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The questions and answers on this page will hopefully clear up some confusion new players (and veterans) may have about Ultimate rules. Reading the Q & A below, however, is no substitute for reading the full rules.
You can view and save a pdf version of the rules by clicking here.
Greg Holloway wrote the FAQs below, so any interpretations of gray areas are basically his. It's up to you to help edit this page for content and accuracy.
You now play a sport where less than 1% of the players have ever read the rules. This is probably true in most sports, but the difference is that other sports rely on officials or referees to be experts in the rules and in Ultimate players make their own calls. The rules are long and boring, so most people have learned the rules by watching players more experienced than themselves. One outcome of this educational method is that some “rules myths” get propagated, since most veterans either learned by “word of mouth” or read the rules once a long time ago and never bother to go back and check the rules in their heads against the real rules. For me personally, that means I’m running around out there playing by 8th Edition rules, even though the 11th Edition is the current rules.
Even if players have read the rules, the rules do not always address every situation specifically. Or if they address a situation specifically, the explanation may not be written clearly and so different players have different interpretations.
Overriding Principles
Ultimate is a high-falutin’, idealistic, philosophical sport. The rules assume all players will never break the rules intentionally.Therefore, the rules do not provide “penalties” for fouls and violations, but simply give methods for restarting play when an inadvertent foul or violation has occurred. If you ever encounter a situation where you are not sure what the rule is, you can simply imagine what would have happened if a foul had not occurred and restart play at that point. For example, if you knock a receiver’s arm (a foul) and this contact prevented them from catching the disc, you resume play by assuming the catch would have been made.
In a worst case scenario, do what worked for you so well when you were five years old. Have a “do over”, and restart play at the point just before things got confusing. Which is basically what the rules say to do if a foul is called and someone else doesn’t agree with the call (“contests thefoul”).
The Preface, Spirit of the Game, and Etiquette sections of the 11th Edition rules elaborate on these overiding principles.
Attitude
As our league has grown, many players have commented that calling their own fouls feels a little too confrontational. Or they’ve said things like, “When I call a foul on someone, they get so upset about it!”
If someone calls a foul on you, they are NOT saying you have intentionally cheated. They are simply informing you that a foul or violation has occurred. Fouls and violations are a normal part of the game and will happen, even in spite of everyone’s best efforts to avoid them. If someone calls a foul on you, the rules give you the option of agreeing with the call ordisagreeing with (“contesting”) the call. Whenever there is confusion about whether or not a foul has occurred, the players involved should explain to each other (calmly, even though adrenaline levels may be high) why they think a foul did or did not occur, and then decide whether the foul call is accepted or contested.
The rules of Ultimate give control of the game to the players. This is unique among all the sports played on this planet. The game will be what you – each of you as individuals - make it. You have a great responsibility for making the game fair and fun, so I hope you will work hard at learning to call your own game.
Preface from the 11th Edition Official Rules of Ultimate
The Official Rules of Ultimate 11th Edition describes how the game is played. It is assumed that no Ultimate player will intentionally violate the rules; thus there are no harsh penalties for inadvertent infractions, but rather a method for resuming play in a manner that simulates what would most likely have occurred had there been no infraction.
In Ultimate, an intentionally foul is considered cheating and a gross offense against the spirit of sportsmanship. Often a player is in a position to gain an advantage by committing an infraction, but that player is morally bound to abide by the rules. The integrity of Ultimate depends of each player’s responsibility to uphold the Spirit of the GameTM, and this responsibility should remain paramount.
Spirit of the Game - clause from the 11th Edition Official Rules of Ultimate
Ultimate relies upon a spirit of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors,adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate unsportsmanlike conduct from theUltimate field. Such actions as taunting opposing players, dangerous aggression, belligerent intimidation, intentional infractions, or other“win-at-all-costs” behavior are contrary to the spirit of the game and must beavoided by all players.
Etiquette - section from the 10th Edition Official Rules of Ultimate (this section is expanded to include more points in the 11thEdition)
If a foul is committed and not called, the player who committed the foul should inform the infracted player of the foul.
Should a dispute or confusion arise on the field, it should be common practice to stop play. Play restarts with a check when the matter is resolved.
If a novice player commits an infraction out of sincere ignorance of rules, it is common practice to stop play and explain the infraction.
Throwing Questions
If I’m the thrower, how do I know if someone fouled me?
In general, if the arms or legs of the marker (the person guarding you when you are the thrower) make contact with you, you have been fouled. The most common occurrence will be when a marker strikes your arm or hand before you have released the disc. Hitting the disc before you havereleased it is also a foul.
Exceptions: Although the marker is not allowed to take a position that prevents you from pivoting (e.g. by straddling your pivot leg or holding their arms tightly on either side of you), they do have a right to their position and you cannot pivot into them. You also may not use your non-throwing arm to push on the torso of the marker (many new throwers do this unconsciously).
Contact on your follow through after you have released the disc is not a foul. If you have a reasonable grasp of basic physics, you’ll understand this one. As a thrower, you should try to avoid striking the marker in the body or head with your follow through, as you could injure the marker.
The 11th Edition rules have clarified that if thrower strikes a marker in the torso while throwing, this is a foul on the Thrower, and NOT a foul on the marker. Now in the 12th Edition, if they would just please include the marker’s head . . .
Rules reference: Section XVI Violations and Fouls;Subsection H Fouls; Item 3 a) Throwing Fouls; subitems 1 to 6.
How close can someone guard me when I'm throwing?
The marker (the person guarding you when you are throwing) must allow the diameter of the disc distance between your torso and their torso. The marker also cannot restrict your ability to pivot by straddling one of your legs or by holding their arms in a “V” around you. The 11th Edition describes this as “If a line between any two points on the markertouches the thrower or is less than one disc diameter away from the torso or pivot of the thrower, it is a disc space violation.” A little abstract geometry with imaginary lines there; I always say it’s a mental game. Rules reference: Section XIV The Marker; Subsection B Marking Violations; Item 3 Disc-space.
If you think the marker is too close, you can say, "too close" or "back up, please" and hold the disc up between you (parallel to the ground) in order to show the proper distance. Please avoid pushing the marker away when do this; just hold the disc in place. You didn't like being pushed when you were five years old, and most people don't like it any more even though they're older than five (physically, anyway).
On a related matter, the marker must be within three meters of the thrower in order to begin or continue the stall count. Three meters is about ten feet or three large steps. Or two body lengths if you're a short woman. Or a little over a body length and a half if you're a slightly tall man (as of late 2000, the average height of a North American white male was 5 foot 9 & 1/2 inches, with only 5% of men being taller than 6 ft 3 in). What I want to know is, since I’m 5’9” (in the morning, anyway), why are 100% of the teams I play against filled with guys taller (and faster) than me?
What happens if the person guarding me counts to ten before I throw?
A turnover results. You should give the disc to the person who was the marker. The (former) marker now has two choices: (1) be the thrower, which is done by asking the (former) thrower (now marker) to check the disc in, or (2) place the disc on the ground and, after asking if the defense is ready, check the disc in by tapping it and calling "in play!".Anyone (on the team that is now offense) could now come over and pick up the disc. Rules reference: Section XIV The Marker; Subsection A Stalling; Items 3(a) 1 & 2.
If you happen to have thrown the disc after the marker said "ten", it's still a turnover. I can’t find where it explicitly says in the rules, but the common practice is to return the disc to where the“stall” count happened. Play is then resumed as in the paragraph above.
Oddities: The turnover happens at the first "t"sound of the word "ten". Sometimes markers, in their excitement, will yell "down" or "stall" instead of "ten". The common interpretation I’ve heard over the past few years is that you must say “ten”, and not “down” or “stall”. When you’re counting, all the numbers from one to ten must be counted loudly enough for the thrower to hear.
What do I do if someone guarding me is counting to 10 too quickly?
You say "fast count" to the marker. The marker should then subtract one from the last number they said, and continue the countby saying "stalling" followed by their adjusted number after a one second interval. For example, if you say "fast count" as the marker says "seven", the marker should then say "stalling . . . (1second pause) . . . six" and continue counting.
If the marker does not respond to your initial declaration of "fast count", you say "violation" loudly. Play stops, and is restarted with a check and the count reset to one.
Experience: Most markers simply begin counting slower when someone tells them "fast count" (i.e. they don't subtract one and say"stalling"). I guess with all that adrenaline running around in your blood it's hard to do a little mental math. You'll have to decide for yourself if you want to call a second "fast count" or just play on, and ask the marker after the point to please count a little slower next time.
Does the person who counted to ten (i.e. marked or guarded the thrower) have become the thrower when a stall count occurs?
No. They can if they want to, but if they do not, any player on the team that was formerly defending can pick up the disc.
In the event of a stall, the disc should be given to the person who was the marker. The (former) marker now has two choices: (1) be the thrower, which is done by asking the (former) thrower (now marker) to check the disc in, or (2) place the disc on the ground and, after asking if the defense is ready, check the disc in by tapping it and calling "in play!". Anyone could now come over and pick up the disc.
Rules reference: Section XIV The Marker; Subsection A Stalling; Items 3 (a) 1 & 2.
When do I have to check the disc, and what the heck is a “check”, anyway?
A check is how play is re-started if a stoppage in play happens. After making sure his or her team (the offense) is ready, the thrower holds the disc in front of the marker. The marker then makes sure his or her team (the defense) is ready. The marker taps the disc to start play. Being “ready” means that all players on that team are standing still in the position they want to or should be in (as governed by the rules for particular situations). The way I read the 11th Edition, neither the marker nor the thrower has to announce that the disc is now in play (unless they are performing a self-check).
You only need a check after play has stopped (for any reason, but most typically after a foul call, injury, or time-out has stopped play). Play does not stop after a turnover (even if the disc has gone out of bounds). If you pick up the disc after a turnover, you do not have to let a defender check the disc. You may throw after you have established a pivot at an appropriate point on the field and touched the disc to the ground.
Example: I have often seen a team throw an incomplete pass into the endzone. A player on the opposing team will then pick up the disc and walk it to the front line of the endzone and wait there for a defender to check the disc. No check is required here; the thrower needs only to establish a pivot on the front line of the endzone and tap the disc on the ground to put it in play.
Except when a thrower is putting the disc in play from the point where they caught the disc or picked it up from the ground, the thrower must establish a pivot and tap the disc to the ground to put it in play. In other words, in all cases where you move the disc to a sideline or endzone line, you must establish a pivot and tap the disc on the ground to put it in play. Rule reference: XIII The Thrower; Section B.
What's a double team?
Only one defender can guard the thrower. If two defenders guard the thrower, a double team has occurred. In order to legally perform the stall count, the defender must be between one disc diameter and three meters (ten feet) away from the thrower. That's about three big steps, or two body lengths of a short woman. The next nearest defender to the thrower must be at least ten feet away.
Another defender can come within ten feet of the thrower if the offensive receiver they are guarding moves within this distance of the thrower.
When a double team occurs, the thrower should call out "double team". Only the thrower can make this call. The marker should subtract one from the stall count and continue counting. Any defenders within the ten foot radius from the thrower should move beyond the ten foot radius immediately. If the defenders do not respond to the first call, and the thrower calls "violation", play stops. The stall count is reset to one andplay restarts with a check.
What you'll actually see on the field: Most often, doubleteaming occurs when the defenders are playing a zone defense. Throwers are often too excited to notice a double team and call it. So you will see other players on the offense calling out "double team" to the defenders to remind them to keep their distance. This is fine, but remember that only the thrower can call the violation and stop play (if defenders do not respond to the first call by the thrower). In practice, double teaming is something teams tend to work out between points, with a representative from one team asking the other team to please respect the ten foot distance.
Special note: If the thrower makes a pass while being double teamed, and the pass is incomplete, it is a turnover. If the pass is complete, play continues uninterrupted.
What's travelling?
You cannot run or walk with the disc in Ultimate, but you are allowed to pivot back and forth to try and throw around the marker (the defender guarding the thrower). In order to make a legal throw, you must "establish a pivot". If you are right handed, this will most likely be the ball of your left foot (ball of the right foot for left handers). Once you establish your pivot point, it must stay in contact with the same point on the ground while you are throwing. If you lift your pivot from the ground, or drag it along the ground while you are the thrower, you have travelled. Rules reference: XVI Violations and Fouls; Section J. You can read this section if you want to see a few more specific instances of what a travel is (and what it is not).
If a travel is called, play stops. Play is restarted with a check. The stall count resumes at one higher than the count reached before thecall was made (or 9 if the count was over 8). If the travel call is contested, the stall count resumes at one higher than the count reached before the call was made, unless the count was over 5, in which case the count resumes at 6.
If the thrower makes a pass during/after a travel call and the pass is complete, the disc is returned to the thrower. If the pass is incomplete, it is a turnover.
Any player on the field can call a travel. Rule reference: XVI Violations and Fouls; Section A.
Can I put my knee on the ground when I'm throwing?
Yes. And just in case somebody tells you that you have to keep your knee on the ground once you've touched it to the ground . . . you don't.
Now for my tirade. We had a number of veterans in league who said touching your knee to the ground was a travel. They even had a little pet phrase "three points of contact constitutes a travel", which sounded like a rules quote. When I asked for anyone to find the phrase "three points of contact" in the rules, no one came forward.
Veterans, please do not stridently expound "rules" unless you are certain they are actually rules. Just because you "have seen it played that way" does not mean it is actually a rule. If you think it is a rule, but you are not sure, just say that you're not sure.
The only requirement in the rules for a legal throw is that you establish a pivot and keep that pivot in contact with the same spot of ground while you are throwing. You can lay down, sit down, stick your nose in the grass, stand up again, whatever turns you on - as long as you keep that pivot point stationary. The rules do not even specify that your pivot must beone of your feet.
Can I throw from a position other than standing?
Yes. Yes, you can. But I feel compelled to ask, "Why would you want to?"
This is another rule where some veterans have done the league a huge disservice by spreading a lot of misinformation and saying throwing from a position other than standing was a travel. Anyone who thinks throwing from a position other than standing is illegal, please send in a series of rules quotes (also giving the section or page number reference for each) along with a chain of unassailable logic to demonstrate your point.
The rules only state that you must establish a pivot to make a legal throw. They do not specify that you have to be standing, or that your pivot has to be your foot.
Tricky stuff: If you happen to end up on the ground after a catch (and hopefully you got there because of an awesome layout and not by just falling down awkwardly), the rules allow you to stand up and establish a pivot without being subject to a travel call. Makes sense, now here's the tricky part: making a motion like you intend to throw commits you to throwing in Ultimate. So, if while you are on the ground you start to throw, and change your mind and just make a fake, you are considered to have established a pivot. You're laying there on the ground, and as far as I'm concerned no one candictate to you that your navel is the pivot. You could claim your foot is the pivot and stand up, but . . . you would have to stand up in such a manner that your pivot foot stays in contact with the same spot on the field that it was touching while you were laying down, or you will have travelled.
Make it all simple and stand up before you throw. You'll make a better throw.
If I walk up to the disc and start to pick it up, can I change my mind and run on by?
Yes. Yes, you can.
Geez, here's another case where an number of veterans have spouted some incredibly inaccurate drivel. A number of veterans have told some less experienced players that if they went up to a disc, they had "addressed the disc" and had to pick it up and become the thrower. I defy anyone to find a phrase even remotely resembling "addressing the disc" in the rules.
Picking the disc up makes you the thrower. You can stand next to the disc, and you don't have to be the thrower. Heck, you can even bend over like you're going to pick up the disc and then run on by . . . as long as you don't touch the disc. But please note: this is also why you cannot be "nice" and pick up the disc (or retrieve the disc) and hand it to someone else. Once you pick it up, you are the thrower. And if you are defense, you cannot force the decision of who will be thrower on the other team by handing one of them the disc.
Marking Questions
Can I hold my hands up in front of the thrower’s eyes so he/she can’t see downfield?
No. Deliberately blocking the thrower's vision is expressly forbidden in the rules.
Do I have to say “stalling” between each number when I’m guarding the thrower and counting to ten?
No. The rules say you must announce "stalling" when you begin (or restart) your count, but you do not have to say stalling between each number.
You must allow at least one second to pass between each number you count off. If saying stalling between each number helps you do this,you are free to count this way. You must also count loudly enough for the thrower to hear. You cannot count silently to yourself.
How close to the thrower do I have to be to do the stall count?
You must be within three meters (ten feet, three big steps,etc. equivalent measures) of the thrower to begin, or continue, the stall count. If you leave this three meter zone and return to it, you must re-start the count at the beginning.
How close can you get? You must allow at least the diameter of the disc between your torso and the thrower's torso. You also cannot adopt a position that prevents the thrower from pivoting.
Do I have to say “down” or “stall” to indicate that the thrower has taken too much time?
The rules indicate that you should say "ten" to finish your count. If the disc is still in the thrower's hand at the first utterance of the "t" sound in "ten", you should then callout, "stall!".
Again, I plead for common sense. If someone gets excited and says "Down!" (or beeblebrox, or whatever) instead of "ten", the fact remains that the thrower took too much time and a turnover should result.
Rules Reference: Section XIV The Marker; Subsection C Stalling; Item 3.
Does the person who counted to ten (i.e. marked the thrower) have to pick up the disc when a stall count occurs?
No. Any player on the team that was defense (and has just become offense) can pick up the disc and be the (first) thrower.
You learn something new everyday. I just read the rules on this one, and here's the described procedure: When a stall has occurred, the disc should be given to the marker. The (former) marker now has two choices:(1) be the thrower, which is done by asking the (former) thrower (now marker) to check the disc in, or (2) place the disc on the ground and, after asking if the defense is ready, check the disc in by tapping it and calling "in play!". Anyone could now come over and pick up the disc.
Rules Reference: Section XIV The Marker; Subsection C Stalling; Item 3.
What if I’m marking and the thrower calls a “fast count” on me?
Basically, you need to back up by two in your count and begin to count more slowly from there.
The rules say to subtract one and then re-start your count at that point by saying "stalling" - which is effectively backing up by two. Example: You have just said "seven" and the thrower says"fast count". You respond by saying "stalling . . . (one second pause) . . . six".
If you do not respond (or respond inappropriately) and the thrower has to say "fast count" again, you have committed a violation. Play stops, and is re-started with a check. You must begin counting at "stalling . . . one".
Rules Reference: Section XIV The Marker; Subsection C Stalling; Item 6.
How close can I guard the thrower?
You must allow the diameter of the disc distance between your torso and the thrower's torso.
If you are within a disc diameter, the thrower may say "too close" or "back up, please" and hold the disc up between you (parallel to the ground) in order to show the proper distance. Please move back to the proper distance when this happens.
On a related matter, the marker must be within three meters of the thrower in order to begin or continue the stall count. Three meters is about ten feet or three large steps. Or two body lengths if you're a short woman. Or a little over a body length and a half if you're a slightly tall man (as of late 2000, the average height of a North American white male was 5 foot 9 & 1/2 inches, with only 5% of men being taller than 6 ft 3 in).
What's a double team?
Only one defender can guard the thrower. If two defenders guard the thrower, a double team has occurred. In order to legally perform the stall count, the defender must be between one disc diameter and three meters (ten feet) away from the thrower. That's about three big steps, or two body lengths of a short woman. The next nearest defender to the thrower must be at least ten feet away.
Another defender can come within ten feet of the thrower if the offensive receiver they are guarding moves within this distance of the thrower.
When a double team occurs, the thrower should call out "double team". Only the thrower can make this call. The marker should subtract one from the stall count and continue counting. Any defenders within the ten foot radius from the thrower should move beyond the ten foot radius immediately. If the defenders do not respond to the first call, and the thrower calls "violation", play stops. The stall count is reset to one andplay restarts with a check.
What you'll actually see on the field: Most often, doubleteaming occurs when the defenders are playing a zone defense. Throwers are often too excited to notice a double team and call it. So you will see other players on the offense calling out "double team" to the defenders to remind them to keep their distance. This is fine, but remember that only the thrower can call the violation and stop play (if defenders do not respond to the first call by the thrower). In practice, double teaming is something teams tend to work out between points, with a representative from one team asking the other team to please respect the ten foot distance.
Special note: If the thrower makes a pass while being double teamed, and the pass is incomplete, it is a turnover. If the pass is complete, play continues uninterrupted.
Starting & Restarting Play Questions
Can I call a timeout to tie my shoelaces?
No, you may not call a time-out to tie your shoelaces.
Please, learn to tie your shoelaces. Double-knot them or have a teammate tie them if you have to. Replace your laces with ones that aren't slippery. But please, please, do NOT call a timeout to tie your shoelaces when I have a receiver wide open for a huck in the endzone. Especially if you're on my team.
Section VI. Time-outs; Subsection D. Technical Time-out; Item 2. Any player may briefly extend a stoppage of play to correct faulty equipment (e.g. to tie shoelaces or straighten a disc), but active play may not stopped for this purpose. (Note: Play does not stop during a turnover even if the disc is out-of-bounds.)
Do I always have to let a defender check the disc in when I’m the first thrower?
You only need a check after play has stopped (for any reason, but most typically after a foul call, injury, or time-out has stopped play). Play does not stop after a turnover (even if the disc has gone out of bounds). If you pick up the disc after a turnover, you do not have to let a defender check the disc. You may throw after you have established a pivot at an appropriate point on the field and touched the disc to the ground.
If someone walks up to a disc lying on the field, does that person have to pick up the disc and be the first thrower?
You can stand next to the disc, and you don't have to be the thrower. Heck, you can even bend over like you're going to pick up the disc and then run on by . . . as long as you don't touch the disc. If you pick up the disc up, that makes you the thrower. Please note: this is why you cannot be "nice" and pick up the disc (or retrieve the disc) and hand it to someone else. Once you pick it up, you are the thrower. And if you are defense, you cannot force the decision of who will be thrower on the other team by handing one of them the disc.
Can I catch the pull?
Yes, you can. But if you try to catch the pull and you drop it, it is a turnover.
Defending Questions
Should I be polite and pick up the disc for the other team?
No. If someone picks or accepts the disc, they become thethrower. If they then put down the disc, or hand it to someone else, it is a turnover. The team that is going to be offense may want a particular player topick up the disc and be the first thrower. Even though you want to be politeand get the disc for them, you may be inadvertently selecting their first thrower for them. Just let them decide who is going to pick up the disc, and let that player go get the disc.
Can I clap or yell to distract a receiver?
No, please don’t. This is not addressed specifically in the rules, but it's bad spirit.
What’s a pick?
Ask a veteran to show you. This can be easier to understand visually, than through a written description. Basically, if you are guarding a receiver and are staying within ten feet of that receiver, you should be able to run after the receiver or run to block a pass to that receiver unimpeded. If the receiver runs by or near other players (either players on the receiver’steam or players on your team), and you have to stop, slow down, or change your path to avoid those players, a pick has occurred.
Picks, whether intentional or not, or against the rules in ultimate.
In the 11th edition, if a pick occurs but it does not affect the play (ie. the person who catches the disc was not involved in the pick), play continues as normal. If a pick occurs and it does affect the play, then the disc is returned to the thrower.
Receiving Questions
Can the ground cause a fumble?
Yes. If you catch the disc in the air and drop it when you hit the ground, it is a turnover.
Do I have to have both feet in bounds (or in the endzone) when I catch the disc?
Your first point of contact (whether that is one of your feet, both your feet, a hand, your head, whatever) with the ground after you catch the disc establishes whether your possession is in or out of bounds (or in or out of the endzone). That point of contact must be completely within the playing field (the sidelines are NOT part of the playing field) or completely within the endzone (the front line of the endzone is NOT part of the endzone).
So, if you catch the disc with both feet on the ground at the same time, and one foot is out of bounds, you are out of bounds. If you have one foot in the endzone and one foot out of the endzone, you are not in the endzone (and have not scored a point . . . yet).
If you catch the disc in the air and you land on one foot first, if any part of that foot is on the sideline, you are out of bounds.
Future Questions
30. What is “delay of game”?
32. Can I call a time out to replace a warped disc?
Receiving Questions
19. If I’m a receiver, how do I know if someone has fouled me?
20. What happens when someone fouls a receiver?
21. What happens if someone fouls a receiver in the endzone?
24. Do I have to tell an opponent when a turnover has occurred?
25. What happens when a pick occurs?
Advanced rules question: Give XVI 2 (b) (2) and XVI 3, what happens if a travel is called on a pass from an unmarked thrower to a wide open receiver?
Advanced rules question: If a marker is waiting on the endzone line, does a thrower have to tap the disc on the ground?
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