Ultimate (sport)
Ultimate, also known as Ultimate Frisbee, is a non-contact team sport played with a flying disc. Typically involving two teams of seven players, the objective is to pass the disc down a field and score points by catching it in the opponent's endzone. Players cannot run with the disc; instead, they must establish a pivot foot and throw to teammates. If a pass is incomplete or intercepted, the opposing team gains possession. Distinctively, Ultimate is self-officiated, relying on a principle known as the "spirit of the game," where players are expected to uphold fair play and resolve disputes amicably without referees.
The sport has its origins in the late 1960s, with the first set of official rules established in 1970. Played on fields similar to those used in soccer or American football, Ultimate has grown in popularity and is now enjoyed in over thirty countries. The game embraces a culture of respect and integrity, encouraging players to prioritize sportsmanship alongside competition. This unique combination of athleticism and ethical gameplay makes Ultimate a distinctive and engaging sport for players and spectators alike.
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Ultimate (sport)
Ultimate, or Ultimate Frisbee, is a sport that utilizes a flying disc instead of a ball. During the game, teams of seven players attempt to take possession of the disc. The player that holds the disc is not allowed to walk or run; instead, they must throw the disc to other players on their team. The goal of the game is to gradually pass the disc down the field into a specifically marked area called the endzone. Once the disc is moved into the endzone, that team scores a point. If a pass is not completed, or the disc is knocked to the ground by the opposing team, the other team gains possession of the disc. That team then tries to move the disc to the other endzone. The team with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner. Unlike most other competitive sports, ultimate has no referees. Instead, players are expected to adhere to a code of conduct called the “spirit of the game.” If players believe a rule has been broken, or that another player is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct, the teams come together to decide on an appropriate course of action. In most cases, they reset the disc to its position before the infraction occurred.
Background
The name Ultimate Frisbee comes from the sport’s association with the Frisbee, the trademarked name of the original plastic flying disc. The Frisbee was invented by Walter Frederick Morrison in 1948. Morrison and his wife enjoyed throwing cake pans back and forth on the beach. Morrison thought he could make a lighter, more uniform toy that performed in the same manner. Unlike the cake pans, this toy would be made out of plastic. He quickly secured investment for this new toy and began selling it at fairs.
Morrison signed on with Wham-O Manufacturing in 1957. They rebranded the product the “Frisbee,” after the Frisbie Baking Company. Wham-O hoped to associate their new product with games already played by college students who used the Frisbie Baking Company’s pie pans. The company’s attempt was successful, and the Frisbee quickly became a popular toy worldwide.
In 1968, high school student Joel Silver pitched the idea for a game that would become Ultimate Frisbee to his high school in Maplewood, New Jersey. The game was played with Wham-O discs, and quickly became popular among students in the area. The first official set of rules was written in 1970 and used for interscholastic games the same year. In 1972, the first college game of Ultimate was played between Rutgers and Princeton. In 1975, eight college teams came together to form the first National Collegiate Championships.
Overview
Ultimate is a team sport that is played in thirty countries across the world. It closely resembles a conglomeration of elements from touch football, netball, and soccer. Like many sports, ultimate is played on a grass field. An ultimate field is similar to a soccer field, but is usually narrower. Like a standard American football field, ultimate fields are marked by endzones.
A standard ultimate team is composed of seven players. Each team’s goal is to complete a series of successful passes to their teammates, eventually moving the flying disc to the opponent’s endzone. If this process is completed, the attacking team scores a point. If a pass fails, or the disc is knocked to the ground by the defending team, the other team is given possession.
The player with possession of the disc is called the thrower. The thrower is allowed to pass the disc to anyone, but may not walk or run from the location at which they caught the disc. Once a player takes possession of the disc, they must keep one foot in the same location until the disc is thrown. This foot is called the pivot foot, and is treated similarly to pivoting in basketball.
The defending team commonly attempts to block or intercept the disc to regain possession. Only the team with the possession of the disc can score a point. After the point is scored, teams line up on the boundaries of their endzones and the team that just scored throws it down the field to transfer possession to the other team.
If a defending player stands within ten feet of an attacking player in possession of the disc, the defending player may begin a stall count. This count lasts for ten seconds, counted by the defending player. If the attacking player is still in possession of the disc by the time the count ends, the other team may take possession.
Ultimate is an entirely noncontact sport. At no point are players, either accidentally or on purpose, allowed to touch one another. If such contact occurs, it is considered a foul. If a foul causes a pass to be incomplete or the disc to hit the ground, then play is reset as if the foul had not occurred.
Ultimate is unique in that it has no referees. Players are entirely self-policed under a set of guidelines called the “spirit of the game.” It is each player’s responsibility to play the game in a fair manner, encouraging others to act with the same integrity. Aggressive behavior, intentionally breaking rules, and taunting other players are all considered violations. Should players believe that a rule has been broken, they can come together to discuss the issue. Play is then commonly reset to a point before the rule was broken. While highly competitive play is encouraged, it should never be more important than the mutual respect between players.
Bibliography
“About Spirit of the Game,” USA Ultimate, 2019, www.usaultimate.org/about/ultimate/spirit‗of‗the‗game.aspx. Accessed 18 Dec. 2019.
“History of Frisbee,” Softschools, 2019, www.softschools.com/inventions/history/frisbee‗history/375/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2019.
“History of Ultimate,” World Flying Disc Federation, 2019, www.wfdf.org/history-stats/history-of-ultimate. Accessed 18 Dec. 2019.
“Spirit of the Game,” Ultimate Canada, canadianultimate.com/en‗in/spirit-of-the-game. Accessed 18 Dec. 2019.
“The Rules,” What Is Ultimate, 2015, www.whatisultimate.com/what-is-ultimate/the-rules/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2019.
Tsui, Bonnie. “Ultimate Frisbee Takes Off,” New York Times, 29 Apr. 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/fashion/30fitness.html. Accessed 18 Dec. 2019.
“Ultimate,” World Flying Disc Federation, www.wfdf.org/sports/ultimate. Accessed 18 Dec. 2019.
“What Is Ultimate?” USA Ultimate, 2019, www.usaultimate.org/about/ultimate/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2019.