How does the relay work in roller speed skating?
I · Intermediate · Pack races, start and finish · 2 of 3A relay team has three skaters in identical suits, who decide for themselves when to change. The incoming skater pushes the next one on the hip with the hands, inside the relay zone; a touch-and-pull relay or one outside the zone disqualifies the team. The last change must be made before the last lap.
How it works
- Team: three skaters in identical racing suits.
- When to change: each team decides.
- The relay: a push on the hip with the hand or hands.
- Not allowed: a touch-and-pull relay.
- Relay zone: from the middle of the bend to the end of the straight past the finish.
- Last change: before the last lap starts.
- Last lap: only the finishing skater may be in the zone.
- Team penalties: false starts, warnings and most disqualifications apply to the whole team.
The glossary has the relay race, the relay zone, the technical fault (DQ-TF), the racing suit, the false start (FS) and the course judges.
Tricky cases
A teammate enters the zone on the last lap before the finisher crosses. What happens?
The team is disqualified for a technical fault.
The waiting skater stops in the zone. Allowed?
No. The relaying skater must keep moving, or the team is disqualified.
May relay skaters wait in the middle of the track?
Yes. They may enter the middle of the track at any time.
One skater is disqualified for a disciplinary fault. What about the team?
The whole team is out of the race, though the disciplinary sanction applies only to that skater.
Why the rule exists
A defined push and zone keep changes visible and fair to judge. Freedom over when to change makes relay tactics part of the race.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Relay | Hand push on the hip | Art 121.2 |
| Wrong relay | Team disqualified | Art 162 |
| Last lap | Only the finisher in the zone | Art 121.3f, j |
From the rule book
World Skate, Speed Rulebook 2026, Articles 121, 162 and 171.1c. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the World Skate Speed Rulebook 2026.