The latest rules revision has been released by the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF). Its everyone's responsibility as a player to be aware of the rules, so you best read up. During the next 6 months the Australian Flying Disc Association will be slowly rolling the new rules into all Australian competitions, so your local league or next tournament could be using them straight away. These rules are the follow up to the rules changes that occurred last year.
For those that are wondering, the motif that is driving a lot of the changes in the rules in recent years has been the concept of reducing the amounts of stoppages within a game and allowing the natural flow of the game to be unhindered by too many calls. This is also because stoppages naturally get in the way of a team's offence, even if the violation has been suffered by that team. An older example of this was last years change to some of the marking fouls that meant that violations would result in a drop of the stall count instead of a stoppage, thus allowing the flow of the game to continue if desired by the thrower.
A summary of the rules can be downloaded from here:
http://www.wfdf.org/rules/Summary%20of%20changes%20for%20WFDF%20Ultimate%20Rules%202007%20to%202008.pdf
And the full rules set can be downloaded from here:
http://www.wfdf.
Some of the biggest changes that should really be effecting games near you are:
-No 'middle' call off the pull. Teams now have the choice of starting the disc from the brick mark or playing the disc from where it when out of bounds on the sideline.
This rule means that teams won't be so seriously punished if they yank a pull out of the field and it will speed up play because there will no longer need to be a discussion as to where the 'middle 'of the field is, meaning the offence can play on as it pleases without having to wait for the defence.
-Pulling Violations result in a re-pull. The major effect will be against the team that is pulling. If they pull the disc with players over the line, then quite simply the disc goes back and the pull is retaken. Given the viewing perspective of the players on opposite ends of the field, I would say that this rule would have to largely be enforced by players not on the field.
-A redefined travel rule. Removed reference to third ground contact. A receiver must be slowing down quickly and in a straight line after they catch the disc, and may throw at any time while slowing down and in-bounds
This has to be the mac-daddy of all these changes and will have the most effect at the top level of the game. I strongly expect this rule to favour teams that use a lot of quick movement of the disc and will bring a lot more crazy running/throwing technique into ultimate. Of course, players are meant to slow down as soon as possible but this will be a grey area which might be exploited by some. Aside from that, this rule opens up some powerful give-go style plays in ultimate and I am curious to see how teams or players will take advantage of the new found ability to move the disc. John (Bags) is exceptionally concerned with this rule and fears that it will take the game closer to the territory of disc-hoops and schtick.
Its going to take some getting used too. Gone are the days were one had to fumble out a really quick release or slow right down to establish a pivot foot and then throw.
I am looking forward to testing out these new rules as soon as I can
-Twatson
I shared similar concerns about the travel rule, but upon thinking about it I reckon that "throw on the run" travel calls are going to be a lot easier to spot. Instead of trying to count the three ground contacts before the throw, you simply have to watch for a change of pace in their stride (or no change, if the case may be). If a player has made no attempt to slow down over 4 or 5 strides then it will be blatantly obvious, given they will have covered 5 to 6 metres in those strides.
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