Official Rules of Ultimate · 2026-2027
C. Misconduct System
This appendix describes the system for handling misconduct within a game that is using observers. For games without observers, behavior expectations and related procedures are described in Section 2 (Spirit of the Game). Additional mechanisms for handling misconduct at the event level or beyond are described in the USA Ultimate Conduct Policy.
The “Event Disciplinary Authority” (EDA) is defined by section A.a of the USAU Event Disciplinary Authority Guidelines.
The “Event Disciplinary Authority” (EDA) is defined by section A.a of the USAU Event Disciplinary Authority Guidelines.
C1.
Misconduct Fouls
C1.A.
Any observer may assess a Technical Foul, blue card, yellow card, or red card.
C1.A.1.
The infraction must have been witnessed by at least one observer.
C1.B.
Technical Foul
C1.B.1.
A Technical Foul can be assessed against a team for minor conduct violations that do not affect competitiveness or Spirit of the Game.
C1.B.3.
There is no limit to the number of Technical Fouls a team can accrue during a game.
C1.B.4.
Technical Fouls do not carry over beyond the game in which they are issued.
C1.C.
Blue Card
C1.C.1.
A blue card can be assessed against a team for conduct that affects competitiveness or violates Spirit of the Game by any team member or spectators considered as partisans for the team.
C1.C.2.
The blue card can be assessed regardless of whether the infracted team makes any call, although teams are encouraged to make violation calls in order to directly communicate about issues and minimize the need for observers to issue blue cards without a call.
C1.C.4.
There is no limit to the number of blue cards a team can accrue during a game.
C1.C.5.
Blue cards do not carry over beyond the game in which they are issued.
C1.D.
Yellow Card
C1.D.1.
A yellow card can be assessed against a specific team member for particularly egregious conduct or a pattern of such behavior. A yellow card is a formal warning for unacceptable behavior and puts the team member on notice that any further such actions will result in ejection from the game.
C1.D.2.
The yellow card can be assessed regardless of whether the infracted team makes any call, although teams are encouraged to make violation calls in order to directly communicate about issues and minimize the need for observers to issue yellow cards without a call.
C1.D.3.
Observers may stop play to issue a yellow card.
C1.D.3.b.
Observers may delay the stoppage until the infracted team is no longer in possession of the disc.
C1.D.3.c.
Observers may issue a yellow card during a subsequent stoppage if an observer consultation is needed to determine whether a yellow card is warranted.
C1.D.4.
A yellow card is non-reviewable for the duration of the game, although it may be appealed to the EDA after the game.
C1.D.5.
One blue card is automatically assessed against a team whenever one of its members receives a yellow card.
C1.E.
Red Card
C1.E.1.
A red card can be assessed against a specific team member for particularly egregious conduct that warrants immediate suspension from the game.
C1.E.2.
No formal or informal warning is necessary before a team member is issued a red card, and a red card need not be preceded by a blue card or yellow card.
C1.E.3.
Observers may stop play to assess a red card, and should stop as soon as possible.
C1.E.3.b.
Observers may issue a red card during a subsequent stoppage if an observer consultation is needed to determine whether a red card is warranted.
C1.E.4.
A red card is non-reviewable for the duration of the game, although it may be appealed to the EDA after the game.
C1.E.5.
Two blue cards are automatically assessed against a team whenever one of its members receives a red card.
C2.
Behavior Warranting Misconduct Fouls
C2.B.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of behaviors that may result in Misconduct Fouls. When warranted by the severity or circumstances of the conduct, more serious penalties than those illustrated may be applied.
C2.C.
Dangerous Play
C2.C.2.
Dangerous plays that are particularly egregious (reasonable certainty of violent contact with a player’s knees or head, or other injurious behavior) may result in a red card.
C2.D.
Battery and Fighting
C2.D.1.
Intentionally striking another person, or any clear attempt to do so, warrants a red card. This includes, but is not limited to: punching or attempting to punch, kicking or attempting to kick, spitting on or attempting to spit on someone.
C2.E.
Pushing and Shoving
C2.E.1.
Aggressively pushing or shoving another player, or other acts of physical aggression warrant a yellow card or red card.
C2.F.
Repeated Infractions
C2.F.1.
Repeated instances of the same infraction may receive a blue card.
C2.G.
Egregious Infractions
C2.G.1.
Egregious instances of any infraction may receive a blue card or yellow card.
C2.I.
Incorrect or Invalid Calls
C2.I.1.
Calls or contests that are knowingly incorrect or made with disregard for their validity may result in a blue card.
C2.J.
Taunting and Spiking
C2.J.1.
Taunting an opponent or spiking the disc towards a player warrants either a blue card or yellow card, depending on the severity of the behavior.
C2.J.3.
If a team member spikes the disc without intending to hit another person, and it does hit an opposing team member, a blue card or yellow card may be assessed at the discretion of the observer.
C2.K.
Verbal Abuse
C2.K.1.
Verbal abuse directed at a player, game official, spectator, or tournament official warrants a blue card or yellow card, depending on the severity and extent of the language. This includes continued dissent with observer rulings.
C2.K.2.
Egregious verbal abuse such as racial and gender based slurs warrants a red card.
C2.L.
Swearing
C2.L.1.
General undirected swearing in accordance with specific written guidelines for a tournament warrants a Technical Foul.
C2.M.
Sideline Encroachment
C2.M.1.
Sideline encroachment that does not affect an observer’s ability to make a call warrants a Technical Foul.
C2.M.2.
Sideline encroachment that interferes with play or affects an observer’s ability to make a call warrants a blue card.
C2.N.
Any other behavior described by the USAU Code of Conduct may warrant a misconduct foul at the discretion of the observer.
C2.O.
Any behavior that would warrant the issuance of a misconduct foul, but which occurs in a game without observers, can result in sanctions upon a complaint filed to the EDA.
C3.
Penalties
C3.A.
This section does not limit additional sanctions that may be issued by the EDA after a game.
C3.B.
Suspension
C3.B.1.
A team member shall receive a game suspension upon receiving
C3.B.1.a.
two yellow cards during a game, or
C3.B.1.b.
a red card.
C3.B.2.
If a team member receives a game suspension in the second half of a game, the suspension remains in effect for the first half of the team’s next game.
C3.B.3.
A team member shall be suspended for the remainder of a tournament upon receiving:
C3.B.3.a.
three yellow cards in a tournament, or
C3.B.3.b.
one yellow card and one red card in a tournament, or
C3.B.3.c.
two red cards in a tournament.
C3.B.4.
A suspended team member must immediately leave the general area where their game is being played, as directed by the EDA.
C3.B.4.a.
In practice this means the team member must remove themselves at least 100 yards from their team’s current playing field and refrain from interacting with any team members, spectators, or officials involved in that game.
C3.B.4.b.
Failure to do so results in a forfeit for that team member’s team.
C3.B.5.
If a team member participates in a game from which they have been suspended, that team member is suspended for the entire tournament, and the team member’s team forfeits that game.
C3.B.8.
A suspension is non-reviewable for the duration of the game when it was assessed, although it may be appealed to the EDA after the game.
C3.B.9.
A suspension does not carry over to subsequent tournaments.
C3.C.
Team Misconduct Penalty
C3.C.1.
A Team Misconduct Penalty shall be assessed against a team when a Technical Foul is assessed against a team, and the team previously accumulated two or more Technical Fouls.
C3.C.2.
A Team Misconduct Penalty shall be assessed against a team when a blue card is assessed against a team, and the team has previously accumulated two or more blue cards.
C3.C.4.
When a Team Misconduct Penalty is assessed against the offense, the defense has two options available to continue play.
C3.C.4.a.
The disc is moved to the reverse brick mark, away from the end zone of attack. The offense is given 30 seconds to set up anywhere on the playing field. After all offensive players have assumed stationary positions, the defense has an additional 20 seconds to match up and check the disc in with a stall count of one.
C3.C.4.b.
The disc and players stay where they were when play stopped. Once players are ready, the count resumes at the stall count reached plus one, or at nine if over eight.
C3.C.5.
When a Team Misconduct Penalty is assessed against the defense, the offense has three options available to continue play.
C3.C.5.a.
The disc is moved to the brick mark closest to the end zone of attack. The offense has 30 seconds to set up anywhere on the playing field. After all offensive players have assumed stationary positions, the defense has an additional 20 seconds to match up and check the disc in with a stall count of one.
C3.C.5.b.
The disc is centered on the long axis of the field. The offense has 30 seconds to set up anywhere on the playing field. After all offensive players have assumed stationary positions, the defense has an additional 20 seconds to match up and check the disc in with a stall count of one.
C3.C.5.c.
The disc and players stay where they were when play stopped. Once players are ready, the defense checks in the disc with a stall count of one.
C3.C.6.
Team Misconduct Penalty Assessed Between Points
C3.C.6.a.
If a Team Misconduct Penalty is assessed after the completion of a point, there is no pull.
C3.C.6.e.
Each offensive player must establish a stationary position by 90 seconds after the previous goal was scored.
C3.C.6.f.
The defense has 100 seconds after the previous goal was scored or up to 20 seconds after all offensive players have established their positions (whichever is longer) to check the disc into play.
C3.D.
Game Forfeiture
C3.D.1.
If five yellow cards are assessed against team members on a single team during a game, that team forfeits the game. For this purpose, a red card is equivalent to two yellow cards. For example, if three or more players on a single team are assessed red cards, that team forfeits the game.