My son is a Ultimate player for both a university and men’s team. I learned a lot from watching him play and have been a part of many learning opportunities about this game, which has been relatively new in sport history. It was in the late 1970’s that Ultimate first began to be played.
It is simple and easy to use. The only thing you will need is a Frisbee along with pylons for marking the goals at the ends of the field. You must pass the Frisbee from one player to another down the field until you catch it and score a point. Ultimate is a lot like basketball. The Frisbee is so hard to catch that you cannot move your feet once you’ve caught it. It is necessary to stop and freeze until you are able to move your feet.
Second, the fact that Ultimate has no referees is what intrigues my most. My son explained that Ultimate is completely self-referred. The Ultimate game has a rules book that players must follow. Any rule that is not followed can be broken and the violator may admit it. An opposing player can point out any violation. A disagreement between the players of the opposing teams can be raised until an agreement is reached. For the game of hockey to be played, one must always concede. My son told me that Ultimate officials are present at international competition’s highest levels. But they are called observers. If the teams are unable to reach an agreement after a period of time, then the observers are called in.
Another thing that I love about Ultimate is its camaraderie with other players and the sportsmanship. While the athletes work very hard, they still have fun. When they are injured, they help their opponents. Talk with each other on the sidelines. They sometimes play skills with each other after the match is over. Ultimate is competitive. But it’s not about being the best. It’s a fun way for him to exercise, and to have a lot of fun. It has helped my son make new friends. Because his wife had a job in the new area, he moved there recently. He didn’t know anybody. His experience with Ultimate helped him to meet many people.
Ultimate had its own language, which I learned after playing it. Each match, I ask my son what the terms he uses to refer to pull, break and dump.
My high school teacher of physical education is my son. He teaches Ultimate to his students during gym classes. Many high schools have inter-school competitions and are creating men’s and women’s teams. American colleges and universities seem to be increasingly interested in Ultimate and offer Ultimate scholarships.
When I asked my son whether Ultimate would be considered a professional sport, or maybe a part of the Olympics some day, he said no. He does not believe so. The sport’s purpose would be defeated if it was too organized and commercialized. Its primary goal is to have fun, socialize and get healthy exercise. My son is playing Ultimate with me and I am learning about Ultimate.