If Red Blocker exits the Penalty Box and performs a whip for the Red Jammer while being half a lap behind the Pack, who gets penalized for being Out of Play?

When the Red Blocker exits the Penalty Box, they re-enter the track and are considered "on the track" but are not yet in play, especially given their position half a lap behind the Pack. According to the rules of Roller Derby, skaters who re-enter the track must establish themselves in play, which means they cannot legally participate in the game until they are among the Pack of blockers and within a certain distance.

In this scenario, since the Red Blocker is half a lap behind the Pack when they attempt to perform a whip for the Red Jammer, they have not established themselves in play. The Red Jammer can only receive assistance from teammates who are in play. Therefore, the act of attempting the whip by the Red Blocker, while being out of play, leads to a penalty for them. This is a key aspect of Roller Derby strategy, where positioning and timing are crucial for effective teamwork and legal play.

This situation highlights the importance of understanding the rules regarding when a skater can effectively re-enter play and assist teammates. Thus, the correct focus on the actions of the Red Blocker and their status relative to the Pack leads to the conclusion that they are the one penalized for being out of play.