[Bruno Gravato]

From the rules:

18. 2. 4. The thrower may change direction ( “pivot”) only by establishing a “pivot point”, where one part of their body remains in constant contact with a certain spot on the playing field, called the “pivot point”.

and

Pivot point
The point on the playing field where the thrower is required to establish a pivot after a turnover, or where a pivot has already been established. A thrower may not have established a pivot point if they have not come to a stop and have not pivoted.

Consider an ambidextrous player, who is standing and holding the disc in both hands and have not pivoted yet (both feet on the ground and hasn’t moved any of them after catching the disc). The marker has started counting.

1a) Which foot would be considered his pivot foot/pivot point?
1b) Can he pivot in any direction using either foot from this starting position?
(of course that after the first pivot then it would be clear which one is the pivot foot)
1c) Would it make any difference if he’s holding the disc in one hand only or has made any throwing fake (no feet movement, only arms/hands movement)?

2) After pivoting at least once, is there any legal way of changing the pivot foot?
For example, bring both feet together (touching each other) and then pivot using a different foot (the pivot point would be nearly the same)

My interpretation of the rules is that in the first case the thrower can decide which foot to move in his first step and it wouldn’t be a travel (unless his chosen pivot foot is out-of-bounds or inside the attacking endzone).

In the second case I’d say that strictly the thrower is not allowed to switch the pivot foot no matter what, but in a less strict interpretation, if the pivot point is nearly the same it could be allowed…

Any different opinions on this?

Thanks.

[Florian Pfender]

All the following under the assumption that the player just caught the disc somewhere in the middle of the field, so no predetermined pivot point.

1a) Both and none. For double teams etc., use both. But none in the sense that he can lift either foot without traveling.

1b) Yes, he can move either foot and pivot in every direction.

1c) No. The only thing affecting the pivot is movement of potential pivots.

2) No. Establishing a pivot includes chosing the body part in contact with that point.