Ultimate Rules Insights

Rules Insight 5: Catching

A certain amount of contact during or immediately after the catching attempt is often unavoidable and is not a foul.  However, it is the responsibility of ALL players to avoid contact when ever possible and any dangerously aggressive behaviour or reckless disregard for the safety of others is a foul.

• If the Defender prevents a player completing a catch by making contact with them, this is a foul.
• If a player (Offence or Defence) makes contact with a stationary player while making a play on the disc, this is a foul.
• A player cannot prevent an opponent from making a catch by placing their arms above an opponent.  This is a foul.
  • This is called the principle of verticality, and does not prevent players reaching over opponents, if doing so does not cause contact.
• A player who has jumped cannot be prevented from landing on the same spot.  To do so is a foul.
  • The player may also land on another spot provided that spot was not occupied before they jumped.
  • In essence this means that no-one can jump into another player nor prevent a player already in the air from landing.

General:

• A receiver is in possession of the disc when they have control and are fully inbounds.
  • “In control” means having control of a non-spinning disc.
  • Dropping the disc due to ground contact results in a turnover.
• A receiver must take the minimum number of steps to come to a complete stop after catching the disc.  Excessive steps is a travel.
  • A throw can be made without stopping so long as it is within 3 ground contacts (steps) of the catch.
  • The thrower cannot change direction or speed up after a catch.  To do so is a travel.
• If the disc is caught at the same instant by both defence and offence then offence retains possession.
• When it is not clear if a catch was before the disc hit the ground of if the catcher was inbounds, then the player(s) with the best perspective makes the call.
  • This rule relies heavily on the Spirit and honesty of all players.  If there is genuine disagreement then the disc should go back to the thrower.
  • Line officials may be used in some competitions to help with line calls.
• Deliberate “bobbling” or tipping of the disc to gain ground is considered travelling.
  • Non-deliberate bobbling to make a catch is legal.