Rules Analysis
If a team breaches 7.3 or 7.4 the opposing team may call a violation (“offside”). This must be called before the offence touches the disc (7.8 still applies).
It is recommended that the opposing team provide a warning to the captain of the team committing this violation before it is enforced. Team should also take into account that calls should only be made where a breach is significant enough to make a difference to the outcome of the action.Offside can only be called by the players on the field, and any call made by a non-player has no consequences. However non players may assist in monitoring offside and may provide advice based on their perspective.A contested offsides call results in a stoppage of play and a re-pull. To contest an offsides call, a player on the contesting team must have perspective at least as good as the person making the call. If the call is made with the assistance of a non-player, only a similarly-positioned person would be deemed to have equal or better perspective.Note:There is no difference to whether a team has been called for their first offside violation, or they have been called offside multiple times, the outcome is the same. If either team has called offside, it is still a “dropped pull” turnover if the offence touches the disc before it hits the ground, and the offensive team fails to subsequently establish possession.If both teams are called for offside on the same pull, both outcomes described in rules 7.5.1 and 7.5.2 would applyWhat:The defence is offside and the offence calls offside after they catch the discResult:The offside call has no bearing and play continues as if no offside has been calledWhat:The defence is offside and the offence calls offside and then the disc is caught by the offenceResult:The offside call has no bearing and play continues as if no offside has been calledWhat:The defence is offside and the offence calls offside and then the disc hits the ground and stops in the offences defending endzoneResult:The offence can pick up the disc and resume play from the brick mark closest to their defending endzone. No check is required.What:The offence is offside and the defence calls offside after the offence have caught the discResult:The offside call has no bearing and play continues as if no offside has been calledWhat:The offence is offside and the defence calls offside while the disc is in the air and the pull lands out-of-boundsResult:The offence can still make a “brick” call. The thrower establishes a pivot at the brick mark closest to their defending endzone. All other offence players establish a stationary position. The defence then establish a stationary position. The disc is checked in and play resumes.Extra:If a player makes an incorrect offside call (ie by calling it after it has been touched, or the offence calls offside and also catches the pull) and play had stopped to discuss the call, players should return to where they were when the call was made and resume play with a check.
If the offence chooses to call offside, they must let the disc hit the ground untouched and then resume play as if a brick has been called (no check is required).
If either team fails to maintain proper positioning before the pull, the other team may call "offsides" before the receiving team gains possession of the disc. The offsides call does not stop play, and the Continuation Rule (17.C) does not apply. In games where observers are used, this call is made by the observers. In games without observers, each team may send a designated sideline player to either goal line who has the ability to call "offsides" or offer their perspective on such a call. A contested offsides call results in a stoppage of play and a re-pull.
To contest an offsides call, a player on the contesting team must have perspective at least as good as the person making the call. If the call is made by a designated sideline player, only a similarly-positioned sideline player designated by the contesting team has equal or better perspective.