During a power jam, skaters focus on maximizing scoring opportunities to capitalize on the advantage.

Power jams are roller derby’s high‑octane moments. When the other team is short a skater, the track tilts in your favor and speeds up the game in a heartbeat. It isn’t just about skating fast; it’s a carefully choreographed window to pile up points. So, what should skaters focus on during a power jam? The clear answer is: maximize scoring opportunities.

Let me break down what that means in the rink, without the hype or the noise. A power jam happens when an opposing skater sits in the penalty box. Your team can skate at full strength while the other side is short-handed. The result is a temporary mismatch—the kind of moment you want to ride, not waste. The clock is your ally, and your objective is to collect as many points as you can before the jam ends.

Why not chase penalties or lock down the other team’s defense? Those ideas have their place, but not in the core moment of a power jam. If you spend the whole window worrying about committing fewer fouls, you’ll miss the big picture: you’ve got a golden chance to rack up points. Likewise, focusing only on defense ignores the fact that your blockers are already doing heavy lifting to create the path. And taking breaks during this time eats into your advantage; momentum matters, and the jam is ticking away.

Here’s the thing about maximizing scores during a power jam: you need a plan, speed, and teamwork. It’s about squeezing every possible point from every lap, while staying smart and clean enough to stay on the track. Below are practical moves and ideas you can bring to the floor.

Set up with purpose: read the lane and pick your moments

• Look for gaps: blockers aren’t walls; they’re moving barriers. The best jammers read the line and pick the opening that won’t close before you get there. That means staying light on your feet, accelerating when a seam appears, and keeping your hands ready to steer rather than to shove.

• Choose inside or outside lines carefully: sometimes the most direct route is the center lane, other times you’ll earn more by skating the outside edge and cutting back in. The decision should hinge on how the blockers are aligned and where you can slip through with minimal contact that risks penalties.

• Don’t chase the pack forever: you’ll spot a chance, pounce, and then glide back to read the next one. It’s a rhythm game—pause too long and the opportunity evaporates.

Move with speed and control

• Build speed with controlled bursts: you don’t have to sprint the whole jam. Instead, you pace it—short, sharp accelerations to slip through a crack, then reset just enough to keep your balance as you approach the next blocker wall.

• Master the push-pull of tempo: a fast first few seconds can set the tone, but a smart slowdown at the right moment helps you avoid unnecessary contact and penalties. Jammers who balance speed with precision tend to rack up more points per lap.

• Use how you pivot: a quick pivot or a small shoulder angle can create inches of space. It’s not about overpowering everyone; it’s about making the defenders’ job harder and giving yourself a clean line to cross for points.

Coordinate with your blockers: leverage the wall

• Communication is currency: talk to your blockers, especially the pivot. A clear plan, a quick signal, and synchronized moves keep the defense from collapsing on you.

• The wall has to be alive: your blockers should shift to create a moving barrier that funnels opponents out of the way without breaking the pack’s shape. A solid wall lets you dive through with less resistance and more potential scoring passes.

• Know when to break away: sometimes you’ll want to pull back and let your blockers finish their job. Other times you’ll ride their momentum and surge into a lane created by their actions. The timing is everything.

Engineer multi-point runs

• Every pass counts: in a power jam, the points aren’t earned with a single sprint. Each time you lap an opponent, you add points. The goal is to string several gaps together in quick succession.

• Plan for “two-for-one” opportunities: if you can complete two scoring passes in fast sequence, you exaggerate the jam’s value. Use watchers (the scoreboard, your own memory, or a quick glance) to track how many blockers you’ve passed and how many are left between you and the next scoring chance.

• Don’t overcommit to a single line: if a chosen route closes, switch lanes calmly. Forcing a tunnel that isn’t there invites trouble and a missed opportunity. Flexibility beats stubbornness here.

Maintain discipline to stay on track

• Protect yourself from penalties: even in a power jam, you’re still subject to the rules. Avoid dangerous hits and illegal moves. The better you play within the rules, the longer you ride the jam and the more points you can claim.

• Don’t gas out before the timer runs out: energy management matters. Short, sharp bursts, then a moment of composure can save your legs for the late seconds when every point counts.

• Keep your aim simple: a clean, repeatable approach beats fancy, flashy moves that risk penalties. The best jammers make smart, efficient choices that yield reliable point gains.

Common missteps to sidestep

• Overthinking the lane: yes, you want to find the seam, but overanalyzing each micro-gap can stall you. Trust your instincts, then adjust in real time.

• Chasing the one big run: you’ll win more by stacking several smaller, clean scoring trips than by chasing a single long, risky break.

• Forgetting the clock: time is a weapon. If you don’t know how long you have, you’ll waste a precious window. Glance at the scoreboard, plan your next two passes, then act.

Mental prep and the rhythm of the jam

• Keep a calm, focused breath: when the crowd swells and the track tightens, your breathing steadies you. A steady rhythm helps you stay relaxed and deliberate.

• Stay connected with teammates: a quick nod, a tap on the hip, a shout of encouragement—these little signals keep the team in sync. When you’re in sync, you’re faster and more efficient.

• Visualize outcomes: before the whistle, imagine the lines you’ll take, the blockers you’ll pass, and the points you’ll rack up. A little mental rehearsal is a real edge.

Real-world flavor: what coaches and leagues emphasize

• The rules and the game flow shape decisions. The WFTDA ruleset guides what’s legal in a power jam, how points are earned, and how penalties affect the jam. Understanding the framework helps you stay sharp when the clock is ticking.

• Watching and studying can pay off. Look for game footage from leagues you admire. Notice how top jammers ride the power jam, how they handle the wall, and how they switch lanes when a seam appears. It’s less about copying moves and more about absorbing patterns that fit your style.

• Conditioning matters: a power jam rewards endurance as well as speed. Strong legs, good balance, and lung capacity translate into more controlled bursts and cleaner passes when you need them most.

Digging deeper: a few practical drill ideas for this theme

• Lane search drills: practice selecting the seam on different laps around the track, then glide through with minimal contact.

• Wall play with pivots: work on a moving wall with the pivot directing the line and you crossing behind the wall to slip past a blocker.

• Multi-pass rhythm: set a timer and try to complete back-to-back scoring passes with quick resets in between. Track your points and aim to increase them in each round.

• Clock awareness session: play with a coach or teammates who call out remaining seconds. Learn how to pace your moves so you don’t burn out before the jam ends.

A practical mindset for skaters who want to shine during power jams

• Stay flexible. When a lane opens, take it. If it closes, reset and find another. The power jam doesn’t demand a single heroic moment; it rewards consistent, smart pressure.

• Balance aggression with care. You want to push through, but you don’t want to skate yourself out of the jam or into penalties.

• Trust your teammates. The blockers aren’t just a barrier; they’re your partners in crime when it comes to racking up points. Clear communication and mutual understanding are your best allies.

If you’re building a toolkit for these moments, start with the basics: clean movement, quick decision-making, and solid teamwork. The goal of a power jam is simple in theory—to maximize scoring opportunities as the clock counts down. In practice, it’s a concert of timing, space, and tempo, with several small, repeatable moves that add up to big numbers on the scoreboard.

So next time the jam whistle blows and the other side’s penalty flag drops, you’ll know what to do. You’ll hunt for openings, slide through with precision, and push your team toward a surge of points. You’ll ride the moment with calm energy, keep your form tight, and let your teammates do their part to keep the line intact. And when the jam ends, you’ll see the impact—not just on the score, but in the confidence you carried into the next one.

Power jams aren’t a lottery ticket; they’re a carefully played hand. If you stay focused on maximizing those opportunities, you’ll turn opportunities into momentum, and momentum into wins. For skaters who want to bring their best to every jam, that’s the real payoff.