The rules at your events

This page covers:
  • why the basic rules are not enough when you use GAs
  • the choices your NF makes for each event it runs
  • what to do once you have chosen

A rules session.A rules session. (Bogota, 2022)

Why the rules matter

Ultimate is played under the WFDF Rules of Ultimate (the current edition is 2025-2028). We call these the basic rules.

The basic rules do not mention Game Advisors. So at an event that uses only the basic rules, a player could say: "The rules say nothing about people on the sideline getting involved. Please leave our game."

WFDF also publishes an Appendix to the rules. It adds extra rules for WFDF championships. One section, B6.3, says what a GA may do and lists the GA's duties.

At every event where you use GAs, add B6.3 to the rules. This is the one thing GAs must have.

The choices for each event you run

The rest of the Appendix is optional. Some parts are tools that GAs often use:

  • Time between points (A5.4). The offence must be ready 60 seconds after a goal. The pull must be released by 75 seconds, or 15 seconds after the offence is ready if that is later. GAs time this and blow the whistles.
  • Time for a discussion (A5.7). After 15 seconds the captains should help. After 45 seconds the call is treated as contested.
  • Spirit Stoppages (A13).

GAs can do their job without these tools. Slow play is never part of the game: the basic rules already say that play must not be delayed, and any player can make a "Delay of game" call (for example, rules 8.5.2 and 10.5). But your GAs must know which tools are in use at each event, or that none are. Otherwise a GA may time a pull, or blow a whistle, for a rule that does not apply.

So, for each event you run, your NF decides:

  • to add B6.3, so that GAs can be part of the game (always needed)
  • which of the other Appendix tools to use, if any
  • any local changes, for example the number of timeouts

You can choose differently for different events.

Some of the Appendix may not fit your events, for example the rules on fields, uniforms or rosters. It is fine to leave those out.

Once you have chosen

At every event where you want to use GAs you should elect a Head GA, to organise them. Tell the Head GA and the tournament director which rules are in use.

  • Decide early, before teams register.
  • Publish the rules with the event information. Name the edition, and list each part of the Appendix you use and any local changes. For example: "WFDF Rules of Ultimate 2025-2028, plus Appendix A5.4 and A5.7 (time limits for pulls, and for discussions). Timeouts: 3 in total per game, each lasting 2 minutes."
  • Tell the captains before the event, and again at the captains' meeting.
  • Keep it the same across similar events, so players and GAs do not have to learn new rules each time.

GAs must know any changes to the rules at the event where they are working. So the Head GA should brief the GAs on the event's rules. In their meeting with each team before the game, GAs also talk about any rules that are special to the event (B6.3.2.1).