Rules Analysis
USAU 2020-21 Rules
This rule was changed from the previous rulebook version
This rule was added from the previous rulebook version
This rule has updates in the next rulebook version
3. Definitions
3. Definitions
Children
A
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3.A

Best perspective: The most complete view available by a player that includes the relative positions of the disc, ground, players, and line markers involved in a play. On an unlined field, this may require sighting from one field marker to another. Best perspective always belongs to a player. However, players may rely on the following sources as a component of best perspective:

.
3.A cont.

If no player has sufficient perspective to make a call, the disc should revert to the thrower (in the case of in-bounds/out-of-bounds and up/down disputes) or remain with the receiver on the end zone line (in the case of goal/non-goal disputes).

B
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3.B

Completed pass: Any catch that results in the team in possession of the disc retaining possession. Any pass that is not complete is incomplete.

C
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3.C

Foul: Non-Incidental contact between opposing players (see 3.F for a definition of incidental contact). In general, the player initiating the contact has committed the foul.

D
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3.D

Ground contact: All player contact with the ground directly related to a specific event or maneuver (e.g., jumping, diving, leaning or falling), including landing or recovering after being off-balance. Items on the ground are considered part of the ground.

E
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3.E

Guarding: A defender is guarding an offensive player when they are within 10 feet of that offensive player and are reacting to that offensive player.

A defender who turns away from an offensive player and begins focusing on and reacting to the thrower is no longer guarding that offensive player.

F
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3.F

Incidental contact: Contact between opposing players that does not affect continued play.

For example, contact affects continued play if the contact knocks a player off-balance and interferes with their ability to continue cutting or playing defense.

G
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3.G

Legal position: A position established by a marker that does not violate any of the provisions outlined in 15.B.

This refers to legal marking position. In general, this means there is sufficient space between the marker and the thrower's torso, the marker is not straddling the pivot, and the marker's arms are not "wrapping" the thrower.

H
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3.H

Line: A boundary defining the playing areas. On an unlined field, the boundary is an imaginary line segment between two field markers with the thickness of said markers. Line segments are not extrapolated beyond the defining markers.

I
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3.I

Pivot: The particular part of the body in continuous contact with a single spot on the field during a thrower's possession once the thrower has come to a stop or has attempted a throw or fake. When there is a definitive spot for putting the disc into play, the part of the body in contact with that spot is the pivot.

This is not a body part, but rather an infinitesimally small point on the body.

J
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3.J

Possession of the disc: Sustained contact with, and control of, a non-spinning disc.

K
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3.K

Pull: The throw from one team to the other that starts play at the beginning of a half or after a goal. It is not a legal pass for scoring and has many special provisions (Section 9.B). The player on the pulling team who possesses the disc and signals readiness is the puller.

The pulling team may designate a new puller at any time before the pull.

L
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3.L

Scoring attempt: A scoring attempt starts at the beginning of the game or when the previous goal is scored and ends when the next goal is scored.

M
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3.M

State of the disc: The nature of play at a particular moment during the game. There are three states of the disc:

N
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3.N

Stoppage of play: Any halting of play due to a call, discussion, or timeout that requires a check or self-check to restart play. The term play stops means a stoppage of play occurs.

Play-halting calls include "foul," "violation," "pick," "stall," etc.

O
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3.O

Throw: A disc in flight following any throwing motion (including a fake) that results in the thrower losing contact with the disc.

Generally, a non-spinning, falling disc is not "in flight" unless it is intentionally dropped.

P
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3.P

Violation: Any infraction of the rules other than a foul.

Q
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3.Q

Roles

3. Definitions
Associates
USAU 2022-23 Rules
3. Definitions
USAU 11th Edition Rules
2. Definitions

Definitions