What's Legal, What's Not

The official WFTDA rules cover in great detail exactly what is legal and what isn't. We encourage all of you to read all 40+ pages of the rules, but below we cover some common occurrences that you are likely to notice happening on the track. Keep in mind that many of these have special cases and exceptions, or other side effects on game play that may not be outlined below.

To block another skater positionally (i.e., to be in her way, but not touching her)
To block another skater physically, as long as the points of contact between skaters are legal (see below).
To impact the side or front of an opposing skater
To use hips or shoulders to impact an opposing skater
To push/whip/throw your own teammates
To block a Jammer like any other skater
For any skater (including the Jammer) to skate out of bounds so long as doing so does not grant any positional/game advantage and so long as it is not to avoid a hit by an opposing player
For a Blocker or Pivot to skate up to 20 feet in front of (or behind the pack) and engage any skater on the other team
To skate clockwise (opposite the normal direction) so long as the skater doesn't get in anybody else's way or block another skater

To fight with another skater
To hit an opposing skater in the back, or above the shoulders (specifically, the head or face)
To hit an opposing skater with elbows, forearms, hands, or head
To trip an opposing skater (this is considered a low block, which is hitting anywhere below an opponent's mid-thigh)
For any skater to cut the track (to cut across the infield or skate outside the track) for the purposes of gaining a positional or game advantage
To engage opposing skaters before the first whistle
For anyone but the Pivot to line up with her skate touching the Pivot line
For anyone but the Jammer to line up behind the Jammer line
For the Jammer to cross the Jammer line before the second whistle
For any Blocker to engage with any opposing skater, or a Jammer to engage any opposing Blocker while more than 20 feet in front of or behind the pack. (Jammers may engage other Jammers anywhere once the second whistle has blown)
For any Jammer to be assisted by a teammate while the teammate is more than 20 feet in front of or behind the pack