Ultimate Frisbee Overview

Ultimate Frisbee

• Exciting, non-contact sport combining elements of soccer, basketball, and American football
• Self-refereed and non-contact
• Objective: Score by catching a pass in the opposing team's end zone.

History

• Developed in 1968 by students at Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ
• Official rules recorded in 1970
• Played in over 42 countries by men, women, boys, and girls

Basic Rules

• Field: Rectangular, 70 yards by 40 yards, with 25-yard deep end zones (64m x 37m, 18m end zones)
• Disc: Any disc acceptable to both captains, typically 175g and 10.75" diameter
• Play Initiation: Teams line up at their respective end zones, and the defense throws (or "pulls") the disc to the offense.
• Scoring: Offense scores a point when a pass is completed into the opposing team's end zone
• Disc Movement: Disc can be advanced in any direction by passing to teammates, but players cannot run with the disc. Thrower has 10 seconds to throw. Marker (defender) counts down the stall (10-second timeout)
• Possession Change: If a pass isn't completed (e.g., out of bounds, dropped, intercepted) then the defense immediately takes possession.
• Substitutions/Injuries: Players may be substituted during a score or injury timeout.
• Contact: Physical contact is prohibited; fouls occur when contact is made. Picking and screening are also prohibited. Players resolve disputes themselves.
• Spirit of the Game: Ultimate emphasizes sportsmanship and fair play. Play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect and the basic joy of the sport.

Gameplay Terms

• Backhand: Throw from the left (right-handed) or right (left-handed) side of the body; similar to backhand in tennis
• Cut: Attempt to get open to receive a pass. (often starts with a body or momentum fake)
• Defense: Team trying to prevent a score
• Dump: Player standing behind the thrower to help the offense when they're in trouble
• Flow: Series of quick passes to well-timed cuts; goal is to score easier.
• Force (or Mark): Aims to make it difficult for the thrower to pass in one direction; causing the thrower to pass to the other side of the field.
• Forehand: Throw from the right (right-handed) or left (left-handed) side of the body; similar to forehand in tennis
• Free(or Open): Player available to receive a pass and not being marked.
• Hammer: High overhead throw, disc faces downwards; similar grip and release to forehand
• Hand Block: Defender stops the disc directly after release.
• Huck: Long pass; often high to a taller player in the end-zone
• Layout: Catch while diving
• Man-on-man defense: A common defense where each person on defense watches a player on offense and attempts to stay close-by to force mistakes.
• Open: The Thrower's favored side for passing.
• Pivot: Planting a foot and stepping to the side to move and allow throwing around a marker (defender.)
• Poach: A defender leaving their marker to intercept a potential pass.
• Pull: Throw to start a point (initiating play)
• Swing: Lateral pass across the pitch - generally not used for movement
• Switch: When defenders exchange the offensive players being marked.
• Turnover: When a player makes a drop, block, interception, or an out-of-bounds pass, and disc possession changes to the defense.
• Endzone: The area at the end of the pitch where points are scored.

Other Important Concepts

• Stall Count: The defense counts down from 10 if the offense does not throw the disc within their allocated time (10 seconds).
• Stack: Popular offensive set where players line up in the middle of the field to create space for others to cut into.
• Marking/Stall Counting: Defense preventing the thrower from releasing the disc.
• Catching Techniques: Include one-handed and two-handed grips, with consideration for the height and position of the disc. Techniques can be "Pancake," "Rim Catch" among others.