Frisbee History: From Pie Tins to Pluto Platters

History of the Frisbee

• In 1871, William Russell Frisbie moved from Bransford, Connecticut, to Bridgeport, Connecticut, and started the Frisbie Pie Company.
• By 1956, the Frisbie Pie Company reached a zenith production of 80,000 pies per day.
• The Pie-Tin School believes Yale students tossed Frisbie’s pie tins around campus, exclaiming "Frisbie" to warn the catcher.
• The Cookie-Tin School believes the prototype was the cookie-tin lid from Frisbie's sugar cookies.
• Walter Frederick Morrison, son of the inventor of the automotile sealed-beam headlight, invented the Frisbee.
• Morrison initially used a butyl stearate blend, but it broke easily.
• Morrison's Flyin' Saucer had six topside curved spoilers (vanes) to improve lift, but they were backwards.
• In 1951, Morrison improved his model and the design served as Wham-O's legendary Pluto Platter.
• The outer third of the disc is called the Morrison Slope, the fundamental design feature.
• The Morrison Pluto Platter included a cupola (cabin) with portholes and a planet ring, influenced by UFOs.
• Rich Knerr and A.K. "Spud" Melin from the University of Southern California, saw Morrison's flying saucers and invited him to their San Gabriel factory.
• On January 13, 1957, they began producing the Pluto Platter, and have since sent over one hundred million.
• Knerr borrowed the term "Frisbie" from Harvard students who tossed pie tins, spelling it "Frisbee" due to spelling the word phonetically.

Ultimate Frisbee Skills & Strategies

• The backhand is the throw that most people know.
• Grip the disc with a closed fist, fingers wrapped around the rim, and the thumb on top (but not straight out).
• Feet should be shoulder width apart and in line with the target
• Rotate the upper body away from the target, shifting weight to the back foot.
• Shift weight forward with a step, rotating the upper body toward the target, swinging the arm and disc forward.
• Snap the wrist upon release to add spin.

The Forehand

• The forehand is essential in Ultimate Frisbee.
• Grip the disc with the thumb and index finger, the thumb on top, and middle and index fingers inside the rim.
• Feet should be shoulder width apart, facing the receiver.
• Shift weight to the pivot foot.
• Draw the forearm and disc back slightly.
• Shift weight to the non-pivot foot, turning the body and forearm forward while snapping the wrist.
• Keep the arm parallel to the ground and the palm up.

Catching

• Along with throwing, catching is essential. Always keep your eyes on the disc.
• One-handed rim catch is for when two hands cannot be used, such as high, low, or throws behind.
• Two-handed rim catch is for throws below the waist and above the chin, thumbs pointed down for throws above the chin, and up for throws below the waist.
• Pancake catch is the most secure and used for waist and chest level throws, getting the body in front of the disc.

Cutting

• Cutting creates separation from the defender.
• It always involves a sharp change in direction.
• Drive at your defender to get them off balance and cut.
• Drive away from your defender and cut underneath or behind them.

The Stack

• The stack is an offensive set that creates space for players to cut into open areas.
• In a stack, all offensive players line up in the middle of the field.
• The closest player starts 8-10 yards upfield of the throwers, with 3-5 yards of separation between other players.
• The stack is in the "dead zone," while the sides are the "cutting zones."
• Clear back into the stack after a cut to give the next cutter space.

Rules

• The field is rectangular with end zones at each end and 70 yards by 40 yards, with end zones 25 yards deep.
• A regulation game has seven players per team.
• Each point starts with teams lined up on their end zone lines and the defense throws to the offense.
• Scoring happens when the offense completes a pass in the defense's end zone, and play restarts after each score.
• Players cannot run with the disc, and the thrower has ten seconds to throw, counted by the defender.
• If a pass is incomplete the defense takes possession.
• No physical contact is allowed.
• When a player initiates contact, a foul occurs, the play resumes as if possession was retained.
• If the player disagreeing with the foul call, the play is redone.
• Players handle their own fouls and line calls, resolving disputes themselves.
• Ultimate Frisbee values sportsmanship and fair play.
• Competitive play is encouraged, with respect for rules and the game.
• Running with the disc is not allowed.