Ultimate Rules Insights

Rules Insight 4: Throwing fouls

These are in 2 categories: Offensive fouls and defensive fouls.

Defensive fouls (those caused by the defender) :

• The defender must not touch the disc or the thrower while the thrower is in possession.  To do so is a foul.

• The defender must leave at least 1 disc width between his/her (upper body) and the thrower.
  • If this is not done the thrower may insert the disc between the players and use it to move the defender back the required distance.  This is common practice, rather than calling an immediate foul.

• The defender must not straddle the pivot foot of the thrower.  To do so is a foul.
  • “Straddle” means to stand with a leg on each side of the throwers pivot foot.

• The defender cannot position his or her arms in such a manner as to restrict the thrower from pivoting.

Offensive fouls (those caused by the thrower) :

• It is a foul if the thrower makes contact with a defender who is stationary.
  • Also, if the thrower tries to pivot through the plane of a defender, and causes contact by doing so, then this is a foul.

General:

• Contact should be avoided at all times.
  • If there is contact after the throw has been released (i.e. in the follow through) it is not a (defensive) foul, although it can still be an offensive foul.

• It is the responsibility of both players to try to avoid contact.

• The player who has been fouled should call FOUL, loud enough for the other players to hear.
  • This should be done as soon as the foul occurs.
  • Spirit of the Game requires that, in non-tournament play, the game should be stopped and the foul explained to anyone who is not clear.

If you are fouled, call it, this should never be considered un-spirited.