Ultimate Frisbee Rules: Field Boundaries, Turnovers, & Scoring

Ultimate Frisbee: In-Bounds and Out-of-Bounds

A disc is in-bounds when the receiving player is inside the playing field when they catch the disc. The sidelines are not part of the playing field. Players are allowed to throw the disc so that it flies outside the playing field and then comes back in, as long as it does not touch anything out-of-bounds and is caught inside the field.

If the disc goes out-of-bounds, it results in a turnover. Play continues from the spot where the disc left the field.

Ultimate Frisbee Turnovers: Possession Changes

The defensive team takes possession of the disc (a turnover) if the offense fails to catch a pass, or if the disc falls to the ground. A turnover occurs if the offense:

• Fails to catch a pass (a drop): The receiver is unable to catch the disc.
• Allows the disc to fall to the ground (a throw-away).
• Catches the disc out-of-bounds.
• Has the disc intercepted by a defender (a defender catches a disc thrown by the offense).
• Has the disc knocked down by a defensive player (a defender deflects the disc in mid-flight, causing it to hit the ground).

Additional turnover conditions include:

• A player on offense does not release the disc before ten seconds (a stall).
• The disc is handed from one player to another without being thrown.
• The thrower catches their own throw without the disc being touched by anyone else.
• The offensive team attempts to catch the pull but drops it.

After a turnover, the other team may immediately resume play at the point where the disc was caught or stopped.

Ultimate Frisbee: Fouls, Violations, & Infractions

Ultimate is a non-contact sport. Physical contact should always be avoided. Contact that is dangerous or affects the outcome of the play is considered a Foul.

Specific rules and common infractions include:

• The thrower may not be defended by more than one player at the same time (a double team).
• The marker may not come closer than one disc diameter to the thrower (disc space).
• The marker may not hit or grab the disc out of the hand of the thrower.
• If opposing players catch the disc at the same time, the offensive player gets possession of the disc.
• Players are not allowed to obstruct the path of defensive players (a pick).

Ultimate Frisbee Scoring: How to Win

Players score a goal by catching the disc in the end zone they are attacking. After a goal, play stops, and teams swap which end zone they are defending. The first team to 15 goals wins, with a time cap of 90 minutes.