Lesson #21: Illegal positioning and illegal procedure penalties =============================================================== *by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil* `Watch this lesson `_ Last updated: June 11, 2018 4.2.1 - Illegal positioning --------------------------- - Illegal positioning penalties are for… - Adopting or maintaining a position in which one cannot be blocked (down, out of bounds, or out of play) - Destroying the pack - Starting the jam in an illegal starting position for their role. - It is legal to gain an illegal position for reasons of safety. - It is legal to maintain an illegal position because of the perception that re-entering would constitute an illegal act - Types of illegal positioning penalties and their verbal cues. - “Illegal position” (the basic cue) - Starting the jam in a completely illegal starting position - Exception: being blocked into an illegal position by an early hit - Assuming a downed position to deter an incoming block - “Destruction” - A sudden, marked, or abrupt action that destroys the pack for a reason other than normal gameplay. - Some examples of normal gameplay - Passing the star - Initiating or continuing a block - Returning to the track, engagement zone, and/or an upright position - Receiving a block - Accidentally falling down or out of bounds - At jam start, all of a team’s skaters immediately and rapidly skate (in either direction) until the pack is destroyed - Clockwise movement is held to a higher standard than counterclockwise movement. It does not have to be sudden, marked, or abrupt. - Pack destructions without impact are not penalized (“No pa--pack!”) - (rare) Both teams can destroy the pack at the same time. One penalty should be issued to the most responsible skater on each team. - Jammers can never receive a destruction penalty. - “Skating out of bounds” - Exiting the track without a legal reason or the belief one has a legal reason - Some legal reasons (there are many more than this) - Going out of bounds as a result a missed block or receiving a block - Exiting the track during the jam call-off whistles - Exiting the track to retrieve an out-of-bounds helmet cover - Exiting the track following a failed apex jump - Falling out of bounds by accident - Maintaining or increasing speed while out of bounds - Exception: accelerating to re-enter the track - Exception: accelerating to reach the penalty box - “Failure to reform” - After a warning, failing to act to reform the pack - Penalty goes to the most responsible skater per team. - See lesson 25 (“No pack situations”) - “Failure to return” - After a warning, failing to return to the engagement zone - Penalty goes to all offending skaters - Standing in place is considered returning so long as the pack is approaching the skater. - An out of play (front) blocker must skate clockwise if the pack is stopped or moving clockwise. - This is the only situation in the entire game when a skater must skate clockwise. - “Failure to yield” - After a warning, failing to yield after starting the jam while touching a illegal starting area for one’s role (ex; jammer touching past the jammer line) - (rare) A warning is not necessary to issue a “failure to ____” penalty if the skater cannot reasonably believe they are legally positioned and/or cannot return to a legal position. - Example: a skater returns from the penalty box across the track from the engagement zone. Instead of returning to the engagement zone, the skater then engages a jammer. 4.2.4 - Other illegal procedures -------------------------------- - Technical infractions with significant impact, if not necessarily conferring an advantage to a specific team or skater - When possible technical infractions should be resolved before they impact the game - Types of illegal procedures and their verbal cues. - “Illegal procedure” - Removing safety gear other than a mouthguard while in the penalty box - Leaving the penalty box before one’s time is expired - Exception: when permitted to leave by an official - Improper use of safety gear, skates, uniform, or jewelry - Illegally controlling a helmet cover - Careless actions (ex; throwing a water bottle to another skater) that threaten the safety of an official, but do not forcibly contact them. - A captain or alternate successfully requesting a timeout or official review while not wearing the C or A - “Star pass violation” - Illegally passing the star - “Pass interference” - Preventing a star pass via an illegal action - Verbal cues - “Illegal procedure”, or - “Star pass violation” - “Pass interference”