Games Requirements

for Sanctioned and SFC Games

All Games and insurance requirements are to be enforced by the league representative in charge of sanctioning, Head Officials, and/or GTO (if applicable).

  1. The game must be played according to the requirements listed in the “Definitions” section of this document.
  2. All leagues holding WFTDA Insurance or insurance policies with reciprocity with WFTDA Insurance must adhere to the game and track requirements specified in the WFTDA Risk Management Guidelines.
  3. In addition to meeting the staffing, scoring, timing and penalty management requirements included in The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby, all WFTDA-sanctioned games must meet the following officiating staffing requirements:
    1. A minimum of three (3) and a maximum of seven (7) Skating Officials must be staffed for the game.
      1. One Skating Official will be assigned Head Referee (HR) responsibilities.
      2. One Skating Official per team will be assigned Jammer Referee (JR) responsibilities. These Officials may not also be assigned HR duties.
    2. Non-Skating Officials (NSOs) to provide the WFTDA StatsBook data listed in the “Score Reporting and Games Data Requirements” section below.
      1. One NSO will be assigned Head NSO (HNSO) responsibilities.
  4. The track boundaries must be marked by a raised boundary at least ¼ inch (0.64 cm) and no more than ½ inch (1.27 cm) in height, in such a way that is highly visible to Skaters and Officials and does not present a safety hazard. The track boundary line width must be at least 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) and no greater than 3 inches (7.62 cm). The track boundary must be consistent in height and width throughout the entire boundary.
  5. Teams are allowed a minimum of two (2) staff in the bench area. Teams may have up to four (4) staff in the bench area, unless there are venue space restrictions. Teams must be notified of venue space restrictions that impact bench area staff in the game contract.
    1. Support staff should be primarily stationed in the bench area.
    2. Staff must be identified to the Head Officials and opposing team captain prior to the game and are subject to all requirements in The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby. Staff can be subject to Unsporting Conduct Penalties. Examples of this include, but are not limited to:
      1. Too many bench staff in the bench area
      2. Trackside coach behavior
    3. Any Staff designated to communicate with Officials must approach from the bench area.
  6. Hosts may elect to create individual trackside “coach boxes” in the turns opposite the team benches, unless there are venue space restrictions. The boxes may be used by participating teams to station an individual during the game.
    1. If a team elects to station an individual in a coach box, they must be identified to the Head Officials and opposing team Captain prior to the game. Coach boxes are not part of the bench area; however, individuals are considered participants in the game, subject to all requirements in The Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby and to all venue seating requirements for the area in which the box is placed.
    2. Individuals stationed in coach boxes may not approach the Officials.
    3. Expelled Skaters may not be stationed in coach boxes.
    4. The host should determine and communicate assignments of teams at each box to teams and Officials in advance of the game.
  7. Tournament games have the same requirements as individual games, with the addition of the requirement of the host league providing a trained GTO and an identified Risk Coordinator for the event.
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