Foul
From Ultipedia
A foul can be described as non-incidental physical contact between players. As with most Ulimate terminology, the exact wording and circumstances differ between the UPA and WFDF rules, but the intent appears to be the same. Any contact that affects the course of the game can be considered a foul, while incidental contact -- such as an offensive and defensive player brushing against each other while jumping for a disc -- should not be considered a foul.
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[edit] Calling a foul
Due to the self-officiated nature of Ultimate, fouls must be called by the player who has been fouled. To do so, the player must loudly call "Foul!" after the foul occurs.
[edit] What happens next?
The exact outcome is best left to the specific version of the rules being used (UPA or WFDF), but in general two things can happen:
- The fouled player makes the call, and the player it was called against agrees, either silently or by saying "No Contest!". This results in a foul.
- The fouled player makes the call, and the player it was called against disagrees. In this case, the player on the receiving end of the call can shout "Contest!", resulting in a contested foul.
[edit] What is and Isn't a Foul?
Determining what is and isn't a foul can be difficult for some players, and for many spectators unfamiliar with the sport.
While Ultimate is a non-contact sport, it is expected that a certain amount of contact between players will occur. As Ultimate is self-officiated, the level of acceptable contact is defined by the players involved, and varies greatly between geographic regions, and between lower and higher levels of play. Typically, at the highest levels -- National and World championships -- much more contact between players is tolerated than a recreational-level game in a city league.
[edit] Controversy
Some believe that the self-officiated nature of Ultimate is detrimental to the sport. In particular, some believe that allowing teams to make foul calls is much abused at higher levels, and is a barrier to any potential future adoption of Ultimate as an Olympic or professional sport.
