What is Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate (often called Ultimate Frisbee in reference to the trademarked brand name) is a non-contact team sport played with a 175 gram flying disc. The object of the sport is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to an end zone in American football or rugby. Players may not run while holding the disc. Ultimate is distinguished by its spirit of the game—the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, and the joy of play. excerpt from Wikipedia. It is played by all ages and combines a mixture of males and females.
How is Ultimate Played?
Ultimate is played by two seven-player teams using a regulation 175 gram disc. The goal of the game is to score by catching a pass in the opposing team’s end zone. A player cannot run with the disc while in his or her possession. A player is allowed to pivot and pass to any of his or her team mates, without travelling with the disc. Players move quickly from offense to defence and a turn over occurs when a disc is dropped, an interception takes place, when the disc becomes out of bounds, or when the opposing team is holding the disc for more than ten seconds. Ultimate is self-officiated. One of the most important aspects of the game is called Spirit. Leagues and players are to respect one another at all times, play fair and continue encouraging a non-contact, non verbal sportsmanship attitude. Many leagues have incorporated spirit points into their overall standings and provide recognitions to players and teams who play with spirit. Often awards are provided to these individuals. Game cheers are made up amongst team players and used before and after the games to show good sportsmanship.
How to Stack
If your captain or one of your team members yells out “stack” you quickly move to the position of the field (middle) about 10 – 15 meters away from your team member who is throwing the disc and either form the line (stack) of get behind one of your players. The line is usually formed parallel with the sidelines and you should be in line with the disc. If the thrower is near the sidelines, you would stack diagonally angled across the field. You should give yourself about 2 to 3 meters from the player in front of you and from the player behind you.
What is the point of stacking?
The reason teams want to stack is that it helps create an open space on the field. By having everyone stands in a line in the middle of the field, it allows for the sides of the field to be open and this will help the thrower get the disc to one of his/her players without all the congestion that typically happens on the field when all players are moving around at once.
In order for the stack to work effectively it is very important that that each player run in, fake, cut to the disc, and then get out. (Assuming, the disc was not thrown to you). Getting out of the way is extremely important. Far too often players run in for the pass and then either stand in the way of the next player trying to make their cut or run back towards the stack in the lane where other teammates need to run. Please remember to always follow through on your cuts and then clear out (even if that means going behind the thrower or running out of bounds).
What is a cut? Or what does it mean to cut in?
The purpose of the cut is to lose the player covering you and allow for the thrower to have an open spot for them to throw the disc to. Cutting is a key in developing your skills to becoming a more intermediate or advance player. As you begin running towards the thrower, and your man is following you, you want to move quickly to one side and then even faster to the other side and then make a cut at roughly at a 45 degree angle towards the thrower (make sure you follow it through to the disc). And GET OUT of the way. Knowing who will cut and who will stay requires the players to be aware of each other. Look up and down the stack. Is anyone about to cut? If not, go for it. If there is someone already cutting, wait for that receiver to finish their run, then make your cut. to cutting section
If you cut, you will either get the disc or you won’t. If you do, then it’s your turn to throw. But if you don’t get thrown the disc, what should you do? Clear out.
What does clogging mean?
If you here your team mates yelling stop clogging, all this means is you shouldn’t be standing in the way of your team’s cutting line. Again, get out of the way once you have gone in for a pass.
What is a pick?
A pick is called if someone on the opposing team is running after their player and someone from either your team or the team you are playing gets in the way. If the player you are covering has to stop or slow in order to change direction, it will be easy for the person on offence to get open. Getting open because of a pick is an unfair advantage. If it was allowed then people would always be trying to get in each other’s way.
When a pick happens, the defender who was picked yells “Pick!” loudly. This isn’t because they’re mad but because they want everybody to freeze. The play stops and everyone stands still while the offensive player goes back to where she was when the pick occurred. Then the game starts up again.
Force Home
A term used to try and force the thrower to only have one area of the field to throw to — forcing home or forcing away is called because the thrower is then restricted to where he or she can throw the disc. Say you were the marker and you were suppose to be following the call “force home” you would position yourself (block) the entire one side of the thrower giving them little or no opportunity. You would be standing on the one side of the thrower that only allows them to throw to the “home location”. The key is to ensure you are standing straight up against the side of the throwers body (you do not want to be able to get around you whatsoever). The thrower will then be limited as to the side of the field they can throw to. Meaning all other players on your team will know to position themselves on the corresponding side , leaving no room for the disc to make it up the field.
Force Away
A term used to try and force the thrower to only have one area of the field to throw to — as stated above – you want to restrict where the thrower can throw the disc.
