Ultimate Explained

The bare necessities…

So then, you are interested in playing ultimate frisbee? You are in the right place! Here’s what you need to get started…

1. A frisbee
2. A few mates
3. Well, that’s about it!

The beauty of frisbee is that you can play anywhere, any time, and it can literally include everyone regardless of sporting abilities! Gather a group of friends and start by having a throw-around. I’ve played on sports pitches, parks, beaches, courtyards, corridors and kitchens (just be careful of the wine glasses).

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If you know you love a chuck-about, then play an ultimate frisbee match. For more detail on the rules, you can read at my Rule School post, but here are the basics that you should know…

1. You need two teams, two end-zones and one disc.
2. A match starts with both teams standing in their end-zones at either end of the pitch, when one team will throw the disc to the other. The receiving team becomes the offence, while their opponent’s become the defence. Possession begins from where the receiving team catches the disc, or where it lands and rolls to.
3. To get a point, your team has to catch the disc in your opponent’s rectangular end-zone on the opposite side of the pitch. To get there, you need to throw the disc between your team-mates up the field.
4. You can’t move with the disc. You can only pivot.
5. When a point is scored, both teams swap end-zones and the game is restarted – the team who scored the point will throw the disc down the pitch to their opponents who will start on offence.
6. When the disc is dropped or thrown out of play, possession of the disc is turned over from where it was lost. Equally, there’s a turnover when a defender hits the disc onto the floor, out of play, or even catches it.
7. It is a non-contact game.

It’s pretty easy to pick up. Many say it’s a combination of netball and American football.

In competitive games, team sizes very from usually five in the indoor and beach versions, to seven in outdoor. However, to set up a casual game with mates, you can play three-on-three, four-on-four… But I wouldn’t exceed seven-a-side as it can become too crowded. Any extra people can be used as roll-on-roll-off substitutes, just like in a competitive game!

Oh, and one more thing! With the top-level being an exception, ultimate is designed to be self-officiated! So even if you want a competitive game, all you need is yourselves and a disc.

What are you waiting for? Go have some fun!