To download the official WFTDA rules (PDF format) click here.

The Objective: For a team's Jammer to pass as many opposing team's players as possible. One point is scored for each opposing team member they pass during a jam.

The Basics:
Games between two roller derby teams are called "bouts." There can only be five girls per team on the track at a time. There are three positions: Pivot, Blocker, and Jammer.

The Pivot - leads the pack and is the last line of defense. The pivot controls the speed of the pack.
The Jammer - attempts to break through pack and score points for team by passing opposing teams players.
The Blockers - prevent Jammer from passing by providing a physical barrier or knocking them out of bounds.

The Pivot position has a stripe on her helmet, The Jammer has a star and the Blockers are solid colored. For each play there will be one Pivot, one Jammer and three Blockers for each team.

Jams are two minutes long maximum. There are as many jams within a period as time allows with 30 seconds in-between jams for the pack to reassemble. Periods are 20 minutes long. There are three periods in a bout.

The Start of the jam:
When the whistle blows the two teams start out in a pack with the Jammers waiting until the second whistle is blown. When the second whistle is blown the Jammers try to break through the pack in an attempt at being the "lead Jammer." The first Jammer to pass the opposing team's Pivot in bounds is considered the lead Jammer and can call off the jam at her discretion. If there is no lead Jammer then the Jammers must skate the entire two minutes trying to score as many points as possible.

No points are awarded with the first break through the pack; points begin accumulating once a Jammer has lapped the pack.

Concluding a jam:
A whistle is blown four times to signal the end of a jam for any of the following reasons:
- The maximum two minutes is expired
- The period time has expired
- The lead Jammers calls off the jam (she signals by placing both hands on her hips)
- An emergency/injury is called
- An official timeout is called by the Referees

Penalties:
Activities that result in a skater being sent to penalty box are:
- holding
- illegal blocking
- tripping
- illegal use of hands
- deliberately falling as a method to block
- grabbing a skater from the ground
- fouling a skater who is down
- intentional cutting of track
- insubordination to referee
- fighting
- other minor penalties are called at the discretion of officials