GENERAL ULTIMATE FRISBEE RULES

1. DESCRIPTION.

Ultimate is a non-contact sport played by two, 7-6minimum player teams.  The object of the game is to score goals.  The disc may only move by passing, as the thrower is not allowed to take any stops.  Any time a pass is incomplete, intercepted, knocked down, or contacts an out-of-bounds area, a turnover occurs, resulting in an immediate change of possession of the disc.  A goal is scored when a player successfully passes the disc to a teammate in the endzone which that team is attacking.

2. SPIRIT OF THE GAME.

Ultimate has traditionally relied on the spirit of sportsmanship, which places the responsibility for fair play on the player himself.  Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of the bond of mutual respect between players, dangerous aggression, intentional fouling, or other “win-at-all-costs” behavior are contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all players.

 II. Clarifying Statements

1. PHRASES:
2. To “put the disc into play” means that the thrower establishes a pivot foot and is ready to throw.
3. “Where the disc stops” refers to the location where the disc is caught, comes to rest naturally, or where it is stopped from rolling or sliding.
4. There are no scrimmage lines or offsides (except on throw-offs) in Ultimate.
5. The disc may be passed in any direction.
6. Any player may stop the rolling or sliding disc, but it may not be purposefully advanced in any direction.  Possession is gained where the disc stops.
7. No defensive player may ever pick up the disc.

III. Field Of Play

1. The field of play is a rectangular area 120 yards in length (25-yard endzones) and 40 yards wide. May be modified on the quad.

IV. Equipment

1. Any flying disc may be used as along as it is acceptable to both team captains. Please bring your own if you have them.
2. Individual players may wear any soft protective clothing as long as it does not endanger the safety of any other player.
3. No Jewelry will be permitted…

V. Length Of Game

1. Each game will be played up to ten, with a 35-minute time limit.

Points:

1. A completed pass in the endzone is worth 1 point.

VI. Timeouts

1. Each team is allotted 1 time out per game (must be called when your team has possession.)

VII. Substitutions

1. Substitutions can be made:

• After a goal and before the ensuing accepted throw off
• To replace an injured player(s)
• During a time-out.

VIII. Starting And Restarting Play

1. Play starts at the beginning of each period of play and after each goal with a throw-off.
2. Each time a goal is scored, the teams switch the direction of their attack and the team that scored throws off.
3. Throw-offs should take place from the 20 yard line and may be knocked down, but not intentionally batted forward for extra yardage.
4. Throwing team must raise the Frisbee and wait for the receiving team to raise one hand to signal that they are ready to begin play.
5. If the Frisbee is thrown out of the back of the end zone it may be brought to the goal line and checked into play, either on the ground or by a defending player.

IX. The Marker

1. Only one defensive player may guard the thrower at any one time; that player is the marker.
2. The marker may not straddle (i.e. place hi/her foot on either side of) the pivot foot of the thrower.
3. There must be at least one arm’s length between the upper bodies of the thrower and the marker at all times.  It is the mutual responsibility of both players to respect each other’s position and not encroach into this area once it is established.

X. Stalling

1. Once a marker has established a set guarding stance on the thrower, s/he may initiate a count.
2. The count consists of the marker calling “Stalling” or “Counting” and counting at one second intervals from one to ten (1-10), loudly enough for the thrower to hear.
3. If the thrower has not released the disc at the first utterance of the word “ten,” a turnover and a check result.
4. If the defense decides to switch markers; and if the new marker wishes to initiate a stalling count, s/he must start again from one.
5. In the event of a stall, the once marker, now offensive player, does not have to take the disc after the check.  The once thrower, now marker, checks the disc to the new thrower; if s/he does not want the disc, the marker “checks” the disc by placing it on the ground and calling “in play.”

XI. The Receiver

1. After catching a pass, the receiver is only allowed the fewest number of stops required to come to a stop and establish a pivot foot.
2. If the receiver is running as s/he catches the disc, the receiver may throw a pass before the third ground contact after catching the disc without coming to a complete stop.
3. If the disc is caught simultaneously by the offense and defense, the offense retains possession.
4. If an airborne receiver jumps and makes a catch, and is contacted by a defensive player before landing, and the contact caused the receiver to land out-of-bounds, the receiver must either call him/herself out-of-bounds, or call a foul on the defensive player.
5. First ground contact determines possession.  The ground can cause an incomplete pass, resulting in a turnover.

XII. Fouls

1. Fouls are the result of physical contact between opposing players.  A foul can be called by the player who has been fouled and must be announced by calling out the word “Foul!” loudly immediately after the foul has occurred.
2. The player initiating contact is guilty of a foul.
3. A throwing foul may be called when there is contact between the thrower and the marker.
4. Contact occurring during the follow through (after the disc has been released) is not sufficient grounds for a foul, but should be avoided whenever possible.
5. When a foul is committed by a thrower or the marker, play stops and possession reverts back to the thrower after a check.
6. If the thrower is fouled in the act of throwing and the pass is not completed, play continues without interruption.
7. A catching foul may be called when there is contact between opposing players in the process of attempting a catch, interception, or knock-down.  A certain amount of incidental contact during or immediately after the catching attempt is often unavoidable and is not a foul.
8. If a player contacts an opponent before the disc arrives and thereby interferes with that opponents attempt to make a play on the disc, the player has committed a foul.
9. If a player’s attempt to make a play on the disc causes significant impact with a legitimately positioned stationary opponent, before or after the disc arrives, that player has committed a foul.
10. Dangerous, aggressive behavior or reckless disregard for the safety of fellow players is always a foul.
11. If a catching foul occurs and is uncontested, the player fouled gains possession at the point of the infraction.  If the call is disputed, the disc goes back to the thrower.
12. If the defense doesn’t agree, they can contest and the disc goes back to the thrower and the play is redone.

XIII. Violations

1. Any player who recognizes that violation has occurred may call a violation.  The player must immediately call “violation” or the name of the specific violation loudly.
2. The thrower must keep all or part of the pivot foot in contact with a single spot on the field.  Should the thrower lose contact with that spot, the thrower has traveled.
3. If the receiver obviously takes more steps than are required to stop after a pass, that player has traveled.
4. If the receiver, after receiving a pass on the run, releases a pass after the third ground contact and before coming to a complete stop, that receiver has traveled.
5. No defensive player may touch the disc while it is in the hands of the thrower.  If a defensive player does so, causing the thrower to drop the disc, the thrower calls, “Strip.”
6. Only one marker is permitted to guard the thrower.  No other defensive player may establish a position within 3 yards of the pivot foot of the thrower, unless s/he is guarding another offensive player in that area.
7. Picks and Screens are Prohibited.

The supervisor will have the authority to eject any player who violates the spirit of the game, commits aggressive fouls, or acts in non-sportsmanlike conduct.  No Substitutions will be allowed for an ejected player.