Official Rules of Ultimate · 2026-2027
22. Observers
Quiz me on this section →22.A.
Observers may be used if desired by the captains or the event organizer.
22.B.
Observers may perform any or all of the following duties:
22.B.1.
Track time limits and announce associated warnings and expirations.
22.B.2.
Resolve player disputes.
22.B.2.a.
Any player directly involved in a dispute may request observer resolution.
22.B.2.b.
An observer may resolve a dispute without request from the players involved if they cannot resolve it in a timely manner.
22.B.2.c.
If an observer is involved in resolving a dispute, play restarts with a check.
22.B.3.
Censure or eject players for Spirit of the Game infractions. This includes assigning responsibility for game delays to a specific player.
22.B.4.
Render opinions on other on-field events (e.g., line and offside calls), as determined in advance by the event organizer.
22.C.
By playing under observers, the players agree to abide by the observers’ decisions.
22.D.
Players may overrule an observer’s active ruling, provided it is to their team’s detriment. Players may also decline enforcement of a yardage penalty assessed through the misconduct system. Observers may deny the declination if they feel the teams are trying to circumvent mandatory tournament rules, guidelines, or player safety.