League Rules and Format

How long is the Game?

Played to 17, win by 2. Cap to go on 15 minutes before next round; default for the 2pm round is 3:45, but captains may agree to extend game, not to exceed 4:00. When time cap imposed, add 2 to higher score after point underway is complete (not to exceed 17 unless both teams tied at 16). If "between points" add 2 to higher score before pull (not to exceed 17 unless both teams tied at 16). Game during time cap is win by one, ie, first to reach the newly set score. No time outs during the time cap. See below for late start point assessments.

Where is the Game?

Due to the limited availability of fields, games will be held in Cary at SAS Soccer Park, Bethesda Elementary, and Lowes Grove. Check League Central to see the schedule.

When is the Game?

Check League Central.

What team am I on?

Check League Central.

Shirts

Shirts are distributed by the captains.

Reporting Scores

Winning teams should report game scores. Either post a game summary on League Central (saying as little as the score of the game, if you wish), send an e-mail to the Webguru link at the TFDA website, send the WL Director an e-mail, or send the Captain's Coordinator an e-mail. Anyone on the team may do this.

Zone Defense

It can be played from the very first pull of the very first game.

Brick

Standard brick rule, 20 yards/play it where it lands (as club teams play with).

Timeouts

Each team is allowed 2 per half. A timeout may not be called by either team once the game has been time capped.

Late Starts/Assessments

Late Start Point Assessments for 10am games: The captain of a team ready to play at 10:10 may assess one point against a rival team if it is not ready to play at that time. One more point may be assessed every five minutes thereafter if the team still cannot field the properly gendered squad of seven. Note that a team may play with fewer than 7 players (no more than 5 men) to avoid having points assessed against it; the ready team may play all 7 of its players in this case.

For the noon and 2 games: At 30 minutes after the recognized end of the previous game. If the other team isn't ready to put a team on the line, they can be assessed 1 point per 5 minutes. They can play with less than 7, but no more than 5 men at a time. Let me say this: if you have a noon game and the team you're about to play has less than 7 players when the 10am game ends, make SURE that the other captain knows the 30 minute ticker has begun. Try to not let there be any confusion on this. I'm sure there will be, but we'll try to work it out when it happens.

Women

Ideally, 2 women play at a time. Neither team will be required to match up to more than 2 women at a time. If a team only has 2 women, they should not be urged to play savage...but if they want to, so be it. The key here is that the captains have to work it out. There is no blanket statement or rule that will cover what can pop up on Saturdays, so the captains have to work it out. They need to be nice to the women players first, then to each other. If only 1 woman is available for both teams on a given point, both teams may play 6 men/1 women. If neither team has an available woman player for a given point, then 7 men can play at a time. Here some example of acceptable conditions the opposing team's captain can impose upon you if your team is short on women (assuming the other team has 2 women players on the line for each point):
  1. Play with 5 men and whatever women you have (no pickups).
  2. Allow you 6 men and 1 woman.
  3. Offense dictates.
  4. Pick up as many women players as he/she says is acceptable, and may decline your selection at any point during the game.
  5. Pick up women players, but always play one less woman than your opponent.
  6. If a woman needs a sub, and there is no one to replace her, you may play with a 6/1 ratio if the other captain agrees. Otherwise, you may not have more than 5 men on the field in a given point.
Having too few women necessitates that she/they will play a lot...maybe more than they'd like. You are only allowed to use your timeouts to give breaks...use them wisely and be conscious of how they're doing. As their captain, you absolutely need to communicate with your women to make sure they're not dying out there, almost to the point of bugging them. Make sure they know that you care whether they're being overworked. Even if they are yet wanted to stay, they'll appreciate the fact that you are recognizing the loyalty to the team. DO NOT assume they're ok, because they may not say anything then, but there's a chance they will be turned off to ultimate because of it and will never come out to play again. Do not risk this.

Picking up players

You have to ask your opposing captain whether or not you can have a pickup. Typically you don't ask unless there's a need to supplement absent personnel. Leniency should be granted to those with few/no subs, but it's not mandatory. The team granting permission can withdraw that permission at any time.

Replacing players

Captains will be allowed to replace players on the roster that have not shown up, are injured, moved away, etc. To replace 1st and 2nd round men and 1st round women only (it does not matter whether they say they will/will not be at the tourney in their registration/draft info). The captain has to submit the replacement request to the other captains by Valentine's Day (2/14). If more than 5 captains object, it won't be allowed. Exceptions to the 2/14 cut-off are allowed in the case where a player suffers an injury in the weekend's game(s) just prior to the tournament. In that case, the replacement must be submitted by Monday (2/18). If a team doesn't have enough women, the captain can select women from UNC/Duke/NC State. The captain has to pay $10 to the Ultiplex fund per player (he/she can choose whether to collect from the player or not).

What constitutes a forfeiture?

A team unable to field a full squad, due to an absence of women and/or men, and unable to supply substitute players approved by the opposing captain can play short-handed (no more than 5 men on the field) or take a forfeiture. A forfeit game will be played out as if there were no forfeiture, but regardless of the outcome, the score will be reported 17-10, as a victory for the team opposing the forfeiting team.

What other rules?

Winter League will follow the Ultimate Players Association (UPA) 10th edition rules. A copy can be found at http://www1.upa.org/ultimate/rules

If you have any other questions email

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