What is Ultimate Frisbee? How does the sport work?
Wikipedia describes ultimate frisbee also known by ‘ultimate’ as ‘a fast-paced, non-contact team sport played with a flying disc (or “Frisbee”) on a rectangular field with end zones’.
As with any new sport, it is important to understand the rules of ‘ultimate’ but the best way for new players to understand them is going out on a field and playing.
Basic rules can be explained to you in a couple of minutes.
Ultimate frisbee is a non-contact, team sport played with a plastic disk (frisbee). Two teams of seven players compete on a rectangular field.
10 rules of Ultimate (Adapted to UK Ultimate)
- The Field of Play: Games are played on a rectangular field with end zones at each end.
- Team Size & Substitutions: Teams have 7 players on the field. Substitutions are generally made only between points or due to injury.
- Starting Play (The Pull): Each point begins with a “pull,” a long throw by the defending team to the offensive team.
- Scoring: A goal is scored when a player catches the disc in the opponent’s end zone.
- Movement: Players cannot run with the disc. The disc is moved by passing it from one teammate to another.
- The Stall Count: The person with the disc (“thrower”) has 10 seconds to throw it. A defender (“marker”) counts the “stall count” aloud.
- Turnovers: Possession changes to the other team when a pass is not completed (e.g., it’s dropped, intercepted, or goes out of bounds).
- Boundaries: The disc is out of bounds if it touches the ground outside the playing field or is caught by a player in the out-of-bounds area.
- Self-Officiating & The Spirit of the Game: Ultimate is played without referees. Players are responsible for enforcing the rules and resolving disputes, emphasizing a high level of sportsmanship and mutual respect.
- Spirit of the Game (SOTG): This is the most important rule. It requires players to treat each other with respect and to be responsible for their own conduct, ensuring fair play.
