Flat track roller derby basics
The women with stars on their helmets are the jammers. A jammer’s job is score points by passing opposing players—even if those players are in the penalty box.
Jammers must get through the pack of blockers once before they can begin scoring on their second and subsequent passes. The first jammer to get through the pack without penalty earns lead jammer status. The lead jammer can call off the jam anytime (by repeatedly putting her hands to her hips), particularly if the opposing jammer is just about to enter the pack and start scoring. If there is no lead jammer, the jam will run for the full two minutes.
Not sure who’s the lead jammer? Each jammer has a referee watching her. The lead jammer’s ref will be pointing at her with one arm in the air. The other jammer’s ref will be making a “not you” motion with her arms.
The pack is made up of blockers, whose job is to block the opposing jammer and facilitate the passage of their own—playing offence and defence at the same time is no easy task. Blockers can hit jammers and other blockers in the chest and along their sides between shoulders and knees. Hitting someone’s back or face, or using an elbow are illegal. Minor and major penalties are called for back blocking, tripping, cutting the track, etc. Players keep skating while they rack up minors, but are sent immediately to the “sin bin” for majors or when they reach four minors.
The blockers with the stripe on their helmets are called pivots. The pivot’s job is to set the pace of the pack—and occasionally become the jammer if the star is passed to her during play. Often there is a terminator playing at the back of the pack. There’s no helmet cover to distinguish her, but you’ll recognize her big hits as she terminates the opposing jammer.
A player knocked or pushed out of bounds must come back into play behind the woman who knocked her out. If you see a player hovering behind the pack, she’s likely trying to keep someone out of bounds for as long as possible.
Check out Hammer City’s video explanation.
