GradPro IM - Ultimate Rules

Default & Forfeit

• 1 Forfeit – The team who is forfeiting will receive four “points against” and the opposing team will receive the win with four “points for”.
• 2 Forfeits – 3 “points for” will be subtracted from the team’s final season record points, in addition to receiving the loss with four “points against”.
• 3 Forfeits – automatically disqualified from playoffs

Late Policy

1. After 10 and up to 15 minutes after the original starting time, the first 15 minutes of the half are eliminated and the opponent is awarded one goal.
2. After 15 and up to 25 minutes after the original starting time, the first half is eliminated and the opponent is awarded a total of two goals.
3. At 30 minutes after the original starting time the game is forfeited and a four goal win is awarded to the opponent.
4. If both teams are late in arriving, then only the time is deducted until 30 minutes after the scheduled start at which time the game is declared a double forfeit and both teams receive losses.

The Game

• Ultimate is a non-contact disc sport played by two teams of seven players with the objective of scoring goals.
• A goal is scored when a player catches the disc in the end zone that player is attacking.
• A player may not run while holding the disc.
• The disc is advanced by passing it to other players. The disc may be passed in any direction.
• If a pass is incomplete (i.e., hits the ground, is caught out-of- bounds, or is intercepted by a defensive player), a turnover occurs, resulting in an immediate change of the team in possession of the disc.
• An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through physical contact is a foul.
• Ultimate is self-officiated – there are no referees; players are responsible for making their own infraction and boundary (including scoring) calls.
• Captains will be responsible for keeping time.
• Time: Each game is scheduled for two 20-minute periods of running time with a 5-minute half time.
• A game is considered official after 20 minutes of play. If a game is stopped due to inclement weather and the game is in 19th minute that score will be counted.

The Team

Each team consists of seven players and unlimited substitutes who must meet eligibility requirements.  A team may begin a game with a minimum of four players.

• May be made after a goal and prior to the ensuing pull, before the beginning of a half, or to replace an injured or ejected player.
• Substitutions may also be made during a timeout.

Rules and Definitions

The Thrower

• Any member of the offensive team may take possession of the disc.
• The thrower must establish a pivot foot and may not change that pivot foot until the throw is released.
• The thrower may pivot in any direction, but once the marker has established a legal defensive position, the thrower may not pivot into him/her.

The Marker

• Only one player may guard the thrower at any one time; that player is the “marker.”
• The marker may not straddle the pivot foot of the thrower.
• There must be at least one disc’s diameter between the bodies of the thrower and the marker at all times.
• The marker cannot position his/her arms in such a manner as to restrict the thrower from pivoting.
• Stall count: The period of time within which a thrower must release a throw.
  • A player in possession of the disc has 10 seconds to release a throw.
  • The marker must be within 10 feet of the person with the disc before beginning the stall count.
  • The stall count consists of the marker counting to 10 audibly at one second intervals (e.g. “stalling one, two, three … .”).
  • If the thrower has not released the disc by the count of 10, a turnover results. If this call is disputed, the thrower gets the disc back with the stall count coming in at “stalling 5.”
  • If the defense switches markers, the new marker must restart the count at one.

The Receiver

• After catching a pass, the receiver may take only the fewest number of steps required to come to a stop and establish a pivot foot. Exception: If the receiver catches the disc while running, s/he may throw a pass without coming to a stop, but only so long as s/he releases the disc before the third ground contact after catching the disc.
• If offensive and defensive players catch the disc simultaneously, the offense retains possession.

Fouls and Violations

• The offending player loudly calls out the infraction (e.g., “Travel,” “Foul,” etc.).
• A player called for an infraction may contest that call (by loudly calling “contest”), if that player believes that s/he did not commit the infraction.
• After a call, play stops and players remain stationary until the parties involved have resolved the call.
• If a call is not disputed, play resumes in a way simulating what most likely would have occurred without the infraction. E.g., 1) If a thrower was fouled while throwing and the pass was incomplete, the thrower gets the disc back with a new stall count, or 2) If a receiver is fouled on a reception attempt and the pass is incomplete, the receiver gets the disc at the point that the foul occurred.
• If a call is disputed and the players cannot come to a resolution, the play is redone with each player returning to the position s/he occupied when the disputed infraction allegedly occurred.

Infractions include:

• Foul: Contact between opposing players.
• Fast count: When the marker counts at intervals of less than one second.
• Double-team: When more than one defensive player is guarding the thrower within 10 feet.
• Disc space: If the marker touches or is less than one-disc diameter away from the thrower.
• Travel: When a thrower fails to establish a pivot foot at the appropriate spot on the field, and/or to keep in contact with that spot until the throw is released.
• Strip: When a defensive player knocks the disc out of a thrower’s hands.
• Pick: Obstructing the movement of a player on the opposing team.

Positioning

• Each player is entitled to occupy any position on the field not occupied by another player.
• Picks: No player may establish a position, or move in such a manner, so as to obstruct the movement of any player on the opposing team; to do so is a pick.
• When the disc is in the air, players must play the disc, not the opponent.
• Each player has the right to the space immediately above him/her. A player who has jumped is entitled to land at the same point of take off without hindrance by opponents.

Out of Bounds

Goal

• caught by the receivers it must be put in play from that spot
• touched but not caught by the receivers it is put in play by the throwers where it stops
• untouched, uncaught and in-bounds it is put in play by the receivers where it stops
• thrown out-of-bounds the receivers may request a re-throw or start play from the spot where the disc went
• out-of-bounds.

Etiquette

• If a foul is committed and not called, the player who commits the foul should inform the infracted player of the foul.
• If there is ever a failure to come to an agreement over any call, the disc reverts back to the thrower after a check.
• If offsetting fouls are called on the same play, the disc reverts back to the thrower after a check.
• If the call is against the defense, the count is reset at zero (0).
• If the call is against the offensive, the count continues from the point at which it was stopped, except the thrower must be given a minimum of five (5) seconds. In the case where a novice player commits a violation, it is common practice to stop play and explain the violation.