Roller sports words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 100 words · Step 2 of 2

Artistic roller skating

The sport

Artistic Technical Commission

The World Skate body (ATC) that writes the artistic rules, runs international events between federations from different continents and appoints the judges and technical officials.

Also called: ATC, World Skate ATC

Minimum entry

An international event needs at least three skaters or teams from at least two federations to count. Below that, skaters may still perform and get a score but no published result or ranking points, except in precision, couples dance and pairs.

Skating surface (artistic)

At least 25 by 50 m for a World Skate ATC event. Skating outside the surface or touching the barrier costs 0.5.

Skates (artistic)

Quad skates are allowed in all junior and senior events except inline, which uses inline skates. Show and precision teams choose one type for all members. There are no limits on frames, wheels or boots.

Scoring

Rollart

The scoring system used for every discipline except figures. A technical panel names each element and its level, a judges panel marks its quality and the artistic components, and the total gives the placing.

White System

The older 0 to 10 marking, still used for figures, in which each judge's mark is adjusted to within 0.2 of the average after the first skater.

Technical panel (artistic)

Four officials: a technical specialist, an assistant, a technical controller and a data operator. They identify each element, its level and penalties such as missing or illegal elements, and can review video.

Judges panel (artistic)

At least four judges and a referee. Each judge marks the quality of every element and the artistic components; with more than three judges the highest and lowest are dropped.

Technical content score

The sum of the values of all the technical elements a skater performs (TC). Added to the components, it gives the technical value of the program (TVP), from which penalisations (PE) are taken.

Also called: TC, TVP, Technical content

Starred out

An element beyond the number allowed, or a repeat that is not permitted, is called but given no value and marked with a star. It is not penalised unless it is an illegal element.

Rules for every discipline

Costume rules (artistic)

Costumes must be one piece, modest and suited to the music, with no props, feathers, fringes, body paint, logos or religious or political images and no stones over 4 mm. Anything that falls off brings a 1.0 deduction; show costumes may change during the routine.

Music rules (artistic)

Vocal music is allowed, but spoken words only twice for up to 10 seconds, and explicit lyrics cost 1.0. A program short of or over its time costs 0.5 for every 10 seconds, and more than 10 seconds between the music starting and the first movement costs 0.5.

Interruption of skating

An injured skater has 10 minutes to recover and finish, or scores zero. For an outside cause such as music failure, the skater restarts from the beginning if it happened in the first minute, or from the point of interruption after that. A skater who stops for their own reason before half-way scores zero.

Entry and exit (artistic)

The first skater of a group has up to one minute after the warm-up to take the floor, and each skater 30 seconds to leave it; others enter when announced. Breaking this costs 0.5.

Coaches (artistic)

Coaches may not shout or give instructions at the rink side during a performance, or they are removed and the skater may be penalised.

Free skating programs

Kneeling or lying on the floor

Allowed once in a free program, for at most five seconds; doing it more often or for longer costs 1.0.

Jumps, spins and footwork

Connecting jump

A one-rotation jump used to link jumps inside a combination. It is called "NJ" and has no value (except for Tots and Minis).

Also called: NJ

Under-rotated, half-rotated and downgraded jumps

A jump short of full rotation by up to a quarter is under-rotated (<) and loses 20 to 30 per cent of its value; short by up to a half is half-rotated (<<) and loses 30 to 50 per cent; short by more than a half is downgraded (<<<) and counts as the jump with one rotation fewer. Two-footed landings are downgraded.

Also called: Under-rotated, Downgraded

Saved combination

A combination rescued after a loss of control, for example with a step-out and three turn or a hand on the floor, which the technical panel calls "saved": the whole combination gets only half its value.

Lutz no edge

A jump declared as a Lutz without a clear outside back edge before the toe-stop take-off. It is called "Lutz no edge" and gets 70 per cent of its value.

The ruleHow are jumps judged in artistic roller skating?

Second-half bonus

In the long program for cadets and older, a jump done after half the program's length earns 10 per cent more.

Difficult positions and variations

Harder versions that raise a spin's value once each, such as the Biellmann, layback or sideways positions, a flying entry, a difficult change of foot or position, six or more revolutions or spinning in both directions.

Choreographic sequence

A sequence of up to 30 seconds in the long program, valued at no more than level 1.

Also called: Choreo sequence

Missing mandatory element

Leaving out a required element (or not attempting it) costs 1.0, and the last element of that group is starred out. An attempt that fails still counts as an attempt.

Illegal element

An element the category forbids, such as a double Axel by an espoir skater; it costs 1.0. An extra element that is allowed but over the limit is only starred out.

Inline hockey

The game

World Skate Inline Hockey Technical Commission

The World Skate body that writes the rules, appoints referees for championships and settles appeals; its decisions are final.

Also called: IHTC

Age categories (inline hockey)

Juniors are at least 14 on 1 January and under 19 by 31 December of the competition year; seniors at least 15; masters at least 38, for both men and women.

Change of players

Players may change on the fly from the bench, the player leaving within 3 m of the bench first. At stoppages the visitors change first, then the home team, each in five seconds.

Also called: Line change

Keeping the puck in motion

A team with the puck in its own half must keep trying to move it forward, except that it may carry it behind its own goal once, or when it is short-handed or forechecked. A second offence in the half is a minor penalty.

The rink and equipment

Goal cage (inline hockey)

An iron frame 170 cm wide and 105 cm high inside, with red or orange posts and bar and a hanging drop net, set 3.8 m from the end boards.

Also called: Goal

Penalties

Misconduct penalty

Ten minutes off for the player, with a substitute allowed at once. A game misconduct sends the player to the dressing room and is reported for further action; a second misconduct in a game brings a game misconduct.

Also called: Game misconduct

Match penalty

The player is sent off for the rest of the game and a teammate serves four minutes in the box, for offences such as striking an official.

Game ejection

Removal for the rest of the game, with a substitute allowed. It follows any penalty after a player's third minor in a game (the third minor itself adds a ten-minute misconduct), or a third stick penalty in one game.

Delayed penalty

When the team without the puck commits a foul, the referee raises an arm and lets play go on until that team gets the puck. Once the team with the puck crosses the centre line it may not take the puck back into its own half. If it scores, a minor penalty is not served.

Stick penalties

Slashing, high sticking, cross-checking, butt-ending and spearing. Three in one game bring a game ejection.

Also called: Slashing, High sticks, Cross-checking
See also: Game ejection

Body contact fouls

Charging, boarding, checking from behind, elbowing, kneeing, tripping, hooking and holding are penalised, from a minor up to a major and game misconduct for violent cases. Running at an opponent or body-checking is penalised at the referee's discretion.

Also called: Charging, Boarding, Checking from behind
See also: Misconduct penalty

Fighting (inline hockey)

Throwing a closed-fist punch that lands. The player who starts it gets a major and a game misconduct; one who hits back gets at least a minor. Pushing and shoving are penalised but are not fighting.

Results and officials

Forfeiture

A game is forfeited when a team cannot put four skaters and a goalkeeper on the floor at the start, or during it through injury or penalties, or refuses to play after a warning.

Protest (inline hockey)

Made on the floor by the captain to the referee; administrative protests only before the game. Every protest must be confirmed in writing to the commission within an hour and a half.

Video assistant referee (inline hockey)

From 2027, where equipment allows, video may be used to check goals and injuries the officials missed. Each team may challenge twice a game, on goals and major or match penalties, keeping the challenge if it succeeds. The on-floor referees decide.

Also called: VAR

Rink hockey

The game

Age categories (rink hockey)

Women's under-19 players are at least 14 in the year and men's at least 15; seniors are at least 15 (women) or 17 (men) by 31 December of the competition year.

Passive play

Keeping the ball for more than 45 seconds or deliberately not scoring from a clear chance. With 5 seconds of possession left, a referee raises the arms to warn the attacking team; if the attack is not completed, an indirect free hit goes to the other team.

Anti-play

When one team will not attack and the other will not try to win the ball. The referees warn both captains, then show both a blue card; if it goes on they end the match.

Timeout (rink hockey)

Each team may ask the auxiliary referee for two one-minute timeouts in each half, none in extra time. If asked during play, the timeout starts at the next stoppage.

Faceoff

A restart where one player from each team faces the other with sticks on the floor 20 cm from the ball and the rest 3 m away, used when no one is known to have had the ball, or after equal fouls by both sides.

Minimum number of players

If injuries or sanctions leave a team with only three on the rink, the match ends. A team that has players available but chooses to play with four players commits a very serious offence.

The rink and equipment

Goal line and goalkeeper protection zone

The goal line is 1.70 m long, between the posts, 2.70 to 3.30 m from the end barrier. A semicircle from post to post in front of it protects the goalkeeper; attackers may not enter or stand in it without the ball.

Goal cage (rink hockey)

An iron frame with fluorescent orange posts and bar, inside dimensions 170 cm wide and 105 cm high, netted round the sides, back and top, with a hanging net inside.

Also called: Goal

Skates (rink hockey)

Boots with four wheels on two cross axles, or safe inline skates covering the whole foot. Wheels must be at least 3 cm across; toe brakes up to 5 cm are allowed; goalkeepers may use smaller wheels.

Also called: Quad skates

Goalkeeper equipment (rink hockey)

A helmet with visor or a full mask, a chest pad, two gloves and two leg pads, all compulsory and within size limits (leg pads at most 65 cm high and 30 cm wide). A goalkeeper may not use this equipment outside the penalty area.

Also called: Shin pads
See also: Penalty area

Fouls and cards

Technical foul

A breach of the playing rules with no disciplinary side, such as lifting the ball too high, stopping it with the hand, playing with the stick edge, holding it against the barrier, entering the goalkeeper's zone without the ball or exceeding the possession times. Outside the penalty area it gives an indirect free hit; by a defender inside it, a penalty.

Advantage law

The referees let play go on when the fouled team keeps the ball and is attacking, signalling a team foul as they go. If a goal follows a serious foul during a clear scoring chance, the goal stands and the card is given afterwards.

Imminent goal situation

A player with the ball heading alone and unopposed towards goal who is fouled seriously or very seriously by the last defender. It brings a card and a direct free hit (or a penalty inside the area).

Also called: Eminent goal
See also: Direct free hit

Free hits and penalties

Penalty shootout (rink hockey)

If a match that must have a winner is level after extra time, each team takes five penalties with different players, alternately, against one goalkeeper; then one each until one scores and the other does not.

Also called: Shootout

Results and officials

No-show

A team that has not appeared ready to play 15 minutes after the start time loses 10-0. A team that leaves a match, or does not return within 5 minutes after the break, is out of the competition.

Also called: Abandonment

Protest (rink hockey)

An administrative protest (eligibility, rink or equipment) is made by the delegate and captain before the match; a technical protest (a referee's error of law) by the captain to the referees during a stoppage or straight after the match. Both must be confirmed in writing with a fee.

Video review system

From 2027 the referees may check goal-line incidents and brawls on video, and each team may ask for one review per half (a second if the first succeeds) of serious fouls, penalties, direct free hits or late team fouls, by handing in a green card within 10 seconds. The decision changes only on clear and conclusive images.

Also called: VRS, Green card

Roller speed skating

General terms

Technical Commission

The speed body of one chair and five members that drafts rule changes, picks the Chief Judge and jury for world competitions and acts as the Disciplinary Commission. It is also the first-instance body for claims.

Competition, race and round

A competition is a set of races (the world championship is one). A race is a single event such as the 10,000 m elimination, and it runs from the skater's report to the call area judge until the skaters leave the course. Rounds are the successive sprint races a skater must pass to reach the final.

World Games qualification

Every four years the Technical Commission ranks skaters from the previous World Championships to qualify 30 women and 30 men: 15 of each from the short-distance races and 15 of each from the long-distance races, with at most two women and two men per nation and the host nation's two guaranteed. Junior skaters cannot take part.

Race courses and equipment

Flat track

A track made by placing skittles on a flat rectangular surface, sized to the length of the race. It is closed by a 120 cm fence or, without one, marked by a 5 cm white line with a 1.5 m safety band outside it.

Inner edge

The line against which a course is measured. On a track it is the inner edge of the 5 cm line, on a permanent road circuit the inner edge of an 8 cm line, and the white line is part of the course and may be skated on.

Safety zone and No Skating Zone

A 2 m band inside the inner edge of the course, made of a 50 cm No Skating Zone and a 150 cm buffer zone in different colours, with no obstacle or person in it. On a track the No Skating Zone carries non-slip strips.

Start box

The marked place a sprinter stands in. The 100 m has two to four boxes 2.60 m wide with no second line, the 200 m has a second line 70 cm behind the start line (never white or dashed), and the 1,000 m, 500 m plus distance and one lap have spots one metre wide; lateral lines are 15 cm long.

Timekeeping

Three methods exist: two automatic (a transponder system and an electronic photo finish) and one manual. Automatic timing is needed at World Championships, the World Games and the Olympic Games. If the systems differ, the photo finish decides. Manual timing is a chief timekeeper with three timekeepers and a substitute, using digital watches accurate to a hundredth of a second.

Racing suit

At international competitions all skaters of a country wear identical suits in the national colours, with the nation's name or UN abbreviation, and from 2026 one single national design. Skaters in the wrong equipment may not start, and the wrong suit is a technical fault.

Race numbers

Three numbers, on both hips and the top of the back, with a fourth on the helmet if supplied. At the World Championships two more go on the sides of the helmet.

Types of races

200 m dual time trial

A track race skated two by two with the start and finish in the middle of the straight. The best 12 times from the first round (8 when 15 or fewer skaters are entered) reach the final, and the best time in the final wins. If the timing fails for one skater in a heat, only that skater skates again.

Final A and Final B

The 100 m sprint has a Final A (the two best semi-final times, for gold and silver) and a Final B (the third and fourth best, for bronze and fourth). The 500 m plus distance and the one lap had them too until 2025; from 2026 they have no Final B. There is no loser's final otherwise.

Points and elimination race

A combination of the two: the last skater or skaters are eliminated and the first two at certain laps score points. An eliminated, lapped or non-finishing skater loses their points. On the 10,000 m track, 2 points go to the sprint winner and 1 to the second, with 3, 2 and 1 for the first three at the end.

Relay race

A team of three skaters (a federation may enter four) in identical suits, with each team free to choose when to relay. The relay is a push of the hip by hand inside the relay zone, and a touch-and-pull relay or one outside the zone disqualifies the team.

Relay zone

A zone marked by 2 cm white lines that starts in the middle of the corner and runs on past the finish line to the end of the straight. A relay must start and finish inside it. During the last lap only the finishing skater may enter it, and a teammate who enters before the finisher crosses the line disqualifies the team. Skaters may enter the middle of the track at any time.

Endurance race

A race with a fixed time limit, where skaters are ranked by the order they reach when time runs out, counting the distance already covered.

Pursuit race

A race between two skaters or two teams of three or four, starting from two points opposite each other. A heat ends when one passes the other, and for teams the penultimate skater sets the result.

Stage race

A road event made of several stages (medium, long and time-trial races). The final ranking is the total of times or points, and stages may carry time or point bonuses.

The race

Start commands

From 2026, in sprints the starter says ON YOUR MARKS, then after five seconds READY, and fires the gun (until 2025 the words were IN POSITION and SET). In long-distance races and the 1,000 m the commands are ATTENTION and a shot. All start commands are in English.

Start order

In the first round it follows the ranking or the nations' draw. In sprints the skaters are called one by one in start-line ranking order and each picks a vacant box, and the choice is final. In long-distance races the start order takes one skater from each country in ranking order, then the second skaters; after heats, the heat winners start in the first row, and positions cannot be chosen.

Restarting the start procedure

Reasons include an involuntary obstruction, a timing malfunction, an unsuitable course, a false start, a fall within 100 m of the start that brings down others (one skater in short races, two or more in long ones) or a skater who raises a hand after READY or ATTENTION (once per skater).

Bell and lap counter

The lap scorer judge rings the bell for the last lap of every race (except the 300 m) for the leading skaters, and for the next elimination or point sprint. The counter changes each time the first skater crosses the line.

Neutralization

The Chief Judge can neutralise a race for a minor external problem or fall. Judges step onto the course with a blue flag, skaters slow down and hold position, and counters, eliminations and points are suspended. It is never allowed in sprints, relays or the last 1,000 m, lasts at most four minutes and can happen twice a race.

See also: Chief Judge

Stopping, resuming and restarting a race

The Chief Judge may stop a race for bad ground or weather, a fall of a large group or a serious injury. A long race that can be resumed the same day continues with the same situation, and otherwise it restarts in full. Fallen or disqualified skaters cannot take part again.

See also: Chief Judge

Finish judgement

The point of the first wheel of the first skate over the line gives the position, and the leading skate must be on the ground, or otherwise the second skate's first wheel decides. In an elimination the last part of the last skate counts, and a team pursuit of three is judged on the second skater.

Lapped skater

A skater caught by the pack on a track or closed circuit who may hinder the race is kept out, signalled by two short whistle blasts. Lapped and removed skaters are placed in the inverse order they left the race, unless a small group leads the race.

Faults, sanctions and discipline

Disciplinary fault (DQ-DF)

A fault where a skater means to harm another, or uses profanity or aggression. The Chief Judge decides it, the skater is disqualified and suspended from their next race (not team races) and may be sent to the Disciplinary Commission.

Contact faults

The rulebook defines grabbing, hipping, jamming, holding, interference, pulling and shuttle skating, and for trajectory and obstruction blocking, elbowing, pushing, riding in, riding out, shoving, tripping, weaving and right-of-way disruption. Skaters must take the shortest line, not push or cut in front, and the leader must not obstruct the runner-up.

Warnings (skating)

Given to sanction sports faults by any judge in charge of the race, who tells the Chief Judge, who tells the speaker. They add up across heat and final, and there are no sports-fault warnings in sprint races.

See also: Chief Judge

Reduction in rank (RR)

A sanction for a fault against others, or an unintended arrival act that hinders a placement. In a round decided by times the skater in fault takes the time of the affected skater and the affected skater takes the time of the skater in fault; in any case the skater in fault is placed after the affected skater.

Team fault

Team Fault 1 is when one skater commits a voluntary fault so a teammate wins places: the first is disqualified and may be excluded, and the teammate is reduced in rank if they gained. Team Fault 2 is when two skaters act together to block others or to help a teammate by relaying or grabbing, and both are disqualified.

Assistance

Skaters may not give or accept help. After a fall they must stand without help from a third party, or they are disqualified for a sports fault. Coaches may give advice, and in races over 20 km skaters may take water, food or equipment repairs.

Did Not Start 2 (DNS2)

A skater who does not show for a race in the first round is barred from the next race (except team races) in which they are registered.

Suspension

A skater disqualified for a disciplinary fault is suspended for their next race, and an unserved suspension carries over to the next World Championship. The Disciplinary Commission can suspend for up to six months.

Officials, ranking and protests

Jury and judges

At world events: a Chief Judge, one or two assistants, a secretary judge and assistant, and teams of call area, starter, course (straight, corner and relay), placement and lap scorer judges, plus a video assistant judge and timekeepers. At least three placement judges, always an odd number, with the majority deciding unless a photo finish is used.

See also: Photo finish, Call area, Chief Judge

Starter team

The judges who check all skates are behind the line, give the start signal after the Chief Judge agrees, signal false starts, involuntary obstruction and falls, and call skaters back.

See also: Chief Judge

Course judges

Straight, corner and relay judges who watch their stretch, report faults and withdrawals to the Chief Judge, and fill in the official sanction form after the Chief Judge decides.

See also: Chief Judge

Ranking of unqualified skaters

Skaters who go out in a round are ranked by the round they reached and then by their times (and, in the quarter-finals of the 500 m plus distance and one lap, by place first and then time). Until 2025 only finalists could take a podium place; from 2026, when a finalist is disqualified for a sports or disciplinary fault the next skater moves up, even from an earlier round, so there are no empty places in the results.

Ex-aequo placement

When skaters cross together and cannot be separated, or are in a collective fall, they share the same place and are listed in the nations' ranking order. A tie in a time trial is repeated, and the nation's ranking at the World Championships decides a tie in sprints.

Nation ranking

The medal count excluding relays, ranked by golds, silvers then bronzes. Countries without medals are ranked on points, where the winner gets as many points as skaters in the race and each place down one fewer. Disqualified skaters get none.

Claims

A delegation can claim in writing, signed by the official delegate, to the Technical Commission, 30 minutes before the race when it concerns the admittance of a skater. A fee of 300 US dollars is returned only if the claim is upheld. The Chief Judge's sanctions in a race are final and cannot be claimed. The World Skate Executive Board hears appeals on disciplinary decisions.

Disciplinary Commission

At least three people, usually the Technical Commission members, who hear a person charged with a disciplinary fault. It can exclude the person from the competition or suspend them for up to six months, and its decision on appeal is final.

Results ratification

Results are official only when the Chief Judge ratifies them (a Technical Commission member at the World Championships) and they are published in the Official Communication. Times are official once the judge signs the timekeeping protocol and cannot then be questioned.

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