Rule of the week: 12.6 – 12.9 Receivers and Positioning

WFDF 2013 rules of Ultimate

Rule of the week

12. Receivers and Positioning

12.6 A player in an established position is entitled to remain in that position and should not be contacted by an opposing player.

12.7 When a player is making a play on the disc, an opposing player may not move to intentionally impede that player’s movements, unless they are also making a play on the disc.

12.8 Every player is entitled to occupy any position on the field not occupied by any opposing player, provided that they do not initiate contact in taking such a position.

12.9 All players must attempt to avoid contact with other players, and there is no situation where a player may justify initiating contact. “Making a play for the disc” is not a valid excuse for initiating contact with other players.

Interpretation:

What: Player A is chasing after the disc and slows down to ensure they can remain between Player B and the disc. Player B runs into the back of Player A and they both trip over.

Result: Player B has fouled Player A.

Why: Player A is allowed to slow down to make a play on the disc. Player B could have reasonably avoided Player A and is therefore initiating contact.

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What: Player A is chasing after the disc and stops suddenly and runs immediately backwards into their approaching defender. Player B runs into the back of Player A.

Result: Player A has fouled Player B.

Why: Player B could not avoid reasonably have avoided Player A, therefore Player A has initiated contact.

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What: Player A is chasing after the disc and slows down and moves from side to side to prevent Player B from getting around them and making a play at the disc. Player B runs into the back of Player A. Player A catches the disc.

Result: Player B has fouled Player A. Player A has possession so does not need to make a call, or should call “play on” if they had made a call.

Why: Player A is allowed to slow down and to impede a player’s movement to make a play on the disc. Player B could have reasonably avoided Player A and is therefore initiating contact.

Extra: Impeding a player’s movement is different from initiating contact. Some incidental contact may occur in these circumstances but incidental contact is not a foul.

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What: Player A and Player B are teammates and are chasing after the disc. Player B slows down and moves from side to side to prevent an opponent, Player C, from getting around them and making a play at the disc. Player A catches the disc.

Result: Player C can call a violation against Player B.

Why: Player B is not making a play for the disc. Player C is making a play on the disc and therefore Player B is not allowed to intentionally impede their movement.

Extra: If Player B is stationary they are allowed to remain there, even if that impedes Player C’s attempt to make a play at the disc. However if Player B sticks out their arms to impede Player C – that is still considered a movement to impede Players C’s movements and is a violation.

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What: Player A is stationary and waiting to catch the disc. Player B is running towards Player A, then jumps, intercepts the pass, and then collides with Player A

Result: Player B has fouled Player A.

Why: Rule 12.9 expressly says that making a play for the disc is not a valid excuse for initiating contact with other players.

Extra: When making a play at a disc, players need to insure that they will not cause an unavoidable collision with another player’s position, if stationary, or their established speed and direction, before, during or after the attempt at the disc.

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What: Player A is stationary and waiting to catch the disc. Player B is running and then jumps in a way that would avoid player A and intercepts the pass. Player A moves into Player B’s path while Player B is in the air. There is contact between Player A and Player B.

Result: Player A has fouled Player B.

Why: Player A has initiated contact by moving to a position that a moving opponent will be unable to avoid. This is a blocking foul.