Contact Zones Explained

To the untrained eye, roller derby looks like a bunch of people on skates slamming into each other whenever and wherever they want. Fortunately, there are rules to govern what parts of the body ("blocker zones") a skater can use to make contact with opposing players, and what parts of the opposing player ("target zones") can be legally hit. Unfortunately, many newer skaters (and even some veteran ones) don't take the time to learn these contact zones, and end up spending more time watching the game from the penalty box than they do on the track actually playing.

Rules about legal/illegal blocking and target zones fall under Section 5.2 CONTACT ZONES and Section 5.3 BLOCKING ZONE DIAGRAMS. Rules about illegal contact penalties fall under Section 6 PENALTIES.

Blocking Zones in a Nutshell: You can block an opponent using any part of your body from your shoulder to mid-thigh, except for your elbows, forearms, and hands.

Target zones in a nutshell: You can block an opposing player anywhere between their shoulders and mid-thigh on their front or side, but you cannot block any part of an opposing player's back. EDIT: You actually can make contact with part of the target's back, in a slim area where the target's sides turn into the target's back (as shown in the image below). But be careful when making contact with this area; there's a pretty thin line between a legal block and an illegal back block. Thanks to Davie Darko for catching this!

Images from WFTDA: http://wftda.com/rules/20100526/section/5.

Lining up on the Track + Pivot Description

This past weekend we had our newer skaters practice scrimmage scenarios, and the first question, as expected, was "Where do I line up?". This is a complex question, considering the gamut of strategies spans from trying to be the first ones racing off the pivot line to fighting to have your team form a solid wall right in front of the jammer line. So this video is just a starting point, describing where you can legally line up at the start of the jam. And as a bonus I also explain the difference between a pivot and a regular blocker (spoiler alert: she gets more accessories!).

Rules about lining up on the track fall under Section 4.2 PRE-JAM POSITIONING. Rules about the pivot fall under Section 3.2 PIVOT BLOCKER.

Lining up in a nutshell: Pivots and blockers start in between the pivot and jammer lines. Pivots are the only players that can line up on the pivot line. If a pivot is lined up on the pivot line, blockers from both teams must line up behind the pivot's hips. Jammers line up on or behind the jammer line.

Pivots in a nutshell: Pivots wear a striped helmet cover. Jammers can only pass their star cover to their pivot. Pivots are the only players allowed to line up on the pivot line.

Entering the Penalty Box

The rules discussed about entering the penalty box in the video fall under section 7.3 PENALTY ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.

Entering the box in a nutshell: Leave the track immediately, skate counter-clockwise outside the track to the penalty box (and don't pass the point of no return!), and sit in your designated seat.

Intro-tastic!

I was introduced to roller derby in 2008, and we've been in a loving, (mostly) healthy relationship ever since. I was an active skater for about 2 years, and am currently a skater tot (aka - new recruit, newbie, fresh meat) coach for the Dutchland Derby Rollers in Lancaster, PA. In my experience as a skater and a coach, the non-skating aspects of roller derby can be the hardest things to learn, especially when the rules change every few years and leagues are constantly evolving strategy and counter-strategy. So if you love derby but need some extra help figuring out what's happening on and off the track, you've come to the right place!

*Edit: I'm playing again! As of summer 2012 I'm skating with the Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars.