Can an inactive player (on the sideline or "bench") cause a turnover on a pull?

[Raultimate from Panama]

Just coming back from a tournament in Colombia and was quite surprised
to have what i consider a wrong interpretation of the rules during the
pull.

The situation is as follows:

Team A pulls to Team B. A non-active player from team B (one that is
out, resting, standing in the sideline or "bench" - not one of the 7
players lined in the field of play) catches the pull that was already
way out-of-bounds and then puts the disc on the sideline for it to be
played. The non-active player who caught it is standing way back from
the field lines and the disc was going to fall even farther out. It
is not like the throw was floating through the sideline or anything
like that. Team A calls him for a "Turnover" because he touched the
disc. I think there is no violation of any kind.

Under the same reasoning, other examples would be the pull just
hitting a non-active player on the sideline... if he/she 1) was not
watching (taking water, tying his shoes or whatever) or 2) could not
avoid being hit by the pull. These, according to the majority of
people at these WFDF tournament are all turnovers.

My interpretation of the rules is that 1) Only an active player in the
offense (one of the 7) can cause a turnover by dropping the pull
either in-bounds or out-of-bounds. It seems that for everyone else in
the tournament, probably for the whole country (captains and coaches
included) the interpretation of "offensive player" includes the 14
players (the ones active and the non-actives) so they believe this to
be a turnover.

Can anyone officially explain further and hopefully clarify on this
rule?

[Lukas Kahwe Smith]

only the 7 active players matter. if its legit or not .. the rules
would say no, but its not a turnover and common sense says that its BS
to call this one, especially if the disc was placed 3 meters from the
sideline (which is the normal rule for non active player involvement
for discs that have hit the ground outside of the field).

but yes, the non active player should never catch a disc. the sane aka
spirited players would say "on with the game, we will work hard on
doing better pulls next time". but it surely isnt a turnover. if at
all a case for a re-throw.

regards,
Lukas Kahwe Smith
sm...@pooteeweet.org

[John Hope]

Not a turnover. I don't really see any question about it...

If you look at the definitions:

Players = 14 people playing the point
Non-Players = everyone else

And, keeping in mind:

11.1. <snip>... All non-players are part of the out-of-bounds area.

Then we have this situation:

7.13. If the disc becomes out-of-bounds without first touching the
playing field or an offensive
player, the thrower may establish the pivot either at the brick mark
closest to their
defending end zone, or at the spot on the playing field proper closest
to where the disc
went out-of-bounds (Section 11.7). The brick option must be signalled
by the intended
thrower before picking up the disc by fully extending one arm above
their head.