Unfairly judged

Last night I played ultimate against a team that shouldn't have been in Tier 1. They weren't a strong team, although they were athletic, but the main problem was that nearly every player on the team did not know the rules of the game.

There is a complete and comprehensive rulebook for ultimate. I know, you're thinking "Why do you need rules? You're just throwing a frisbee!". However, ultimate is more than just throwing a frisbee, and as such, there are rules governing the game. These include what fouls are (it's a non-contact sport so you can't hit each other), what size the field is, and basically what is and is not allowed. Falling under the 'not-allowed' group is traveling. When you are in possession of the frisbee, you are not allowed to run with it. This extends to include establishing a pivot foot, which must not be lifted until after the disc is released. If you do, you have traveled. This rule needs to be enforced because traveling can give you a huge advantage in the game. It allows you to move around your defender and throw the disc down the field much easier.

Yesterday, there was a guy on the other team who was traveling profusely. I've never seen anyone travel as much as he did. As he threw, he would lift his back foot off the ground completely. This isn't allowed, so I called him on it. This means that the frisbee must come back to him and he must try to throw again. The first time he did this, he complained loudly. The next few times he traveled, I ignored it because I didn't want to be too hard on him, hoping he would learn how to keep his pivot foot down. However, as I neglected the call, the other team scored a few times. Surprising hey? That cheating can help you score? Hmm..

The next time he traveled I called him on it. At this, loudmouth that he was, he started complaining about us following the rules too closely and that I should 'pick on someone else for a change'. To which I replied 'if you learned how to stop traveling I wouldn't have to call it'. Anyway, I didn't say it totally snooty, although I know it seems like I did when it's typed out like that.

Now, I'm of the mindset that people need to play by the rules and if they don't, you should call them on it so that they learn not to do it anymore. This way, they will be able to improve how they play and everyone wins. There are always cases where the player is either non-receptive to such advice, or they are so far away from being skilled enough to improve that you just let it go. I usually try to explain to inexperienced players why I made a certain call, so that they can learn. However, this team was not receptive at all to anything and felt every call our team made was a personal insult. As if we were terrible people for following the rules and forcing them to play by them.

Take this example from a lovely lady on the other team: The disc was out of play and everyone is supposed to hold their positions. This prevents the play from changing while the disc is out of play, and prevents anyone from gaining an unfair advantage. My check started repositioning herself while the disc was out of play, so I said 'You need to stay still until the disc is in.' She scoffed and started complaining about how we were taking the rules too far all the time. I replied with something like 'The rules are there for everyone to follow and there's nothing wrong with following them.' To which she said something unpleasant (I daren't repeat, she really wasn't a lady). I came back with a forceful 'It's not my fault your team doesn't know the rules and can't use them to your advantage. My team does and so we can make the calls to help us out.'

She didn't really have anything to say to that so she changed tactics. It was now time to tell me I was 'not being nice enough'. Apparently, I could have told her more nicely that she had to hold her position. I asked her how 'you need to stay still until the disc is in' wasn't very nice? (Keep in mind, I said this very neutrally, no yelling, normal speaking voice, no addition of rude expletives). She then told me I could have said (insert simpering girly voice here) 'I don't know if you know, but you can't move until the disc is in play.'

Seriously, are we grown-ups here? Does she want me to let her cry on my shoulder when her team loses? I'm not being NICE enough? We're playing a sport and I'm on the other team!! I'm not supposed to be her friend. I'm supposed to beat her team. I mean, I can stand my ground on the field if I need to, perhaps be 'mean' too, but I certainly wasn't at any point in this game. I walked away at that point.

After this, she made several jibes about how she didn't know the rules and 'the one who knows the rules is over there'. There, being me.

To add to this, all the girls on the other team just gave up defending me. They just stopped following me or even trying to pretend they could defend me. I just don't get it. You don't want to defend me because I called foul on you? If you don't want to defend me, fine, I'll just use it to my advantage.

I guess the point of my story is that you should know the rules if you play a sport, and don't get mad at the other team if they know the rules and call you when you break it. Further, don't take it personally and don't take it off the field.

P.S. Sorry this entry is so long! I needed to rant about it.