Learn the Rules: Back in Play!
by Jason “Punk” Conrad
Picture this: It’s 14-14 in a game hard-capped to 15, double ultimate point. A sweet huck goes up and the receiver catches the disc outside the endzone at full speed. After landing he takes a couple steps into the endzone, stops and goes back to the goal line, plants his pivot foot and throws an easy backhand to his teammate in the endzone just out of reach of his defender. The team starts to celebrate their victory over their rival in another close game. But what’s wrong with this picture? It’s that annoying travel call from the guy that just got burned on the huck. The receiver hollers back, “What are you talking about? My pivot foot was set on the goal line and never moved…learn the rules!” I’ve seen it many times and I’m sure you have too. Who’s right? Should the goal count or should it come back to the thrower? Read on and “learn the rules.”
The rules of ultimate can be quite confusing; this doesn’t get any easier when they keep getting updated every few years. After observing for 6 years and playing for 14, I see many rules that are commonly violated. These violations are often a result of players not knowing the rules or being confused by certain aspects of them. In this article, I hope to clear up a violation that I see quite often that will help everyone while playing the sport we love: the ground touch. It’s a simple rule but often violated. Violations or confusion about this rule can negate scores or incorrectly give one team an advantage over the other.
A ground touch is simply touching the disc to the ground at the place where you are establishing a pivot foot. It is required when bringing the disc into play from out of the playing field proper (the playing field proper is goal line to goal line and sideline to sideline); it is most often used on an out of bounds pull or a turnover in the endzone or out of bounds. It is also required when a receiver’s momentum carries him or her into the endzone or out of bounds after obtaining possession within the field of play. It is not to be used on stoppages of play nor is it required on a turnover in the field of play. The ground touch signifies that you have established a pivot foot and are putting the disc in play at that spot on the field. Failure to perform a ground touch is a travel and can be called by a defender within a couple seconds of the violation. I can’t count how many scores have been called back-or should have been called back-due to failure to perform a ground touch.
Another instance where not performing a ground touch potentially puts the offense at a disadvantage is when taking a brick on an out of bounds pull. I often see teams offering a check to the defense to start play, but all that is needed in this case is a ground touch, which doesn’t require the defense to be ready.
Understanding and following this rule will prevent unnecessary travel calls and will keep the offense in control of playing their game with the advantage on their side. In the situation above, a simple ground touch allows the team to carry on in their celebration without having to hear that annoying call: “TRAVEL!!!”
Jason "Punk" Conrad began his ultimate career playing for Papal Rage at the University of Notre Dame in 1996. He has since played with Flux, Doublewide, and Chewbacca Defense. In 2003 he became a certified observer for college nationals, and he was appointed the south region observer coordinator in 2009. Among many other tournaments nationwide, he has observed two college nationals and one club nationals.
