Line Perspective 
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From: parinell@athena.mit.edu (James C Parinella) 
Subject:  Best perspective on line calls 
Date: 23 Feb 1994 16:36:34 GMT

In theory, in other sports, and in most cases in ultimate, the
best perspective belongs to someone on the sideline.  There
are a few points to consider for ultimate:

1.  In other sports, there are referees who have training and
lots of practice at being in the right spot and knowing what
to look for.  Players in ultimate are typically either not in
the best viewing spot, are watching the play as a spectator
rather than as a referee, or have a vested interest and hence
fall victim to some form of xenocentrism (teamocentrism?).

2.  Other sports have well-defined fields.  Lined fields in
ultimate help here.

3.  Some players are extremely athletic and practice making
sideline catches.  I've seen players throw their back foot
down while they are leaping and reaching so the foot plants
in-bounds.  Unless you've seen this and are aware of this, you
would just assume that there was no way the player could touch
in-bounds and would call him out.

4.  The receiver has the best knowledge of when the frisbee
hits his hand, and whether his foot is on the ground at that
time.  In baseball, umpires (I believe) are supposed to be
listening for the ball hitting the mitt while looking at the
runner's foot on the base.  In frisbee, there's no real thud
for the frisbee going into the hand.

To summarize, IF there are lined fields, IF the person with
the best perspective is watching carefully for the right
things, IF the best perspective has experience, THEN the
sideline observer has the best view and should make the call.
But from what I've seen, these conditions are frequently not
satisfied.  It doesn't happen that often, but it hurts when it
does.

Jim Parinella