Lesson #22: Cutting the track and altering game flow penalties

by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil

Watch lesson #22a (Cutting the track) and lesson 22b (Altering game flow).

Last updated: June 14, 2018

4.2.2 - Gaining position (“cutting the track”)

  • The illegal use of the out-of-bounds area to gain position on another skater.

  • Concepts

    • Gains of positions are always measured at the hips

    • A downed skater who re-enters the track does not gain position until they are upright

    • Skaters have no position if they are down or out of bounds

    • Blockers have no position if they are outside an existing engagement zone

    • No pack situations do not exempt skaters from illegal gains of position

      • During a no pack situation, blockers more than 20 feet from the last defined pack have no position.

    • Illegal gains of position may be “ceded” by immediately and fully exiting the track

      • Signaling jam call-off does not negate a skater’s obligation to cede, although the jam may end before the skater is able to do so.

      • Officiating discretion is sometimes necessary to determine whether a skater is ceding.

  • Impact to call a penalty

    • A skater bettering their position on one or more opponents

    • A skater bettering their position on two or more teammates

  • Gaining position penalties and their verbal cues

    • “Cut” (basic verbal cue)

      • Refers to a skater returning from out of bounds (including straddling)

  • Does not include the penalty box, or temporary withdrawal from the jam due to equipment failure or injury

    • A skater who is forced out of bounds must return behind all opponents who had superior position when they went out of bounds.

    • All upright, in bounds skaters ahead of the skater who went out of bounds have superior position.

  • Superior position is temporarily lost if the skater goes down, out of bounds, or out of play, but can be regained by reversing this.

    • The initiator of a block that forces a skater out of bounds gains superior position, even if they were physically behind the target.

  • This privilege comes with a price; superior position is permanently lost if they go down, out of bounds, or out of play.

    • All skaters passed during an apex jump that lands in a straddling position retain superior position, even if points were scored.

    • “Illegal re-entry”

      • Refers to a skater returning from the penalty box or temporary withdrawal from the jam due to equipment failure or injury

      • All in-play blockers have superior position.

  • Jammers do not have superior position.

4.2.3 - Altering the flow of the game

  • Warnings should be used whenever possible to fix a situation instead of issuing a penalty

    • The larger objective is to maintain game flow, not to send more skaters to the box

  • Altering game flow penalties and their verbal cues

    • WFTDA has not formalized the difference between these penalty types, but these are generally acceptable distinctions

    • “Interference” (basic cue)

      • Illegal actions that interfere with the natural progression of the game, but do not halt the game clock

  • Successfully calling off the jam while not lead jammer

    • Exception: if an official erroneously indicates the jammer has lead

  • Too many skaters achieving a competitive advantage during a jam

    • “Delay of game”

      • Illegal actions that cause the game clock to be halted

  • Failing to field a jammer at jam start

  • Failing to field any blockers in a legal starting position at jam start

  • Failing to field a blocker in the penalty box queue in the correct position at jam start

  • An injured skater lined up for a jam at jam start for which they are not allowed to participate

  • Successfully requesting a timeout (TO) or official review (OR) with none of that type remaining

    • If possible, charge the team the other type instead of issuing a penalty

  • Successfully requesting a TO or OR by a non-captain/designated alternate

    • Exception: Calling a TO/OR in response to a skater signaling to their captain or alternate to request a TO/OR.

    • Docking a TO or OR instead of issuing a penalty is not an option.

  • Penalties for altering game flow go to the team captain

    • Exceptions: (penalty to the responsible skater)

      • Too many skaters

      • Failing to field a skater in the penalty box queue in the correct position

      • Calling off the jam while not lead jammer

      • Successfully calling for a TO/OR by a non-captain/designated alternate