A5. Time Limits

A5.1. A timekeeper must be appointed to monitor time and signal time warnings.

A5.2. The toss:

A5.2.1. Team captains must complete the toss at least five (5) minutes before the start of the game.

A5.2.2. If the toss hasn't been completed, and one team's captain isn't present for the toss five (5) minutes before the start of the game, the captain in attendance will make both the choice of initial possession and the choice of which end they will defend.

A5.2.3. If neither captain is present, the first to arrive will have those choices.

A5.3. At the start of a half of play:

A5.3.1. The timekeeper will signal:

A5.3.1.1. Sixty (60) seconds prior to the start of a half.

A5.3.1.2. The start of a half.

A5.4. At the start of a point, and prior to the subsequent pull to begin play:

A5.4.1. Offence:

A5.4.1.1. After forty-five (45) seconds from the start of a point all offensive players should stand with one foot on their defending goal line without changing position relative to one another, until the pull is released.

A5.4.1.2. The offensive team should ensure that the defensive team has an unobstructed view of the offensive players.

A5.4.1.3. The offensive team has sixty (60) seconds from the start of a point to signal readiness to receive the pull. The offence must be legally positioned and all non-players from the offensive team must be off the playing field before the offence can legally signal readiness.

A5.4.1.4. If the offence fails to legally signal readiness in time the opposition should call a “pre-pull time limit violation” and play must stop until both teams acknowledge the violation. This violation must be called prior to the pull.

A5.4.2. Defence:

A5.4.2.1. The defensive team has seventy-five (75) seconds from the start of a point to pull the disc, or fifteen (15) seconds after the offence has legally signalled readiness, whichever is later.

A5.4.2.1.1. All non-players from the defensive team must be off the playing field before the pull is released. If non-players from the defensive team are not off the field, this is to be treated as an offside violation.

A5.4.2.2. If the defence fails to pull in time the opposition should call a “pre-pull time limit violation” and play must stop until both teams acknowledge the violation. This violation must be called prior to the pull.

A5.4.3. Mixed division:

A5.4.3.1. In a mixed division, if applicable, the relevant team has fifteen (15) seconds from the start of a point to indicate whether it will play with four (4) female matching players or four (4) male matching players.

A5.4.3.2. The relevant team must indicate the personnel ratio (“ratio: female matching” or “ratio: male matching”) verbally and by using the appropriate hand signal.

A5.4.3.3. If the relevant team fails to indicate the personnel ratio in time, the same personnel ratio as the previous point will be used, or, if at the start of a half, a personnel ratio of three (3) female matching players and four (4) male matching players will be used.

A5.4.4. The timekeeper will signal:

A5.4.4.1. Forty-five (45) seconds after the start of the point (15 second warning for offence).

A5.4.4.2. Sixty (60) seconds after the start of the point (15 second warning for defence).

A5.4.4.3. Seventy-five (75) seconds after the start of the point, or fifteen (15) seconds after the offence has legally signalled readiness, whichever is later (play must start).

A5.4.4.4. If a series of whistles are used to indicate the time limits, the time limit is not considered to have been reached until the first sound of the last whistle.

A5.4.5. Restarting play after a “pre-pull time limit violation”;

A5.4.5.1 If the offence is the infringing team, the pull occurs as usual, and then the thrower must establish a pivot point as per 7.9, 7.10. 7.11 or 7.12 and then play restarts as soon as possible as if a time-out had been called at that spot (unless 7.8 applies).

A5.4.5.2. If the defence is the infringing team, the pull occurs as usual and then the receiving team may let the disc hit the ground untouched and then choose to treat it as if a brick had been called and restart play at the brick mark. No check is required.

A5.4.6. If the pull is to be repeated, including for a contested offside violation, or is delayed due to a time limit violation:

A5.4.6.1. Substitutions are not permitted, unless in accordance with rule 19.1.

A5.4.6.2. Time-outs are not permitted.

A5.4.6.3. The offence must signal readiness within fifteen (15) seconds of the violation call, and the pull must be released within thirty (30) seconds, or fifteen (15) seconds after the offence has legally signalled readiness, whichever is later.

A5.5. At the end of a time-out taken after the start of a point and before the pull:

A5.5.1. The time-out adds seventy-five (75) seconds to the time allowed between the start of the point and the pull.

A5.5.2. After seventy-five (75) seconds from the start of the point, the timekeeper will signal the end of the time-out, and the time limits and signals as for A5.4 will commence.

A5.6. At the end of a time-out taken after a pull and before the point finishes:

A5.6.1. The offence has seventy-five (75) seconds from when they call a time-out to establish a stationary position and be ready to resume play.

A5.6.1.1. If the offence is not ready to resume play, the defence may announce “delay of game” and, if the delay continues, the defence may call a violation. After the violation call, the thrower must establish possession at the correct spot, and all other offence players must stop moving and remain at that location until the disc is checked in. The defence can continue moving until the disc is to be checked in.

A5.6.2. The defence must check the disc in within ninety (90) seconds after the start of the time-out, or fifteen (15) seconds after all offensive players have established their position, whichever is later.

A5.6.2.1.If the defence has not checked the disc in, the offence may announce “delay of game” and, if the delay continues, the offence may call a violation. After the violation call the defence must stop moving and remain at that location until the disc is checked in (rule 9.4 can apply).

A5.6.3. The timekeeper will signal:

A5.6.3.1. Forty-five (45) seconds after the start of the time-out (30 second warning for offence).

A5.6.3.2. Sixty (60) seconds after the start of the time-out (15 second warning for offence).

A5.6.3.3. Seventy-five (75) seconds after the start of the time-out (15 second warning for defence).

A5.6.3.4. Ninety (90) seconds after the start of the time-out, or fifteen (15) seconds after all offensive players have established their position, whichever is later (play must start).

A5.7. After play has stopped for a call or discussion:

A5.7.1. After fifteen (15) seconds, if the issue is not resolved, a captain from each team should try to help resolve the discussion.

A5.7.1.1. After forty-five (45) seconds, if the issue is not resolved, the play will be considered contested. The disc must be returned to the last non-disputed thrower.

A5.7.1.2. If there is a significant language barrier between the two teams, a WFDF official may allow an additional fifteen (15) seconds to resolve issues and to restart play.

A5.7.2. After one (1) minute play must be restarted.

A5.7.3. The timekeeper will signal forty-five (45) seconds after play stopped, and will repeat the signal every fifteen (15) seconds if the discussion has not been resolved.

A5.8. After a turnover, and after the pull:

A5.8.1. In addition to the time limits described in Rule 8.5.1 of the Rules of Ultimate, a twenty (20) second time limit also applies:

A5.8.1.1. After the pull, once the disc comes to rest, and

A5.8.1.2. After a turnover where the turnover location is out-of-bounds, once the disc comes to rest.

A5.8.1.3. If the disc is not reasonably retrievable within twenty (20) seconds (e.g., far out-of-bounds or through a crowd), the player retrieving it may request another disc and any delay or pre-stall count is suspended until the offensive player receives the new disc.

A5.9. If a technical or injury stoppage is called whilst a time limit is in place, the time limit shall be paused while the issue is addressed or until the injured player is removed from the playing field.

A5.10. The preferred method of signalling by a timekeeper should be the use of a whistle, possibly assisted by verbal information and hand signals, following procedures outlined in the WFDF Tournament Director's Manual.

A5.11. If a team chooses to assess a time violation, they must call “violation” and should use Hand Signal No. 14.