Ultimate in 10 Simple Rules
1. The Field: A rectangular shape with end zones at each end. A regulation field is 70 yards long by 40 yards wide, with end zones 20 yards deep.
2. Starting Play: Each point begins with both teams lining up on the front of opposite end zone lines. The defense throws ("pulls") the disc to the offense. A regulation game has seven players per team. 3. Scoring: Each time the offense catches a pass in the defense's end zone, the offense scores a point. The teams switch direction after every goal, and the next point begins with a new pull by the team that just scored. 4. Movement of the Disc: The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate. Players may not run with the disc. The person with the disc ("thrower") has ten seconds to throw the disc. The defender guarding the thrower ("marker") counts out the stall count. 5. Change of Possession: When a pass is not completed (e.g. out of bounds, drop, block, interception, stalled), the defense immediately takes possession of the disc and becomes the offense. 6. Substitutions: Players not in the game may replace players in the game after a score and during an injury timeout. 7. Non-contact: Players must attempt to avoid physical contact during play. Picks and screens are also prohibited. 8. Fouls: When a player initiates contact that affects the play, a foul occurs. When a foul causes a player to lose possession, the play resumes as if the possession was retained. If the player that the foul was called against disagrees with the foul call, the play is redone. 9. Self-Officiating: Players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. Players resolve their own disputes. 10. Spirit of the Game: The foundation of the rules in ultimate is Spirit of the Game, which places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.
Spanish: Ultimate en 10 Reglas Sencillas
Rules Resources
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What's the Call?
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USA Ultimate magazine article covering common rules misconceptions
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Rulebooks
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Coming soon! Order copies of the 2020-2021 Rules
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| Star Webinar: Official Rules of Ultimate 2020-2021 |
Janna Hamaker and George Brell of the rules committee hosted a free webinar to answer questions and explain the new 2020-2021 rules |
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Rules Blog
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Archived discussions on the 11th Edition Rules
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Player Misconduct System
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Information about the player misconduct system in observed games.
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Rules FAQ
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Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the official rules of ultimate
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| Rules Feedback |
Submit feedback or suggestions for the USA Ultimate Rules Working Group. |
Experimental Events
In order to help further develop and refine the sport, USA Ultimate is committed to experimenting with rules and rules implementation at its own events and in partnership with other event organizers. Tournaments where these experiments take place allow players, organizers and USA Ultimate a way to assess a variety of innovations and ideas in a setting that provides both support for implementation of changes and a process for feedback on and analysis of their impacts. The goal of this initiative is the improvement of the sport in a structured manner that encourages educated discussion and decision making that is in line with the organization's mission.