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Ratio Question

Posted June 24th, 2010 by Jameson Hyde

The discussion of the rules regarding gender ratios has come up a few times, and no one seems to know with certainty which variant is correct.  Four guys and three girls seems conventional as long as most of your team is present.  Questions arise when you're scrounging for a full line.

It was suggested that the pulling team has to match the receiving team.  If they put four girls on the line, the other team has to as well.  If this is the case, a team with only three girls could be required to play 6v7 on defensive points (a pretty unspirited tactic).  Does such a rule exist?  If so, can this be applied to other ratios (ie if we're receiving can we play 5/2 and force them to do the same without agreement from their captain)?

My impression was a maximum four of each gender is allowed on a line, and there is no requirement to match the other team's numbers.  Of course, captains can and must agree to allow any other number or ratio of players.

Someone care to clarify the rules for WODS league play?

I expect the answer is well-established, but couldn't find it after a quick look.

Thanks! 

Endzone Foul ›

Only 3 girls required

On June 25th, 2010 Cory Hubbard says:

According to Ultimate regulations a team is only required to put 3 girls on the line in co-ed play. There is no requirement to match when they play more than 3 girls. In a typical co-ed league 4-3 is the split and the only way it differs is if the capitains clause is in effect and the capitains agreed to play with a different split.

 

If you have less than 3 girls, yes, you must play a man down, but no more than 3 is required unless otherwise agreed upon.

 

(Please correct me if I'm wrong because I'm basing my answers on UPA regualtions and this league could possibly be different)

Mixed Ratio

On June 25th, 2010 Steve Chris says:

WODS has typically played its summer league as a 4M/3F gender ratio as this is the 'conventional' ratio used in mixed play. The 2010 WODS Captains' Meeting confirmed a receiving teams' ability to select either a 4M/3W or 3M/4W gender ratio and the rules do allow for either a 4/3 or 3/4 variation at the request of the receiving team.

Either way, spirited league play 'should' keep a team from playing a 3M/4W line purely to force the opposition to play short handed. Assuming both teams have 4 women playing, there are often strategic advantages to setting a 3M/4W line.

From Ultimate Canada's rules for the Canadian Ultimate Championship:

19.0 Gender Ratio for Mixed Divisions

19.1 For all "Mixed" divisions (including any future age defined Mixed divisions), the gender ratio will be defined as 4/3-3/4.

19.1.1 The receiving team will determine if the current point will be played with 4 men and 3 women or 3 men and 4 women.

19.1.2 The pulling team must match the gender ratio of the receiving team.

19.1.3 In a case where a team fields less than seven players, that team may not have more players of one gender on the field than the opposition team.

19.1.3.1 Example: Receiving Team A opts for 4 Women and 3 Men. Pulling Team B may play with 3 Women and 3 Men or 4
Women and 2 Men, but not with 2 Women and 4 Men.

19.1.3.2 Example: Receiving Team A opts for 4 Men and 2 Women (6 players). Pulling team B may play with 4 Men and 3 Women, but not 3 Men and 4 Women.

The UPA (USA Ultimate) appears to be the same as Ultimate Canada in their definition of Mixed.

Gender Ratio for Mixed Division

The gender ratio for the Mixed Division of the UPA Championship Series (Sectionals, Regionals, and the UPA Championships) will be 4/3 (4 men and 3 women, or 4 women and 3 men).

The receiving team will determine if the current point will be played with 4 men and 3 women or 4 women and 3 men. The pulling team must match the gender ratio of the receiving team.

If the pulling team cannot match the gender of all 7 players, then it must play with fewer than 7 players, matching the gender of as many players as possible.