Glossary
- Assist: Helping a teammate by providing support, such as pushing or pulling them to help them gain speed or avoid blockers.
- Blocker: The main defensive component of a team. In a given Jam, there are 3 Blockers, 1 Jammer, and 1 Pivot who acts as a Blocker until a Star Pass occurs.
- Blocking Zones: Specific areas on a skater's body that are legal for blocking. These typically include the torso, hips, and upper legs.
- Cutting: An illegal action that consists of failing to, after going out-of-bounds, enter play behind other players.
- Derby Name: A pseudonym assumed by players that is often playful, antagonistic, or punny reference to the player's style
- Expulsion: The removal of a skater from the game due to severe rule violations or dangerous behavior.
- False Start: An illegal action that consists of failing to yield to a warning about the being out of position by a referee.
- Forearm: An illegal action that consists of making contact with a player using the hands or forearms.
- High Block: An illegal action that consists of making contact with a player's shoulders or above.
- Jam: A period of play in roller derby, usually lasting up to two minutes, where teams attempt to score points.
- Jammer: The skater responsible for scoring points by passing opposing blockers.
- Lead Jammer: The first Jammer to legally pass all opposing blockers and gain the ability to call off the jam.
- Low Block: An illegal action that consists of making contact with a player's lower legs, feet, or knees to block.
- Multiplayer: An illegal action that consists of blockers holding onto one another to act as a single obstacle for a Jammer to get through.
- Pivot: A skater who can take over the role of jammer if the Jammer passes them the star helmet cover.
- Pack: The largest group of blockers from both teams skating together on the track.
- Penalty Box: The area where skaters serve time for rule violations.
- Recycling/Runback/Running the Jammer Back: After a Jammer is knocked out of bounds, Jammers must re-enter play behind blockers. Blockers can strategically adjust their position to maximize the work that Jammers have to do to catch up.
- Star Pass: The act of the Jammer passing the star helmet cover to the pivot, allowing the pivot to become the Jammer.
- Track Cut: A penalty given when a skater re-enters the track in front of other skaters after having gone out of bounds.
- Whistle: Used by referees to signal the start and end of jams, as well as penalties.