What are the Rules?

Some rules directly affect whether the jammers earn points. In most leagues, jammers:

• Must be in bounds when they pass opponents to receive points
• Can pass their responsibilities to their pivot by handing off their helmet covering, although pivots do not gain the ability to call the jam.
• Do not receive a point if they foul the player they are passing or pass a player who is on the way to the penalty box.
• Do not receive additional points if they fall to the back of the pack and pass the same players again.
• Receive additional points for lapping opposing jammers.
• Receive a point for each opposing player in the penalty box if they pass all the other opponents in bounds.

Other rules govern all players’ conduct during the bout. Blocking is legal (and encouraged), but players cannot grab, pull or trip one another. They also can’t block from behind, “clothes-line” opponents or prevent out-of-bounds opponents from getting back on the track. Although players can use their arms and elbows to block, they can’t use their elbows above the shoulder or block with completely extended arms.

Breaking any of these rules can lead to time in the penalty box. Players spend thirty to sixty seconds in the penalty box for minor infractions. This may not sound like much time, but a minute can be more than half of a jam.

Major penalties can lead to expulsion from the game .

In spite of rules that govern skating and blocking, players can — and sometimes do — get hurt. Next, we’ll look at roller derby safety and injuries.

Roller derby bouts involve fast skating and lots of blocking, so it’s not surprising that players can get hurt. A lot of players wear their injuries with pride, and several leagues have photo albums documenting injuries on their web pages. These albums usually feature pictures of large bruises and “fishnet burn” — a stippled effect that comes from falling while wearing fishnet hose. But among the bumps, bruises and scrapes are pictures and X-rays of severe sprains, broken bones and dislocated joints.

A lot of skaters return to the derby as soon as possible after recovering from an injury.

Players protect themselves first with proper skating technique. They fall deliberately during practice to rehearse how to fall correctly and recover quickly, reducing the chance of becoming a hazard to other skaters. Eventually, falling safely becomes second nature.

Photo courtesy Frank Mullen / The Atlanta Rollergirls Players must wear a helmet, elbow pads, wrist guards and knee pads. They must also use a mouth guard.

Players also wear safety gear. In most leagues, helmets, mouth guards, wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads are required during practice and competition. Other padding, like hip and tailbone pads, is optional.

Article courtesy of “howstuffworks.com”

Video courtesy of the Gem City Rollergirls