The Game: A brief overview
Objective: Teams score points when their jammer laps opposing players after getting through the Pack.
Players: Five skaters per team are on the track at a time: One jammer and four blockers
Scoring: Points are scored by the jammer for each opposing blocker they legally pass after their initial, non-scoring pass through the pack. One point is earned per blocker lapped.
Penalties: When a player received a penalty, they are sent to the penalty box for a short time (typically 30 seconds of jam time). Learn more about penalties
Basic/Intro Terminology
Jam – a two-minute play where jammers can score points; a game (aka bout) consists of multiple jams
Power Jam – a scoring advantage when the opposing team’s jammer gets a penalty and goes to the penalty box, leaving the other team’s jammer as the only jammer on the track, allowing them to score points without the opposition/interference of the other jammer on the track
Jammer – the point-scorer, wears a star on their helmet and tries to get through the pack to score points
Lead Jammer – the first jammer to legally pass all opposing blockers on the first pass through the pack. This jammer earns the ability to “call” the jam off before the two minutes is up by tapping their hips with both hands until acknowledged by a skating official
Blocker – defends their jammer and tries to stop/block opposing jammer; there are four per team
Pivot – a blocker who wears a stripe on their helmet and can become the jammer by completing a Star Pass – where the jammer passes the star helmet cover to the pivot and the pivot becomes the jammer
Pack – the main group of blockers from both teams skating together
Bout – an entire game, usually split into two 30-minute halves
Scrimmage – a practice-focused game designed for learning and skill development, often less formal than official bouts
SO – Skating Official – a trained, on-skates official in striped attire who enforces the rules of gameplay
NSO – Non-Skating Official – an off-skates volunteer position such as jam timer, scorekeeper, penalty tracker, and more who manage administrative aspects of gameplay, ensuring fair play alongside the skating officials