Jammer helmet covers - stars go where now?

[Pandora Pandamonium]

I've been searching through some old messages for an answer to a question that arose last weekend.

I happened to discuss this with Three Majors at EROC 2011 in Berlin back in January, and there are conflicting opinions on this matter.

At which point can/would (or wouldn't?) you consider that a jammer is inactive due to the stars not being visible on the "side" of her helmet cover?

An earlier post threw this up:

Gotta be on the side...

Um, which side? Front side? Back side? Left side? Right side?

Ok, admittedly I've been picky about this, but I am also for the sake of being a lil pedantic so that skaters can learn about different ref decisions. It is my opinion that, based on a profile view of a jammer, where a jam ref can see only the left side of her head, if the stars are not visible at that point, then I may call inactive jammer status.

Ok, so further in the interest of pedantry, the current set of rules does not specifically state how you define the 'side' of the helmet cover.

Fine. HOWEVER, the 2008 rule set states that:

3.6.2 Jammer: Helmet cover must have two stars that are a minimum of four inches across, from point to point, one each on the left and right side. Helmet cover base color and stars must be high-contrast and easily identifiable.

So, do we infer this from the older rule set? Or refer to the current ones exactly as they're written? I know it seems to be a matter of opinion at this point, but will this be considered as a revision in the next update?

Hoping for some sounding-board support...

Cheers folks!

Pandora
- Helsinki Roller Derby zebra

[FNZebra]

I would use the current rules, as they also tightened up who may and may not wear helmet covers, and have more strictly defined the colors for same.

Personally, if they started the jam with the cover in their hand or on their helmet, and after the jam begins they have the cover on their helmet, that is the jammer.

[Pandora Pandamonium]

Of course, I adhere to the current rule set, though I think this is more a question of what you consider the 'correct' way of wearing the helmet cover.

This issue is clearer for pivots, in such a case:

Which leads me to this previous thread: http://www.zebrahuddle.com/index.php?topic=719.0

- P

[Pandora Pandamonium]

And yes, that's an old thread so it probably relates to the previous rule set.

My point, however, remains the same...

[mick hawkins]

Ok, admittedly I've been picky about this, but I am also for the sake of being a lil pedantic so that skaters can learn about different ref decisions. It is my opinion that, based on a profile view of a jammer, where a jam ref can see only the left side of her head, if the stars are not visible at that point, then I may call inactive jammer status.

I'm a pedant too... but I don't consider a jammer who's cover is positioned so the stars are at the front and rear as "inactive"

She's wearing a cover with a star on each side of it - there's nothing in the (current) rules to say that there should be some sort of penalty if she puts the cover on sideways

[Major Wood]

Pedantry can often get you in trouble when reading the rules. I'm this case, you weren't pedantic enough.

3.6.4 and 3.6.5 are rules about helmet covers, not about their placement on helmets.

[Captain Gorgeous]

What side? The outside of course!

As long as they meet the visual & measurement requirements, don't be overly concerned about their orientation to the helmet until the rules are changed to say to do so.

[Matt S Faction]

If you can see that she's wearing a helmet cover that has two stars on it, and those stars are the right size, then there shouldn't be an issue.