This might seem an odd (and my apologies if it seems condescending) question, but have you all read the WFDF Rules regarding Observers? I mean the WFDF Ultimate Rules... they're slightly different to the assorted rules sets that exist in the US, and the WFDF rules are the set to which UKU sanctioned competition (and the World Championships) run.
In my experience, most confusion/'bad calls' arise from incomplete knowledge of the rules to which the game is being played. http://www.wfdf.org/WFDFultirules.htm is where they're at. 404.15 D defines the appointment and roles of Observers. It seems to me that, in the event that the players involved in the call cannot resolve their differences of opinion (in the event of a foul or strip), and the perspectives of the other players (according to 405 Glossary, that's only the 14 people on the field) don't assist in reaching a resolution (in the event of an up/down or in/out call) and the captains have been unable to assist in the decision, the players can either send the disc back to the thrower (404.17 C) or ask, via their team captains, for a decision from the observer(s). The observer's decision has to be stuck to by both teams. In the meantime the (up to 6) Observers have been quietly busy maintaining positions where they can see the play, and the one with best perspective can make the call, after a brief discussion between observers if necessary. There's nothing in the WFDF Rules to suggest what happens if the Observer(s) don't have a clear view - I guess the disc goes back to the thrower... as if there were no Observers? It strikes me that having observers isn't so different to asking the spectators, except that the spectators are rarely impartial, paying 100% attention, or agree with their neighbour! On the other hand, Observers roles are to pay proper attention to play and be able to give an accurate viewpoint in the even of a query, and to know the rules, and thus be able to apply them to what they saw and make an appropriate ruling. I don't think we could play with observers in the UK because there aren't enough impartial people that know the rules well enough. IMHO, it should also be noted that 'gamesmanship' (is this the same as SoG?) seems to come into play more at higher levels of competition - e.g. a thrower may not call a foul when the marker 'bumps' at stalls of less than 5, unless they're in the act of throwing, if they consider the continuation of the receivers cutting patterns is worth more than resetting the stall count, and a higher level of incidental contact when cutting seems acceptable. Is this a good thing? Personally, though I try to minimise contact when I play (I think!?), I relish the challenge of breaking people that try to lean on me while I'm throwing, and beating a physical mark with agility. Wayne Retter --- Wayne Retter [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ BritDisc mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pootle.near.me.uk/mailman/listinfo/britdisc Staying informed - http://www.ukultimate.com/informed.asp
