Lesson #25: No pack situations¶
by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil
Last updated: June 20, 2018
Failure to reform¶
An illegal action whereby a blocker does not attempt to reform a pack
All actions to reform the pack must be done immediately
Leisurely reforming is insufficient
No penalties are issued if the pack immediately reforms
Blockers who are directed to the penalty box cannot reform the pack
Blockers in the back group must cease blocking and skate forward
Blockers in the front group must cease blocking and brake to a halt
Blockers in the front group are not required to skate clockwise, but may do so.
Blockers in a middle group (if any) may either stop or skate forward
The entire group need not perform the same action
Out of bounds blockers who can legally re-enter must do so if reentering would help to reform the pack.
Skaters in a position that prevents an opposing blocker from directly returning in bounds (i.e.; the opponent will receive a cut if they reenter) must skate forward until the skater may re-enter.
Penalties go to the most responsible person (if any) in either group that fails to reform
Priority goes to a blocker who initiates a new block or continues an existing one
This includes positional blocks
Next priority goes to the blocker closest to the other group who fails to reform
This could also be a blocker who fails to move forward allowing an out of bounds skater to return to the track without skating clockwise
When skaters are equally responsible the penalty goes to the closest blocker
A penalty should be issued to the most responsible blocker per team who fails to reform
Sustained failure to reform warrants additional penalties
No pack situation handling¶
“No pack” is announced.
The Rear IPR typically does this. Front IPR less often. On rare occasion an OPR.
Destruction penalties are issued (if applicable)
These are typically issued by the referee who announced “no pack”
If a pack will reform quickly the destruction penalty is sometimes delayed until the pack reforms
The front IPR issues failure to reform penalties to the front group as warranted
The rear IPR issues failure to reform penalties to the rear group as warranted
OPRs watch for blocks that cause an opponent to fall or go out of bounds
If an immediate failure to reform penalty was issued and the pack is not yet reformed, an IPR re-calls out “No pack!”
Some referees consider this optional while others maintain this is good practice
Repeat this process until the pack reforms
“Pack” or “Pack is here” is announced when the pack is reestablished.