to download our Press Kit! - The Windy City Rollers

WHO’S WHO
• The 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 Jammer status.
• The Pivot: Skater with a striped helmet cover. This skater sets the pace of the
pack and is often called the “last line of defense.” The brains of the operation!
• The 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.
WHAT’S WHAT
Scoring is quick and the hits are crushing, so try not to blink! Five players from
each team line up on the track: one Jammer (star cap), one Pivot (stripe cap)
and three Blockers (no cap). One whistle blows to start the Blockers and Pivots
(a.k.a. the “Pack”) and the Jammers. The first Jammer to make it through the
Pack is named Lead Jammer, which gives her the right to end the play (or “Jam”)
at any time. On the next pass, both Jammers start scoring points for each player
on the opposing team they pass. Pivots and Blockers from the opposing team try
to hold her back or knock her down, while her own team tries its best to make
holes for her to slip through. It’s offense and defense at the same time.
WHAT’S GOING ON?
One Pivot, three Blockers, and one Jammer (the point scorer) from each
team enter the track. One whistle is blown and the pack (made up of the Blockers
and Pivots) and Jammers are released. Each Jammer tries to race through
the pack first to attain Lead Jammer status, as indicated by their Jammer
Referee. You can tell who is Lead Jammer because the Jammer Referee will be
pointing at them. The Lead Jammer may end the jam at any time by putting her
hands on her hips. When a Jammer makes her way around the track and back
to the pack, she is eligible to score. She can earn one point for every opposing
skater she legally passes. Blockers try to stop the opposing team’s Jammer while
also making holes for their own Jammer to slip through. A jam is the period
of play, and it can last up to two minutes in duration. A jam continues until either
the Lead Jammer calls it off or the two minutes expires. A series of four whistle
blasts lets you know the jam is over.
DERBY 101
WHAT IS LEAD JAMMER?
The first Jammer that passes each opposing player in the pack legally on
her initial pass receives Lead Jammer status. This gives her the right to call off
the jam at any time.
If a Jammer passes a skater illegally on her initial pass, she may attempt
to re-pass legally. If she does so, she remains eligible for Lead Jammer status.
If a Jammer steps out of bounds for any reason before she reaches the
Engagement Zone, which is within 20 feet from the last skater in the pack, she
ineligible to be Lead Jammer for the duration of that jam.
WHAT HAPPENS IF NO ONE GETS LEAD JAMMER?
If both Jammers make unclean passes in their first attempts through
the pack, no Lead Jammer is declared. The jam will continue for the full
two minutes.
HOW DOES A JAMMER GET POINTS?
A Jammer earns one point for every opposing player passed legally on her
second pass through the pack, and every pass thereafter. A Jammer receives
points for opposing skaters in the penalty box as soon as she legally passes the
first opposing Blocker. A Jammer receives an additional point when she laps
the opposing Jammer.
WHAT THE HECK IS THE ENGAGEMENT ZONE?
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
The term “pack” refers to the largest group of Pivots and Blockers, skating in
proximity, containing members from both teams. The Engagement Zone is 20 feet
from the nearest pack member. A skater must be in the Engagement Zone in
order to block or assist. Engaging and/or being outside of the Engagement Zone
results in Out of Play penalties.
If there is no pack then no skater can engage or assist another player. There are
Out of Play penalties for destroying the pack as well as failing to reform the pack
once it is destroyed.
PENALTIES! AND THE BOX.
Upon committing a penalty, the player must serve one minute in the penalty
box. Both the skater and her position are penalized. For example, if she were the
Jammer, the team would have no Jammer for one minute. Skaters reentering the
pack from the penalty box must enter at the back of the pack.
Only two Blockers from each team and one Jammer from either team are allowed
in the box at one time. If there are already two Blockers from a team in the box
when a third is sent, that third Blocker will be waived back onto the track and
must wait to server her penalty.
If one Jammer is in the box and another Jammer gets sent to the box, the first
Jammer is released and the second Jammer serves the same amount of time that
the first Jammer served.
WHAT IS A LEGAL BLOCK?
Any player may engage an opposing player’s shoulder to upper thigh, chest and
upper torso. The player can initiate contact with her booty, hips, torso, and arm
from her shoulder to above, but not including, the elbow.
For a full set of rules, visit WFTDA.com.
WFTDA MEMBER LEAGUES
Women’s Flat Track Derby Association includes more than 130 leagues that
compete on a national and international scale. WFTDA is divided into four
game play regions: East, West, North Central, and South Central. Every fall, each
region holds a Playoff tournament involving the top 10 teams from that
region, with the three winners of the tournament advancing to the WFTDA
Championship tournament.
For a current list of WFTDA leagues and tournaments, please visit WFTDA.com.
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