Which statement best describes the soft cap in Ultimate?

• A. An option to end the game immediately at a set score.
• B. The time-based threshold after which play must be decided by a two-point margin, continuing until someone leads by two.
• C. A limit on the number of substitutions per game.
• D. A restriction on the number of guards on the field.

Answer: (B)

The soft cap is a time-based limit that changes how the game ends: after the clock hits the soft cap, play continues, but the game must continue until one team leads by two points. This means the clock can run without a winner immediately, but you don’t stop until there's a two-point margin, ensuring a clear result even if time has run out. It provides a fair extension for a close game while preventing endless play.

Other options describe different rules: ending the game at a set score is about a target score, not the soft cap; substitutions and field-guard limits are unrelated to how the clock interacts with scoring and game finish.