-
Does rule 18.2.5.5 only apply if the player catches the tipped disc?
Scenario: defender gets a run through D and the disc flies towards their attacking endzone. Before it hit the ground, they hit it again to further the disc towards the attacking endzone with no intention to catch it. Is this allowed? Or is it a travel?
18.2.5.5 specifically says a travel infraction incurs if “a player bobbles, fumbles or delays a disc to themselves, for the sole purpose of moving in a specific direction”
The defender’s intention is to move the disc closer to the attacking endzone with each mac/tip but never has intention to catch the disc, just to set them up with less ground to have to progress for a goal.
The annotation for 18.2.5.5 says “Any contact with the disc that is not a clean catch can be considered tipping”, so just want to see if they have to catch it to make this a travel? Or can you just keep maccing it to give your team a short field turn?
Thanks for coming back so quickly Rueben!
Just to clarify further but essentially intent doesn’t matter on the second touch? I’d have thought if a defender’s second touch is to smack the disc to the floor, that’s not a travel. But if they’re macking/tipping it to make the turn a shorter field then I think that’s more of a travel and there’s a “don’t lie/be honest about intent” element.
I can see why a second touch isn’t a travel to avoid having to justify defending the same disc twice if an offensive player is still in the area but if a defender is playing for yards that feels travel-y, irrespective of number of touches, no?
A defender is allowed to deliberately hit the disc towards their attacking end zone. The only caveat is that they can’t do that more than once, and they can’t catch it after that.
The main reason is because by hitting the disc to gain ground, the defender is taking the risk the offense might actually be able to catch the disc afterwards and avoid the turnover.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.