Lesson #15: Basic scoring

by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil

Watch this lesson on YouTube

Last updated: January 9, 2019

Basic concepts

  1. Points are earned when jammers lap opposing blockers in a legal manner.

  2. To avoid being scored upon, an opposing blocker must either remain in front of the jammer, or cause the jammer to gain superior position without earning a legal pass (see below).

  3. Points for blockers that violate #2 can be earned another way.

Earning passes

Jammers primarily earn points by passing opposing blockers.

  • All passes are measured at the hips.

  • The jammer must be upright, in bounds, and the pass must be legal.

    • If the jammer passes a blocker in an invalid fashion, the jammer can re-pass the blocker during that scoring trip to earn the point.

  • The blocker being passed need not be upright, in bounds, etc.

  • The blocker being passed can be on their way to the penalty box, but not yet off the track.

    • Once they’re off the track, they’re considered to be a NOTT point (see next lesson).

Basic scoring rules

  • Only jammers wearing a jammer helmet cover (the “star”) with a visible star can score points

  • The jammer’s initial trip through the pack each jam does not earn points

    • Exception: Scoring during overtime jams begins with the initial trip through the pack.

  • Subsequent trips through the pack are scoring trips

    • A scoring trip ends and a new one begins when the jammer exits the front of the engagement zone.

      • During a no pack situation, a scoring trip ends upon passing the foremost blocker.

    • Re-entering the engagement zone from the front returns the jammer to the previous trip.

      • The jammer cannot score additional points on blockers until they return to the current trip by exiting the engagement zone to the front.

      • There is no lap count below the previous trip. (ie; A jammer cannot be two trips down regardless of how many times the pack laps them.)

  • A jammer sent to the penalty box returns to the track on that same trip.

    • Exception: New jams always begins with a fresh initial trip.

  • A maximum of one point per opposing blocker per scoring trip can be earned.

  • Points are earned until the fourth tweet of the first set of jam call-off whistles.

Airborne passes

A jammer can pass an opposing skater while airborne (ie; jumping).

  • The jammer must launch from in bounds.

  • The jammer must be in bounds and upright at the instant of landing.

  • The jammer must land before the fourth tweet of the jam call-off signal.