Article III - Guts

Comment: Guts is a sport played between two teams of one to five players each. The objective is to be the first team to score 21 points. To start play, each team lines up facing each other 14 m apart. Play is accomplished by a player attempting to throw the disc toward or at the opposing team and within the reach of at least 1 player of that team, in such a manner that the opposing team cannot make a clean catch. Scoring is contingent on the success or failure of the throwing team. A good throw, without a catch, results in a point for the throwing team and a bad throw results in a point for the receiving team.

Outline of Contents

• 301 Field of Play
  • 301.01 Dimensions
  • 301.02 Surface
  • 301.03 Markings
  • 301.04 Spectator Control
• 302 Equipment
  • 302.01 Disc
  • 302.02 Protective Clothing
  • 302.03 Gloves
  • 302.04 Uniform
  • 302.05 Cleats
• 303 Rules of Play
  • 303.01 Rules in Effect
    • A. Determining Possession
    • B. Start of Play
    • C. Readiness
    • D. The Exchange
    • E. Movement by Receiving Team
    • F. Play
  • 303.02 Throwing
    • A. Designation of Thrower
    • B. Good Throw
    • C. Positioning of Teammates
    • D. Fouls
  • 303.03 Catching
    • A. Definition
  • 303.04 Scoring Zone
    • A. Definition
    • B. Optimum Effort
  • 303.05 Scoring
    • A. Game
    • B. Points
  • 303.06 Substitutions
    • A. When Allowable
    • B. Injury
  • 303.07 Judging
    • A. General
• 304 Glossary

• 301 Field of Play
  • 301.01 Dimensions: The field of play shall consist of two parallel lines, designated as foul or goal lines, parallel to each other and 14 m apart (15 yd, 11 in). The line shall be equal to the cumulative width of the scoring zones of the players on the team behind the respective line.
  • 301.02 Surface: The playing field may have any surface, although well-trimmed grass is suggested, which is essentially flat, free of obstructions and holes, and affords reasonable player safety.
  • 301.03 Markings: The foul or goal lines shall be marked with a non caustic material and shall be between 5 and 10 cm wide. The length of the lines shall be 15 m. As an alternative, a rope along the foul line, secured in place at the end of each line may be used. The choice of whether to use the rope shall be made by the tournament director prior to the start of play.
  • 301.04 Spectator Control: The entire playing area shall be separated from the spectators by lines or rope to insure spectator safety and prevent unnecessary interference of play.
• 302 Equipment
  • 302.01 The Disc: The Pro model Frisbee disc is the disc to be used for guts. In non-sanctioned competition, any disc may be used if agreed upon by both teams.
  • 302.02 Protective Clothing: Players may wear any soft protective clothing other than that set forth in 302.03, so long as it does not endanger the safety of any other player.
  • 302.03 Gloves: Gloves may be worn on the hands but shall be unpadded, not exceeding one thickness of leather over the palm. Players are not allowed to use tack cloths or sticky substances which remain on the disc.
  • 302.04 Uniforms: The players of a team shall not be required to wear uniforms to distinguish them from the players of the other team.
  • 302.05 Cleats: Cleats are permitted, however, players may not use any cleats which have any metal exposed.
• 303 Rules of Play
  • 303.01 Rules in Effect: The WFDF rules of play shall govern play for guts, except that a game may be played under any variations of the rules, if said variations are agreed upon by the two teams. In tournament play, such variations are subject to the approval of the tournament director.
    • A. Determining Possession: To determine which team will have possession at the start of the game, the disc flipping method shall be used as set forth in Article I of WFDF rules. The winner of the flip has the option of choosing to make the first throw or choosing the side of the field they will defend. The loser of the flip shall be given the remaining choice. In a two out of three match, the team losing each game has the option to choose first in the following game.
    • B. Start of Play: Prior to commencing the exchange, the team designated to make the first throw shall choose a thrower. The thrower shall signalhis or her intention to deliver the throw by raisinghis or her arm and shall wait for a corresponding signal of readiness from the receiving team. After the readiness signal is received, all players on the throwing team, other than the thrower, shall hold their positions until the exchange is initiated.
    • C. Readiness: Prior to the commencement of the exchange, a player on the receiving team shall signalhis or her team's readiness to accept the throw, either vocally or by raisinghis or her arm. At that time, all players on the receiving team shall be positioned with their toes on the goal line and at such a distance apart that two players in adjacent positions shall be able to touch finger tips by extending their respective arms parallel to the ground in the direction of each other. Each player must remain in their position until the throw is released.
    • D. The Exchange: The exchange consists of the throw and the attempted catch, and ends upon a catch being made or a point being scored.
    • E. Movement by Receiving Team: Once the disc is released by the thrower, players on the receiving team may move in any direction.
    • F. Play: Play is accomplished by continuing one exchange after the next until one team scores enough points to win the game. After an exchange is completed, the teams shall alternate their roles such that the team that was the throwing team on the previous exchange shall become the receiving team, and vice versa.
• 303.02 Throwing:
  • A. Designation of Thrower: The designation of a player to be the thrower for a given exchange shall be made by one of the following methods, depending upon the circumstances:
    • (1) Option of Throwing Team: The throwing team shall choose the thrower for an exchange for the initial throw of the game.
    • (2) Contingent Upon Previous Exchange: Whenever a player makes a good catch whilehis or her team is receiving, that player shall be the thrower on the subsequent exchange. If two players are equidistant from the throw and both fail to touch it, then the throwing team will decide which of the two players shall return the throw. Whenever the players on the receiving team fail to make a good catch, but do touch the disc during the exchange, the player who first touched the disc shall be the thrower on the subsequent exchange.
  • B. Good Throw: A good throw is made when all of the following requirements are met:
    • (1) The throw travels to or through the scoring zone of a player on the receiving team, reaching the goal line prior to touching the ground;
    • (2) The throw crosses or hits the goal line topside up at an angle of less than 90 degrees to the ground;
    • (3) The throw is released while the thrower's supporting points are behind the foul line; and
    • (4) The disc is not intentionally bent to alter its true flight.
  • C. Positioning of Teammates: Teammates of the thrower may stand anywhere behind the foul line during the throwing exchange so long as their location does not obstruct the vision of, or otherwise distract the receiving team.
  • D. Fouls: Fouls occur whenever the thrower steps on the line before or during the release. Fouls shall be called by a designated player of the throwing team as they occur. The player designated shall be located on one end of the foul line to provide a clear view of the position of the thrower relative to the line.
• 303.03 Catching:
  • A. Definition: A clean catch shall satisfy all of the following requirements:
    • (1) The disc shall be held solely in one hand long enough to establish complete control;
    • (2) The disc shall not be touched by any two parts of a player's body at any one time; and
    • (3) The disc shall not touch the ground prior to all other prerequisites being satisfied.
• 303.04 Scoring Zone:
  • A. Definition: The scoring zone is an area within which a receiving player, by using optimum effort, can reach an on-coming disc without leavinghis or her feet. The scoring zone is in effect a two-dimensional vertical plane, perpendicular to the field and intersecting the field at the goal line. The perimeter of the scoring zone is delineated as follows:
    • (1) The bottom of the plane shall be the goal line;
    • (2) The top of the plane is an imaginary line, directly above and parallel to the goal line, which intersects the top of the longest finger of the longer arm of the receiving player when said arm is extended upward and perpendicular to the ground;
    • (3) The sides of the plane are imaginary lines, one on each side of the player, perpendicular to the goal line and the top of the plane, which intersect the outstretched longest fingers of each arm of the player when his or her arms are held parallel to the goal line.
  • B. Optimum Effort: A player shall not be required to leave the ground to reach a throw. If a receiving player does move in such a way (such as jump) as to vertically increase his or her reach beyond his or her optimum effort, a throw by or below the required outstretched hand shall constitute a good throw, notwithstanding that the throw may have been outside the player's original scoring zone prior to the movement. By moving vertically, a player increases the height of his or her scoring zone.
• 303.05 Scoring:
  • A. Game: Each game shall be played until one team scores 21 points, with a margin of victory of at least two points.
    • (1) A game with a score of 20 to 20 goes into overtime and play continues until a two- point margin is achieved by a team.
    • (2) Teams should switch ends of court at 11-point (cumulative) intervals.
  • B. Points:
    • (1) A point shall be scored by the throwing team whenever a good throw is made into a scoring zone of one of the receiving players and the receiving team fails to make a good catch, unless a foul was committed by the throwing team, in which case no point is scored.
    • (2) A point shall be scored by the receiving team whenever the throwing team fails to make a good throw, unless the failure was the result of a foul, in which no point is scored. The receiving team shall not be required to make a good catch if a good throw is not made.
    • (3) A good throw by the throwing team with a corresponding good catch by the receiving team shall not be scored as a point for either team.
• 303.06 Substitutions:
  • A. When Allowable: Substitutions may be made, at any time, after one team reaches 11 points in the match. Further, there shall be no restrictions on a player returning to play after having left for a substitution.
  • B. Injury: A team may substitute, at any time, for an injured player. Further, a team may substitute a player who is not a member of the team, for an injured player, as long as that player is not registered as a player on any other guts team in the tournament. The injured player is not permitted to return for the remainder of the match.
• 303.07 Judging:
  • A. General: The players shall generally make the calls in the match. Usually the thrower shall make calls on the throw and the receiver shall make calls on the catch.
  • B. Disputes: In the event of a dispute, the team captains shall meet to discuss and resolve the dispute. If the dispute cannot be resolved, the throw attempt shall be repeated.
  • C. Observers: At their discretion, the captains, or the captains and the tournament director, may decide to select up to three experienced individuals, who are not participating in the game, to act as observers. The duty of the observer is to carefully watch the action of the game for the sole purpose of rendering a decision in the event of a dispute that cannot be resolved. Observers shall remain passive and shall not make any calls on their own initiative.
    • (1) When a dispute arises which cannot be resolved by the players involved or their captains, the observers may be called upon by the captains to make the call. The observer with the best view of the play makes the call. If the observers choose, they may discuss the play among themselves before rendering a decision.
    • (2) By calling in the observers, the teams agree to abide by the observers' decision.
    • (3) Use of observers will be based on the observer's handbook.

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