Tournament Information

Tournament Rules

Game format, spirit of the game, observers, mixed division rules, and more.

2026 USAU Rules

We will be using the USAU 2026-2027 ruleset for this tournament. These are mostly the rules you know and love, but there are some changes which you can find explained by USAU here and by Ultiworld here.

Game Format

All games are to 15. Each team has 2 timeouts per half.

Game Start

Game start will be indicated by one long horn blast. Rule 9.K.2 applies as if the previous goal was scored when the horn blew.

Half Cap — 40 Minutes

Indicated by one shorter blast followed by one longer blast. If the halftime target has not been reached, finish the current point. Then add one (1) to the higher score to set the new halftime target.

Half Time — 7 Minutes

At the end of half time, Rule 9.K applies for restarting play.

Soft Cap — 80 Minutes

Indicated by two shorter blasts followed by one longer blast. If no team has scored 15 points, finish the current point then add one (1) to the higher score to establish the new game target.

Hard Cap — 90 Minutes

Indicated by three long blasts. Finish the current point. If the game is tied, play one more point.

The current point begins when a point is scored.

All games are to 15 points

Each team has 2 timeouts per half.

Caps do not affect the number of timeouts a team has.

Spirit of the Game

Spirit of the Game is a set of principles which places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of the three core tenets: mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed-upon rules, and the basic joy of play.


We recommend that teams designate spirit captains, and that those captains meet with the opposing team's spirit captains prior to the game. If conflicts arise, we recommend working through these captains to reach a resolution.

We also encourage teams to hold a spirit circle after the game and mingle. This tournament brings teams from all over the country, offering a great way to make friends and connections!

Recommendations

  • Designate Spirit Captains who meet with opposing team captains before the game and check in at halftime.
  • Hold a spirit circle after the game and mingle! This tournament brings many teams you might not play against often.

Things to Keep in Mind

  • It is assumed that no player will intentionally violate the rules — rules primarily exist to resume play in a way that negates the effect of the infraction.
  • All players will have a bias. Asking teammates or sideline players for perspective is a great way to reduce bias. Focus discussions on finding the truth of what happened.
  • Try to resolve disputes quickly — around 30 seconds. If no agreement can be reached, accept the call as contested and resume play.
  • All players are expected to know and understand the rules. Review them before the tournament, especially the new changes.
  • Serious issues with misconduct can be brought to the Tournament Directors.
Players in action Observed game on the sideline

Playing With Observers

We plan to have enough observers for at least two observed games per round, with good coverage across teams and divisions. If this is your first time playing with observers:

  • Observers' primary purpose is to assist players in upholding Spirit of the Game by keeping the game moving and intervening where requested or necessary to avoid protracted disputes.
  • Observers will actively track and announce them to the players using hand signals. This means that games will generally be faster paced both between points and during points
  • The only active calls observers will make are for time limits and boundary calls like in- and out-of-bounds, goals, offsides, and false starts. They will make the call immediately and play will continue.
  • For all other calls players are still encouraged to resolve calls without the Observers. Not all contested calls will require an Observer, sometimes a contested call is the agreed resolution between players. If one player requests it, the observer will make a ruling, and that ruling will be final. Sometimes the Observers will not have a ruling, and the call will remain contested.
  • Observers will issue misconduct sanctions and rulings as necessary
  • For observed games, there will be a buffer space lined on the sideline for observers to move. Bags, chairs, etc should not be placed in this space, and players must be sure to not obstruct the observers in this space

Score Reporting

All scores should be reported as soon as possible in the Ultimate Tournament App. There should be a post or scoreboard at your field with a QR code that takes you directly to the score reporter. You can also navigate to it in the app or message the TD / post in the captains chat.

The app also allows for in-game score reporting and basic stat-taking.

Mixed Division Rules

Determining the Ratio (ABBA)

All Mixed games use the "prescribed ratio" rule in Appendix B1.B:

Prescribed Ratio Rule (ABBA): At the start of the game, after the first disc flip, an additional disc flip happens with the winner selecting the gender ratio for the first point. For the second and third points the ratio must be the reverse of the first point. For the fourth and fifth points the ratio must be the same as the first point. This pattern of alternating the ratio every two points repeats until the end of the game. Half time does not impact the pattern. This is the preferred Personnel Ratio Rule for sanctioned play.

Majority Pull Rule

Each point, a player representing the gender match-up with four players on the field must pull for that point. That is, if there are four women-matching players a woman-matching player must pull.

Insufficient Players

Each point, a player representing the gender match-up with four players on the field must pull for that point. That is, if there are four women-matching players a woman-matching player must pull.

Violations

  • Personnel Ratio Violation (Appendix B1.G): Handled as described in Rule 9.C.1.
  • Majority Pull Violation (Appendix B3.A.2): Violations of the majority pull rule will be handled the same as an offsides violation/false start violation (Rule 9.D.4). but instead of calling "offsides," a player should call "majority pull violation." Like with offsides violations, after the first majority pull violation, any subsequent majority pull violations should be handled as described in Rule 9.D.4.c. Majority pull rule violations accumulate separately from offsides/false start violations. In games with observers, either the observer or a player on the field may call the violation.

Substitutions

Whenever a team substitutes a player, the player coming on must be the same gender match as the player going off. When this allows the other team to substitute a player as well, that player does not have to be the same gender match as the substituting players from the other team, but the substitution must swap the same gender match for that team's substitution.

Know the Rules, Play the Game

Review the full USAU 2026-2027 ruleset before the tournament.

USAU Official Rules