What is Ultimate?

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 seven player squads with a high-tech plastic disc on a field similar to football. The objective 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. Just like basketball, 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. Although Ultimate resembles many traditional sports in its basic athletic requirements, the rules are simpler which allows the game to be self-officiated. The concept of Spirit of the Game™ is integrated into the basic philosophy of the sport, is written into the rules, and is practiced at all levels of the game from local leagues to the World Games. Ultimate is a fabulous, high-energy sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and disc-skills who don't mind a little running and a lot of fun. The description below applies to the outdoor version of the game. The indoor version, being on a smaller field, is somewhat modified (a slightly smaller field and fewer players) but mostly similar. Picture, if you will, a playing field (usually grass, but desperate teams will play on almost any surface) as follows: On this playing field are two teams of seven players each. The object of the game is for a team to pass the disc from player to player, all the way up the field, and catch the disc in their end-zone, which scores a point. Players cannot run with the disc, but must plant a pivot foot (as in basketball) and throw the disc to a teammate. When holding the disc, a player gets ten seconds to throw it to a teammate (five or seven seconds indoors), which is counted off by the defender guarding the offensive player (known as "marking" the thrower.) If the disc isn't thrown in time, it's called a "stall" and the defense takes over. If the offensive team drops the disc, catches it out of bounds, or failes to complete a pass because a defender somehow blocks the pass, the other team picks up the disc where it lands and works to score in the other direction. Defenders gnerally play either a man-to-man or zone defense in their attempt to block a throw. The game is non-contact - it's a foul to hit the other player, or to hit the disc while it's being held. (Blocking the disc right after it's thrown, known as a "point-block", is a very hot play!) Nor can a defender be "picked" off the player being guarded. Any play carried out with the main intent to prevent another player from having a fair chance at catching the disc or making a defense is considered a foul; in other words, you have to "play the disc, not the person!" Probably the most important part of Ultimate is known as "The Spirit of the Game". This catch-phrase is used to describe the respect that every player in the game has for his fellow players. No referees are used in the game. Instead, each player does his best to make an honest call if necessary, and trust the calls of his fellow players, with the implicit assumption that nobody in Ultimate would try to cheat. This principle is what makes Ultimate special to so many people, and all Ultimate players try to keep the Spirit alive by maintaining this high level of trust, no matter how competitive the game gets. If people cannot resolve their differences, people usually say "ba ck to the thrower", which allows play to continue on without forcing the issue one way or another. The best way to see how Ultimate is played is to go watch a local tournament. Ultimate players share a great camraderie, and LOVE to introduce new players to the sport. So come on out and watch!

 

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