NOTT points are awarded in roller derby when a Jammer earns a pass on an opposing Blocker.

Not On The Track, Not On The Sidelines—Understanding NOTT Points

If you’ve ever watched a jam unfold and felt the energy shift the moment a Jammer slides by a blocker, you’ve felt NOTT in action. Not On The Track is more than a funny acronym; it’s a telling piece of the scoring puzzle. Here’s the simple truth: NOTT points are awarded when the Jammer earns a pass on any opposing Blocker. It’s that straightforward—and that crucial for how teams rack up points during a jam.

Let me explain it in a way that sticks. In roller derby, a Jammer’s job isn’t just to speed around the track. It’s to weave through blockers, earn passes, and convert those moves into points for their team. Every time the Jammer earns a pass on a blocker from the other team, NOTT points are awarded. Think of it as a fast scoreboard check-in—each successful pass adds one more point to the Jammer’s team total for that jam. It’s not about one big moment; it’s about a string of small, sharp gains that add up.

What exactly counts as a “pass”? That’s a great question, and it’s where the nuance shows up in real games. A pass happens when the Jammer makes it past an opposing Blocker with enough clearance to claim scoring potential, and the action is acknowledged by the on-ice officials and the Scorekeeper. It isn’t about simply being near a blocker or skating alongside them; it’s about clearly surpassing their position and continuing on. The moment a blocker is passed, NOTT points begin to accrue—one for each distinct blocker the Jammer passes. The crowd might cheer after a single clean pass, but the math is simple: more passes, more NOTT points, more momentum in the jam.

The distinction between “earning a pass” and “completing a pass” can feel subtle, but it matters. Some explanations you’ll hear talk about the point being awarded the moment the Jammer earns the pass; others describe it as coinciding with the completion of the pass. In most league play, the practical effect is the same: each successful pass translates into a NOTT point. And yes, those points are carried by the Jammer’s team for the jam, even as the pack keeps moving and blockers jostle for position.

A quick mental image helps: imagine the Jammer as a moving key, and each blocker they slip past as turning a key in a lock. The moment the key slides past, a notch appears on the scoreboard. Not On The Track points light up because a scoring opportunity has been secured through that precise pass. It’s all about precision, timing, and a little bit of battlefield winess—knowing when to push, when to sidestep, and when to hold just enough to avoid penalties.

Why NOTT matters in the grand scheme of a bout

• Momentum and morale: A string of earned passes pumps up the team and rattles the opposition. It’s tangible proof of progress inside a jam.

• Strategy and spacing: If a Jammer can pick their moments to push through a tighter wall, they’re stacking NOTT points quickly. Teams watch the pattern, adjusting lineups and lane choices based on how the other side sets their blockers.

• Real-time feedback: The Scorekeeper and referees use NOTT points to tally a Jammer’s scoring opportunities. Seeing the points accumulate can guide a Jammer’s next moves and help coaches decide where to focus pressure.

What to watch for on the track (and what to avoid)

• Fluid passes, clean execution: The best NOTT moments come from clean, decisive passes. Slipping a blocker isn’t enough; the pass has to be earned in a way that can be recognized and counted by officials. Practice footwork, angles, and speed control so that every move toward the blocker is purposeful.

• Reading the wall: The opposition will often switch up their blocking pattern. A Jammer who reads the wall—anticipating where a hole will open, or where a blocker might reach—gains passes more efficiently. That anticipation translates directly into NOTT points.

• Avoiding penalties: Not every near-miss should be chased. Aggressive moves that draw penalties can cancel out hard-earned passes. The legal, clean path is the sweet spot where NOTT gains stay in the positive column.

• The role of the Scorekeeper: In many bouts, the Scorekeeper is the quiet driver of NOTT momentum. They log each earned pass, translate it into points, and give the team a running total that coaches and players monitor. That on-the-fly feedback matters, especially in a jam where every second counts.

A little real-world coaching perspective

If you’re coaching or studying the game from a tactical lens, here are a few practical takeaways to translate NOTT into skill work on the track:

• Start-and-cut drills: Practice quick starts and instant accelerations to reach a blocker’s outside lane. The aim is to create a clean, track-wide “pass opportunity” window where the Jammer can breach the arc of a blocker’s defense.

• Angle training: Work on edging—how to carve an arc around the blocker rather than meeting them head-on. A tight angle can turn a near-miss into a clean pass and, yes, into a NOTT point.

• Blocking anticipation: For blockers, the best defense against NOTT is a disciplined, predictable line. Coaches should emphasize maintaining a stable wall that’s resistant to fast, deceptive moves, forcing the Jammer to create their own passing lanes.

• Situational drills: Simulate different pack formations and blockers’ alignments. Have the Jammer attempt passes under pressure, and tally NOTT gains in real time. This builds a feel for when a pass is most likely to count.

Common questions that pop up around NOTT

• Do NOTT points only count during specific jam scenarios? Not exactly. The rule is tied to the Jammer earning a pass on any opposing Blocker, regardless of jam phase. The counting is all about those clean passes, not just moments of wild action.

• Are NOTT points the same as the jam’s overall score? NOTT points contribute to the Jammer’s team score during the jam, but the jam’s final score is the total of all passes earned by both teams plus any penalties that come into play. Think of NOTT as a key piece of the scoring mosaic.

• What if a Jammer earns a pass but the blocker regains position before the jam ends? The point remains tied to the pass that was earned. If the Jammer earns another pass later, that’s another NOTT point to the tally. It’s a fresh opportunity, not a one-shot event.

The rhythm of a jam: a small, satisfying cadence

In the heat of a bout, NOTT points feel like a rhythm you can ride. The Jammer makes a move, gains a pass, and the Scorekeeper flicks a number on the board. The crowd might cheer, the bench might rise, and in a heartbeat, the momentum shifts. It’s not a single avalanche of points; it’s a steady stream—one passed blocker after another—each pass translating into forward progress for the team.

If you’re new to watching roller derby, keep an eye on NOTT moments during the action. You’ll start to notice that some Jammers seem to have a knack for selecting passing opportunities with surgical precision. They aren’t just fast; they’re precise, making the most of every chance to convert a pass into a tangible point. And when you see that happen consistently, you’re witnessing a core skill that can turn a tight bout into a win.

Final notes you can carry onto the track or into the stands

• NOTT points crystallize a Jammer’s effectiveness in the moment. They’re a snapshot of scoring potential in action.

• The moment a Jammer earns a pass on an opposing Blocker is the trigger. It marks the point at which a point is added to the Jammer’s team tally for that jam.

• Real-time awareness matters. The more a Jammer can scan the wall and time the pass, the more NOTT points they’re likely to collect before the jam ends.

• Don’t forget the human side: referees and Scorekeepers are part of the game’s flow. Respect their calls, as they keep the action fair, transparent, and thrilling to watch.

So, next time you’re watching a bout, keep your eyes peeled for those clean passes. The NOTT moments are the little sparks that illuminate the larger strategy of the jam. It’s where speed meets precision, where body control meets decision making, and where a team’s clever footwork translates into real, earned points. Not On The Track isn’t just a phrase—it’s a signal that a Jammer is turning effort into progress, one passed blocker at a time.