Rules of Ultimate
14. Scoring
- 14.1. A goal is scored if an in-bounds player catches a legal pass and:
Annotation: “Callahan” Goals
What: The offence throws the disc, but a defender intercepts the pass in the Offence’s defending end zone (which is the Defence’s attacking end zone).
Result: The defence scores a goal.
Why: Rule 14.1 states that the goal is scored when a player catches a legal pass and the first contact with the ground is inside their attacking endzone. It does not state that the pass has to be from a teammate.
Extra: The term Callahan Goal is an unofficial term for this type of goal.
Annotation: Throwing the disc after a score
What: A player catches the disc in the attacking end zone, but does not know this and throws the disc.
Result: It is a goal, no matter the result of the additional pass.
Why: Rule 14.1 does not say that the player scoring the goal must be aware of it. So if somebody has a clear perspective on it and declares it a goal, it is a goal. The disc cannot be thrown away after a goal is scored, so that action can be disregarded.
Note: If it is unclear if the player scored (ie there is no agreement on the player who had best perspective, and there are opposing view points on the play) the result of the additional play stands.
Extra: Players may ask for perspective from people on the side-line to determine if the pass was caught in the endzone, however it is still up to the players involved to make the final call.
If the player throws an incomplete pass after catching the disc in the endzone, but before they survived all ground contact related to the catch, this is a turnover.
Everyone else can move as the thrower moves to the goal line after not scoring but being in the endzone.
Annotation: Catching a goal
If a player in the endzone claps the disc between their hands, gains control of the disc for just one moment, and then loses control and the disc hits the ground this is known as a “clap spike”. A “clap spike” is not a goal as the player has not maintained the catch for more than one noticeable instant and therefore, according to the definitions, has not established possession of a pass.
Extra: If a player catches a pass in the end zone while running and maintains the catch for more than one noticeable incident, and they survive any ground contact directly related to the catch, they may deliberate release the disc as they continue to run.
Annotation: Catching a goal close to the sideline
What: A player catches a pass in the end zone and very close to the sideline and then goes out of bounds and establishes possession
Result: As long as the player catches the pass (by having a non-spinning disc trapped between at least two body parts) while also being in contact with the end zone (and not being in contact with the out-of-bounds area) this is a goal.
Extra: If the player who caught the disc in the end-zone does contact out-of-bounds, and then fumbles the disc before they establish possession, that is an out-of-bounds turnover, regardless of whether or not they regain possession before the disc hits the ground
- 14.1.1. all their ground contacts are entirely within their attacking end zone, or for an airborne player, all of their first simultaneous points of ground contact after catching the disc are entirely within their attacking end zone, and
Annotation: Contacting the end zone
If a player clearly lands on their toes first and then continues down onto their heels, their toes are the first point of ground contact. If a player lands fairly flat-footed and it is not possible to determine which part of the foot contacted the ground first, the entire foot is the first point of ground contact.
Remember, the end zone line is not part of the end zone.
- 14.1.2. they subsequently establish possession of the disc, and maintain the catch throughout all ground contact related to the catch (note 12.1, 12.1.1).
- 14.1.1. all their ground contacts are entirely within their attacking end zone, or for an airborne player, all of their first simultaneous points of ground contact after catching the disc are entirely within their attacking end zone, and
- 14.2. If a player believes a goal has been scored, they may call “goal” and play stops. After a contested or retracted goal call play must restart with a check and the call is deemed to have been made when the player established possession.
Annotation: Contested Goal
After a contested or retracted goal call where the receiver maintains possession, all players should return to where they were when the player established possession of the pass.
Extra: If a player could reasonably assume that they have scored a goal, and behaves as if they have scored a goal (for example, by celebrating a goal) this should be treated as a “goal” call. This “goal” call is a stoppage of play and the result of any additional play does not stand.
- 14.3. If a player in possession of the disc ends up with their selected pivot point behind the attacking goal line without scoring a goal according to 14.1, the player must establish a pivot point at the nearest location on the goal line.
Steinar's comment (unofficial!): Throwing from inside the endzone
This rule means that if you make a pass from inside the endzone (i.e., without having at least one foot on the line, or outside the endzone), the other team can a travel violation (18.2.7). See 18.2.8 and 18.2.9 for what happens next.
- 14.4. The time at which a goal is deemed to have been scored is when the player established possession.
Annotation: Goal call and time cap
If there is discussion about a goal, and after discussion the goal is confirmed, for the purposes of time cap rules, the point is deemed to have ended when the player established possession and the player in possession was in contact with the endzone. However the time limits between points will not commence until the discussion is resolved.
Steinar's comment (unofficial!): Buzzer beaters (see also)
4.5.1 and my comment on it is relevant for understanding what happens near the end of the game.
Steinar's comment (unofficial!): Point, goal and game
Also see section 4; it contains information on what happens after you score.