Lesson #24: Expulsions and fouling out¶

by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil

Last updated: January 21, 2018

Fouling out¶

A skater fouls out after seven penalties
Play continues without the fouled out skater for the remainder of the jam
The fouled out skater must leave the track area and may not remain in the team’s bench area
A fouled out skater is not required to remove their skates or gear
Any official can process a foul out; this is typically done by the box manager or head referee

Used for infractions so severe they warrant the removal of a skater from the game for a first offense
Expulsion-level blocks need not make physical contact (ie; one can “miss”)
Expulsion-level blocks need not have impact
Legal blocks never warrant an expulsion
The head referee is the only person with the authority issue an expulsion
- Other referees should issue a penalty if appropriate and recommend the head referee upgrade the penalty to an expulsion
Both skaters and non-skaters (coaches, team support staff) may be expelled
Captains serve a penalty for expelled team staff, but it does not count toward fouling out
Mitigating factors can be taken into account when deciding whether to expel someone
Expulsions can only be issued when there is no doubt the action warrants an expulsion
When discussing a potential expulsion, it can be useful to consult the NSO crew.
In sanctioned games and some tournaments, particularly egregious expulsion-level actions can also result in a recommendation of suspension from future games.
- The actual suspension determination process varies depending on the organization and tournament.

Ejected skaters are typically held next to the penalty box until the jam ends
If the jam ends before the ejected skater’s time in the penalty box expires, another skater is substituted for that skater between jams. That skater serves any remaining time in the same position (i.e.; as pivot for a pivot who fouled out).
If a captain or designated alternate is ejected, the team may designate a new one.
- If a penalty must be served by a (non-existent) captain, the team must designate a new one.
An ejected skater may sit in the audience
- The skater must behave in a manner appropriate for a member of the audience
- If the fouled out skater interferes with game play, the captain is issued a unsporting conduct penalty and the skater is expelled back to the locker room or staging area
Audience members that needs to be ejected should be handled in accordance with the host league’s security plan.
In tournament environments, the skater is often escorted away from the play area (usually by the alternate referee).

This is not an exhaustive list.
To an opponent
- Negligent or reckless blocking to an illegal target zone
- Negligent or reckless blocking with an illegal blocking zone
- Negligent or reckless illegal contact (OOB, OOP, etc.)
- Intentional, negligent, or reckless contact above the shoulder
- Intentional tripping
- Intentionally falling on a prone or downed opponent
- Slide tackling
- Holding or pinning a skater to the ground
- Shoving
- Intentionally removing an opponent’s helmet cover
To an official
- Forceful contact that is intentional or reasonably avoidable
- Willfully failing to leave the floor after fouling out
- Deliberate and excessive insubordination to an official
To anyone
- Contact with the head of a skater not wearing a helmet
- Pulling of the head, neck, or helmet
- Fighting
  Protecting oneself without engaging the other person is legal
- Completely losing one’s temper and/or yelling a string of abuse or profanity
- Threatening physical violence
- Serious physical violence or other action that causes an extraordinary physical threat to oneself or others.
- Sexual harassment
Other
- Interference in gameplay by skaters or support staff not in a jam
- Forceful contact to a non-teammate while entering the penalty box
- Forcible contact with the penalty box seat to a non-teammate while entering the penalty box
  This cannot be due to the structural failure of the seat