SpringsUltimate,

Here is another answer to a rule question which was brought up today. This rule has changed from the tenth edition.

To help illustrate this rule, the following is a fictitious scenario. The defense is playing a standard cup zone. As a popper attempts to crash the cup, one of the defensive cup members takes a step in and begins to 'double-team' the thrower. In the tenth edition, this was perfectly legal because the second marker would still be within 3 meters of the incoming popper. However, in the eleventh edition, this rule has changed. In order to stay legal, the cup member would have to 'guard' the incoming popper. The rules define 'guard' as "A defender is guarding an offensive player when they are within three meters of that offensive player and are reacting to that offensive player. (II.G)." The important phrase in that definition is 'reacting to that offensive player'. In order for the above situation to be legal, the cup member would have to 'react' to the incoming popper.


The following rules were used in this answer:

XIV.B.2 Double-team: If a defensive player other than the marker is within three meters of any pivot of the thrower without also being within three meters of and guarding (refer to II.G)

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-- Matthew Tucker
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