It's March 2014! That means new rules!

A few days ago the WFTDA released a new set of rules for flat track roller derby.  All sanctioned games on or after April 1, 2014 need to be played under these rules.

The full text of the new rules can be found on WFTDA's rules page in two formats:

• Web readable format
• Downloadable & printable PDF

There are a number of major changes; here's how to find them on WFTDA's site:

• WFTDA's news release - summarizes the big changes, and also lists which officiating documents will be updated in the coming weeks.
• WFTDA's summary of changes - discusses most of the changes in the rules, comparing the June 2013 release to the March 2014 release for all of the major changes.  Very useful, but note that it doesn't cover all the changes.  For that you need ...
• WFTDA's line-by-line comparison of the 2013 and 2014 rules - precisely lists all the changes to the rules on a line-by-line, word-by-word basis.  
• Note: If you're reading this version and enjoying it, you're a derby official; if you happen to not think you are a derby official, contact your local crew head ref to volunteer - we need you!

Other officiating documents that have changed include:

• WFTDA Rules Q&A: Many have been updated for the new March 2014 release; these are official documents too, so be sure to read all of them.
• See especially the Q&A on cutting penalties that clarify what is meant by the newly added (and frequently-asked-about) 5.11.8 and 5.11.8.1 sections.
• WFTDA Officiating Hand Signals: Includes a new official hand signal for "skate around" (in the "additional hand signals" section)
• WFTDA Officiating Verbal Cues: Reformatted, with some new clarifications.
• WFTDA Officiating Standard Practices: Reformatted, with some new clarifications (including specifications for electronic penalty tracking/displays). 
• WFTDA Stats Book: A few big changes in the paperwork have been made, the largest of which is that lineup trackers no longer track jammer passes.  

Other resources:

• You Should Be Watching More Roller Derby Footage: Has a great series of posts that explain many of the rules changes with animated gifs.  
• My own teaching guide to the new rules: This worksheet has more than two dozen scenario-based questions designed to facilitate reading and discussing the new rules.

Note that, for the time being, Roller Derby Test O'Matic is still based on the 2013 rules (see this post for more). 

For those wondering about upcoming Southern California tournaments, the 2014 Dustbowl Invitational in Bakersfield, CA will be using the June 2013 rules, while the 2014 Battle for the Coast tournament in Ventura, CA will be using the March 2014 rules.