Rules
So you wanna know the rules and want to know how to play Roller Derby? You came to the right place. If you think rules were made to be broken, think again, if you don’t obey these rules, the only thing broken will be you!
OK, so lets keep it simple.
There are only two teams at a time allowed on the track. More than two is not allowed and less than two is just pointless.
Each team on the track is made up of 5 players. These are:
One Pivot
Three Blockers
One Jammer
How do we tell these apart? Well, The Pivot wears a helmet cover with a stripe on it. The Jammer has a helmet cover with a large star on each side. The Blockers have no helmet covers on.
Now that we can tell them apart you are probably thinking “what do they do?”
The Pivot
This cheeky player skates at the front of the pack and controls the speed of the pack while also being a line of defense against the other team’s Jammer.
The Blockers
Don’t mess with the blockers, they have the awesome job of stopping the opposing team’s Jammer getting through the pack and getting those highly desired points. One of the blockers will work alongside the Pivot to help their team’s Jammer through the pack while keeping the other Jammer from getting past. They can also move the other teams blockers out of the way.
The Jammer
This is the person who gets the points. This person starts 20 feet behind the rest of the pack at a standing start. To begin getting points they need to lap the pack once and then the scoring can begin. They will then get a point for each person of the opposite team that they passes legally.
What’s it all About?
Each game or “bout” lasts 60 minutes. This can be played in three 20 minute periods or two 30 minute periods. Each period has an unlimited number of jams each one lasting a maximum of two minutes.
After each jam, the teams have up to 30 seconds to get lined up for the next jam. If one of the team is not on the track then the team must skate on anyway.
Whistles
One long whistle is the signal that the jam has started and you had better get skating
Two short whistles lets the Jammers know that they can get going.
Four whistle blasts signal the end of the jam due to time having elapsed or the lead jammer calling off the jam.
Who is the lead Jammer?
The lead jammer is the first jammer to get through the pack without passing any opposing blocker while out of bounds or committing a penalty on any opposing blocker while passing them.
The lead jammer has the power to call off the jam anytime they want after lead jammer status has been earned. Referees will signify lead jammer status with one short whistle blast and by pointing to the jammer.
What you are not allowed to do:
Grabbing or use of your hands
Blocking with your forearms
Tripping, kicking, or blocking with your feet/legs
Pushing, shoving, punching or holding
Swinging or jabbing your elbows
Blocking with your head
Blocking a jammer while twenty feet ahead or behind the pack
Hitting others from behind
You can find the official WFTDA rules on their site here: WFTDA Rules
This summary is credited to roller-derbyuk.co.uk, click here to view it on their webpage.