Rules Analysis
A breach of the rules due to non-minor contact between two or more opposing players is a foul.
Non-minor contact that occurs accidentally is still a foul – it does not need to be intentional. In fact there should be no intentional contact in Ultimate.
A breach of the rules regarding a Marking or Travel breach is an infraction. Infractions do not stop play.
Play does not stop for an infraction call. However travel and marking infractions can lead to a stoppage if, for example, after a travel infraction a completed pass is thrown, after an egregious marking infraction, or after a contested infraction call.
Only the player fouled may claim a foul, by calling “Foul”.
If a breach is committed and not called, the player committing the breach should inform the opponent or their team. However play must not be stopped to do so.
In general only the thrower may claim an infraction, by calling the specific name of the infraction.
Any opposing player may claim a violation, by calling the specific name of the violation or "Violation", unless specified otherwise by the particular rule.
When a foul or violation call is made that stops play, players must stop play by visibly or audibly communicating the stoppage as soon as they are aware of the call and all players should echo calls on the field. If play has stopped for a discussion without any call having been made, a call is deemed to have been made when the discussion started.
Calls must be made immediately after the breach is recognised.
If a player who is unable to make the call recognises it, such as a receiver in the case of a straddle, the breach can still be called once the player who can make the call recognises it (ie the thrower in this example). However if, for example, the marker recognises that the thrower has established a pivot at the incorrect spot, they cannot wait until the stall count gets to 6 before they call a travel.In addition, if a player had a reasonable opportunity to recognise that a breach had occurred, but continued play as if no breach had occurred, they should not make the call later on. For example if the thrower establishes a pivot at the incorrect spot, and the marker starts the stall count, then once the stall count reaches 6, the marker should not call travel for the pivot having been established at the incorrect spot, even if they do not notice until the stall count reaches 6.If play has stopped for a discussion, a player can still make a call as part of the discussion.A player that makes a foul, violation, infraction, or turnover call must have reasonable grounds to think that a breach or turnover might have occurred, but they do not have to be certain that it has occurred. If a player believes that they have reasonable grounds to think that a breach or turnover might have occurred, they may call a stoppage (without making a specific call) to enable players to discuss the situation and determine what did occur and the appropriate outcome.
After a player initiates a stoppage incorrectly, including after mishearing a call, not knowing the rules, or not making the call immediately:
For example, if a defender tells a receiver to stop play, but play was not supposed to have stopped and a pass to the receiver results in a turnover, the disc is returned to the thrower and the stall count would resume at “Stalling 1” as per rule 9.5.1.If there is disagreement over who initiated the stoppage incorrectly, then the disc should be returned to the last non-disputed thrower.
If the player against whom the foul, infraction or violation has been called disagrees that it occurred, or does not think it is a correct call, they may call “Contest”.
If, for example, the player against whom the breach was called thinks that the breach was not significant enough to make a difference to the outcome of the action, they can contest the call.
If a player making any call subsequently determines that their call was incorrect, they can retract the call, by calling "Retracted". The stall count resumes as if an accepted breach has been caused by that player.
If, for example, the marker calls a foul against the thrower, and after discussion the marker retracts their call, the stall count would resume at “Stalling 1” as per rule 9.5.1.
If multiple breaches occur on the same play or before play stops, the outcomes should be resolved in reverse sequence (latest breach first, earliest breach last).
For example, the marker calls an offensive foul on the thrower during the throw, then later a receiver calls a defensive foul on a defender during the reception on an incomplete pass. The fouls are resolved in reverse sequence. First, the receiving foul is resolved (here, assumed accepted), granting possession to the offensive receiver, then the throwing foul is resolved (here, assumed accepted), returning the disc to the thrower. The earlier infraction (offensive foul on the thrower) takes precedence over the later infraction (defensive foul on the receiver), resulting in the disc returning to the original thrower.If the disc is returned to the thrower, the stall count must be resolved as per rule 9.5.4.1.