Being the Rule Nazi?

[jcf5083]

I consider disc golf tournaments (especially the Ice Bowl I'm about to reference) to be a social gathering as much as a competition, being someone in the Rec division as a 861-rated teenager. However, I have been around long enough to see rules violations get called by the knowledgeable, even once on myself. But the fact of the matter is at the lower divisions very rarely know what the exact rules are.

In the second round of the charity Ice Bowl I played in yesterday I was in the third card with some great players with different levels of experience. On the first hole we played I noticed one of the guys in the group was 40' out and left the ground before letting go of his jump putt. It was kinda close so I didn't say anything and we moved on. On the next hole he was about the same distance from the basket and did the same thing, this time getting forward a foot or two before releasing the disc. I mentioned it along the lines of "Hey man, as you move up to higher divisions you're gonna get in trouble with that putt, you have to keep a foot down as you let go of your jump putt." It wasn't an official call, but he disagreed and told me as long as his last foot was behind the mini before he jumped he was fine.

I hadn't played a tournament in a while so I thought about it for a few minutes and assured myself that I was right, so as we walked up to the next hole I pulled the ultimate d**k move and pulled out the rule book and showed him where it said you need one supporting point down as you let go. This got a bit of a snotty reaction from the group, and I got the cold shoulder for that hole. I eventually elbowed my way back into the group so that we were all talking again and we had fun, but I did notice him do it a little less obviously a couple more times later on . I also figured out as we moved on that he played Intermediate in 2012 and was moving down to Rec..

Anyway, the question I want to ask is: How do you balance being sociable with your group, especially lower divisions, with acting as referee over the other players?

tl;dr I saw a few rules violations

 

[Mabuku1]

I dont call anyone out on their obvious attempts at cheating to save themselves from embarassment. I played with a guy that jump putted even when he was ten feet away. I was annoyed at his blatant disregard of the gentlemanly rules of disc golf. but I let it slide for half the round. I simply asked him, "is that why you always use a jump putt within the circle?, because it goes straighter?" he looked at me like I was being a jerk. but rules are rules in a tourney for a reason.

 

[prerube]

once you are called on a rule you begin to second guess everything you do and it gets in your head. when you call someone be prepared for the backlash.

2 weeks ago I informed a guy that he was breaking a rule by stomping down a bunch of thorn bushes around his disc and he went balistic saying that I was calling him a cheater and he missed the next 8 putts and was clearly pissed with me. I play with this guy all the time and he is very good at courtesy and knows his rules. I did not call him on it, just told him that stomping the living foliage at tourneys could get him called.

 

[Menacewarf]

Somehow that scene fits in with your online personality Rube

 

[prerube]

He was a friend and we were trash talking each other.
Jrawk was there, it was not a snotty know it all act just to show him I know the rules, like 75% of rules calls.
He just took offense and thought I was saying he was a cheater. Jrawk and I told him shoot it how ever he wanted, but when he asked how he was supposed to handle that situation we told him so he would not get called on a course like Giles where thorns are unavoidable.

 

[DavidSauls]

It's a bit delicate when someone clearly misstates or misunderstands a rule, because he thinks he's obeying the rules. It's harder than when they don't know the rule at all, or are deliberately trying to get away with something.

I play in a division where rules compliance is pretty good. In a recent tournament someone mentioned one of these "mythical" rules---fortunately, not making a call but just in discussion---and it took some tact to counter it without causing hard feelings.

 

[freezermink]

usually the guy that gets completely bent out of shape when you inform them of the rules knows better and is pissed because he got caught. i'd say as long as you're courteous and use tact when doing so, i don't see much wrong with letting them know in a tournament/league situation. I usually use something along the lines of "i read something about that in the rule book/online/whatever and was confused about what it said, hey guys, is that jump putt from 10' out actually legal?" it usually brings up a discussion about the actual rules and it doesn't make it seem like you're blatantly calling them out.

 

[Mabuku1]

he knew. dude was a seasoned local league player at another course that wanted to sandbag to win but needed the jump putt to make it happen. I think if you start mentioning the rules or rulebook they start getting even more defensive.

 

[Old Bassman]

The rule book says (let me paraphrase) the only way for the game to be fair is if we all play by the same rules. This is right!!!


If you bring up any rule in the course of a game either for discussion or warning everyone wants to call you a "RULE NAZI". There are so many things wrong with this way of thinking.

 

[jchoate7]

I was new to the sport last summer and when playing Tuesday Doubles at one of the local parks I was informed about every other week that I was breaking the rules in some form. I thanked the guy that informed me and moved on. It helped me learn some of the rules I am breaking. Now when I play with newer players I inform them of the rules and if they want to follow them than thats great and if they want to stand with one foot on their disc and reach as far as they possibly can reach to drop their disc in the basket thats fine to. Now if theres money involved even only $5 hell no!

 

[Toro71]

Never played in an organized competition, but thinking about some this year. The self policing aspect, or each other policing, really seems to put folks in an awkward position. I mean, clearly there's no way to have an "official" with every group.

I've noticed that with some of the high-profile rules violations in the PGA, either the player calls out themself, or a commentator sees it on a replay and turns it in.

What about spirit vs letter of the law? Like inadvertently marking the wrong disc vs, like, kicking a competitors disc into a tougher lie?

I'm totally ignorant here, just curious.

 

[Menacewarf]

He was a friend and we were trash talking each other.
Jrawk was there, it was not a snotty know it all act just to show him I know the rules, like 75% of rules calls.
He just took offense and thought I was saying he was a cheater. Jrawk and I told him shoot it how ever he wanted, but when he asked how he was supposed to handle that situation we told him so he would not get called on a course like Giles where thorns are unavoidable.

I wasn't trying to be snooty. I got a kick out of the empathy of imaging the awkwardness furthering with each missed putt.

Calling people is really tough and I have actually never done it, I always instead give my own warning which is less abrasive. Never got a bad reaction that way.

 

[Jay Dub]

Never played in an organized competition, but thinking about some this year. The self policing aspect, or each other policing, really seems to put folks in an awkward position. I mean, clearly there's no way to have an "official" with every group.

I've noticed that with some of the high-profile rules violations in the PGA, either the player calls out themself, or a commentator sees it on a replay and turns it in.

What about spirit vs letter of the law? Like inadvertently marking the wrong disc vs, like, kicking a competitors disc into a tougher lie?

I'm totally ignorant here, just curious.

Who decides spirit vs letter? The PGA rules are there no matter what. I have never seen someone be permitted to break a rule because they said "oops".
It is really easy. learn the rules during rec play. Have a rule book and read it. Help others who don't know the rules but want to learn. But like was said earlier, if we are playing for money playing by the rules is a must.

I've noticed on this site telling people to follow the rules is not popular. But we are also expected to look at this as a real and/or pro sport. (Why isn't ESPN interested? )

We can't have it both ways.

 

[prerube]

If you kick someone elses disc you are going to get called by even the nicest players.

I have never called anyone in a tournament. Last tourney a guy was drinking beer, throwing his mini at the basket when he missed his putt, and demonstrating several courtesy issues.
I felt none of his actions were giving him an advantage, hurting me, or hurting the other players on my card. I have been called on falling putts and for an unmarked disc. Everytime I have been called I got upset about it, but the caller was correct in calling it.

Last week I was putting on my knees in the mud and someone said I did a falling putt when I slipped and caught myself before falling into the mud. The player who called it was 100% correct in calling it, but deep down I was defensive over the call. I think it is just our nature. I don't think he intended on calling it, but once he mentioned that I did a falling putt I acknowledged it seconding his call.

 

[Mabuku1]

I think if you are kicking another players disc to cheat then that calls for an immediate "get the hell off my card before you get hurt!"

mistaking someone else's disc for your disc, you should be paying more attention to where your disc went, but I don't see any reason to get upset over it.

also, the mini disc marker is like rule number one in my eyes. like a seatbelt in a car. you just use it all the time.

 

[Huk Finn]

We had a 'spotter' type guy at a tourney a couple months ago. He saw a couple discs go OB, when the throwers got to the OB discs he said: 'New Pdga rule. If you throw OB, automatic re-tee, no penalty.' He was very serious and even rattled off some penal code. My dad pulled out the rule book to show him, he tried to change the subject and said we don't have time for this.. Pretty funny.

 

[Scoot_er]

You know what they say ...."Those that can't play...spot"

 

[General Scales]

At a charity tournament, I'd probably just inform them they are breaking the rules and point it out to them. At a sanctioned tournament with a payout on the line, I'd call it every time. We have rules for a reason, I play by them, so should they. I am not out there to make friends during a competition round. That is what before and after rounds are for. If you get caught and get mad about it, you are only ruining the round for yourself. You can call me every name under the sun and it won't make a lick of difference to me as I don't care. The only time that I will take any notice of somebody being upset with a rules call is if they are taking their anger out on the group.

 

[Jay Dub]

At a charity tournament, I'd probably just inform them they are breaking the rules and point it out to them. At a sanctioned tournament with a payout on the line, I'd call it every time. We have rules for a reason, I play by them, so should they. I am not out there to make friends during a competition round. That is what before and after rounds are for. If you get caught and get mad about it, you are only ruining the round for yourself. You can call me every name under the sun and it won't make a lick of difference to me as I don't care. The only time that I will take any notice of somebody being upset with a rules call is if they are taking their anger out on the group.

Which is another rule violation.

I agree. The people breaking the rules are the DBs, not the ones calling it. I have no problem calling rules. And if it pisses the person off and their game goes sour. Good! :thmbup:

 

[bholy08]

I typically try to do it in a way that makes it seem I am being helpful. Never had to really call anything on a competitor during a round. But I would do it, because a part of our sport is self-governing. I have had to call a missed mando on a player who acted like he didn't miss it. He couldn't really argue the point though.