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Roller Derby History - The Rules
National Roller Derby Rules
1951
The Game
Each night's racing shall consist of two halves of four 15-minute periods each.
The Team
A team consists of ten regular and not more than ten alternate or substitute skaters.
The boy and girl skaters will wear identical numbers and colors and will alternate in 15 minute skating periods.
The Jam
A "jam" is an effort to lap the field and score a POINT. A JAM occurs when one or more skaters breaks away from the rest of the field and tries to score. A buzzer or whistle will signify the start of a jam after the entire field of skaters is will bunched. In order to score, the skater or skaters going out on the jam must completely encircle the track, come in behind the field and pass at least one member of the opposing team. This must be done within the OFFICIAL time limit for a jam, which is TWO MINUTES.
The last five minutes of each game shall be considered as straight jamming time. In order to prevent stalling the 15-minute clock shall stop, within this period, until the field is formed and a new official jam is started.
A skater cannot be considered on a jam unless he is approximately 20 feet in front of the field.
Points are scored as follows:
- For completing a jam by lapping the field and passing one or two members of the opposing team
1 Point
- Passing three or four members of the opposing team
2 Points
- Passing all five of the opposing team
5 Points
- With one skater in the penalty box, the opposition may score 1 point by passing one skater, 2 points by passing two skaters and 5 points by passing four skaters. With two skaters in the penalty box, the opposition may score 2 points by passing one skater and five points by passing the three remaining skaters on the track.
- If a jam skater is fouled by a blocker, the jam skater will be awarded 1 point just as if he had passed the fouling skater. If he is fouled after passing two of the opposition he will receive 2 points and 5 points if fouled after passing three or four.
- A blocker may be passed for more than one point by the SAME jam skater if the jam skater laps the blocker for the second time.
A jam is concluded for any of the following reasons:
- The expiration of the 2-minute time limit on each jam.
- At the conclusion of a 15-minute racing period.
- If the leading jam skater falls.
- If the leading jam skater leaves the track with both skates.
- In the case of an official time out (permitted any time).
- By the leading jam skater placing both hands on his hips.
Penalties
- Two minute penalties are assessed for holding, illegal blocking, and minor fouls.
- A three minute penalty is assessed when, in the opinion of the officials, a defensive blocker intentionally fouls the leading jam skater in order to keep him from scoring
- A five minute penalty is assessed in cases where severe roughness and insubordination.
- Banishment is assessed when a skater makes a malicious attack on a referee or another skater, or, at the discretion of the referees, for any extreme cases of unsportsmanlike conduct.
- A skater accumulating 12 or more minutes in penalty time in one game is automatically ruled out of the game. His substitute must serve out the time of the last penalty.
- If a penalized skater does not leave the track immediately or interferes with the remainder of the field, he will receive an additional two minutes in the penalty box.
Blocking
A player may block an opponent with any part of his body, except as follows:
It is illegal to use any part of the arm below the elbow or to block with the feet or trip an opponent. In using elbows, the arm must be bent. In blocking, the elbow must not touch the opponent above the shoulders, nor is the use of the elbow permitted with an upward or downward movement.
Overtime
There can be no tie games. If at the end of the eighth period the score is tied, the game will go into overtime, as follows:
The girls and boys will alternate five minute skating periods until a point is scored. The team scoring the first point will be declared the winner. In the overtime, the 2-minute time limit will be in effect on all jams.
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