rules and regulations
Here are the basic rules that you need to know to play Ultimate:
field dimensions
STARTING THE GAME
- Ultimate is played with 7 players on each team
- Substitutions are only allowed at the end of a point (when one team scores), or when a player is injured and cannot continue playing
- A point is started by having the opposing teams line up on their own endzone lines.
- Play commences when the team coming out on defense "pulls" or throws the disk down the field to the offense, who then tries to work the disk up the field and ultimately catch it in the defense's endzone
- If the pull goes out of bounds through the back or the sides of the endzone, the disk is taken to the brick mark and play starts there. If the pull goes out of bounds before the disk reaches the endzone, play is started from the sideline wherever the disk went out of bounds.
GAME PLAY
- Players must pass the disk to other players in order to advance up the field.
- Players cannot run with the disk, but if a player catches the disk while running, he is allowed a few steps in order to slow down and he must come to a complete stop before he can throw it again.
- The player holding the disk has ten seconds, or stall counts, to throw the disk. It is the responsibility of the defender guarding the player with the disk to call out the stall count.
- If the disk touches the ground, or if the stall count reaches 10 before the disk is thrown, it is a turnover and possession changes.
FOULS
- Ultimate is a no-contact sport. While contact does occur, if it inhibits a player in any way a foul may be called.
- Ultimate is also a mostly self-officiated sport. Players are expected to abide by the spirit of the game, play fairly, and make fair calls.
- Fouls are most commonly called when the mark inhibits the thrower's ability to pivot or pass, or when one player makes contact with another player, infringing upon a player's ability to catch the disk
- Genrally, if a foul is committed, the player who committed the infraction has the right to contest the foul if he believes he was playing within the rules.
- In most cases, if a foul is called the disk will go back to the thrower, but this is not always the case.
MORE RULES AND REGULATIONS
- For a complete understanding of the rules and regulations, check out the current Official Rules of Ultimate at usaultimate.org