WFTDA Update
Message from Sleaze the Zebra: Hello all, There has been an update to the standard practices from WFTDA - including new hand signals (they added a jam call off hand signal that we already do here so you will be used to) and a few more verbal cues that are completely new to everyone. Read more here: https://wftda.com/news/wftda-releases-updated-officiating-standard-practices-documents The new verbal cues can be found on this PDF: https://static.wftda.com/officiating/WFTDA-Officiating-Verbal-Cues.pdf For those less interested in reading a bunch of docs, here are the new verbal cues: Misconduct Penalties • “Leaping Contact” (See Section 5.16.8) • “Charging” (See Section 5.16.9) • “Unsporting Conduct” (See Section 5.16.10, 5.16.11) • “Reckless Entry” (See Sections 5.16.12, 5.16.13) • “Embellishment” (See Sections 5.16.14, 5.16.15) • “Blocking While Down” (See Section 5.16.16) • “Early Hit” (See Sections 5.16.17, 5.16.18) • “Late Hit” (See Section 5.16.19) Full run down of the penalties that match the new verbal cues here: 5.16.8 - Initiating contact with both skates off of the ground that forces the receiving opponent out of established position. This includes forcing an opponent down, out of bounds, or out of relative position. 5.16.9 - Executing a block on an opponent who is down. 5.16.10 - The use of obscene, profane, or abusive language or gestures directed at a mascot, announcer, audience member, or other event production individuals. If no one can be singled out as the offending party but it is clearly coming from a Skater, this penalty will be issued to the corresponding Captain. 5.16.11 - The excessive use of obscene, profane, or abusive language or gestures directed at an opponent, teammate, manager, coach, or other team support staff. If no one can be singled out as the offending party but it is clearly coming from a Skater, or if a team as a whole is being offensive (though no individual Skater’s offensive speech is considered “excessive”), this penalty will be assessed to the corresponding Captain. 5.16.12 - A Skater who, on their way to the Penalty Box during a jam, causes another person (including Officials, opponents, and audience members, but not including teammates) to vacate their position to reasonably avoid being forcibly contacted. This includes people correctly positioned in their team area and is not limited to people in the Penalty Box. 5.16.13 - Habitual entry to the Penalty Box during a jam in which contact, either actual or potential, by the Skater’s seat to another person (including Officials, opponents, and audience members, but not including teammates) is caused by a structural failure of the seat and not the entry of the Skater. Penalty is to be issued where proper precaution is not being shown by the offending Skater, causing the habitual failure of a seat or seats. 5.16.14 - Intentionally adopting a downed position so as to deceive a Referee into incorrectly calling a penalty on an opponent. 5.16.15 - Intentionally adopting a downed position in an attempt to avoid a block. 5.16.16 - Any contact initiated by a downed Skater that causes an opponent to fall or lose relative position, or allows a teammate to gain relative position. 5.16.17 - A Skater initiating contact or engaging an opponent before the jam-starting whistle that forces the receiving opponent out of their established starting position. This includes forcing an opponent down, out of bounds, severely off balance, or into an illegal starting position. 5.16.18 - A Skater initiating contact or engaging an opponent before the jam-starting whistle that allows the initiator to gain a superior starting position. This includes gaining a legal starting position (gaining an in-bounds or legal starting position via the contact), or breaking a wall of opponents. 5.16.19 - A Skater initiating contact or engaging an opponent after the fourth jam-ending whistle that forces the receiving opponent down or severely off balance, forward, or sideways.
