What is a stall in Ultimate Frisbee?

• A. The defensive attempt to delay a throw by counting from one upward, aiming to limit time to throw.
• B. A successful interception.
• C. A type of throw.
• D. A defensive maneuver to guard the entire field.

Answer: (A)

In Ultimate, a stall is the defender’s countdown used to pressure the thrower. Once the thrower has the disc and is marked, the defender begins counting at one and keeps increasing the count, aiming to force the throw before the limit is reached. This clock-like pressure helps keep the offensive pace honest and prevents holding the disc indefinitely. If the throw is released before the stall limit (commonly ten seconds in many formats), play continues; if the limit is reached without a release, the defense earns a turnover. The other ideas—an interception, a throw type, or guarding the entire field—describe different concepts: an interception is a turnover by catching a pass intended for someone else, a throw type is a way to throw (like backhand or forehand), and guarding the entire field refers to a defensive scheme rather than the stall clock.