Spring League 2021 ~ Rules

Basics

We will play by the USA Ultimate's 2020-21 Rules. For specifics on these rules, you can visit USAU's Rules Page.

League Specific Rules

COVID-19 Rules and Guidelines (Updated 10/26/20)

In order to protect our fellow members and guests, as well as to satisfy requirements for field usage, the Valley of the Sun Ultimate Association (VOTS) has adopted rules and guidelines relating to COVID-19. Following these rules and guidelines is a requirement to participate in VOTS events. Failure to adhere to them is grounds for removal from VOTS events.

1. Attendees will self-screen for symptoms on the day of the VOTS event, prior to arrival, and will not attend if currently or previously symptomatic or tested positive for COVID-19 until meeting Release from Isolation Guidance.
2. Attendees will follow the Maricopa County Dept. of Public Health Quarantine Guidance for Household and Close Contacts including the provision for those who live in the same home or were in close contact (within 6 feet for longer than 10 minutes) with someone with COVID-19 being asked not to attend for 14 days after last contact with the person with COVID-19.
3. Attendees will sanitize hands upon arrival.
4. All attendees must wear masks covering nose and mouth during arrival and departure and when on the sidelines or not playing in the event. Spectators must wear masks covering nose and mouth during arrival and departure and throughout the event on or in proximity to the field or sidelines.
5. All attendees should maintain 6-foot distancing from anyone not in their household during arrival and departure as well as all times on sidelines.
6. Game discs will be sanitized prior to the game and again at halftime if they have been used or more often if instructed by event organizers or directors.
7. Social gatherings before and after the game are not allowed. Attendees should leave the field wearing masks after the conclusion of the game.
8. Only one ultimate field will be placed on a soccer field. Only one team will gather on and use each opposite sideline and will stay off the opposing team’s sideline. Each team will have ample space to gather away from the opposing team and close team huddles should be avoided. High fives, hugs and similar contact should be avoided.
9. Players are encouraged to wear a mask as much as possible and should consider pulling up a mask when marking an opponent in possession of the disc.

Gender Ratio

Standard gender ratio for all games is 5/2 ratio.

Team in the Genzone may dictate 4/3 in any game in which EACH team meets one of these criteria:

• Has 6 women present.
• Has 5 women present and no more than 10 men (11 men if opponent has 6 women).
• Has 4 women present and no more than 8 men (9 men if opponent had 6 women).

If a team is low on men, captains can try be more accommodating, while remaining fair to both teams and all players.

Points

• Games to 15
• Win by 2
• Point cap at 17

Mirror

• Mirror at half
• No halftime

Time Caps

• Softcap at 20 minutes before end of game
  • For capping purposes, a point is considered to begin immediately after the preceding goal is scored.
  • Finish the current point and then set a new point cap at the highest current score +1 unless that would be higher than the existing point cap.
  • A team may still win by 2 per the original rules of the game but win by 2 is not required at the point cap.
• Hard cap at 10 minutes before end of game
  • For capping purposes, a point is considered to begin immediately after the preceding goal is scored.
  • Finish the current point. The game is over unless it's a tie.
  • If the game is tied, play one more point.
• If the lights go out before a game is officially over, the game will end immediately. If the disc is in the air when the lights go out and it is caught in the dark in the end zone for a score, it will count. In any other situation, the game will immediately end even if it is mid-point. If the game is tied, the game will be scored as a tie.

Timeouts

• 3 timeouts per game, max 2 per half
• After softcap horn blows, no timeouts
• No timeouts in hardcap
• No subs in a timeout

Pull Rule

If disc lands on the playing field (or end zone)

• play from where it lands
• do NOT walk it up to the line

If disc lands out (player has following options)

1. call middle (if disc goes out the side in FRONT of the brick line) - take disc to the middle at the point where the disc last crossed the perimeter line
2. call brick (if disc goes out anywhere BEHIND the brick line) - take the disc to the middle at the brick line (15 yards)
3. play from the closest spot on the playing field proper (not the end zone) to where the disc last went out
   • side line if in front of the end zone
   • closest front corner if behind the end zone and went out the side
   • straight up to the line if it goes out the back

If disc lands in and ROLLS out

• play from spot on the playing field proper (not end zone) where the disc rolled out
  • side line if in front of the end zone
  • closest front corner if behind the end zone and went out the side
  • straight up to the line if it goes out the back

Game Schedule

• 8:00 - warm-ups
• 8:10 - 5 minute warning (captains flip for pull)
• 8:15 - games begin (promptly)
• 9:40 - softcap (add two to highest score and play to that)
• 9:50 - hardcap (finish the current point. If tied, play one more)
• 10:00 - Cheer your opponent! (also, lights out)

Subject to change.