Photo credit: Rommi Saar ( source
Ultimate Frisbee is now known in many countries simply as the less-catchy "Ultimate" due to 3️⃣ the fact that Frisbee is a registered trademark.
It is a fast-paced sport with similarities to netball, football (soccer) and American 3️⃣ Football.
Played by around five million people in the US and with leagues in the UK and other European countries, Ultimate 3️⃣ is a far cry from the humble origins of the Frisbee.
As with many inventions there are multiple reported variations on 3️⃣ how Frisbees came to be, but the commonly agreed version is that it comes from the Frisbie Baking Company, whose 3️⃣ empty metal pie tins were thrown by college students in the 1920s.
Subsequently, in 1948, Walter Morrison invented a plastic version 3️⃣ with improved aero-dynamics, and then followed the Pluto Platter.
Ultimate was created in 1967 by students at Columbia High School and 3️⃣ in 1979 the Ultimate Players Association, now USA Ultimate, was formed.
The sport has grown from its early years as a 3️⃣ relaxed sport played for fun and increasingly attracts better athletes and is played more competitively.
Object of the Game
The object of 3️⃣ Ultimate is to pass the flying disc to a player in the endzone of the pitch and in so doing 3️⃣ a goal is scored.
As in rugby and American Football the ends – the last 18m in this case – of 3️⃣ the pitch are the scoring zones.
The winner is usually decided by whichever team is first to score a specified number 3️⃣ of goals or whichever team scores the most goals in a given timeframe.
Players & Equipment
One of the beauties of the 3️⃣ sport is that very little equipment is needed, with an inexpensive disc and an open space sufficient for a rudimentary 3️⃣ game.
Ultimate is contested between two sides of seven players with substitutions permitted and so with a disc, seven bibs and 3️⃣ a field you're away!
The pitch is 100m long with the endzones, as said, 18m deep at either end.
It is 37m 3️⃣ across and a regulation disc is 10.
75 inches in diameter and weighs 175g.
Scoring
Points are scored by getting the disc to 3️⃣ one of your players in the end zone by passing it through the air.
That's the only way to score, making 3️⃣ the game a very simple one to understand and play.
Winning the Game
Games are usually played as the first side to 3️⃣ reach 15 or sometimes 17 goals, although any number can be agreed between the teams.
Sometimes games are played over two 3️⃣ 15 minute periods with a five minute half-time break.
In these games the side with the most goals at the end 3️⃣ is deemed the winner.
Rules of Ultimate Frisbee
The match is started by a "pull", where one side throws-off to the other.
A 3️⃣ player cannot run with the disc and must stop as soon as they receive it, although they may pivot on 3️⃣ one leg (a la netball).
If a pass hits the floor, is intercepted or is caught out of bounds possession goes 3️⃣ to the other side.
A player in possession has 10 seconds in which to pass the disc or they cede possession 3️⃣ to the opposition.
The defender (marker) makes the count (stall count).
Ultimate is a non-contact sport and defenders may only stand within 3️⃣ three meters of the disc-holder.
Substitutions are only allowed after a goal has been scored (and before the throw-off), to replace 3️⃣ an injured player or after periods of play and not during a timeout.
Ultimate is self-officiating and, indicative of its origins 3️⃣ and free-spirited reputation, the Spirit of the Game (SOTG) is highly respected.
Only a fouled player may call or appeal for 3️⃣ a foul and there is a strong spirit of respect and sportsmanship demanded.
Many other sports could do well to take 3️⃣ heed.
