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WFTDA OFFICIATING CUES, CODES AND SIGNALS DECEMBER 2018
© 2018 Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)
UPDATED DECEMBER 2018
WFTDA OFFICIATING CUES,
CODES AND SIGNALS
These are the standardized verbal cues, hand signals, penalty codes, and whistles that participants should use with The
Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby. This policy should not be considered the only communication Officials should use when
communicating during a roller derby game, but they should use these cues as closely as possible. When there isn’t
standardized language, Officials should make sure communication to all participants is professional and respectful. Don’t
assume any participant’s gender identity. For example, an Official should never casually refer to Skaters as “girls,”
“women,” or “ladies.” Instead, use the team name or color, or communicate directly with them by using their Skater
Number or speak to their Captain or Alternate.
Unless specified below, all verbal and nonverbal cues are performed by Officials at the time of the communication or
penalty. Officials should also use cues and signals to communicate with each other. You may adjust the position of the
hand signal to more effectively communicate or to accommodate special needs. If you adjust a hand signal
dramatically, make sure to inform relevant parties before the game begins. Minor adjustments that do not affect the
identifiability of the signal do not need to be communicated and should not be considered impactful.
You may also stack hand signals to communicate more information. For example, after each signal of Not Lead, a
Jammer Referee could signal the No Earned Pass to communicate why their Jammer did not earn lead. Hand signals
and verbal cues should be performed in a calm and clear manner so that Skaters and Officials understand them.
Always deliver the Team Color, Skater Number, and any standardized cues in English. If Officials feel comfortable
delivering additional communication in languages other than English, they may do so as long as it was agreed upon by
both teams during the pre-game meeting.
Position Status Communication
An Official should proactively communicate information about a Skater’s position status to maintain the flow of the game if:
It is before the five second warning for the Jam. Or,
The action is penalty-worthy. However, an Official isn’t required to warn a Skater if the act is deliberate. Officials
should use discretion to determine what is deliberate in the context of the game. Or,
A Skater asks about their position status.
Position status is defined as the act of taking a position in the game by means of physical location at the start of the
Jam, or possessing or wearing a helmet cover.
Communication should always be concise, factual, and without instruction. Unless using a standardized cue, an Official
should not include instructions on how to fix the issue, only what the issue is.
Officials should attempt to warn a Pivot who is not the Jammer but acting like the Jammer.
A.
B.
C.
ACCEPTABLE
Your star is not visible.
You are not wearing a helmet cover.
You are not the Jammer.
UNACCEPTABLE
Pull the back of the cover down.
Your cover came off in Turn 2.
The Jammer is in the box for a penalty.