The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) develops and publishes the rules of Flat Track Roller Derby in Française, Español, and Deutche. Please visit the entire 2020 Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby.
This month’s topic is all about scoring, which is outlined in the WFTDA rules section 3 “Scoring.” Ok, you’re at a game and people are skating in circles and hitting each other. What’s going on? How does anyone score? You’re not the first to be confused by this. So, let’s talk about scoring. It goes without saying that scoring is one of the most important aspects of the game, as the team with the most points wins. While the concept is simple—one point for each opposing blocker—there are several nuances to scoring, a few of which are covered below.
THE BASICS
The Jammer (skater with a star panty on the helmet) is the skater that scores. In order to score, the Jammer must skate through the Pack (largest group of in-bound blockers, skating or standing in proximity). Once a Jammer has skated through the Pack (whether or not they earn lead), they are eligible to score. A Jammer scores one point every time they pass an opposing Blocker on a scoring pass. A Jammer is considered to have passed another Skater when the Jammer’s center of mass, as demarcated by their hips, moves from behind the other Skater’s center of mass to ahead of it.
A Jammer may only “earn” a pass on the opposing Blocker while the Jammer is wearing the Star on their helmet with the stars showing. The Jammer must be upright and in-bounds during the pass. A Jammer also earns a pass if an opposing Blocker skates behind the in-bounds Jammer, thereby giving up their position.
If a Jammer does not earn a pass on a Blocker, they may yield position to that opponent and re-pass them, earning the pass, as long as they have not yet exited the Engagement Zone. A Jammer may only earn one point on each opposing Blocker per scoring pass, regardless of how many times they pass the Blocker before exiting the Engagement Zone.
WHAT IF NOT ALL FOUR BLOCKERS ARE ON THE TRACK?
Teams are allowed to field up to four Blockers. However, all four Blockers are not always on the track while the Jammer is earning passes. The most common reason is that the Blocker is sent to, serving time in, or returning from the Penalty Box. A team may also be short one or more Blockers if the Team fails to field the maximum number of skaters, or if a Blocker has to leave the track due to injury or to fix equipment.
If there are less than four Blockers on the track, the opposing Jammer still has the opportunity to earn all four points; otherwise, the Jammer would be at a disadvantage through no faults of their own. As soon as a Jammer earns a pass on an opposing Blocker, they earn a pass on any opponents who are “not on the track” (NOTT).
For example, if there is one opposing Blocker in the Penalty Box and one opposing Blocker off the track fixing a safety equipment issue, the Jammer will earn three points upon passing the first opposing Blocker on the track—one point for the in-bounds Blockers, one NOTT point for the Blocker in the Penalty Box, and one NOTT point for the out-of-bounds Blocker.
WHAT IF THE JAMMER ISN’T GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS AN OPPONENT?
If a Jammer completes a trip through the Pack without the opportunity to earn a pass on an opponent, the Jammer is said to have earned a pass on that opponent. This include:
· Opponents who are ahead of the Engagement Zone when the Jammer complete their trip through the Pack by exiting the front of the Engagement Zone;
· Opponents who are ahead of the Engagement Zone at the end of the Jam when the Jammer is on a scoring trip and ahead of the rearmost Pack Blocker;
· Any NOTT point they cannot earn because they complete their trip through the Pack without the opportunity to earn a pass on any opposing Blocker (which would earn them the NOTT point);
· Opponents who are out of play behind the Pack, if the Jammer re-enters the track from the Penalty Box in front of that Blocker.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE JAMMER GOES TO THE BOX BEFORE COMPLETING A LAP?
A penalized Jammer cannot earn passes on any further opponents until they complete their penalty. Upon release from the Penalty Box, the Jammer returns to the same trip through the Pack.
For example, four Blockers are on the track, Red 1, Red 2, Red 3, and Red 4. White Jammer passes Red 2 and Red 4, then is sent to the Penalty Box. After serving the penalty, White Jammer re-enters the track and is eligible to earn points on Red 1 and Red 3. The points are awarded after the Jammer exits the Engagement Zone or at the end of the Jam.
If the Jam ends before White Jammer is released, White Jammer is awarded two points from passing Red 2 and Red 4 before going to the Box.
WHY DOESN’T A JAMMER GET A POINT FOR LAPPING THE OTHER JAMMER?
Perhaps you remember a time when a Jammer could earn five points during a Jam (called a “Grand Slam”): one for each of the four Blockers and one Jammer Lap Point. Scoring lap points was complicated, inconsistent, and difficult to track. As such, at the end of 2018, WFTDA removed the lap point. Now, the maximum points in a Jam is four, one for each Blocker.
By Ruth Slayed-Her Ginsberg