Game Overview - Glossary of Terms

Coin Toss: Process of flipping a coin before play begins. Visiting team calls "heads" or "tails". Winner of the toss picks which side of the court they will use until the SIDE SWAP.

Dead Ball: status of a ball that cannot send a skater OUT. A Ball is dead the moment after it hits a skater. It is dead if it hits the floor, ceiling or other fixture. It is dead if it touches a spectator. It is dead if it touches another ball in flight.

Dodger: A Skater playing this position is allowed to throw and catch during the ROUND. When a Dodger is OUT they must move to the OUTFIELD for the rest of the ROUND.

Fall: When a DODGER touches the floor with any part of their body or uniform other than their skates. Usually results in the skater going OUT (see OUT OF PLAY for exception).

Friendly Game: A game played amongst friends who are just starting out and learning the rules. Some of the details like enforcing penalties can be ignored until skaters are ready for some serious competition.

Good Catch: Catching a ball does not send the throwing skater OUT. However, if a skater has TAKEN A KNEE as a result of a penalty, they can stand and begin skating again if they execute a good catch. The ball must have been thrown by an opponent dodger, still in play, and the ball cannot have hit another skater, floor, ceiling or object before it was caught.

Out of Play: A DODGER that is OUT but has not yet left the BASE or WING. The skater does not become a FIELDER until both skates are in the outfield. Out of Play skaters cannot do anything. They may not throw or catch. They must drop any balls they are holding and may not carry them to the Outfield. If they FALL there is no additional consequences because they are already OUT.

Round: That period of the game when skaters can skate, catch and throw. Usually one team or the other will gain one point at the end of the Round when enough opponents are OUT. It is possible but unlikely that both teams will receive one point each at the end of a given Round.

Self-Takeout: Action whereby a skater removes himself from the game due to injury, illness or equipment failure. The Referee should signal a Time out and restart the next ROUND minus the one skater. It is possible for the skater to return to the game provided they join as a BASE DODGER after sitting out at least one Round.

Side Swap: the action when the two teams trade sides of the court. This occurs between ROUNDs once either team reaches five points. Similar to football teams switching goals at halftime.

Slam: Scoring two points during a Round by sending opponent DODGERS OUT while keeping all teammate DODGERS In Play.

Take a Knee: Position that a skater must assume for minor penalties. Makes it difficult for them to avoid be hit by later throws. A skater can stand if they execute a GOOD CATCH.

Track: That part of the court that includes the home base and wing sections. Original dimensions derived from a roller derby track.

Wing Dodger: One of the DODGERs given the special privilege of skating in both their BASE and WING zones. WING DODGERS wear a helmet cover to distinguish them from the other DODGERS on their team.

Zones: The various areas of the court where different skater positions may or may not be allowed to skate during the ROUND. Skater may skate outside their normal restricted zones during the rotation phase.