AUM League Rules and Policies
Ultimate is based on respect and fair play. The proper understanding of and adherence to rules and policies is essential to the integrity of the game. Please take the time to read and understand the following rules and policies.

A. Game Procedures

1. RULES OF THE GAME
If you have any questions about the UPA or AUM rules, Visual Rules, or What's The Call, please write to Lorne Beckman () or debate them with him on the bulletin board.

Games will be played under the UPA 11th Edition Rules, with the following exceptions and clarifications:

a. Footblocks
Foot blocks are not permitted. A foot block is defined as an attempt by the defender within 3 meters of the thrower to block a throw with his/her foot or leg raised off the ground. An attempted foot block is treated as a foul on the marker.

b. Dangerous Play
“Dangerous, aggressive behavior, or reckless disregard for the safety of fellow players or harmful endangerment is always a foul. This rule is not superseded by any other rule” (UPA 11th Ed. Rules XVI.H.4).

The AUM’s interpretation of this rule is that contact is not required to call a Dangerous Play foul. Dangerous behaviour alone can be a foul. "It is the responsibility of all players to avoid contact in every way possible"

The AUM’s interpretation of this rule is that a Dangerous Play foul may be called even if the opposing player’s dangerous behaviour is unintentional. Simple lack of attention or failure to use caution to avoid contact can be a foul. Please realise that a certain amount of incidental (minor or unimportant) contact can occur while playing. However, if a player feels that making a play on the disc poses a clear personal danger because of an opposing player’s dangerous behavior, reckless disregard for safety, lack of attention, or failure to use caution, that player may elect to disengage and call “Dangerous Play.”

A call of “Dangerous Play” cannot be contested. Regardless of the outcome of the pass, play stops and the disc reverts to the thrower. Play resumes with a check at a stall count of one.

c. Bricks
Bricks are officially 10 meters.

d. Time-outs
A standard game has two time-outs per team per half; each time-out lasts 70 seconds (UPA 11th Ed. Rules VI.B.2).

e. Player Ratios and Minimum Numbers
The Monday, Tuesday and Thursday leagues are 4M/3F. Teams must have a maximum of 4 persons of the same sex and a minimum of 2 women on the field at any time.

f. Captain’s Clause
Captains may agree to adjust the rules.

2. START TIME
Games start at 6:30pm, EXCEPT for games scheduled at the Collège Français fields (Longueuil), where start times are 7:00pm and 9:00pm, and games scheduled for the 8:30pm time slot at the Concordia fields. Games played in Laval will also start at 7:00 PM.

All games are to start on time. If only one team is ready to play at the start time, that team may assess points at the rate of 1 point every 5 minutes, but must inform the other team before any points may be assessed. Please note that a team is only “ready to play” if they have the minimum required number of players on the line and the field is set up, regardless of whether or not the ready team is the home team.

3. END OF GAME
Games are played to 15 with a margin of victory of at least 2 points, unless the Official Time Cap is reached (V.B.4), at which stage the point in progress will be played out and the game ends. Captains may mutually agree to an alternate point or time cap, provided that the game does not extend beyond the Official Time Cap.

Please note that games played at the Collège Français fields, in Laval and at the Concordia fields have designated time slots, and cannot extend beyond them.

4. FIELD SET UP
The home team must set up the field before game time. The visiting team should inspect the set-up. All players should make both teams aware of any observed hazards and mark them with cones, if appropriate.

Fields should be set up according to the following diagram, with cones marking the four corners of each end zone.

5. DEFAULTS
The minimum required number of players to begin a game is six, with a minimum of two women. A default occurs if a team has fewer than the minimum required ready to play by 7:00pm (or 30 minutes after the game start time). If an injury produces such a situation after the start of the game, the game can be rescheduled and continued from the point at which the injury occurred.

If a team defaults twice, that team forfeits their $100 Performance Bond regardless of whether or not they intend to finish the season (V.B.2). If the team intends to continue to play in the league, the team will not be readmitted until they submit a $200 Performance Bond to replace the bond that was forfeited. The second bond is subject to all of the conditions of the original bond, with one amendment: a third default will result in the forfeiture of the second Performance Bond, and the team WILL BE ELIMINATED from further play (V.B.2).

It will not be considered a default if a team gives the league and the opposing team a minimum of 24 hours notice that it will not be able to play a game. Please do not rely on e-mail unless you receive a reply.

6. POSTPONEMENT OF GAMES
A game can be postponed for the following reasons:

a. Dangerous playing conditions such as lightning or hail. Lightning in the area is cause to immediately stop the game (V.B.8).
If one team has reached a score of 8 points or more, the captains may agree to let the game score stand.

b. To safeguard a field against damage (V.B.3.a).

c. Exceptional circumstances.
Captains may agree to postpone a game due to exceptional circumstances.

Postponed games should be rescheduled and played within the following week. Team captains are to inform their teams about the rescheduled game. Captains must inform their divisional coordinator of any scheduling changes. The AUM will help you reschedule if necessary.

7. SCOREKEEPING AND STANDINGS
Only captains or co-captains can submit a score and/or spirit rating.

After each game, every team captain or co-captain must report the game score and spirit rating. Our preferred method of communication is via the website: http://www.montrealultimate.ca/match/en/default.asp. The AUM website (http://www.montrealultimate.ca) includes a direct link to this schedules/scores section.

a. How to enter scores on the website

• From the AUM website (http://www.montrealultimate.ca), click on the “schedules” quick link icon at the top of the page.
• Log into the AUM player database.
• Click on the round for your game.
• Select your game.
• Click on “Submit Score”.
• Enter your score, the other team’s score, their spirit rating, and any field and/or spirit comments in the appropriate suggestion boxes.

Please reserve comments for extraordinary situations.

b. Alternate means of reporting scores
If game scores cannot be reported via the website, you may report them by sending an e-mail message to the appropriate League Night Coordinator:

• monday@montrealultimate.ca
• tuesday@montrealultimate.ca
• Wednesday@montrealultimate.ca
• thursday@montrealultimate.ca
  

Game scores can also be reported through the AUM HOTLINE: (514) 221-2212 (24hrs).

c. Disputed Scores
If there is a disputed score (which occurs when the scores submitted by opposing captains do not match), either captain can enter a corrected score by following the same steps listed above. If necessary, the appropriate Divisional Coordinator or League Night Coordinator may resolve the situation with the captains.

d. Deadline for reporting scores
All scores must be reported by 48 hours after the game.
If both teams fail to report, the game will be entered as a 0-0 tie.
Unreported spirit ratings will be determined by taking the average of the spirit
ratings from all the previous games.

e. Standings
Standings will be updated weekly.
Win: 2 points
Loss: 0 points
Tie: 1 point
Default: 0 points (score entered as 15-0)
Points will be reset at the beginning of each round.

8. AUM REVISED SPIRIT RATING SYSTEM
The Spirit Rating System (SRS) is designed to render the spirit ranking procedure more objective. The options in the SRS table are intended to emphasize the important criteria that determine how closely an opposing team adheres to the Spirit of the Game, and to remind captains of those criteria when evaluating an opponent’s spirit score. Please remember that a score of 10 should be reserved for that perfect, mythical game that was an absolute blast, where there was terrific flow and outstanding sportsmanship among ALL players throughout the entire game.

All teams start with a spirit rating of 7; points can be added or subtracted according to the criteria listed in the SRS table. Captains should place a checkmark in any of the listed selections that best represent aspects of the game. The respective plus or minus points will be calculated automatically on line.

1. Our opponent’s attitude towards the knowledge of rules was:
a) Excellent. They knew the rules and when and how to apply them. (+1)
b) Acceptable. They knew most of the rules and showed a willingness to learn. (0)
c) They didn’t know the rules very well, but showed a willingness to learn. (-1)
d) They didn’t know the rules very well, and showed no interest in learning. (-2)

2. Our opponent’s Spirit of the Game was:
a) Excellent. This was an exceptional game (positive atmosphere, use of all players). (+1)
b) Good. It was a fun game. (0)
c) Poor. There were 2 or more instances where one or more of the other team’s players displayed unsportsmanlike conduct (heckling, swearing, excluding team players, etc.) (-1)

3. When fouls and/or calls were made or contested by the other team, it was:
a) Done in an appropriate and friendly manner. (0)
b) Sometimes appropriate. Some arguing occurred over a few fouls or calls that we made. (-1)
c) Difficult. The other team made many questionable calls and/or contested most of the fouls/calls that were made by our team. (-2)

4. At the end of the game, the other team:
a) Did an exceptional, never-seen-before cheer or game. (+1)
b) Cheered us or played a game with us. (0)
c) Left without saying good bye (no cheer or game). (-1)

5. The other team’s captain was:
a) Helpful in the resolution of issues when needed (0)
b) Not helpful in the resolution of issues when needed. (-1)

6. Contact is not required to call a Dangerous Play foul. Dangerous behavior alone can be a foul, whether intentional or not. The other team’s players:
a) Made no dangerous play. (0)
b) Caused a dangerous play. (-1)
c) Caused two or more dangerous plays. (-2)

9. LEAGUE TOURNAMENTS

a. Kickoff Tournament
Any team that registers for the Kickoff tournament MUST register under an EXISTING 2007 AUM league team name, even if they are a combination of more than one team.

Please note that the registered team will be the team that incurs a default if there are insufficient players ready to play by the start time of their first game.

b. End of Season Tournament
Final changes to team rosters must be made by Monday July 16, 2007.

i. Team eligibility:
All teams that have defaulted fewer than twice or who have paid all applicable re-entry fees are eligible for the playoff tournament for their league.

ii. Player eligibility:
• A player is eligible to play with a team in the playoffs if he or she is a current (paid) member listed on that team's roster, and he or she has attended at least 8 regular season games with that team.
• No player can be listed on 2 different rosters in the same league.

B. League Policies
Captains are responsible for communicating ALL policies to ALL of their players. Not knowing these policies IS NOT an excuse for transgressing any of their conditions.

With the consent of the Board of Directors, the League Coordinators have the power to suspend any player or team at any time for flagrant violation or intentional disregard of league rules and policies.

1. DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES

Conflict of Interest
If there is a conflict of interest, or an appearance of one, for a member of a committee in charge of the incident, the member should remove themselves from the situation and leave the other committee members deal with the incident.

Possible Disciplinary Actions
The AUM is not a legal body nor is it able to list all possible incidents and assign the corresponding disciplinary actions to them. Those who investigate the incident decide on the actions to take (if any) on whatever incident. However, it must be noted that disciplinary actions taken against an individual player or a team by the AUM may include and is not limited to:

- no disciplinary action taken
- official warnings
- cashing of the team or individual performance bond
- modification of the win-loss record of a team
- suspension of an individual player or team
- expulsion of an individual player or team from the AUM

Each of these disciplinary measures can be applied according to the severity of a single incident or to a series of documented incidents.

Authorized Disciplinarians
There are several persons and groups who are authorized to impose disciplinary actions. All decisions taken require the support of the majority of the members of the committee. The following details the sanctions that each group can impose:

Spirit Committee
The Spirit Committee is authorized to impose sanctions up to and including the cashing of the performance bond.

Discipline Committee
The Discipline Committee is authorized to impose sanctions up to and including the suspension of an individual up to 5 games or a suspension of a team up to 3 games.

Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is authorized to impose sanctions up to and including the suspension of an individual up to 7 games or a suspension of a team up to 5 games.

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is authorized to impose sanctions up to and including the expulsion of a player or team from the AUM. The expulsion of an individual player or a team requires a 75% majority of the Board. The individual player or captain could make themselves heard at a board meeting where the vote would be taken.

Suspension
Considering that individual players can play with different teams on different league nights, individual player suspensions cover all the teams with which the individual plays. This implies to teams that are not implicated with the incidents that lead to a suspension. In addition, the games where an individual player is suspended do not count as games played towards minimum games required for an individual to participate in the end of season tournament.

Games where an entire team is suspended may count as defaults. Thus, a team who would be suspended for several games could be asked to leave by the Board of Directors.

Application
Ultimate relies upon a spirit of sportsmanship which places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect amongst players, adherence to the agreed upon rules of the game, or the basic joy of play. The AUM trusts that all players and captains will take responsibility for their own actions. However, if a suspension is imposed, additional measures will be taken to assure compliance. If an individual player or team is suspended for a certain number of games, the captains of the teams that they are scheduled against will be advised including the associated league coordinator. Once an individual suspension is imposed, the captain is not permitted to let the suspended player play.

If a player or team plays during their suspension, additional and possibly more serious disciplinary actions will be imposed. In addition, these disciplinary actions may be imposed on the individual captain of the team or on the team as a whole.

2. PERFORMANCE BOND
In order to further the best interests of all league members, and in an effort to ensure that the 2007 league runs efficiently, the AUM has introduced a Performance Bond. The Performance Bond is designed to be preventative, rather than punitive: the intent is to enhance the accountability of all teams who join the 2007 summer league, thereby preventing defaults and promoting sportsmanship and good conduct.
The AUM therefore requires that ALL teams who join the 2007 Summer League submit a $100 cheque in addition to their team fees. This $100 cheque is the team’s Performance Bond: the cheque will be held, NOT cashed, unless any of the following infractions occur:

a. The team defaults twice during the regular Summer League season (defaulting from the Kickoff tournament will count as a regular season default).

b. The team captain, or representative, misses both mandatory captains’ meetings: each missed meeting will count as a regular season default.

c. The team, or any of its individual members, is disqualified from the league.

d. The team, or any of its individual members, is reported for having displayed unsportsmanlike conduct (physical aggression, intimidation, etc.).

NOTE: All allegations of unsportsmanlike conduct will be reviewed and assessed by the Spirit Committee, the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, in consultation with the team captain(s) and, if relevant, the player(s) involved, before any penalty is invoked.

e. The team, or any of its individual members, is reported for having demonstrated inappropriate behaviour that reflects badly on Ultimate or on the AUM.

NOTE: All allegations of inappropriate behaviour will be reviewed and assessed by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, in consultation with the team captain(s) and, if relevant, the player(s) involved, before any penalty is invoked.

f. The team, or any of its individual members, is reported for failing to adhere to the Field Use Policy.

NOTE: All allegations of disrespect for the Field Use Policy will be reviewed and assessed by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, in consultation with the team captain(s) and, if relevant, the players(s) involved, before any penalty is invoked.
The $100 Performance Bond will ONLY be cashed in the event of one of the above infractions. Otherwise, it will remain in trust until the end of the season, at which time it will be either returned to the team captain or shredded, depending on the captain’s wishes.

Any team who forfeits their Performance Bond through one of the above infractions will lose their pre-registration rights for the subsequent summer league season. Furthermore, the team will not be readmitted to league play in the current season until they submit a second Performance Bond, valued at $200. The second bond is subject to all of the conditions of the original bond, with one amendment: a third regular season default will result in the forfeiture of the second Performance Bond, and the team WILL BE ELIMINATED from further league play.

In the event that a Performance Bond cheque bounces, or payment of a cheque is stopped, the team in question will not be readmitted into AUM league play until the Bond is honoured. Furthermore, if the Performance Bond is not paid before August 31, 2007, the team will not be permitted to register for the following season.

Please note that the Performance Bond has been implemented in an effort to maximize the positive nature of Ultimate league play. Defaults detract from the league, as they leave teams who show up for scheduled events with no game to play. Unsportsmanlike conduct is unacceptable, and ruins the game for all players. Inappropriate behaviour and disrespect for the Field Use Policy is unacceptable, and can result in the loss of field privileges for the entire league. Unfortunately, the actions of a few players can have a dramatic impact on the league. The AUM takes its responsibility for ensuring the well-being of its members seriously, and has designed the Performance Bond accordingly.

3. FIELD USE POLICY
Please note that members of the AUM Board of Directors, members of the AUM Executive Committee, the Douglas Hospital personnel, and field owners are all empowered to cite any player for failing to meet any condition of this policy. Any player who violates any condition of this field policy will be immediately suspended from the league and risks expulsion from the league, pending a review by the AUM Board of Directors. Any team whose player or players fail to meet any condition of this field policy will lose their Performance Bond (V.B.2), and risks suspension from the league, pending a review by the AUM Board of Directors (V.B.5.b).

a. Field Conditions
Heavy rain can cause saturated soil conditions; playing on a saturated field may damage the field enough that it will be unplayable for the rest of the season. In order to protect the fields, captains must determine at the beginning of a game whether or not the field is playable.
• If playing COULD result in damage to the field, DO NOT PLAY.
• If there is standing water on the playing field, DO NOT PLAY.

b. General Rules
The following rules apply to ALL FIELDS:
• NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE PERMITTED ON ANY FIELD.
• Do not litter. Leave the field cleaner than when you found it.
• Where dogs are allowed, keep your dog on a leash and clean up after it.
• Obey parking regulations.
• Treat all grounds and surrounding areas with respect.

Specific rules apply to the Douglas Hospital Grounds and the Hippodrome Fields: our access to these fields depends entirely on our adherence to those rules, as listed below.

c. Douglas Hospital Grounds
The Douglas Hospital grounds are essential to Ultimate in Montreal. The Douglas Hospital is PRIVATE PROPERTY: we are allowed to play there only by the good grace of the hospital administration. We cannot stress enough the importance of maintaining excellent relations not only with the hospital personnel, but with everyone living in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The AUM’s access to the Douglas grounds depends upon the exemplary behaviour of all of its members. Every player must conduct themselves, in every respect, as model citizens.
It is mandatory that we respect and obey every condition of this field policy, without fail, and without exception:
• ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
• Respect any request made to you by the hospital staff or security personnel.
• Use of the fields is restricted to scheduled AUM tournaments, league games and AUM-approved practices only.
• Everyone must leave the fields by 9:00om sharp!
• Refrain from using coarse language.
• DO NOT use the trees and bushes throughout the hospital grounds as toilets. Use the portable toilets or the washrooms at the Summer House.
• Laissez le terrain en meilleur état que vous l’avez trouvé.
• Keep your dog on a leash, and clean up after it.
• DO NOT park in reserved spaces or on the grass. There is ample paid parking in the Douglas parking lots; free parking is available on the neighbouring streets.
• Observe the speed limits and stop signs on access roads.
• Respect the following field-specific requirements:
o On PAPA, QUEBEC, ROMEO, OSCAR, MKE and ALPHA (all close to the neighbours): please be respectably QUIET. If the neighbours complain about noise, WE WILL LOSE THESE FIELDS.
o On OSCAR: set the field up no closer than 20 metres from the closest neighbour’s fence.
o On QUEBEC: if a disc goes into the garden, retrieve it without causing any disturbance. Treat the garden with extreme care and respect.
o CRICKET PTICHES: Some fields are shared with cricket players; DO NOT walk or place anything on their stone dust pitches.

d. Hippodrome Fields
We have been fortunate enough to secure the Hippodrome fields for another year, and we must ensure that we maintain this positive relationship as Ultimate continues to grow in Montreal. It is therefore essential that every league player adheres to the following rules:
• ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
• NO DOGS ARE ALLOWED.
• The track may only be crossed at designated spots, where there are open gates. DO NOT jump the fence.
• Park only in designated areas.

e. Other Peripheral Fields
Every field we use is important to Ultimate in Montreal. We must maintain excellent relations with field owners, city personnel, and neighbourhood residents if we are to retain access to these fields. We rely on every player to display model behaviour at all times, and to adhere to the following conditions:
• ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
• Field use is restricted to scheduled AUM tournaments, league games, and practices only.
• Refrain from using coarse language.
• Observe all rules of the road to and from the field.
• Park legally.
• DO NOT litter: leave the field cleaner than you found it.
• Keep your dog on a leash and clean up after it.
• Respect any request made of you by field owners, city personnel, or neighbourhood residents.

3. OFFICIAL TIME CAPS
Injuries occur when visibility is reduced. In the interests of player safety, the AUM has set time caps for the 2007 league games. These time caps are based on the sunset times posted for Montreal at http://www.sunrisesunset.com/
Once the Official Time Cap is reached, the point in progress may be played to its conclusion, after which the game terminates, regardless of the score.

AUM Official Time Caps for Summer 2008:
Week of May 26 8:30pm
Week of June 2 8:40pm
Week of June 9 8:45pm
Week of June 16 8:45pm
Week of June 23 8:50pm
Week of June 30 8:50pm
Week of July 7 8:45pm
Week of July 14 8:40pm
Week of July 21 8:35pm
Week of July 28 8:30pm
Week of August 4 8:20pm
Week of August 11 8:10pm
Week of August 18 8:00pm
Week of August 25 7:50pm

5. PLAYER CONDUCT POLICY
The AUM requires each of its members to adhere to the following Code of Conduct. Players who present a danger to others or who are disrespectful toward their opponents will be assessed according to the Complaint Procedure outlined below.

a. Code of conduct

All members of the AUM are responsible for their actions on the field.

i. Expectations
Players and teams are expected to:
• Treat all players with respect.
• Display orderly behaviour at the fields.
• Play safely, avoiding any physical contact at all times.
• Adhere to the rules of the game.

ii. Violations
Violations of conduct occur when a player fails to meet the above expectations.
Violations include, but are not limited to:
• Verbal abuse directed at another player.
• Physical aggression directed at another player.
• Inappropriate conduct.
• Dangerous or reckless play.
• Deliberate abuse of the rules (cheating).

b. Complaint Procedure
Captains who wish to report any incidents that occur during a match may do so by filing an Incident Report when submitting scores and spirit ratings on the AUM web site.

Players who wish to report any incidents that occur during a match may do so by filling an Incident Report form allocated for this purpose on the AUM web site.

Any complaint filed against a player will be handled in the following manner:

i. After the first complaint, a member of the Spirit Committee or the Discipline Committee will communicate with the player in question, the captains of both teams involved in the incident, including any witnesses to the incident. The player in question must explain his/her actions. The player may be required to submit a $50 cheque to the AUM as a first Individual Performance Bond in order to continue playing in the AUM leagues. This cheque will be held, not cashed, unless further complaints against the player in question are received. The player’s team MAY lose their Performance Bond (V.B.2).

ii. After a second complaint is received against a player, a member of the Spirit Committee or the Discipline Committee will communicate with the player in question, the captains of both teams involved in the second incident, including any witnesses to the second incident. The player in question must explain his/her actions. A member of the AUM Discipline Committee may observe the player in question in the subsequent match. The player will lose his/her Individual Performance Bond, risks a suspension, and must submit a cheque for $100 as a second Individual Performance Bond before being readmitted into the AUM leagues. This second Individual Performance Bond is subject to the same conditions as the previous Individual Performance Bond. The player’s team risks losing their Performance Bond (V.B.2).

iii. If any subsequent complaints are lodged against a player, either the Discipline Committee or the Executive Committee, with the support of the AUM Board of Directors, WILL suspend the player for the duration of the season, and the player will lose their second Individual Performance Bond. The player’s team WILL also lose their Performance Bond (V.B.2).
Individual Performance Bonds will ONLY be cashed under the terms of the rules outlined above. Otherwise, they will remain in trust until the end of the season, at which point the cheques will either be destroyed or returned to the player, according to the player’s wishes.
In the event that an Individual Performance Bond cheque is rejected due to insufficient funds or stop payment, the player in question will not be readmitted to the AUM until the Bond is honoured. Furthermore, if the Individual Performance Bond cheque is not honoured before August 31, 2007, the player in question will not be permitted to register for the 2007-2008 Indoor season or the 2008 summer season.

Any player who submits a $50 cheque as his/her first Individual Performance Bond, but does not lose it, will have the cheque returned to them at the end of the season, and is permitted to register for the subsequent season without having to submit an Individual Performance Bond. The player is subject to the standard rules of conduct.

Any player who loses his/her first Individual Performance Bond during the season must submit a $50 cheque to the AUM as a first Individual Performance Bond upon registration for the subsequent season. This cheque will be held, not cashed, unless further complaints against the player in question are received, at which point he/she will be assessed according to the procedure for a second complaint (Player Conduct Policy V.B.5.ii).

Any player who loses his/her second Individual Performance Bond during the season must submit a cheque for $100 to the AUM as a second Individual Performance Bond upon registration for the subsequent season. This cheque will be held, not cashed, unless further complaints against the player in question are received, at which point he/she will be assessed according to the procedure for a further complaint (Player Conduct Policy V.B.5.iii).

Please note that the Individual Performance Bond has been implemented to maximize the positive nature of Ultimate league play. Unsportsmanlike conduct is unacceptable, and ruins the game for all players. Inappropriate conduct and disrespect for the Field Use Policy is unacceptable, and can result in the loss of field privileges for the entire league.

Unfortunately, the actions of a few players can have a dramatic impact on the league. The AUM takes its responsibility for ensuring the well-being of its members seriously, and has designed the Individual Performance Bond accordingly.

6. LEAGUE SAFETY

a. Safe Play
Safe play is of the utmost importance in the sport of Ultimate. It is important that all members of the AUM leagues understand that Ultimate is different from many other team sports: there is no physical contact between players, and there are no referees. This standard of play allows players to demonstrate true sportsmanship. It also permits men and women to play together safely.

A consequence of mixed gender play is that there is a higher risk of injury resulting from contact between players of widely divergent sizes. In Ultimate, it is the responsibility of all players to avoid contact in every way possible.

While the AUM understands that any contact may be incidental or accidental, we want to emphasize the importance of playing safely. We ask that players exercise extra caution and vigilance at all league games. Our intention is to keep the game safe, not to make it less competitive.

Any player who consistently endangers other players will be subject to the Complaint Procedure outlined under the Player Conduct Policy (V.B.5.b).

b. Blood Rule
Please be aware that a Blood Rule is in effect for all AUM league games. Any player who is bleeding or has an exposed open wound must leave the game, and may not return to the field until the affected area is effectively covered, as per section VI.C.7 of the UPA 11th Edition Rules.

The AUM strongly advises team captains to have a First Aid Kit at their disposal for all league games.

6. RULES EDUCATION PROGRAM
With so many new players entering the league every year, it is understandably difficult to educate everyone simultaneously about the rules of the game and the concept of Spirit of the Game. The AUM continues to meet that challenge by providing as many effective means of instruction and assistance as possible.

In the past, the AUM provided free official rule booklets to its members and conducted rules clinics for captains and co-captains. In 2004, we added the mentoring program; in 2005, we added the Captains’ Hat Tournament and a division pairing system.

This year, the AUM proudly introduces the Rules Education Program. The goal of the program is to increase AUM members' knowledge of the rules of Ultimate and the concept of Spirit of the Game.

The first phase of the program focuses on teams in the D, E and F divisions. A rules educator will attend one match per week in any of the three divisions, and will introduce him/herself to each captain upon arrival. The rules educator will act impartially to ensure that teams adhere to the rules of the game and that the game is fun and spirited for all players.

Please note that the rules educators are NOT intended to be “observers” as defined by the UPA 11th Edition Rules. The impartial educator is there to pay attention to the flow of the game and offer correct interpretation of the rules when asked.

7. LIGHTNING SAFETY POLICY
The AUM has adopted and will enforce the Lightning Safety policy outlined by the National Lightning Safety Institute, Louisville, CO (http://www.lightningsafety.com):

Lightning Safety for Organized Outdoor Athletic Events
Practice and training increase recreation performance. Similarly, preparedness can reduce the risk of the lightning hazard. Lightning is the most frequent weather hazard impacting athletics events. Baseball, football, lacrosse, skiing, swimming, soccer, tennis, track and field events...all these and other outdoor sports have been visited by lightning.
Education is the single most important means to achieve lightning safety. A lightning safety program should be implemented at every facility. The following steps are suggested:

1. A responsible person should be designated to monitor weather conditions. Local weather forecasts—from The Weather Channel, NOAA Weather Radio, or local TV stations—should be observed 24 hours prior to athletic events. An inexpensive portable weather radio is recommended for obtaining timely storm data.

2. Suspension and resumption of athletic activities should be planned in advance. Understanding of SAFE shelters is essential. SAFE evacuation sites include:

a. Fully enclosed metal vehicles with windows up.
b. Substantial buildings.
c. The low ground. Seek cover in clumps of bushes.

3. UNSAFE SHELTER AREAS include all outdoor metal objects like flag poles, fences and gates, high mast light poles, metal bleachers, golf cars, machinery, etc. AVOID trees. AVOID water. AVOID open fields. AVOID the high ground.

4. Lightning's distance from you is easy to calculate: if you hear thunder, it and the associated lightning are within auditory range…about 6-8 miles away. The distance from Strike A to Strike B also can be 6-8 miles. Ask yourself why you should NOT go to shelter immediately. Of course, different distances to shelter will determine different times to suspend activities. A good lightning safety motto is: "If you can see it (lightning) flee it; if you can hear it (thunder), clear it."

5. If you feel your hair standing on end, and/or hear "crackling noises" - you are in lightning's electric field. If caught outside during close-in lightning, immediately remove metal objects (including baseball cap), place your feet together, duck your head, and crouch down low in baseball catcher's stance with hands on knees.

6. Wait a minimum of 30 minutes from the last observed lightning or thunder before resuming activities.

7. People who have been struck by lightning do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to handle. Apply first aid immediately if you are qualified to do so. Get emergency help promptly .

Teach this safety slogan: "If you can see it, flee it; if you can hear it, clear it."