When the thrower releases the disc, they have the right to throw without having any part of their
body receiving contact from the defender (prior to the release of the disc). This is especially
true of the extremities. According to current UPArules, almost all contact of extremities while in
the throwing motion is the fault of the defender, and is a foul.
A foul on the throw usually occurs just before the disc is released. The arm/hand of the defender usually contacts the throwing arm/hand.
In the example above, I am fouling the thrower prior to the throw.
If the defender releases this disc, they would call "foul." If the disc was caught by a member of the offensive team, play continues (as an advantage -- in this case a completion -- has been gained by the offense). If the thrown disc results in a turnover, the disc returns to the thrower, the "stall count" returns to 0, and play is re-iniated.
This series of events occurs because a foul is cheating. The defense should not gain an advantage because of a breaking of the rules.
Why do fouls occur? A defensive player may, in the process of trying to hold their mark, accidentally contact the thrower. A defensive player may puposefully retain their marking space in an attempt to take away some area of the field from throws.
A defensive player may try to beat the offensive player to a space with their hand (in hopes of having the offensive player throw the disc into that space), but miscalculate.
