opposing Jammer while both Jammers are on the track, the lapping Jammer will score one point. 7.2.8.1 - The scoring Jammer does not need to be on a scoring pass to score a Jammer Lap Point. 7.2.8.2 - The scoring Jammer does not need to be “ahead” in terms of the number of scoring passes completed to score a Jammer Lap Point. 7.2.8.3 - NOTT Points and Jammer Lap Points are mutually exclusive per pass: Once a Jammer has scored a Jammer Lap Point on the opposing Jammer, the scoring Jammer cannot score a NOTT Point on the opposing Jammer until their following pass. Conversely, if a Jammer has scored a NOTT Point on the opposing Jammer, the scoring Jammer cannot also score a Jammer Lap Point until they have once again completely lapped the opposing Jammer while both Jammers are on the track. |
Non-Skating Officials can now be empowered by the Head Referee to call penalties related to their positions rather than reporting penalties to a Referee for the Referee to call.
| Old Rule | New Rule |
|---|---|
| 8.3.1 - "The consensus of the referees will be the final decision on any disputed point that is not clearly spelled out in these rules. The referee may increase the severity of a penalty at their discretion. Similarly, the referee may decrease the severity of a penalty to a warning as the referee sees fit." 8.3.1.1 - "A warning does not have to be issued in order for a penalty to be given. The exception to this is Out of Play penalties for failure to reform and failure to return, before which warnings must be given. (See Sections 5.10.4, 5.10.5, 5.10.11, and 5.10.12 for exceptions.)" 8.3.1.2 - Referee discretion is intended only to allow referees to keep the game safe, fair, and consistent in the event that an unexpected situation arises. Discretion does not allow referees to change rules. 8.3.2 - If the referee is in doubt on a call (e.g., the referee sees the effects of a hit but does not see the action), a penalty must not be called. 8.3.3 - If the referee is in a position where intent must be inferred but is not clear, legal intent must be presumed. 8.3.4 - If the referee is not sure whether an action warrants a penalty, a penalty will not be assessed. 8.3.5 - If the referee is not sure whether an action warrants an expulsion, an expulsion will not be assessed. |
8.3.1 - The consensus of the Officials will be the final decision on any disputed point that is not clearly spelled out in these rules. An Official may increase the severity of a penalty at their discretion. Similarly, an Official may decrease the severity of a penalty to a warning as the Official sees fit. 8.3.1.1 - A warning does not have to be issued in order for a penalty to be given. The exception to this is Out of Play penalties for failure to reform and failure to return, before which warnings must be given. (See Sections 5.10.4, 5.10.5, 5.10.11, and 5.10.12 for exceptions.) 8.3.1.2 - Officiating discretion is intended only to allow Officials to keep the game safe, fair, and consistent in the event that an unexpected situation arises. Discretion does not allow Officials to change rules. 8.3.2 - If an Official is in doubt on a call (e.g., they see the effects of a hit but do not see the action), a penalty must not be called. 8.3.3 - If an Official is in a position where intent must be inferred but is not clear, legal intent must be presumed. 8.3.4 - If an Official is not sure whether an action warrants a penalty, a penalty will not be assessed. 8.3.5 - If an Official is not sure whether an action warrants an expulsion, an expulsion will not be assessed. 8.3.6 - When an Official provides erroneous information to a Skater, the Skater will not be penalized for actions taken based on that information. (See, for example, Sections 5.13.2 and 5.13.5.) 8.3.7 - The Head Referee may designate NSOs to signal and enforce penalties in situations in which said NSOs are able to observe the penalty. This includes but is not limited to obscene, profane, or abusive language directed at themself or another Official (see Section 5.16.10); removal of safety equipment while in the Penalty Box (see Section 5.13.11); Penalty Box violations (see Sections 5.13.9, 5.13.10, 5.13.11, and 5.13.20); and Delay of Game penalties (see Section 5.15). 8.3.7.1 - The Head Referee may designate which NSOs are empowered to call penalties, as well as which penalties said NSOs are empowered to call, and the manner in which said penalties are enforced. 8.3.7.1.2 - NSOs may only be designated to call penalties pursuant to their officiating role, to their person, or to those around them. For example, no NSO may be designated to call penalties that involve blocks or assists. 8.3.7.2 - NSOs who are empowered to call penalties in this manner are bound by the same requirements as Referees, per Section 8.3 - Officiating Discretion. |
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