The Origins and Development of Ultimate Frisbee

Submitted by: Gerald Griggs – University of Wolverhampton, U.K.

Abstract
Over recent years what have been variously termed alternative or lifestyle sports have increasingly become the focus of academic
study. These sports are considered ‘alternative’ as they have sought to challenge accepted conceptions of modern Western
achievement sport and typically have evolved from North America, having later been imported to Europe. An example of such a sport
is that of Ultimate Frisbee. To date little has been written about Ultimate Frisbee or indeed the developmental process which has
given rise to the creation and establishment of alternative sport. This paper seeks to examine the distinct and crucial stages of
Ultimate’s development.
Introduction
Over recent years what have been variously termed alternative or lifestyle sports (Wheaton, 2004) have increasingly become the
focus of academic study. Examples of such activities and related papers include skateboarding (Beal, 1995), snowboarding
(Humphreys, 1997), windsurfing (Wheaton, 2000) and surfing (Butts, 2001). These sports are considered alternative as they have
sought to challenge accepted concepts of modern Western achievement sport (Eichberg, 1998; Rhinehart and Sydnor, 2003) and
typically have evolved from North America, having later been imported to Europe (Bourdieu, 1984). Another lesser- known example
that has made the transatlantic jump is that of Ultimate Frisbee.
Ultimate Frisbee (known simply as Ultimate to participants) is a fast paced, non-contact, mixed team sport played with a flying disc
(or Frisbee), which marries features of a number of invasion games, such as American Football and netball, into a simple yet,
demanding game (UKU, 2008). To date, little has been written about Ultimate or indeed the developmental process which has given
rise to the creation and establishment of alternative sport. What this paper seeks to do is to examine the evolution of Ultimate
Frisbee and illustrate the key stages of its development.
Ultimate, as with all disc sports, would not exist without the invention of the flying disc, or Frisbee, as it is commonly known. Flying
discs have of course been thrown in numerous cultures for centuries for a variety of reasons, including sport (Malafronte, 1998). The
origins of Ultimate can be argued to have gone through distinct and crucial stages and each will be discussed in turn. Firstly, the
origin of the name Frisbee will be examined followed by the subsequent development of the plastic flying disc. The idea of Frisbee
football will then be explained and then attention will be drawn to locating the development of Ultimate amidst the American
counter culture. Finally the creation of Ultimate and the first game will be detailed.
The Origins of Frisbee
The name Frisbee is accepted by most sources to originate from one William Russell Frisbie of Bridgeport, Connecticut (Johnson,
1975; Malafronte, 1998; Iocovella, 2004; Leonardo and Zagoria, 2004). Following the end of the American Civil War, William Russell
Frisbie moved to Bridgeport to manage a new bakery, which he subsequently bought and renamed, the Frisbie Pie Company.
The original bakery was situated close to the college which later became Yale in 1887 (Scotland, 2004). Not surprisingly, perhaps,
there are strong links between Yale and the origination of the Frisbee. The popular theory – perhaps it is a myth — is that Yale
students frequently bought Frisbie Pies and after eating them, would toss the empty pie tins around the Yale campus (Johnson, 1975;
Malafronte, 1998). As metal pie dishes are not the kindest of missiles to be struck by, this led to throwers shouting the cautionary
word “frisbie-e-e-e!” (not unlike golfers shouting the word “Fore!”) to warn both the catcher and bystanders of the approaching disc
(Weiss, 2004).
Not surprisingly, in the absence of definitive evidence, modified or alternative stories abound. One particular point of contention is
whether the projectile was indeed a pie tin or whether, in fact, it was a cookie tin lid. Support for the cookie argument can be found
in ih a study by Johnson (1975), who conducted interviews with former Yale students. An example of one such account is credited to
Charles O. Gregory who recalled:
‘I clearly remember the cookies; and I also recall that the cover of the tin box was used by the older kids just the same way that
Frisbees are now used… When I went to college…I saw students using these same tin box lids as people now use Frisbees. So I
assumed that the name came from these sugar cookies and the boxes in which they were sold…. I never heard of Frisbie’s pies’
(Johnson, 1975,18).
As a semi-professional player and respected writer on Ultimate, Malafronte (1998) considers that cookie tins were more likely to be
used for throwing games. “With their flat tops and deeper perpendicular edged rims [they] were much more air worthy – players
could perform a variety of throws, with more control than a pie pan (35).” However, deeper research into the debate leads one to the
belief that the tossing of pie pans was equally popular and in some cases was likely to be more so, given the fact that pies were
considerably cheaper to purchase for the typical student than tins of cookies (Malafronte, 1998).
Johnson (1975) considers that both cases probably have some truth and merit but that additional research conducted, including
conversations with the widow of Joseph P. Frisbie (son and heir of the late W.R. Frisbie) and former plant manager Mr. Vaughn, leads
to the conclusion that the earlier prototype was most likely to have been the pie tin.
In addition to Yale – and in accordance with the rising heritage industry – other East Coast US colleges also claim to be the birthplace
of the ‘Frisbee’ (Weiss, 2004). For instance, at Middlebury College in Vermont, a statue of a dog caught in mid-Frisbee-snatching-
flight has been erected to celebrate the claim that a group of Middlebury boys discovered pie-pan tossing while on a road trip to a
fraternity convention in Nebraska in 1938 (Weiss, 2004). Such claims are perhaps not surprising when one considers that, according
to Malafronte (1998), workers of the Frisbie Pie Company travelled around many of the Ivy League institutions of New England and
were apparently renowned for tossing pie tins around during their breaks.
The Development of the Flying Disc
Following the end of World War II and gathering anxieties about future external threats, supposed sightings of UFOs and flying
saucers were beginning to grab the public’s imagination in the USA (McMahon, 1998). Capturing the prevailing public mood, one
budding American inventor, Fred Morrison, took an idea to the Southern Californian Plastics Company and, in conjunction with
Warren Francioni, produced a crude prototype plastic flying disc, known as the Arcuate Vane model in 1948 (Johnson, 1975; Mc
Mahon, 1998; Malafronte 1998).
In 1951 Morrison went on to produce his second model called the Pluto Platter, which he sold at fairs with moderate success
(Scotland, 2004). Though the importance of the Pluto Platter cannot be underestimated, as it became the blueprint for all
subsequent Frisbees (Johnson, 1975), it was not, in fact, initially mass produced.
However, among the young, the Platter was gaining popularity, and 1954 saw the first recorded competition using a flying disc when
Dartmouth University (New Hampshire, USA) students organised a tournament for the disc sport known as ‘Guts’ (Iocovella, 2004). In
addition, the Pluto Platter, significantly, reached the US West coast beaches too.
According to Johnson (1975), the story goes that Rich Knerr and A.K.”Spud” Melin, fresh from the University of Southern California,
had established a fledgling toy company known as Wham-O. In late 1955, after seeing Pluto Platters whizzing around southern
California beaches, they cornered Morrison while he was “hawking his wares” in downtown Los Angeles and made him a proposition
(Malafronte, 1998).
In 1958, mass production of the Pluto Platter began (US Design patent 183,626 – See Patents Online, 2008). But as co-founder of
Wham –O, Knerr recalls (Johnson,1975), “At first the saucers had trouble catching on but we were confident they were good, so we
sprinkled them in different parts of the country to prime the market (20).” According to Scotland (2004), however, disc production
would have been far from paramount given the success of Wham-O’s other new creation which began a national craze, the hula-
hoop.
In a bid to improve both the flying properties and the marketability of the Pluto Platter Wham-O turned to another fledgling inventor,
Ed Headrick, and in 1967, the ‘Wham-O Frisbee’ was launched (US patent design 3359678 – see Free Patents Online, 2008). It is
alleged that it was Knerr who picked up the catchy term whilst on a trip around the campuses of the Ivy League colleges. He reported
that Harvard students told him how they had been throwing pie tins around for years and calling it ‘Frisbie-ing’. Being unaware of the
possible origins of the word (the Frisbie Pie Company closed in 1958 and Knerr was not from the East Coast) he spelled his new
creation as ‘Frisbee’ (Johnson, 1975).
Frisbee Football
Frisbee football (a version of American football played with a flying disc) is recorded as the origin of many games similar to Ultimate
(Johnson, 1975; Malafronte, 1998; Zagoria, 2003). Accounts of such games are recorded at institutions such as Kenyon College, Ohio
as early as 1942. A version of such a game, referred to as Aceball, was later captured by Life magazine in 1950 (Malafronte, 1998).
Evidence of another similar game, involving “a plastic or metal serving tray” cropped up at Amherst College in the early 1950s. In a
letter to the editor, published in the January 1958 Amherst Alumni News, Peter Schrag (alumni from 1953) describes this game,
stating that:
Rules have sprung up and although they vary, the game as now played is something like touch (football), each team trying to score
goals by passing the tray down field. There are interceptions and I believe passing is unlimited. Thus, a man may throw the Frisbee to
a receiver who passes it to still another man. The opponents try to take over, either by blocking the tray or intercepting it (Leonardo &
Zagoria, 2004,5).
Established sources indicate that the most likely origin of Ultimate probably rests with members of Columbia High School (CHS),
Maplewood, NJ, USA, who introduced their idea of an Ultimate Frisbee game to their student council in 1967 (see Figure 4). The key
individual among the group in devising Ultimate was probably a student called Joel Silver who had played Frisbee Football at a camp
in Mount Herman, Massachusetts in the summer of 1967 (Johnson, 1975; Malafronte, 1998; Iocovella, 2004; Leonardo and Zagoria,
2004).
Born in 1967 at the Height of the American Counter Culture
Ultimate was conceived in the U.S. amidst political assassinations, the escalating war in Vietnam, urban riots and civil rights unrest
(Heale, 2001). As increasing numbers of largely young people became “alienated from the parental generation” they looked for forms
of escape and resistance and loosely formed what became known as the counter culture (Roszak, 1972: 1). The forms of escape and
resistance were manifest in a multitude of ways including political activism and protest, the creation of alternative lifestyles,
experimental and communal living and through dress, drugs and music (Heale, 2001). Although hippies embodied the counter
culture and represented any serious real threat to the establishment it was middle class, college educated students that were at the
very heart of counter culture events and attitudes and “there were more conservative kids who were eager apprentices of the
system” (Anderson, 1995: 242) as baby boomers flooded onto campuses.
The values and behaviours that came to represent the counter culture, which was at its height in 1967 during what was termed the
Summer of Love (Farrell, 1997) were that of democracy, perceived alternative and superior lifestyle choices, communal caring and
sharing, an appreciation of beauty and nature, having a relaxed and laid back attitude, rejecting regulation and technology and
encouraging self expression and personal growth (Heale, 2001; Anderson, 1995).These values and behaviours were based upon
humanistic psychology (Farrell, 1997: 207) where in a supportive environment people would work towards self actualization (Maslow,
1968). Those espousing such values they viewed the time and the counter culture as an instrument of change. They hoped that
through spreading their cultural values and changing the consciousness of their fellow citizens, a structural transformation of society
could in turn be effected (Heale, 2001).
For the majority, being part of the counter culture was a frame of mind manifested in a particular way of life (Farrell, 1997). ‘The idea
was to liberate yourself from the confining conventions of life and to celebrate the irrational side of your nature, kind of let yourself
go. This was the counter culture coming to us and it stirred people up and made us feel like doing something dramatic (University
student in Anderson, 1995). “The point is that it was the culture that was sick, so one way to change was to live it differently”
(Anders, 1990, 36). To many, doing something dramatic was manifest in doing something differently and dropping the values of the
mainstream and living the “here and now revolution” (Anderson, 1995). To Joel Silver and his friends it was creating a game that
would embody all of these values, many of which continue to be manifest within Ultimate today.
The Creation of Ultimate and the First Game
When Joel Silver returned home to Maplewood, he continued to throw with fellow students, adapted the rules of Frisbee Football,
and ‘invented’ the team sport of Ultimate. The name itself is said to have arisen due to Silver referring to the game as the Ultimate
sports experience. Such claims have been supported by fellow players of the time (Zagoria, 2003).
However, more recent and rigorous research has come to light to suggest that the truth may be somewhat different. According to
Herndon (2003), after interviewing Silver, it was found that he had learned a Frisbee game from someone named Jared Kass while
attending summer camp. Herndon (2003), like many, assumed that Silver had played something like Frisbee football with Jared Kass
at camp, and then returned to Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, and made up and named, a whole new game called
Ultimate. However, upon questioning Kass closely it seems that the whole of the Ultimate playing world had been somewhat misled.
Upon investigation, Herndon (2003) learned that Kass had taught Silver not some distant relative of Ultimate, but Ultimate in its
essence and by name, whilst having no idea that he had had anything to do with its creation. Kass recounts that the game evolved
from a variation of touch football whilst at Amherst College where he started as a student in 1965.
Whatever the true chain of events, Silver continued to throw with his friends including Bernard “Buzzy” Hellring and Jonny Hines
until in the autumn of 1967, Silver proposed that, for a joke, the Student Council form a Frisbee team. Yet by the end of the school
year, Silver and members of both the student newspaper The Columbian and the Student Council began to play a modified game of
Frisbee football (Johnson, 1975; Malafronte, 1998).
The game was what one might describe as freeform early on, with no strict limits on how many players should be on each side, with
as many as 20 to 30 players being allowed per team. However, the local ecology meant that this number was eventually whittled to
seven (the current number) because “that was the most you could fit in the parking lot” (Zagoria, 2003:2). The original game also
allowed running with the disc, and it included lines of scrimmage and a series of downs; but as they played, Silver, Hellring, and Hines
began to modify the rules.
Finally, in the fall of 1968, the members of the student newspaper challenged the students on Council to a formal game. In a match
up that featured two large, co-ed teams, The Columbian won the first game in front of the high school, 11-7. This historic first match
was played on the now famous Columbia parking lot. During the summer of 1970, Silver, Hellring and Hines re-wrote and refined the
rules which were subsequently printed and copies were sent all over the world (Leonardo & Zagoria, 2004).
Thus, the sport of Ultimate Frisbee was born and following the dissemination of the rules via college campuses in the United States,
the sport grew from strength to strength, seeing the first intercollegiate game in 1972 between Princeton and Rutgers and two years
later the beginning of the founding of international organisations, such as the Swedish Frisbee Federation (Iocovella, 2004).
Summary
In this paper the origins of the alternative sport of Ultimate Frisbee have been explored, showing the distinct and crucial stages of its
development, starting with the origin of the name Frisbee, development of the plastic flying disc and moving through to
development of ‘Frisbee football’ and the creation and playing of the first game. Importantly attention was drawn to locating the
development of Ultimate amidst the American counter culture, the values of which permeated into the sport and largely remain to
this day.
What the pattern of development of Ultimate shows is that particular conditions need to be in place to facilitate the move from one
significant stage to another. These conditions are not always apparent, however, until viewed retrospectively when a clear pattern
may emerge. Within newer, alternative activities such as Ultimate, historical developments are less well reported. So it is hoped that
this paper offers and insight into one such activity.

http://thesportjournal.org/article/the-origins-and-development-of-ultimate-frisbee/

Interesting & fun facts about Frisbees:

1. Flying discs made before 1964 are considered antiques by collectors.
2. The game of Ultimate was invented in 1969 by high school students in a parking lot near Columbia High School in Maplewood,
N.J.
3. By 1970, FRISBEE discs had become so popular on college campuses that some schools began offering flying disc courses to
students.
4. The Navy developed a mechanical FRISBEE launcher.
5. The game of “Ultimate” has been demonstrated to require a higher cardiovascular fitness level than any other field game.
6. The first intercollegiate game of Ultimate was played in 1972 between Princeton and Rutgers. Rutgers won by the same two–
goal margin as it did when it beat Princeton on the same field in the first college football game 103 years before.
7. Ed Headrick, former general manager and vice president of WHAM–O, envisioned the FRISBEE disc as a sport, not just a toy. He
created the “Professional” model in 1964, developed and patented the FRISBEE disc flight rings (now called the Lines of Headrick),
designed the FRISBEE Golf patented disc “Pole Hole,” and founded the International FRISBEE Association.
8. The oldest of all FRISBEE sports is Guts, usually played with five players to a side. The name “Guts” came from an alleged pastime
of Princeton students who tossed a six–inch circular saw blade instead of the plastic FRISBEE disc now used.
9. There are more than 1,000 teams now competing at the college and club level in Ultimate; in 1972, there were two.
10. There are over 30 different periodicals published on flying disc sports. In the last 20 years, 13 books have been published on the
subject.
11. Virtually everyone in the U.S. has heard of the FRISBEE disc and nearly 90 percent of all people in this country have played with
one.
12. More than one–third of the schools in the U.S. use flying discs as part of their physical education programs, and the list is
growing.
13. There are more than 700 Disc Golf courses in the U.S. These courses are permanent installations, usually located in a public park,
where players actually “drive” and “putt” with specially styled discs.
14. The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) is located in Sweden. There are 26 member countries.
15. There are five basic and many trick grips for playing with a FRISBEE disc. Each grip leads to a characteristic throw. The backhand
throw is the favorite of most and accuracy throwers, although in power games such as Guts, players favor forehand or “thumber”
throws.
16. There is a section on “Flying Disc Throwing” in the Guinness Book of World Records.
17. The Cub Scouts of America has included Ultimate as one of 18 recognized s scouts to play to earn fitness and participatory
awards.
18. The first school for FRISBEE–catching dog training was called the Monterey of FRISBEE Dog Studies in Monterey, Calif. The first
all–dog FRISBEE competition was held on Nov. 13, 1974 at California State University, Fullerton.
19. Rare flying discs have been known to sell for up to $500.

https://flyinggreetings.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/interesting-fun-frisbee-facts/
An Abbreviated History of Ultimate Compiled by Michael E. Iacovella
Ultimate, as with all disc sports, would not exist without the invention of the flying disc, or "Frisbee," as it is commonly known. The
first known contemporary tossing of a "disc" was by Yale University (USA) undergrads in the early 20th century. The Yale campus was
in close proximity to Connecticut's Frisbie Pie Company, whose pies while being a popular treat in themselves were sold in metal tins
that would hold flight when thrown over a very short distance. The now-popular pastime of "tossing the disc" remained in obscurity
until the invention of a plastic flying disc by Fred Morrison in 1948, which was much more durable and flight-worthy than anything
made of wood or metal. This invention led to the first mass-produced disc, called the "Pluto Platter," made by the Wham-O toy
company beginning in 1951. The year 1954 saw the first recorded competition using a flying disc when Dartmouth University (USA)
students organized a tournament for the disc sport known as "Guts." A year after the Frisbie Pie Company's closing in 1958, Wham-O,
based in California, USA, registered the name "Frisbee" as a name for its flying disc products. This trademark was reportedly the
result of the predictable nickname that students at Yale and Harvard had given to the new toys.
The invention of Ultimate, also known as "Ultimate Frisbee," occurred within a year of the first mechanical patent on a flying disc, by
Ed Headrick in 1966. Joel Silver and others at Columbia High School (CHS), Maplewood, NJ, USA, introduced their idea of an
"ultimate" Frisbee game to the student council in 1967, and the first known game was played in 1968 between the student council
and the staff of the school newspaper. The newspaper staff was victorious in a game where the only boundaries were the goal lines
and other natural side boundaries (eg., railroad tracks, river, fence). The games continued the following year, with matches being
played in the evening under the glow of the mercury-vapor lights in the school's new parking lot. The first and second edition rules
were drawn up by CHS student Buzzy Hellring, and were later refined by Silver and John Hines. The very first interscholastic Ultimate
game was played between CHS and Milburn High in 1970; CHS won, 43-10. The first conference of Ultimate teams was created in
1971, which consisted of five New Jersey high schools, including CHS and Milburn. Some ultimate-playing graduates of the league
formed teams at their respective colleges and universities. On November 6, 1972, Rutgers University (NJ, USA) defeated Princeton
(NJ, USA), 29-27, in the first intercollegiate game. [Note: The game was played exactly 103 years after the first intercollegiate
American football game, on the same exact site, which had since been turned into a parking lot. The same team won by the same
margin of victory.] Yale hosted the first Ultimate tournament (8 college teams in attendance) in 1975, which was won by Rutgers.
That summer, Ultimate was introduced at the Second World Frisbee Championships at the Rose Bowl, aiding in the development of
Ultimate on the West Coast of the USA.
Disc sports began to spread to Europe and Asia at about the same time, as is evident by the formation of the Swedish Frisbee
Federation (SFF) in 1974, the Japanese Frisbee Disc Association in 1975, and the Australian FDA in 1976. Belgium and Austria each
organized FDAs in 1977, with Finland's FDA and the Danish Frisbee Sport Union to follow in 1978. The Ultimate Players Association
(UPA) was formed in 1979; Tom Kennedy was elected the first director. The UPA, the national governing body for the sport of
Ultimate in the USA, was the first national, player-run US Ultimate organization. Prior to this juncture, events were sponsored and/or
run by the International Frisbee Association (IFA), which was a former promotional arm of the Wham-O toy company. At the first UPA
Nationals in 1979, Glassboro State College was victorious over the Santa Barbara Condors, 19-18. The first Ultimate European
Championship was in Paris, France, in 1980; Finland, England and Sweden finished one, two, and three, respectively.
The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), the international governing body of all disc sports, was founded in 1984, a year after the
close of the IFA [Note: at the IFA's closure, membership was reported to be 100,000 members in 30 countries]. Flying Circus (open),
USA, Lady Condors (women), USA, and Sweden (juniors) win the first WFDF-sponsored World Ultimate Championships (for national
teams) in Colchester, United Kingdom (1986). The first World Ultimate Club Championships (WUCC) was held in Cologne, Germany, in
1989. Philmore (open, USA) and Lady Condors (women, USA) win their respective divisions. Seven Sages (masters, USA) become the
first international club Masters champions at Millfield, UK, in 1995, and Red Fish, Blue Fish is the first Mixed champion at St.
Andrews, Scotland, in 1999. Currently, Ultimate is played by an estimated 100,000+ players in over 30 countries. The Ultimate Players
Association (USA) reports an overall membership of 13,000+ dues-paying members. Membership in the UPA and other national
organizations is growing yearly at a startling rate. Thirty-five years have elapsed since the first disc was tossed for a goal under the
mercury-vapor lights of the Columbia High parking lot. As you bask in the warmth of the Hawaiian sun at the largest Ultimate
tournament in history, reflect on the growth of a spectacular sport within which the deepest-seeded value is sportsmanship.
http://www.wfdf.org/history-stats/history-of-ultimate/167-an-abbreviated-history-of-ultimate-compiled-by-michael-e-iacovella
THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT SKILLS YOU NEED TO EXCEL IN ULTIMATE FRISBEE
1. GENERAL THROWING
How consistent are your throws? Do you complete a pass every time you get the disc? General throwing is a critical skill to have. If
you struggle with throwing consistently you will be a liability when your team is on offense and you are on the field.
The biggest breakthrough I had regarding general throwing is the ability to throw to moving targets. Many players practice throwing
stationary throws, but in games your cutter is constantly moving. Therefore, developing touch on your throwsto lead your teammates
out into space is vital. And practice throwing with a mark whenever possible. Even open side throws with a mark can be daunting for
a new player.
2. POWER THROWING
Power throwing a disc is one of the most fun skills (in any sport) to acquire. Who doesn’t like gripping a disc and throwing it as far as
they can. The flight of a disc is special, and there is a whole awesome sport that revolves around this (I see you Disc Golf!!)
In Ultimate, power throwing can make you a deadly threat, with the ability to put the disc anywhere on the field. Truly great power
throwers like Nicky Spiva, Markham Shofner, Alex Snyder can throw it far with a tight mark and a stand still pivot!
While developing power throwing, it is critical to practice with a mark, so you can get good repetitions of how it is to huck in a game.
3 Tips For Better Hucking!
3. BREAK THROWING
Quite simply, having the ability to break the mark opens up an entire half of the field where downfield defenders aren’t playing
defense. Read that again.
It might be daunting to break the mark, but with practice, fakes, shimmy’s and different release points and angles you can acquire
this skill. Take a couple of teammates out to a field and just work on this one skill over and over until you are comfortable with it.
Handler Break Mark Drill
4. SPEED
If you have great speed, you can find success on the Ultimate field even if every other skill on this list is lacking. Without speed, you
can still be successful by mastering other skills, but with enough of it, you can have an instant impact. Speed on defense leads to
blocks and speed on offense leads to downfield receptions.
Acceleration is a very important subset of speed because this is where you can open a throwing window on offense and limit a
throwing window on defense. For example, if you can create separation with an explosive first step or two, the defense is now
playing catch up. If you can accelerate quickly on defense, you can mirror the offensive player and even though they have a head
start, you can close that gap and discourage a throw or even get a block!
Sprinting is the other important subset of speed. On offense, avoid running at the same tempo the entire point. It makes you
predictable and easy to guard. Instead, change up speeds, from 0% to 100%. Your defender will always have to be ready, and when
you truly sprint you become impossible to cover on that move.
The best drill to improve reaction speed in Ultimate.
5. READING THE FIELD
Reading the field is the ability to take in information. When I started playing, reading the field on offense was identifying where the
disc was, and chasing after it. As I gained more experience, I started to look around more, to see if there was another cutter who was
better suited to cut, and where the space would be for the continuation cut.
The same learning curve happened to me when I was on defense. At first, reading the field was staring straight at my matchup and
reading where they went. With practice and repetitions, I started to look around when I felt they were out of position to read the
whole field. I was able to learn information such as where the disc was, who had the disc, was there anyone on their team that was
streaking deep wide open?
The more information we can take in with our eyes can help provide clues to what is not only happening on the field, but what is
going to happen.
Three examples of high level anticipation in Ultimate.
6. MENTAL PROCESSING SPEED + CAPACITY
Mental processing speed is the ability to make actionable decisions based on the information you gather from reading the field. At
first, your mental processing capacity will be taken up with simple tasks such as holding the force, staying on the force side on
defense and figuring out where to cut and where to clear. Once those tasks become second nature you free up more room to start to
free up more capacity to analyze other pieces of information. Is the player with the disc a good thrower? The disc just got dumped
backwards, what does that mean for the player I’m guarding who is too far downfield?
As you get more game reps, more of these questions become instincts, and you can keep increasing your mental processing capacity.
Eventually you can start to look for opportunities to read not only your matchup but other matchups, and help out. Poach blocks also
become a real possibility when you can read the field and process what is happening next.
How to use processing speed to get poach blocks
7. ENDURANCE
Endurance in Ultimate cannot be understated. Our sport requires long runs, cuts, sprints, jumps and other cardio taxing movement.
Not only will an increase in cardio and endurance help us be better athletes on the field, but endurance, or lack thereof it, will affect
every skill on this list. When you’re tired, heart beating, gasping for air your throwing is going to suffer. It’s harder to catch a disc and
you are so focused on breathing that you cannot read the field.
Having sufficient endurance allows you to execute the multitude of skills and processes that Ultimate demands at 100%. We’ve all
thrown discs away when we were tired, so if we build up our endurance we limit the amount of touches we have while exhausted.
My endurance training regimine focuses on high intensity, short bursts of energy with quick rests before repeating the sprint, cut, or
jump.
Take a look at my pre-Nationals full workout!
8. DEFENSE
Defense is an art, requiring as much mental discipline as physical ability. Simply, great defenders are able to control their matchup,
versus what I’ve witnessed as the norm in ultimate, that ‘Offense has it easy’. Sure, the offense gets to choose where to go and when
to do it, but that only works if the defender allows it. By using anticipation, angles and body positioning, you can really disrupt the
flow of an offensive player.
 The other defensive tools, skying, layouts and other physical attributes can all help you if the offense happens to get open. To
consistently find yourself in the right position, balanced and ready to go. This is the defender who never stands out because their
player never gets thrown to.
Here is a go to drill for you and your team to work on playing great downfield defense
9. CATCHING
Catching every disc that comes your way helps your team win games. The amount of possessions you can save your team if you catch
well adds up. Not only taking care of every disc that comes right at you, but expanding your catching window is vital. Catching the
disc around your ankles, overhead and using one hand when the disc is behind you or too far out and front of you.
Take 1 minutes to learn how to use the spin of the disc to catch with one hand!
10. MENTAL TOUGHNESS
Having a strong mental game allows you to play at your peak talent consistently.
Ultimate is really easy to play when everything is going well. Playing on a warm, sunny, wind free day when you are healthy and full
of energy allows you to execute all of the tools we have discussed. When you or your team starts to play poorly, the rain starts, the
wind picks up, or other factors like playing in front of certain people many players alter their game. They might lose confidence in
their throwing, allow stress to slow down their mental processing speed, or drop a disc because they are distracted.
The ability to play good Ultimate when things aren’t going well can make you a better player then somebody that has more talent
than you but is prone to moments of lapses. Consistently playing your ‘A’ game even when conditions, self and team mistakes, and
other external factors trip you up is a skill that everyone needs, but few have.
ROWAN MCDONNELL
AMERICAN ULTIMATE ACADEMY
https://www.discstore.com/protips/10-most-important-ultimate-frisbee-skills/

Ultimate is a non-contact, self-refereed team discipline played with a 175 gram flying disc. At each end of the playing field there is an
end zone. Each team defends one endzone. They score a goal if one of their players catches the disc in the opposite end zone. There
are 7 players per side and the field is 64 metres long (70 yards) and 37 m wide (40 yards) with 18 m endzones (25 yards).
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 WHAT IS ULTIMATE? BY FRISBEE ROB
WHAT IS ULTIMATE? BY FRISBEE ROB
April 11, 2019 | 3:31 PM

WHAT IS ULTIMATE? - ROB MCLEOD

Ultimate is a non-contact, self-refereed team discipline played with a 175 gram flying disc. At each end of the playing field there is an
end zone. Each team defends one endzone. They score a goal if one of their players catches the disc in the opposite end zone. There
are 7 players per side and the field is 64 metres long (70 yards) and 37 m wide (40 yards) with 18 m endzones (25 yards).
Imagine the non stop energy of a hockey game played on a football field. Two teams of 7 players battle for the disc, each player trying
to out cut, out throw, out run, out jump, and out smart their opponents to advance the disc to the opposing endzone. Because each
players’ position is relative to the disc, and the disc is always moving, the game is always moving.
While ultimate is played by both men’s and women’s teams, the most popular form is mixed gender, and the promotion of gender
equity within the sport has been paramount to its extraordinary popularity and growth.
Organized ultimate is currently played in more than 90 countries around the world, and since 2001 mixed gender ultimate teams
have participated in the IWGA World Games. Since 1983, WFDF has organized the World Ultimate Championships in locations all over
the world, covering divisions such as juniors, open, and masters.
Ultimate in 10 Simple Rules
1. The Field: A rectangular shape with end zones at each end. A regulation field is 70 yards by 40 yards, with end zones 25
yards deep.

2. Initiate Play: Each point begins with both teams lining up on the front of their respective end zone line. The defense throws
("pulls") the disc to the offense. A regulation game has seven players per team.

3. Scoring: Each time the offense completes a pass in the defense's end zone, the offense scores a point. Play is initiated after
each score.

4. Movement of the Disc: The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate. Players may not run
with the disc. The person with the disc ("thrower") has ten seconds to throw the disc. The defender guarding the thrower
("marker") counts out the stall count.

5. Change of Possession: When a pass is not completed (e.g. out of bounds, drop, block, interception, stalled), the defense
immediately takes possession of the disc and becomes the offense.

6. Substitutions: Players not in the game may replace players in the game after a score and during an injury timeout.

7. Non-contact: No physical contact is allowed between players. Picks and screens are also prohibited. A foul occurs when
contact is made.

8. Fouls: When a player initiates contact on another player a foul occurs. When a foul disrupts possession, the play resumes as
if the possession was retained. If the player committing the foul disagrees with the foul call, the play is redone.

9. Self-Officiating: Players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. Players resolve their own disputes.
 10. Spirit of the Game: Ultimate stresses sportsmanship and fair play. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense
of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.

https://www.discstore.com/protips/what-is-ultimate-frisbee/

Team chemistry can make or break a team regardless of the level of play. If you and your teammates can’t work well together on or
off the field, your team’s season will be unpleasant, regardless of wins and losses. It’s urgent that from the beginning of the season
till the end, you and your teammates are on the same page of what you want to accomplish. Here are a few principles to really focus
on to create a positive team culture and chemistry.
1. BUY-IN
Get on the same page as your team. Set up a time to have a goals meeting with the team and leadership. Talk about what you want
to achieve together as a team and for yourself as a player. Create an open dialogue between players and coaches that the team can
revisit at different points of the season. Writing down these goals is a great way to hold yourself accountable while encouraging you
to work even harder. Make sure that these are realistic and tangible goals! I have had these pre-season meetings each year with the
DC Breeze, and just last week at American University, our college team listed out their goals. Pre-season goals meetings can be vital
to see if you are playing with the right team. If the majority of players want to ‘win nationals and train 5 days a week’ and you just
want a low commitment social outlet you might want to look for another team! That is why having the meeting early in the season is
important.

2. TRAINING TOGETHER
A lot of camaraderie can be built from working out and training together. No one really wants to run those 10 full field sprints at the
end of practice, but you do it anyways because your teammates are sprinting right beside you. Having the common goal of getting
better as a player bonds you with your teammates. So really invest and focus in during these moments. Not only will your teammates
push you, but seeing other people work hard is simply inspirational, and teammates working hard to get to a common goal is a huge
part of the Ultimate frisbee lifestyle.
3. UNDERSTANDING YOUR TEAMMATES
While most of these foundations for a team come from an off-the-field perspective, this one is targeted at on-field chemistry.
Knowing the skills, abilities, and preferences is one of the fastest ways to increase a team’s efficiency. Some strategies for success can
include talking to teammates. “What is your favorite throw? Do you like to break the mark? Are you looking for switches on
defense?” all go a long way. Observing and playing is another way, you should be cutting differently for your teams best power
thrower than the team’s best break thrower. Every teammate is a different player, and the more you can figure out about each of
their styles, the more the on-field chemistry increases.
4. KNOW WHEN TO FOCUS AND KNOW WHEN TO HAVE FUN
Although practice time is very valuable especially during strategy and skill development, have fun with it. Remember why you love
playing frisbee, it’s because it’s an awesome sport, with amazing people. If you’re not enjoying this experience then why are you
doing it? Even if you are an ultra competitive team, try to mix up your practices to include fun games occasionally. Coaching college,
I’ll often set aside 10 or 15 minutes for a competition, such as a goofy relay race or accuracy challenge. Players that attend team
events because they want to, not because they have to, increase the atmosphere and energy for all which does wonders for team
chemistry and culture.
5. INVEST TIME OFF THE FIELD
Building team chemistry doesn’t always need to happen on the field or around the track. Make sure your team is taking the time to
bond with each other off the field. Whether that means going on a retreat, having bonding nights or going out together, it’ll help you
get closer as a team. The more you know and trust your teammates, the more chemistry you’ll have on the field. Every year my club
team, Washington DC Truck Stop goes away for a weekend, practicing Saturday and Sunday near the campground we spend in tents
Saturday night. This is common practice among many teams, and excursions like this strengthen the bond between teammates.
At the end of the day, the majority of us play Ultimate for the team-side of things. The friendships, the tournament weekends, and
other adventures that come about on and off the Ultimate field. With a positive team experience, good chemistry, and clear
communication, no matter how the season turns out you can look back with pride on the season.
What do you think we left off the list that has helped your team find success?
Thanks for reading and good luck on the fields this year.
ROWAN MCDONNELL
AMERICAN ULTIMATE ACADEMY
https://www.discstore.com/protips/five-principles-of-ultimate-frisbee-team-chemistry/
0 TIPS TO HOSTING THE BEST PICKUP ULTIMATE FRISBEE GAME EVER
January 31, 2019 | 11:30 AM

Pickup Ultimate can be some of the most fun games of Ultimate frisbee for some, and some of the most frustrating for others. The
sport of Ultimate frisbee is one in which there are many levels of playing and countless rule formats to follow that you may never
know what you’re getting yourself into when stepping onto a pickup field. This article will attempt to provide a quick guide for how to
hold the most fun, welcoming, competitive, and enjoyable game that encourages playing at all levels. These 10 tips are in no
particular order.
1. USE CONES
 Cones are very inexpensive and necessary tool for a good game of Ultimate. You can pick up a set of cones at any
local sports store, Walmart, or you can even pick up a set of field cones on our site. Eight cones are all you really need to make
sure to clearly mark the endzone corners on both ends of the fields. Sideline cones are not necessary and sometimes make it
even more confusing to see the field if the cones are not accurate. (when are they ever straight anyway?) Mark the field.

2. BE CONSISTENT
  Nothing is more frustrating than trying to hit a pickup game when the times, locations, and days keep changing. If
at all possible, pick a day and time that works well for you as an organizer and stick to it for a good amount of time. There is no
better way to lose numbers than continually changing the time. This might mean to stop continually asking everyone’s opinion
on when the best time is to play each week. You won’t be able to please everyone and sometimes the most opinionated
responders won’t even show up. Pick a time and stick to it.

3. GO LIGHTS AND DARKS

 It is really easy to tell everyone to bring a light (white) and a dark (gray does not count) shirt to each pickup game.
When you pick teams, assign a color and make each team wear those colors. If someone doesn’t bring the right colors there
should always be a few extra clean shirts hanging around for others to borrow. This is really important to help the newer
players figure out who is on each team. There is nothing more frustrating then throwing to the wrong team because someone
said, “Everyone knows each other, it should be fine!” Bring lights and darks, it’s really simple.

4. ESTABLISH RULES
 USAU has a really good time-tested set of rules established for Ultimate frisbee that can be really easy to follow if a
few people are familiar with them. You can read up on them at the USAU website. For starters, there is the “Ultimate in 10
Simple Rules” document to read to get a quick understanding of the game. There is even a simplified set of USAU rules for
recreational play if you don't feel like studying. At a minimum I would suggest using stall counts, out of bounds, contact fouls,
double teams, and fast counts (there are more you could add). There is no need to nitpick travels, picks, violations, etc. in a
game of pickup as long as everyone is ok with it not being ran like a USAU event. Pickup is Ultimately supposed to be fun and
encouraging so stick to what matters in the game to help it run smoothly and give the newer players as much opportunity for
success as possible. Keep the game moving quickly, get everyone involved. If it directly affects the play feel free to call it, if it is
a technicality or minor infraction let it go. You are there to have fun but play fair.
5. USE 7 VS. 7 ON THE FIELD
 We always want to get everyone involved and many pickup games try to play everyone at the same time on the
field regardless of numbers. If you want to play 8 vs. 8 because you have a good field size and no one wants to sit that can be
admissible but know that it will take away from the true field space intentions of the sport. If you have 30 people show up to
pickup great! But find two fields to play on or play “King of the Hill” style and form 3 teams. One of the three teams sits out
each point and the winner of each point stays on the field rotating through challengers. You can play to 7 or 13 and keep a
running tally of the team’s points. It is a really fun way to keep everyone involved and still use the numbers to your
advantage. 7 on 7 is time-tested, use it!

1. BE INCLUSIVE
 There is nothing worse than showing up to a new pickup game and immediately feeling left out. As the organizer
you should strive to make the game fun and inviting to everyone no matter who they are or what skill level they may be at. Try
to introduce yourself to new faces and toss them the disc a few times if you can during the game. They may drop it, they may
throw it away, and they may not know what they are doing but they showed up for a reason. Try to get them involved and
encourage them to stick around. That’s the best way to keep growing your pickup game. Be inclusive, there is no pickup
trophy.

2. PROMOTE IT WELL
 You need to be a marketer of your pickup game whether you like it or not. No one shows up to a pickup game on
accident…(well mostly not). Post on social media to your local Ultimate pages, church groups, school bulletin boards, however
you can get the word out. Be a promoter and encourage others to do the same. Consistency again on this one can go a long
way. Post timely reminders about when and where the games will be a few days beforehand. Be a pickup ambassador!

3. BRING A BUNCH OF DISCS

 Showing up with more than a handful of discs will encourage everyone to get involved. The more discs sitting
around on the grass the more likelihood someone will pick one up and start tossing. Make sure there is one disc to every two
people if you can so there are always enough for partners to toss. As more and more people love the sport they will start
bringing their own.

4. BUY QUALITY DISCS FROM DISCSTORE.COM

 Speaking of discs, make sure you are using a quality disc when playing. Some discs you find at your big box stores
are designed for company profits, not as much for playing quality Ultimate frisbee games. Some discs that might even say
“Ultimate Discs” or “Official Ultimate Frisbee Discs” but may not be the best discs to use. I recommend a Discraft Ultra-
Star which is the Official Disc of USA Ultimate Championship Play but there are others that you could use if you prefer.
The Innova Discs Pulsar, Dynamic Discs Aviator, and the Daredevil Gamedisc are all quality discs as well, just not as popular for
Ultimate as the Discraft Ultra-Star. The disc matters, shop quality.
5. HAVE FUN!
 You play Ultimate to have fun and be with other people. Keep that your focus and all these other things will fall into
place. Be respectful when on the field and give each other the benefit of the doubt, you may be surprised by how many people
stick around. If your group is not having fun it will be hard to grow and you will start to lose numbers. Remember at the end of
the day, you’re playing with a flying toy, enjoy it!
There are a lot of other things that could make the list such as field size, bringing cleats, person-to-person defense and more but stick
to the basics and enjoy what you’re doing. These 10 tips should give you a good guideline to hosting an awesome pickup game and
should help your numbers and quality of game increase. If you think we need to add more to this list please let us know in the
comments. If you think we are off-base on any of these we want to know as well. Get out there and throw some plastic!
WHAT IS ULTIMATE FRISBEE?
July 18, 2017 | 1:28 PM
Ultimate Frisbee, or ultimate as it is officially recognized, is a team sport that combines aspects of many other sports, such as the
athleticism and coordination of basketball, the passing and flow of movement of soccer, and the field dimensions and endzones of
football. Yet it is not a ball sport, it is played with a flying disc!
Teams are made up of seven players on each side and are attempting to create a series of completed passes towards their atacking
endzone while defending their own. When one team makes a successful pass to a teammate into their attacking endzone they score
a point.
What is Ultimate?
Ultimate was developed in 1968 by a group of students at Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J. Although ultimate resembles
many traditional sports in its athletic requirements, it is unlike most sports due to its focus on self-officiating, even at the highest
levels of competition. This concept, called Spirit of the Game, is integrated into the basic philosophy of the sport, written into the
rules, and practiced at all levels of the game from local leagues to the World Games.
Combining the non-stop movement and athletic endurance of soccer with the aerial passing skills of football, a game of ultimate is
played by two teams with a flying disc on a field with end zones, similar to football. The object of the game is to score by catching a
pass in the opponent’s end zone. A player must stop running while in possession of the disc, but may pivot and pass to any of the
other receivers on the field. Ultimate is a transition game in which players move quickly from offense to defense on turnovers that
occur with a dropped pass, an interception, a pass out of bounds, or when a player is caught holding the disc for more than ten
seconds. Ultimate is governed by Spirit of the Game™, a tradition of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the
players rather than referees. Ultimate is played in more than 80 countries by an estimated 7 million of men and women, girls and
boys. The international governing body, WFDF, represents 59 member associations in 56 countries.

"What is ultimate?" as defined by the USA Ultimate Board of Directors? The USA Ultimate Board of Directors believes that one key
factor that defines ultimate is that the players need to be the ones in control. The definition of ultimate developed by the board at
the 2001 strategic planning meeting is as follows: "Player defined and controlled non-contact team sport played with a flying disc on
a playing surface with end zones in which all actions are governed by the 'Spirit of the Game™."

Why Play Ultimate?

Ultimate is fun.
There is a reason why the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (formerly the SGMA) continues to report ultimate as one of the
fastest growing team sports in the country. Each year, thousands of new people begin playing this great sport. One reason so many
people start playing is because it is FUN!

Ultimate is genuinely fun and exciting. The unique flying options of the disc mean that no two throws look alike and the options are
limitless.

Ultimate keeps you active and helps you stay healthy.

From the beginner to the elite player, ultimate is a terrific sport that offers challenges at all levels of play. ultimate combines athletic
skills of running, catching and throwing. Additional skills and athleticism beyond that are left up to the player's imagination. Many
athletes of other sports find the transition to ultimate both easy and rewarding, as the sport requires many of the same techniques
as basketball, soccer and even lacrosse. Whether you play-pick up occasionally at the local park or practice three times a week with
your team, playing ultimate will leave you feeling energized and alive.
Ultimate is a real sport played at the local, national and international level.
Ultimate is a legitimate sport with a national governing body. Ultimate is a real sport, with official rules, leagues, and competitions at
all age levels. Ultimate is taught in schools, parks and recreation departments, boys and girls clubs, churches, colleges and through
youth and adult leagues. Opportunities abound to play this terrific sport!
Anyone can play.
Ultimate is a great sport for school districts or anyone who is interested in trying something new and different with minimal costs.
The equipment needed to play is incredibly few and relatively inexpensive. In addition to a low cost, ultimate combines athletic skills
that children learn throughout their physical educations and can be easily applied to the sport of ultimate. Due to the low cost and
the easy transition from other sports, ultimate is a perfect sport to introduce students.
Ultimate builds character.
Ultimate develops acceptance of responsibility for one's own behavior. Because players make their own calls, participation develops
character, self-reliance, listening and negotiating skills and leadership qualities. Many schools and programs use this fun sport to also
promote good sportsmanship and help participants develop conflict resolution skills.
Make lifelong friends.
Ultimate players love feeling that they are a part of this unique community! Teammates spend hours playing together, developing
their skills and teaching each other about skills relevant to life. Through these experiences, teams feel like a family and many players
find lifelong friends. Also unique to the sport is the innate friendly dynamic between teammates and opposing teams which is also
facilitated by the Spirit of the Game.
https://www.usaultimate.org/about/