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Interested in being an official? Join our Wrecking Crew!
Our officials help ensure games are played safely and officiate fairly. We are always on the lookout for others who are interested in helping us meet this goal, whether they want to be on skates or not. Referee and non-skating official positions are open to men and women. We offer regular training opportunities where we teach you everything you’ll need to know. Attendance at practices is required beginning around March. All referees are responsible for purchasing their own equipment* including skates (quad or inline), helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, and a mouth guard. *Loaner skates and gear are available and may be used until you can purchase your own. If you would like to join our league as an official, please contact us. |
What does a referee do?
Roller derby referees are on skates just like the players. They are responsible to awarding points and ensuring the game is played in alignment with WFTDA rules. Referees are required to meet all of the same minimum skating skill requirements that our skaters are. They are also responsible for learning the rules of flat track roller derby and practicing different referee positions at referee and league practices. The League will provide any support necessary for the Wrecking Crew.
On the track, referees have a number of positions they can serve
Outside and inside pack referees are responsible for watching the pack of skaters and assessing penalties as needed. Additionally, the inside pack referees define the pack itself. Jammer referees follow the jammers, determining lead jammer, when points have been scored, and relaying scores to the scorekeepers for recording.
Potential referees would attend the league practices just as new skaters would. While working on their skating skills, they also begin working with league referees, learning non-skating official positions, the rules and working as part of our wrecking crew. Officials can be, but are not required to be, members of WWD. Officials will have opportunities to officiate games throughout the region.
Roller derby referees are on skates just like the players. They are responsible to awarding points and ensuring the game is played in alignment with WFTDA rules. Referees are required to meet all of the same minimum skating skill requirements that our skaters are. They are also responsible for learning the rules of flat track roller derby and practicing different referee positions at referee and league practices. The League will provide any support necessary for the Wrecking Crew.
On the track, referees have a number of positions they can serve
- Outside pack referee
- Inside pack referee
- Jammer referee
- Head Referee
Outside and inside pack referees are responsible for watching the pack of skaters and assessing penalties as needed. Additionally, the inside pack referees define the pack itself. Jammer referees follow the jammers, determining lead jammer, when points have been scored, and relaying scores to the scorekeepers for recording.
Potential referees would attend the league practices just as new skaters would. While working on their skating skills, they also begin working with league referees, learning non-skating official positions, the rules and working as part of our wrecking crew. Officials can be, but are not required to be, members of WWD. Officials will have opportunities to officiate games throughout the region.
What does a non-skating official do?
Even if you never pick up a pair of skates, or if you are still working on your skating skills, you can help out on the track as a non-skating official (NSO). NSOs are responsible for a number of game duties. These include tracking penalties, managing the penalty box, and tracking statistics. NSO positions fall into a few different categories.
New NSOs learn their skills at league scrimmages and other training opportunities. As with skating referees, they may eventually have opportunities to officiate games throughout the region and can be league members.
Even if you never pick up a pair of skates, or if you are still working on your skating skills, you can help out on the track as a non-skating official (NSO). NSOs are responsible for a number of game duties. These include tracking penalties, managing the penalty box, and tracking statistics. NSO positions fall into a few different categories.
- Score and Timing — these positions include the scorekeepers who work with jam referees to record points scored; the scoreboard operator who updates the scoreboard seen by skaters and fans; and the jam timer who keeps track of the time remaining in the given jam, the lineup clock, and the period clock.
- Penalty Box Management — these positions include the penalty timers who track the time served by penalized skaters and return them to the track as needed and the penalty box manager who tracks time for the jammers serving penalties.
- Penalty Tracking — these positions include the penalty wrangler who follows the pack and records penalties being called by the referees; the penalty tracker who records these penalties to the official paperwork; the inside white board who records these penalties for display to the team benches; and the lineup trackers who record who is skating in a particular jam for the official paperwork.
New NSOs learn their skills at league scrimmages and other training opportunities. As with skating referees, they may eventually have opportunities to officiate games throughout the region and can be league members.
