Violet Temper and the League Rules

Violet Temper from Philly Roller Girls was at practice last night! She skated super. And she reminded us that we need to work on pack formation during lineup and we need to concentrate on skating within arms-reach during the entire jam.

I am on the coaching committee and last night we had a meeting to discuss rules for our first bout. (Which is going to be awesome and is going to be October 22nd at Dry Ice in Oakland.) We are looking at different sets of rules from other leagues across the country. Of our major points of contention are:

• Jammer re-engagement
• The ability to skate back up to the jammer even after she has passed you in the pack, without incurring additional points against you when/if she passes you once more. This makes it much harder for the jammer to get out of the pack--potentially making for a more interesting spectator sport--more physically violent, and less an all out speed race.
• The con of this is that the jammer could literally not get out of the pack for the entire jam if her blockers don't help her out.
  
• This would make the sport so much more interesting for me.
  
• Length of jams
• Single jams 2 minutes to 90 seconds, but in most leagues the "lead jammer" can "call off the jam" after she successfully laps the pack twice. (which she would do if the other jammer hadn't gotten to the pack a second time, thereby securing her hold on twice as many points.)
• Number of periods
• 3, 4 or more periods?
• I think we are going with 3 15 minutes periods, for our first bout.
• Legal blocking
• Use of the arms will be limited to above the shoulder. You can not use the arm in any kind of swing. The arms are basically an extension of space... at least that's my understanding so far.
  
• We haven't even gotten to scoring yet--I think it goes like this:
• Score a point for every person in the pack you pass *after* you've lapped the pack once.
• Score a point if/each time you lap the other jammer.
  

Anyway. We have to read up more on everyone's rules. The ULC (united leagues commission) is working on nation-wide rules but they will not be completed until after our first bout. When they are we will adopt those. Then IT'S ON BITCHES! INTER LEAGUE BOUTS!

In the meantime come out our benefit on the 17th at Studio Z, in San Francisco to raise money for the bout!