Foul Play These illegal actions could result in penalties and send a skater to the penalty box.
• Illegal Blocking: Skaters may not hit the back of an opponent’s body or anywhere above the shoulders or below the mid-thigh. • No Elbow Throwing: When engaging another player, elbows cannot be swung in a forward/backward or upward/downward motion, and elbows cannot be used to jab or hook an opposing skater. • Holding/Pushing: The forearms or hands may never be used to grab, hold or push an opponent. • Head Butting: The head may not be used to block an opponent. • Out of Bounds: Skaters can only initiate or pick up momentum for a block while in bounds, and an initiating blocker cannot cross the track boundary after forcing an opponent out of bounds. • Jumping: Skaters may not initiate contact with both skates off of the ground. • Outta Here: Intentional tripping; fighting; slide tackling; pulling the head, neck or helmet; and intentional, negligent or reckless contact above the shoulders are among the actions that result in immediate explusion.
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High Country Magazine
July 2011
Roller derby is a full-contact sport, but there are standards for hitting and blocking with the skaters’ safety in mind. Several referees skate alongside the track to make sure skaters are playing by the rules.