Rules
Currently, the game is to be played on a standard sized tennis court according to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) guidelines.
To view a detailed diagram of the court with dimensions, click here.
Currently, the game is to be played using a standard disc according to the USA Ultimate Frisbee guidelines. Clothing and safety equipment are not currently moderated.
- A standard Competitive Disc Pong set consists of 3 matches, played to the standard competitive game length.
- The game length is determined by the game total, a predetermined number of points. The game is played until either player reaches a score which exceeds the game total, and is at least 2 points greater than their opponent's score.
- Standard Competitive Disc Pong has a game total of 21 points.
- A timeout temporarily stops play for both players. Play is resumed after the set time for the timeout is over.
- Each player is allotted one strategic timeout per set.
- A timeout may be called after or before a point is scored, and before the next serve.
- A strategic timeout lasts 1-minute and may be called at the discretion of the player for any reason.
- Medical timeouts are allotted as needed upon injury.
- A medical timeout lasts only for the duration to recover/treat an injury up to a maximum of 3 minutes.
- If the treatment of an injury exceeds the 3-minute time limit, play does not resume, and the victory for the match as well as the set defaults to the remaining player.
- There will be a short time between matches in a set, which players may use to recover and/or consult with a coach.
- The break between matches will last up to 5 minutes. Time can be shortened if both players agree to start early and notify the game officials.
- Both players must be returned to their respective sides of the court and be ready by the time the 5 minutes has elapsed.
- A maximum of 1 point can be awarded per play.
- There are 7 ways a point can be awarded.
- CONTACT SCORE: If a player throws the disc within the boundaries of the opposing play field and the disc contacts the ground before the opposing player can catch it, the point is awarded to the player who threw the disc.
- BACKLINE SCORE: If a player throws the disc across the opposing back line of the court, and the receiving player does not catch the disc in time, the point is awarded to the player who threw the disc.
- FAULT (See Gameplay): On a serve, if a player is to get a total of two faults (see serving section), the point is awarded to the non-serving player and the serve is turned over.
- OUT OF BOUNDS (Disc): If the disc crosses the sidelines of the court on a player’s throw, the point is awarded to the opposing player who did not throw the disc.
- OUT OF BOUNDS (Player): If a player steps with either foot over the backline or inner sidelines while NOT IN POSSESSION of the disc, that player has stepped out of bounds. If the player only moves out of bounds immediately after a catch and is in possession of the disc, that player has NOT stepped out of bounds. A point is awarded to the player opposing the out of bounds player.
- DEADZONE: If the disc makes first contact in the dead zone of the court on a player’s throw, the point is awarded to the opposing player who did not throw the disc.
- ON-SIDE THROW: If the disc does not cross over to the other side of the net on a player’s throw, the point is awarded to the opposing player who did not throw the disc.
- OVER-TURNED DISC: If a player throws a disc and the disc over-turns in the air (surpasses an angle of 90 degrees such that the underside of the disc faces upward), a point is awarded to the player who did not throw the disc.
- TIMER / MOVEMENT VIOLATION: If a player lifts their pivot foot before releasing possession of the disc, or does not release possession of the disc before the catch timer expires, a point is awarded to the player who is not in possession of the disc.
- HEIGHT VIOLATION: At referee discretion, if a player throws the disc too high for the opposing player to catch, the point may be awarded to the opposing player who did not throw the disc.
- A match of competitive disc pong consists of a number of rounds, where a maximum of 1 point can be awarded per round. The number of rounds is not set, and is only limited by the amount of rounds it takes for either player to reach the win condition.
- At the beginning of each round, both players must start in the serve box. One player will be serving and the other player will be receiving. After the serve has left the serving player's hands, the serving player must move in bounds of the court. The receiving player is not REQUIRED to move in bounds of the court until after they have caught and returned the serve (but may move in sooner if desired).
- SERVING: The serving player may choose to serve from either side (left or right, from the serving player's perspective) of the court. The receiving player must stand on the same side (relative to their half) such that the players are positioned diagonally across the length of the court. A valid serve must cross over the backline on the same side the receiving player is positioned, unless the serve is caught in bounds of the court.
- After the serve is received and returned, normal gameplay commences.
- Upon receiving the disc after a throw, a player may not lift whichever foot makes first contact with the ground after the catch. This foot will be referred to as the pivot foot.
- Upon receiving the disc and establishing a pivot foot, the player in possession of the disc will have until the catch timer expires to return the disc to the other player (see timer).
- A return may be made with any form of throw, as long as the disc does not over-turn past 90 degrees at any point in its' trajectory.
- The receive/return gameplay continues until a point is awarded to either player for any reason.
The timer is to be initiated immediately upon the receiving player gaining possession of the disc and establishing a pivot foot. The timer for standard competitive disc pong will make 3 beeps over the course of 1 second (such that the third beep marks the end of one second). If the receiving player has not returned the disc before the third beep (within 1 second), a point is rewarded to the player who was not in possession of the disc when the timer expired.
An example can be seen on the official DPA website under the timer tab.
