What's the Call? (Stalling Upon Possession)
Peri Kurshan
Posted: November 1, 2009 07:10 PM
What's the Call? (Stalling Upon Possession)
BY: Peri Kurshan, chair of UPA Standing Rules Committee.
As players of a self-officiated sport, it is our responsibility to know the rules. This column features answers to your rules questions and will hopefully clarify some common misconceptions about the rules. To submit rules questions, please email them to src_chair@usaultimate.org.
Q: Can the marker begin stalling a thrower who is still on the ground after a catch, and has not yet set a pivot? How about a thrower who is walking the disc to the sideline or endzone line?
A: The marker can begin the stall count as soon as the thrower gains possession of the disc (XIV.A.2), and does not have to wait for the thrower to set a pivot. This is true whether the disc is “live” or “in play”, which means that if a receiver catches the disc and their momentum carries them out-of-bounds or into the endzone, the marker can begin the stall count even while the thrower is still bringing the disc back onto the field. (If the disc is not in play, a defensive player within three meters of a spot on the field where the disc is to be put into play is considered the marker; II.K.) However, directly after a turnover or when putting the pull into play, the stall may not be initiated before a pivot is established (XIV.A.2). So if there’s a turnover, and the new thrower is walking the disc to the line, or if a defender makes a catch-D and momentum carries them out-of-bounds, they cannot be stalled until they have established a pivot.
Q: After a turnover, does the offense always get a full 10/20 seconds to put the disc in play?
A: Yes and No… The offense does have 10 seconds to put the disc in play (if it’s on the playing field proper, 20 seconds if it’s out-of-bounds or in the endzone), BUT an offensive player cannot stand over the disc or take more time than reasonably necessary to put the disc into play. If they do so, the marker can issue a “delay of game” warning (XIII.5), and if the thrower hasn’t stopped delaying within 2 seconds, then the marker can announce “disc in” and begin the stall count.
Q: Does your pivot have to be your foot? If so, does your whole foot have to be in continuous contact with the ground, or only part of your foot?
A: Any part of your body can be your pivot (not just your foot!), and in fact, it can be an infinitesimally small part of any part of your body as long as that one part (a portion of the ball of your foot, your knee, whatever) is in continuous contact with the ground.
This column appeared in the Winter 2009 issue of USA Ultimate.