5 Reasons to Try Ultimate Frisbee
UL·TI·MATE FRIS·BEE
NOUN
a team sport in which players seek to score points by passing a Frisbee to a teammate over the opposing team's goal line.
"accurate throwing is hugely important in Ultimate Frisbee"
What comes to mind when you think of ultimate frisbee? The very first thing?
Commonly I hear "those baskets at the park!" "ummm.. sometimes I throw a frisbee with my dog!" and "huh?".
Ultimate is a team sport, played on a large field, where seven players from each team compete for the disc. The team with the disc tries to score in the opposing endzone by passing the disc between players without getting blocked or letting the disc hit the ground. A point is scored when the disc is caught in-bounds in the endzone.
Now that we've gotten the boring details out of the way, I'll show you why Ultimate is an incredible sport.
Teams high five each other to show sportsmanship after a game
Why you should try Ultimate
#1 MEET NEW PEOPLE
I have met the most wonderful people during my time playing ultimate. You can break the ice by talking about your ultimate experiences (or lack thereof) but then you'll find you have much more in common.
Participating in an ultimate league is an amazing way to make new friends. Find those who help you and encourage you - there are plenty of us! Go for a team dinner after a game as a casual way to get to know each other better.
#2 HAVE FUN STAYING IN SHAPE
Back in the day I used to go on runs to try to stay in shape. I hated it.
Playing ultimate combined working out with friends and competition - exactly what I needed to get hooked. When you're chasing after a disc you hardly care that you're sweating and burning those good good calories.
#3 USE IT AS A COMPETITIVE OUTLET
When I graduated from high school I knew that I wasn't going to play softball in college, and I was terrified. I had played sports my whole life and loved having something to train for. Discovering ultimate gave me a brand new opportunity to learn new skills and challenge myself.
You don't have to play at an elite level to feel competitive. Make your own goals and devise a plan to reach them and improve your game.
#4 PEOPLE START LATER IN LIFE THAN YOUR AVERAGE SPORT
Think you're too old to start?! You're totally wrong.
While this isn't true for everyone, the majority of ultimate frisbee players begin their ultimate careers in college or in their twenties. Not all cities have youth or high school programs, so the first time people find ultimate is at a local adult league or in the quad.
I started playing ultimate a year before I attended K-State. In 2010 I joined their women's team, Cheshire. Almost everyone on the roster (wow, all 10 of us?!) were new to the sport and only had a year or two under our belts. Everyone was extremely supportive and loved welcoming newcomers.
#5 VOLUNTEER IN THE COMMUNITY
Maybe you aren't interested in playing, but you love volunteering and contributing to your community. The only way ultimate can grow is if it grows at youth levels. The ultimate community is always in need of more coaches and volunteers to help run clinics, plan events and coach teams!
In Kansas City we have Kansas City Youth Ultimate; they do amazing things to get young players and high school level athletes to try the sport!
“I came to the sport to try something new, but I stayed for the people. Never before have I felt so at home within a community.”
— HANNAH K
“The game of ultimate is rewarding for all levels of experience, largely due to the community but also the nature of ultimate. Ultimate to me has distinct roles where athleticism can be your strength as a cutter, and if your talents are not raw athletics then there is still a role to be played as a handler. Both parties can be satisfied and compete on a close to equal ground.”
— MICHAEL C
“It looks like fun.
It gives you an itch to join in and see how hard it really is. Then, chasing down your first disc and getting that catch gives you a high you want to repeat over and over.”
— JORDAN W
Thank you to my friends for sharing their thoughts about ultimate!
Glossary of Terms
Backhand - The most common throw in ultimate. A backhand is thrown by curling your hand around the disc and taking your arm across your body, then out for the throwing motion. More advanced throwers can throw a backhand from any part of their body - across, left side, right side, high and low.
It's me, hucking the disc, forehand!
Bid - A layout attempt to catch or block the disc.
Blade - A disc thrown so that it flies on its edges and cuts through the air like a blade, vertically. Blades are challenging for the receiver to catch as they are hard to read and there is not much disc width showing when it lands.
Cut - When a player without the disc runs hard in attempt to receive the disc. Some common phrases you'll here are: a cut "under", towards the handlers and disc, or ya cut deep or "out" away from the disc. Handlers also make cuts to try to obtain the disc.
Cutter - A cutter is someone who is positioned downfield who makes fakes and cuts in order to obtain the disc. Cutters can be compared to a wide receiver in football.
D - A defensive play on the disc to block it from the opponent.
Disc - The standard "frisbee" disc is 175 grams. White discs are required unless there is a circumstance of weather where a white disc cannot be easily seen.
Dump - A short 5-10 yard throw, usually backwards or laterally. Typically a dump is thrown when a cutter wants to go back upfield and give the disc to a handler, maybe someone who has more experience with the disc.
Fake - A fake can refer to a fake cut or a fake throw. A fake cut would be a cutter or handler juking out their defender and then cutting in a different path. To throw a fake would be for a thrower to act like they are throwing the disc and not releasing. The defender may move their mark and allow the thrower another easier throw.
Flick - See forehand.
Forehand - A throw from the dominant-hand side of your body. Place two fingers under the disc and your thumb on the outside. Grip tightly. Commonly referred to as a flick or two finger. (See photo to the left on desktop or above on mobile)
Hammer - A hammer is thrown with a forehand grip, upside down. A hammer is thrown from above the head. Commonly referred to as a tomahawk by non-ultimate players.
Handler - A handler is someone who is positioned in the backfield and possesses the disc. A handler can move the disc laterally between handlers or move the disc upfield to a cutter. Handlers can be compared to quarterbacks in football.
A cutter skies for the catch over their defender.
Huck - A long throw that travels 30+ yards down the field. This throw can be a forehand or a backhand. (See photo to the left on desktop or below on mobile)
Mark - Typically the person who is guarding the individual with the disc. The mark stalls from 1 to 10.
Scoober - Similar to a hammer, a scoober is thrown with a forehand grip but upside down. A scoober is thrown from the head or chest area as your arm makes a "chopping" motion from high to low.
Sky - When a player jumps up into the air to catch or D the disc.
Stalling / Stall - When the mark counts from 1 to 10 they are stalling. "Stalling one, two, three..." A stall occurs when the mark reaches the "T" of "ten". The mark then yells out "STALL!".
Swing - A lateral throw, typically between handlers. Handlers swing to open up options downfield and move the defense.
Any other words you're curious about? Would you like to see these throws in motion? Post below and I'll make sure to add terms or videos to my glossary!
A cutter (#14) dumps it back to a handler (#12) who is making a cut to receive the disc.
