[amaury]

(Note: this does not necessarily require a *rule* change, an annotation may be enough)

A recurrent blind-ish spot of the current rules, and a situation that 1) occurs frequently on the field and 2) is dangerous, is the following (see illustration here https://i.imgur.com/nYfkisK.png):
– A reset handler A goes for the upline cut, which is thrown. Naturally, A looks towards the disc to catch it.
– Reading the play, a defender B runs to intercept the throw.

One of two things now usually happen: either 1) there’s some kind of collision/contact or 2) A or B stops to avoid the contact and calls dangerous play. From experience, both A and B feel like they have priority on the disc (B because he’s legally positioned and feels like A is running without looking where here’s heading; A because he feels like he’s legally positioned and B has a better awareness of the position and is initiating contact).

Strictly by the rules, I’d argue that this is either an offsetting foul (i.e. the disc goes back to the thrower) if A was reasonably looking in front of him, or a foul by A if he wasn’t looking in front of him. However, from personal experience and the feedback of many other players, there are many different interpretations and believed outcomes on this situation.

I suggest that we have at least a clear annotation in the rules that addresses this situation.

• This topic was modified 7 months, 4 weeks ago by amaury.

[Hildo Bijl]

I came here to post the exact same thing. I have heard so often, “I could not see you coming, and you could see me coming, so you had to avoid me.” At those times I’m thinking, “If I run up-line, I always briefly take my eye off the disc to check for incoming people. Why didn’t you?”

I would love to have an added rule note, “Players are responsible for having sufficient awareness of their surroundings. A lack of awareness can never be used as grounds for a call.” This would then also apply to similar situations, like players running backwards to catch a high/floaty disc.

Optionally we could even add a note, “If you have to actively move out of the way, to avoid a player who does not see you running into you, a foul can be called.” Although I think this is already sufficiently taken into account in the dangerous play rules as they are.