A while back, I wrote a piece for RDIT called “One Whistle to Rule Them All.” The basic idea was that there should be one starting whistle for flat-track roller derby, instead of two (pack start and jammer start). The idea seemed to have some support. As the WFTDA Regional tournaments have just ended, ’tis the season for rules discussion.
In this follow up to “One Whistle to Rule Them All,” I get a little more detailed. I dug through the current WFTDA rule set and made some changes that I think would make the start of a jam go much more smoothly.
Below are my suggestions for changing the language of the WFTDA rule set for one starting whistle. There would no longer be a “Pack starting” whistle and a “Jammer starting” whistle. There would be just one “Jam start” whistle for all players.
I’ve added a few more additional tweaks to make the one whistle starts more consistent.
First, all Pivots and Blockers must be part of the pack when the Jam start whistle blows, or they are subject to illegal procedure penalties. When any jam starts, there is a defined pack. When the jammers start, they will enter a defined pack. When the blockers start, they can block and move according to the rules in a defined pack. This eliminates a lot of confusion.
Secondly, a player who is not standing when the jam start whistle blows will not be permitted to join the jam in progress. (So, if you are on a knee when the Jam start whistle blows, you have to leave the track and your team has to skate short.) My reasoning is consistency. Players who aren’t on the track when a jam starts cannot join in after the pack start whistle. For sake of consistency, I think that it makes sense to extend that to all out-of-play skaters. If you’re not in play (i.e. down or out of bounds) when the jam starts, then you can’t play in that jam.
A nice side effect, I think, is that it also eliminates certain “winning-derby-by-not-playing-derby” tactics like running away or taking a knee in order to get your jammer a free initial pass through a “no pack” loophole. Mostly, I think a jam should logically start with a defined pack and defined pack speed.
it eliminates certain “winning-derby-by-not-playing-derby” tactics
Last, if a Pivot lines up on the Pivot line, then all Pivots and Blockers have to form the pack with her. Basically, a Pivot on the Pivot line establishes the pre-jam pack. The Pivot line was established in order to give the Jammers a fair shot at a running start into a mob of eight skaters.
Flickr Photo by Mark Nockleby
I think the Pivot line is the place where Pivots ought to line up. I think Pivots ought to have some say in establishing the pack, since the rules say “Pivots line up at the front of the pack” and Pivots can be penalized for pack destruction if there’s no other obvious single culprit. You could still have starts with all blockers lined up on the Jammer line, but only if both teams are down for that.
My purpose is to make the start of a jam more consistent. When a jam starts, the jam starts. You have a pack. You have jammers. Everyone is in play and everyone is playing. There is still room for tactics and strategies that establish pack domination, but you eliminate a lot of unnecessary confusion.
When a jam starts, the jam starts. You have a pack. You have jammers. Everyone is in play and everyone is playing.
In the spirit of “give me solutions, not complaints,” here’s my idea for some specific changes to the language of the current WFTDA rule set. I’ve done my best to comb through to find places where my revisions conflict with current language and repair that damage, but I’m sure I’ve missed some things. I’ve also not combed through the mad plethora of “clarifications” to the current rule set. (Sorry, but those things tend to confuse the bejesus out of me, and make my internal logic-monitor malfunction.) So, if I’ve missed something, please forgive me and be kind. I’m all ears.
2.4.4 – If all skaters are not on the track and ready to start the next jam after the allotted time, the jam will start without the missing skater(s) and the team will skate short for that jam. If skaters are not in position when the jam start whistle blows, they will be subject to false start penalties (see Section 6.13.5 and Section 6.13.16).
2.4.4.1 – Jammers are considered in position and ready if they are in bounds when the jam start whistle blows. Jammers are subject to false start penalties if they are not on or behind the Jammer line when the jam start whistle blows (see Section 6.13.5 for specific penalty details). Jammers are permitted to put on their helmet covers after the jam has started. However, each Jammer must have her helmet cover in hand before the jam start whistle. A helmet cover cannot enter a jam in progress.
2.4.4.1.1 – A Jammer who is not on the track when the jam start whistle blows will not be permitted to join the jam in progress. No penalty will be issued.
2.4.4.2 – A Pivot or Blocker is considered in position and ready if she is on the track, in bounds, standing or skating into her position, between the Jammer and Pivot lines, and part of the pack when the jam start whistle blows. She is subject to false start penalties if she is not between the Jammer and Pivot lines, or not part of the pack when the jam start whistle blows. Pivots are permitted to put on their helmet covers after the jam has started. However, each Pivot must have her helmet cover in hand before the jam start whistle. A helmet cover cannot enter a jam in progress.
2.4.4.2.1 – A Pivot or Blocker who is not on the track, in bounds, and standing or skating when the jam start whistle blows will not be permitted to join the jam in progress. No penalty will be issued.
Jam Start: One long
[DELETE] Jam Start—Pack start: One long
[DELETE] Jam Start—Jammer start: Two rapid
4.2.1 – Prior to the start of a jam, all skaters must be in position with the Blockers lined up between the Jammer and Pivot lines and Jammers lined up on or behind the Jammer line. The Pivot line is a straight line across the track at the head of the straightaway. The Jammer line is exactly 30 feet behind the Pivot line.
4.2.2 – Pivot Starting Position: Only the Pivots may line up on the Pivot line.
4.2.2.1 – If a team’s Pivot lines up on the Pivot line, then all Pivots and Blockers must form a pack with her. A Pivot or Blocker is subject to false start penalties if she is not part of the pack established by the Pivot who is lined up on the Pivot line when the jam start whistle blows.
4.2.3 – Non-Pivot Blocker Starting Positions: Blockers line up behind the Pivots as demarked by the hips. If a Pivot is not on the Pivot line, Non-Pivot Blockers are not required to line up behind her.
4.2.4 – Jammer Starting Position: Jammers line up on or behind the Jammer line.
4.2.5 – No rules govern inside/outside positioning. Blockers may line up in any order behind the Pivots.
4.4.1 – All skaters begin rolling on a single whistle blast from the Official to start the jam. This is the jam starting whistle.
4.4.2 – Jammers may not be accelerating when the jam start whistle blows. They are, however, permitted to be moving, coasting or braking.
Section 6.13 – Illegal Procedures
6.13.1 – A Blocker who is on the track, in bounds, standing or skating into her position, between the Jammer and Pivot lines, and part of the pack when the jam start whistle blows.
6.13.5.2 – A Non-Pivot Blocker false starts for being out of position at the pack starting whistle when she:
6.13.5.2.1 – is touching on or beyond the Pivot line.
6.13.5.2.2 – is touching behind the Jammer line.
6.13.5.2.3 – lines up in front of a Pivot Blocker who is on the Pivot line.
6.13.5.2.4 – is not part of the pack established by the Pivot who is lined up on the Pivot line when the jam start whistle blows.
6.13.5.3 – A Pivot Blocker false starts for being out of position when the jam starting whistle blows when she:
6.13.5.3.1 – is touching beyond the Pivot line.
6.13.5.3.2 – is touching behind the Jammer line.
6.13.5.3.3 – is not part of the pack established by the Pivot who is lined up on the Pivot line when the jam start whistle blows.
In Position – When a skater is on the track, in the designated area for their position, when the jam start whistle blows. Blockers are in position when they are on the track, in bounds, standing or skating into their position, between the Jammer and Pivot lines, and part of the pack when the jam start whistle blows. Jammers are in position when they are on the track behind the Jammer line when the jam start whistle blows.