Keeping it in the game

The emphasis for explaining rules in our league is usually left up to the captains and to experienced players so that we can get off to a quick start. The responsibility for following the rules rests with these people early on, but it is also everyone else's responsibility to get up to date on the rules as soon as they can so that they can participate in the self-refereeing that is part of the game of ultimate.

Sometimes misunderstandings or disagreements of the rules can cause problems between players on the field on different teams and just generally disrupt the flow of the game. In a beginner's league we often try not to overwhelm people with rules and just get on with the general joy of playing the game, still though, by not letting ourselves get sloppy and by adhering to the rules of the game rather than overlooking them when it's easier to, we can make the game more structured and fair for the people willing to play a game by its rules. Knowing and adhering to the Rules of Ultimate is not only a more spirited and fair way to play ultimate but will also dissolve disagreements that are caused by any casual or uninformed breaches.

I would just like to post parts of the rules that I think are becoming more obscured lately. If you haven't read the rules yet, just skip this and go and read them.

Anyway this time it is the section on continuations (after picks, fouls, violations) as it is a rule that has recently become confused and play-ons situations are now occurring without the confirmation by the team making the call or without play even stopping. This is mostly surrounding picks. Here it is just so you know.

16. Continuation after a Foul or Violation Call
16.1. Whenever a foul or violation call is made, play stops immediately and no turn over is
possible.
16.1.1. However, if the foul or violation is called:
16.1.1.1. against the thrower and the thrower subsequently attempts a pass, or
16.1.1.2. when the thrower is in the act of throwing, or
16.1.1.3. when the disc is in the air,
then play continues until possession has been established.
16.1.2. Once possession has been established:
16.1.2.1. If the team that called the foul or violation gains or retains possession as a
result of the pass, play shall continue. Players recognizing this should call
“Play on” immediately to indicate that this rule has been invoked.
16.1.2.2. If the team that called the foul or violation does not gain or retain
possession as a result of the pass, play shall be stopped.
16.1.2.2.1. If the team that called the foul or violation believes that possession
has been affected by the foul or violation, the disc will be returned to
the thrower for a check (unless the specific rule says otherwise).
16.1.2.2.2. If the team that called the foul or violation believes that possession
has not been affected by the foul or violation, the play stands, they
make up any positional disadvantage caused by the foul or violation,
and restart play with a check.

My simplified interpretation:

IF you haven't thrown it you hold it and stop.
If you have thrown it play continues on until possession is established.
Then, if the team who called the foul or violation gets the disc from this throw then they call "play on" and you keep playing. Done.
If they didn't get the disc while possession was still being decided then play stops. Ok, so basically we always stop when it's not a turnover.
If that call relates to how the person on the other team ended up with the disc, then the disc goes back eg. a pick happens, their player ends up with the disc. Game continues from there.
The next part says what happens if their call had nothing to do with the play, in this case, they make up their disadvantage (ie. pick call and they're a few metres behind) and the disc stays where it was caught and they check it back in. Game on!

So hopefully that clears up picks etc. No more playing on unless it's a turnover but you should call "play on"! OR conversely play always stops unless it's a turnover! No more arguments or confusion about that one I hope!

Anyway all rules can be found off the AFDA site or this link to a compact version: http://afda.com/resources/WFDF%202009%20Rules%20-%20Pocket%20Format.pdf
That's the pocket format of the rules which you can print out easily on one sheet of paper!

I recommend people have a read of all the rules if they haven't already!