Ultimate frisbee is a non-contact team sport played with a frisbee. It combines elements of netball, touch football, and grid-iron into a fast paced, athletic sport. Competitions usually have co-ed teams, where men and women play together. It is also unique because the sport is self-refereed – due to the ‘Spirit of the Game’, players are responsible for adhering to and overseeing the rules.
Ultimate is played in over 30 countries worldwide, is a sport at the World Games, and has a strong presence in universities and high schools.
During a game, the basic aim is for the team with the frisbee to pass it up the field to others on their team and complete a pass into the endzone. At the same time the defensive team is trying to intercept it or knock it down. If they succeed, they get possession of the frisbee and are trying to score in the other endzone.
Ultimate relies upon a Spirit of the Game that places the responsibility for fair play on every player. Players on the field make their own calls when violations occur – there are no referees. If there is disagreement regarding an incident, the frisbee returns to the player who made the last pass and the game resumes. The Spirit of the Game award is a highly coveted award at tournaments.
Ultimate is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission.
1. The Field
A rectangular shape with endzones at each end. A regulation field is 64 metres by 37 metres, with endzones 18 metres deep. Cones are generally used to mark the corners of the endzones.
2. Starting Play
Each point begins with both teams lining up on the front of their respective endzone. 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 into the defense’s endzone, the offense scores a point. The first team to 17 goals wins, with a time cap of 100 minutes, but this is often adapted at beginner levels of the sport.
4. Movement of the Disc
The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate. Players can’t run with the disc, similar to netball. 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), 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-Refereeing
Players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. Players resolve their own disputes.
10. Spirit of the Game
Ultimate relies upon a Spirit of the Game that places the responsibility for fair play on every player. There are no referees. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.
