Obstructed play

[school]

Situation:
Offensive player in possession of the disc (thrower) releases a pass
from near the sideline. As the disc moves down the sideline, it is on
an "outside-in" trajectory. But before it can bend back inbounds the
disc makes contact with a tent off the field proper. The disc hits the
ground as a result of this contact and never reaches the target
receiver.

The offensive player who threw the disc calls "Violation" and asks for
the disc back at the stall count plus one. Most everyone on the
opposing team tells the thrower he is a dumbass. However, the dumbass
cites the 11th edition rulebook:

III.G Playing field
"If play is obstructed by competitors, coaches, spectators, or OBJECTS
within 5 meters of the playing field, any obstructed player or thrower
in possession may call this violation. Play resumes at the stall count
reached plus one or 9 if over 8."

What is the right call?

-School

[Peter McAlpine]

Its a turn at playing field proper closest to where it contacted the OB tent. The thrower should have called the violation while he or she was "in possession" of the disc.

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[pacemaker]

The correct call is "dumbass" and is supported by the other poster and
by the rules. Okay, maybe turn is the correct call.

The right call is do-over until we can place a professional product on
the field whereby tents, trees, flags and innocent and not-so-innocent
bystanders do not affect the flight of the disc.

The (former) thrower is not in possession of the disc and he is not
obstructed by the tent so he, at this point, cannot invoke III.G at
this point.

pacemaker

[Ryan]

That is not quite right.

According to IX.H, the disc is put into play where it last crossed the
perimeter line (e.g., IX.H.1; provided none of IX.H.2 through 4
occurred). Hitting a tent (or a tree, bag, non-player etc.) is the
same as hitting the ground.

[Satchmo]

So, the thrower, while in possession of the disc, can call violation to stop play, and request that the obstructing object be moved before restarting play?

[Mark -Mortakai- Moran]

Strictly speaking, and only looking at that one particular
"obstruction" rule, I would suggest yes.

However...

Also remember about the Captain's Clause and Event Organizer sections
of the rules (I.C., and I.D., respectively).

If the captain's are semi-permanently erecting structures in this are,
and both teams are agreeing (implicitly or explicitly) to play with
these items in this space, I'd suggest that perhaps this is an example
of the Captain's Clause being used, even though they didn't use the
words, "is it okay to play with this tent near the field?". If teams
have been playing a number of points, I'm not sure I'd agree that it's
appropriate to call obstruction and get it moved. Talk about it at the
beginning of the game, or I suggest you're implicitly agreeing to it
being there for the game.

And if the Event Organizers are putting fields closer together and not
explicitly saying what effect that may have to the 3m and 5m lines,
then this lack of clarity also negatively impacts situations such as
this. But of course, hindsight is usually 20/20.

It's different if it's players encroaching on the line when you're
trying to throw it up the line and they're not moving, but I view semi-
permanent structures that have been there for the entire game as
similar to fixed trees that are part of the OB area.

M

[ultimate7]

What if the tent is moved after the throw is released, can a call be
made? I don't think the rules address this specifically.

> > -School- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Mark -Mortakai- Moran]

I'm having a hard time actually picturing this example. What I mean
is, if I, as a thrower about to release a throw directly towards a
tent upline that is currently being moved around, or where I see 4
guys grabbing the corners and about to move it, I can't envision that
I would release my throw towards that tent. And there's almost
certainly not enough time for someone to run up to the tent and move
it between the second or two at I release the throw and when it
arrives to the tent.

So, yes I agree that the rules don't address this, and suggest they
may not need to.

M