Game Play

POSITIONS & PLAY

Pivot: Skater with a striped helmet cover. This little lady sets the pace of the pack and is often called the "last line of defense". The brains of the operation!
Blocker: You won't catch her with a helmet cover, but she can and will knock down whomever she can to make sure her jammer gets through the pack first. Beauty and brawn all in one tight package!
Jammer: The star of the show if you will. This skater has a star helmet cover and scores all the points for her team. She's quick and agile, and covets that lead jam status.

WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE?

Five players from each team move onto the track (1 pivot, 3 blockers and 1 jammer). One whistle blows to start the pack. As the pack moves 20 feet ahead two short whistles will blow and the jammers take off. Each jammer tries to race through the pack first to attain lead jam status. If it is attained, you will hear two short whistle blows and the jam ref will point to the lead jammer. After the jammer makes her way around the track and back to the pack, she starts to accrue points for every opposing blocker she passes legally. Pivots and blockers from the opposing team try to hold her back or knock her down, while her team tries their best to make holes for her to slip through. If she is lead jammer, she can call off the jam at any time that she feels is most strategic. When the jam ends, the refs will blow 4 short whistles.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

What is lead jammer?

No, it ain't a metal band, but it's just as cool! A jammer is awarded lead jammer status when she passes each player in the pack legally on her first pass. Lead jammer status gives her the right to call of the jam at any time, which is exactly the kind of power she wants. Lead jammer can ONLY be attained in the first pass and is a highly coveted position.

But I saw her step out of bounds and foul a player...how did she get lead?

If the jammer makes a bad pass (i.e. steps out of bounds while trying to pass a player or fouls a player) she can stay in the pack to RE-PASS those players legally. If she does this, she is again eligible for lead jammer. This also holds true for point scoring. So if you see a jammer fall behind a girl she has already passed, she's just being smart and trying to re-pass her to be eligible for lead jam or to re-attempt a point! SMART JAMMER!
NOTE: If a jammer steps out of bounds (for any reason: blocked or accidentally) BEFORE she reaches the pack on her initial pass, she is ineligible to be lead for that entire jam.

What happens if no one gets lead jammer?

Then the pack is in for a work out and so is the jammer! If both jammers make unclean passes in their first attempts through the pack, then no lead jammer is established. The jam will continue for the full 2-minutes and no one will be able to call it off. BUMMER...

How does a jammer get points?

Jammers begin to accrue points on their second pass through the pack. They receive one point for every opposing player they pass. They also receive points for any players in the penalty box, but only after they have cleared the pack. On the flip side, jammers will not be awarded points if they foul the opposing player they are passing or if either of their skates steps out of bounds while passing that opposing player. REMEMBER...jammers may re-pass players to get points.

If a jammer can get only 4 points, why did I see the ref put up a high-five?

If a jammer LAPS the opposing jammer, she is awarded an extra point! Plus, the added bonus of the adoration and praise of her team and fans! This is called a GRAND SLAM!

What the heck is 20ft. and why is it so important?

Oh 20ft. How I love thee....
Well, the 20ft. rule is something that is either loved or loathed. So let's start with the basics...

The term "pack" refers to the largest group of pivots and blockers, skating in proximity, containing members from both teams. To be in play, all players must be within 20 feet of the pack. If a player is out of play, they can NOT engage any opposing player or assist any of their players.
Quick Note: Don't be confused if a ref calls split pack instead of 20FT. This happens when two sets of skaters, equal in number and with players from each team become split from one another and are skating like two individual packs. Skaters will be warned to slow down or speed up to pull the pack back together, and no one can engage another player until a solid pack is redefined.

20FT gets tricky when a team is using it strategically.
Since a player can be within 19 feet of the pack and still be technically part of the pack, teams may use the 20ft rule to their advantage by extending their blocking coverage by almost 30 ft from where a pack looks to be. For example, if a blue jammer gets through a pack, a red blocker merely has to move up 19 feet, while another red player extends another 10 ft to try and either block or slow down the red jammer. Sounds complicated but once you see it, you will recognize the strategy and think to yourself..."that's a smart move!"

Why are there only three members of my favorite team on the track?

Check the penalty box. If players accrue four minor penalties they are sent to the box for one minute and their team has to skate short their position. Everyone is eligible for penalties, including the jammer. If a player gets one major penalty, they are sent to the box for one minute. To those of you who have been with us from the beginning, four minors no longer equal a major.

That player got 4 penalties and was sent to the box, but they waved her back on the track...what's up with that?

If a player gets to the box and there are 2 people already sitting there, they will have to skate back on the track until an empty seat has been made. If one of the players has 10 seconds or less to serve, then all three can stay in the penalty box. There can only be two players from the same team in the penalty box at a time.

What is a legal block?

Any player may engage an opposing player's shoulder to upper thigh, chest or upper torso. The player can initiate contact with their arm from shoulder to elbow (NOT INCLUDING THEIR ELBOW), the torso and their hips and booty!