Rules of Ultimate

8. State of Play

8.1. Play is 'dead', and no turnover is possible:
1. 8.1.1. After the start of a point, until the pull is released;
2. 8.1.2. When the disc must be carried to the pivot location after the pull or a turnover, until a pivot point is established;
3. 8.1.3. After a call which stops the play or any other stoppage, until the disc is checked in; or
  
  Annotation: Using the wrong call
  
  What: A player signals a foul or violation and yells “stop” or uses the incorrect name for a call.
  
  Result: The call should be dealt with as if the player has used the correct call.
  
  Why: It is clear that the player has seen a breach of the rules. This takes precedence over the technicality of knowing the correct term.
  
  Extra: The player who used the wrong term should make it a point to learn the correct term (rule 1.3.1) and more experienced players should tell them the correct call (rule 1.8).
4. 8.1.4. After a disc hits the ground, until possession is established by the appropriate team.
  
  Annotation: Disc hits the ground
  
  A disc is deemed to have hit the ground when it contacts the ground and no player had caught the disc prior to the disc contacting the ground, or after the catch, the player loses control and the disc subsequently contacts the ground.
  
  Extra: After a pull or a turnover where the disc hits the ground in-bounds, if the offence attempts to pick up the disc in-bounds, but fails to pick it up and the disc drops to the ground, that is not a new turnover, unless the offence had full control of the disc prior to accidentally dropping the disc.
5. 8.1.5. Players are allowed to move during dead play (unless specified otherwise).
  
  Annotation: Moving during dead play
  
  If, after an out-of-bounds turnover, the thrower is walking the disc to the playing field, all other players are allowed to move.
8.2. Play that is not dead is “live”.
8.3. The thrower may not transfer possession of the disc during dead play to another player.
8.4. Any player may attempt to stop a disc from rolling or sliding after it has hit the ground.

Annotation: Significantly altering the discs position

What: In attempting to stop a rolling disc a player knocks the disc towards their attacking endzone.

Result: The opposition may request that the pivot be established at the location where the disc was contacted, by verbal request or by pointing to the correct location. Play does not stop and a check is not required to restart play (similar to an accepted travel infraction (Rule 18.2.6)).

If the offensive team is the team that significantly altered the discs position they should not move to establish the pivot at the location where the disc was contacted unless requested to by the opposition.
1. 8.4.1. If, in attempting to stop such a disc, a player significantly alters the disc’s position, the opposition may request that the pivot point be established at the location where the disc was contacted
8.5. After a turnover, and after the pull, an offensive player must move at walking pace or faster to directly retrieve the disc and establish a pivot point.

Annotation: Standing over the disc after a turnover

What: A turnover has occurred and the new intended thrower is standing over the disc, waiting for their team to set up

Result: The defence should remind the player they need to put the disc into play. Intentional delay of game is against spirit of the game and should be discussed by the captains as soon as possible.

Why: Rule 8.5 says that the new thrower must not delay when picking up the disc.

Extra: If other players are still moving towards the disc (a common situation after a turnover), the closest player can decide not to pick up the disc – this is not in itself a breach of the rules. If no player on offense has been walking towards the disc since the turnover occurred, this is a breach of the rules.

It is recommended that the opposing team provide a warning to the opposition and make sure they are aware of the rule before enforcing any time limits.
1. 8.5.1. In addition to 8.5, after a turnover the offence must put the disc into play within the following time limits, if the disc did not become out-of-bounds, and the disc's location is:
  
  Annotation: Time limits after a turnover
  
  To enforce the 10 and 20 second time limits the defence should use a Pre-stall, by loudly counting down the time limit in 5-second intervals. The Pre-stall should be noticeable by the offence player closest to the disc. The player who calls the time limits does not need to be the same player who becomes the marker.
  
  If the disc lands out-of-bounds and then rolls back and stops in the playing field, the time limits in 8.5.1 do not apply (unless games are using the WFDF Rules of Ultimate Appendix)
  
  Extra: For events where the WFDF Rules of Ultimate Appendix are in use, the time limits also apply to discs that are out-of-bounds, and for the pull.
  
  It is recommended that the opposing team provide a warning to the opposition and make sure they are aware of the rule before enforcing any time limits.
  
  If the offence believes that the time limits are being counted too quickly, they can call a fast count.
  
  The defence must allow an unobstructed path by the offence to the disc and to the pivot location.
  1. 8.5.1.1. in the central zone – within ten (10) seconds of the disc coming to rest.
  2. 8.5.1.2. in an end zone – within twenty (20) seconds of the disc coming to rest.
2. 8.5.2. If the offence breaches 8.5, or 8.5.1, the defence may give a warning (“Delay of Game” or using a pre-stall) or may call a “Violation”.
  1. 8.5.2.1. If, after a warning, the offence continues to breach 8.5, or 8.5.1, then 9.3.1 does not apply and the marker may commence the stall count.
    
    Annotation: Starting a stall count after a delay of game
    
    After the “delay of game” call the offence should be given two (2) seconds to remedy the breach before the stall count is commenced