Spectrum Co-ed Ultimate - Wednesday Rules

Coed Ultimate Rules

Teams

  • Have fun and play with good sportsmanship! Urban Rec leagues have a “Fun First” philosophy, with sportsmanship, fun and being social taking priority.
  • Ultimate is self-officiated, so players are expected to know the rules, make fair calls and manage their own actions on the field.
  • All participants must be listed on their team's online roster and have signed the Urban Rec waiver before playing. Team captains are responsible for ensuring their players are eligible to participate.

Scheduling

  • Teams will generally play one game each week, although some teams may be scheduled for doubleheaders. The schedule will be balanced as much as possible between early and late games.
  • Teams may be reseeded during the season to improve competitive balance at Urban Rec's discretion.
  • Always check the online schedule before your game for the correct game time and field assignment.

Uniforms

  • All players should bring both a light and dark shirt to every game. No grey.
  • The home team wears light and the visiting team wears dark. If there is a colour conflict, the visiting team changes. Team uniforms are encouraged but not required.

Format & Gender Requirements

  • Play is 7-on-7.
  • A full starting lineup must include at least 3 women and 2 men.
  • Teams may play with as few as 5 players, provided there are at least 2 women and 1 man on the field.
  • A team with fewer than 5 players, or without the minimum 2 women and 1 man, will be considered in default.
  • Teams may play with any combination of genders beyond these minimum requirements and are not required to match the opposing team's gender ratio.

Game Length

  • Games consist of two 25-minute halves.
  • The on-site staff will keep time and notify teams when each half has ended. Half-time will be a short break at the discretion of the on-site staff.
  • Games may end in a tie during regular-season play.

Starting & Restarting Play

  • Teams will play Rock, Paper, Scissors before the game. The winning team may choose to receive the opening pull, make the opening pull, or choose which end to defend. The opposing team receives the remaining choice.
  • The Pull: A pull is the throw that starts each point. The pulling team throws the disc from its end zone toward the receiving team, similar to a kickoff in other sports.
  • Each half and each point begins with a pull.
  • Before the pull, both teams must be completely within their respective end zones. Once both teams are ready, the pulling team throws the disc toward the receiving team to begin play.
  • Once the disc is released, players may move down the field. The receiving team takes possession where the pull is caught or comes to rest, subject to the normal out-of-bounds and pull rules.
  • At the start of the second half, teams switch ends and the team that received the opening pull will pull to the other team.

Movement of the Disc

  • The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate.
  • Players may not run while holding the disc. After catching the disc, the player must stop as quickly as reasonably possible and establish a pivot.
  • The player with the disc is called the thrower.
  • A defender guarding the thrower is called the marker and may initiate a stall count by audibly counting from 1 to 10. If the marker reaches 10 before the disc is released, a turnover occurs.

Change of Possession

  • A turnover occurs whenever a pass is incomplete, including when the disc:
    • Hits the ground;
    • Is intercepted or blocked and hits the ground; or
    • Goes out of bounds.
  • Following a turnover, the opposing team immediately takes possession at the appropriate spot and play continues.
  • Players do not need to wait for both teams to set up following a normal turnover.

Scoring

  • A point is scored when a player catches and maintains possession of a legal pass in the end zone they are attacking.
  • The receiver's first point of ground contact after making the catch must be completely inside the end zone.
  • A player cannot score by catching the disc outside the end zone and then walking or running across the goal line.
  • After a point is scored, teams switch the direction they are attacking. The team that scored the point stays in that end zone and pulls to the opposing team to begin the next point.

Substitutions

  • Substitutions may be made after a point is scored, at half-time or due to injury.
  • Teams must continue to meet the Urban Rec minimum gender requirements when making substitutions.

Non-Contact Play

  • Ultimate is a non-contact sport. Players are responsible for avoiding contact whenever reasonably possible.
  • Picks and intentional screens are not permitted.
  • Players may not use their body or position to intentionally initiate contact with an opponent.
  • All players have a responsibility to make a play on the disc safely. Player safety takes priority over making a catch, block or interception.

Foot Blocks

  • Foot blocks are permitted but must be attempted safely and under control.
  • Dangerous or reckless foot blocks may be called as dangerous plays.

Fouls

  • Games are self-officiated and players are responsible for calling their own fouls and violations.
  • A foul generally occurs when a player initiates contact with an opponent that affects the play.
  • If a foul affects a catch or possession and the foul is uncontested, possession is returned to the affected player and play resumes from the appropriate location.
  • Only players involved in a play should make calls. Players on the sideline should not make calls on their behalf.
  • Respect the calls made on the field of play.

Spirit of the Game

  • Ultimate relies on Spirit of the Game, which places responsibility for fair play on the players themselves.
  • Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect, sportsmanship, player safety or the fun of the game.
  • Players are expected to:
    • Make fair and honest calls;
    • Communicate respectfully;
    • Avoid dangerous or overly aggressive play;
    • Respect teammates and opponents; and
    • Prioritize safety and fun.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Dangerous or aggressive play, flagrant contact or other unsportsmanlike conduct may result in removal from the game.

On-Site Staff

  • Urban Rec staff are NOT referees. Games are self-officiated.
  • On-site staff are responsible for timing games, assisting with equipment and field issues, and maintaining a positive and safe environment.
  • Staff may intervene or remove a player for dangerous or aggressive behaviour, violations of league rules or violations of the Urban Rec Code of Conduct.

Defaults

  • Teams should be ready to play at their scheduled start time.
  • Teams have a 10-minute grace period to field the minimum lineup of 5 players, including at least 2 women and 1 man.
  • If a team cannot meet the minimum requirements after 10 minutes, the game will be recorded as a default. Teams are encouraged to mix players and use the remaining field time to play for fun.
  • Any team defaulting more than two games in a season may be asked to leave the league without a refund.

Playoff Eligibility

  • Players must be on their team's Urban Rec roster and have played at least 2 regular-season games to be eligible for playoffs.
  • All players, including substitutes, must be on the roster and have completed the Urban Rec waiver.
  • Using an ineligible player during a playoff game will result in an automatic loss.
  • Urban Rec staff may conduct ID checks to confirm player eligibility.

Tiebreakers

If teams are tied in the standings at the end of the regular season, the following tiebreakers apply:

  1. Higher number of in-division wins
  2. Higher Urban Rec Fun Point average
  3. Head-to-head result
  4. Point differential in head-to-head games
  5. Disc flip

Rules Not Covered Above

  • For situations not specifically addressed in these rules, Urban Rec will use the USA Ultimate Official Rules of Ultimate as a guide.
  • Official Rules: https://usaultimate.org/rules/
  • Urban Rec league-specific rules and modifications outlined above take precedence.
  • Know the rules, make fair calls, respect your opponents and keep it fun.

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