[ ]

WFDF Call Sequence

A quick summary of how calls should be handled on the field when playing Ultimate frisbee according to the 2021 WFDF rules.

Who can make a call

  • Travel: any defensive player [15.5.1]
  • Any marking infraction: only the thrower [15.5]
    • Except for Double team which can be called by any offensive player [15.5.1]
  • Violation: any opposing player, but there are exceptions for specific violation types [15.6]
  • Foul: only the fouled player [15.4]
  • Pick: the defensive player who was obstructed [18.3.1]
  • Contest/uncontest: players directly involved in the play, and players who had the best perspective [1.10], with possible involvement of the captains [1.10.2]

When can they make the call

  • Calls must be made immediately after the breach is recognised [15.8]
  • Pick: prior to making the "Pick" call, the defender may delay the call up to two (2) seconds to determine if the obstruction will affect the play [18.3.1.1]

Discussion options

Once a foul or violation is called, a 'discussion' starts and there are multiple ways to respond. We list the options and give an indication of some types of results, however the exact consequences require the detailed rules:

  1. Uncontested/no contest/call accepted: if the opposing team does not disagree with the call then they usually just need to correct the issue caused by the foul, e.g.:
    • give possession to fouled player who would've caught disc [17.2.2]
    • allow defender to make up position [17.8.2]
    • change the stall count (either reset to: 1 [9.5.1, 17.6.1.3], or max 9 [9.5.2, 9.6], or subtract 2 [18.1.3])
  2. Contest [15.10]: if the opposing team disagrees with the call, the result could be:
    • disc returns to last undisputed thrower [1.12, 13.3, 17.2.2, 17.5.3, 17.9.1]
    • and/or the stall count restarts at max 6 [9.5.4] (or 8 for contested stall-out [9.5.3])
  3. Retracted: if the player who made the call subsequently determines that their call was incorrect, they can retract the call - and the stall count resumes as if that player caused a rule breach [15.11, 15.9]

Discussions should be as brief as possible with the preferred outcome being either a retracted call, or an accepted call [annotations 1.10].

Turnovers during calls

If, after a call is made, the thrower still throws the disc [16.2.1-16.2.3] and it is not caught, it will often count as a turnover [annotations 16.1-16.2]:

  • If defense made the call, then the turnover stands because the team that called the foul gained possession [16.2.4.1, 19.1.6, 19.2.3.1]
  • If offense made the call, then the turnover stands if the foul did not actually affect the turnover [16.3, 18.1.6, 19.1.6, 19.2.3.1]
  • If the foul affected the throw itself then it is reasonable that the foul affected play and therefore the disc should go back to the thrower [16.2.4.2.1, 19.2.3.1]
  • If the foul call caused the catch to be incomplete, e.g. the receiver stopped running because of the call, the disc should go back to the thrower [16.2.4.2.1, 19.2.3.1]