Ultimate Frisbee Rules and History

Ultimate Frisbee

• Exciting, non-contact sport combining aspects 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, Maplewood, NJ.
• Official rules recorded in 1970.
• Played in over 42 countries by men, women, boys, and girls.

Basic Rules

The Field

• Rectangular shape with end zones at each end.
• Regulation field: 70 yards by 40 yards.
• End zones: 25 yards deep (64m x 37m, 18m end zones).

Disc

• Any acceptable disc can be used (regulation disc weighs 175g, 10.75" diameter).

Initiate Play

• Teams line up at the front of their respective end zones.
• Defense throws (pulls) the disc to the offense.
• Seven players per team.

Scoring

• Offense scores a point when a pass is completed in the defense's end zone.
• Play resumes after each score.

Disc Movement

• Disc can be advanced by passing to teammates.
• Players may not run with the disc.
• Thrower has 10 seconds to throw the disc.
• Marker (defender) counts down (stall count)

Change of Possession

• If pass is incomplete (e.g., out of bounds, drop, interception), the defense takes possession.

Substitutions

• Players can be substituted after a score or during injury timeouts.

Non-contact

• Physical contact between players is prohibited.
• Picks and screens are also prohibited.
• Fouls occur when contact is made.

Fouls

• Foul occurs when a player contacts another player.
• Play resumes as if no foul occurred.
• If a player disagrees, play is repeated.

Self-Refereeing

• Players are responsible for their own fouls and calls.

Spirit of the Game

• Sportsmanship and fair play are emphasized.
• Respect, adherence to rules, and enjoyment of play are paramount.

Ultimate Frisbee Skills & Strategies

Terms

• Backhand: Disc throw from the left side (right-handed players), similar to tennis backhand.
• Cut: Attempt to receive the pass, often involves a body fake and change of direction.
• Defense: Team attempting to prevent points.
• Dump: Player positioned behind the thrower to facilitate easy passes.
• Flow: Series of quick passes and cuts to facilitate scoring.
• Force (or mark): Making it difficult for the thrower to pass in a specific direction (frequently in one direction of the field).
• Forehand: Disc throw from the right side (right-handed players), similar to tennis forehand.
• Free (Open): Player available to receive a pass, unmarked.
• Hammer: High overhead throw (disc upside-down grip).
• Hand block: Defender stops the disc immediately after release.
• Huck: Long, high pass.
• Layout: Player dives to catch or intercept the disc.
• Man-on-man: Defensive strategy where each defender marks a specific offensive player.
• Open: Side to which the thrower is forced (or being forced).
• Pivot: Player plants one foot and shifts sideways to gain throwing position.
• Poach: Defender leaves their assigned player (marker) to intercept a pass.
• Pull: Initial throw to start a point.
• Swing: Lateral pass across the field.
• Switch: Defenders exchange the offensive players they're marking
• Turnover: Disc is dropped or intercepted. Now defense becomes offense.

The Game

• Play begins with a disc throw from one team to the other.
• Scoring is by completing a pass into the opposing end zone.
• Players can move in any direction via passing to a teammate.
• Running is prohibited while in possession of the disc.

Game Length

• Game finishes when one team reaches 15 goals and is ahead by two or more goals (typically 90-120 mins).

Offense/Defense

• Offense: Team with possession of the disc.
• Defense: Team trying to prevent the Offense from scoring.

Scoring

• A point is scored when the disc is caught in the end zone of the opposing team.
• Play restarts after a score using the same "pull" procedure.

Stack

• Popular offensive set.
• Offensive players line up close to the center field and strategically positioned.
• Stack creates opportunities for cuts.