Sierra Leone Flying Disc Association
ULTIMATE FRISBEE
Ultimate Frisbee, commonly known as ultimate, is a team sport played with a flying disc (Frisbee). The game is typically played on a rectangular field with end zones at each end, in three divisions: Open (Men), Women, and Mixed when both men and women play together. The game is usually played on grass, but it can also be played indoors and on sand.
In the standard variant, teams of seven players compete to score points by catching the disc in the opposing team's end zone. The game begins with a "pull," where one team throws the disc to the other. Players advance the disc by passing it to teammates; however, once a disc is caught, player must stop running and can only pivot around one of their foot. The defending team aims to intercept or knock down the disc to gain possession. A turnover occurs when the disc is intercepted, touches the ground, is caught outside out of bounds, or a player is unable to pass a disc to any other player within 10 seconds counted by the defending team. When the offence team is successful in scoring a point in opponent's end zone, game is stopped, the teams switches their end zones, and previously scoring team throws a "pull" towards the other team who will now be on offence.
A unique and essential aspect of ultimate is the "Spirit of the Game", which emphasizes sportsmanship, fair play, and respect among players. Unlike many sports, ultimate is self-officiated, meaning players are responsible for calling their own fouls and resolving disputes on the field. This requires a high level of honesty and mutual respect. Players are encouraged to be competitive yet mindful of the rules and the integrity of the game. The Spirit of the Game fosters a positive environment where enjoyment and fair competition take precedence over winning at all costs. This philosophy is integral to ultimate and distinguishes it from many other competitive sports.
While Ultimate is the most popular flying disc sport, it is not the only one! Learn more about other frisbee sports!
Seven Steps How To Start Playing
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You need one frisbee disc, somewhere flat to play and at least 4 players (a game 2v2).
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Mark the field (you can place objects (t-shirt, plastic bottle) to the corners of the end zones) so everyone knows where they need to get to score points. Adjust the size of the field to the number of your players.
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Make sure that once you catch a disc, you slow down to halt as fast as possible and from that moment onwards only pivot around one of your leg - no running with frisbee is allowed!
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Once you catch a disc in opponent's end zone, stay there and wait until all your team arrives to the end zone too. Opponent team goes to the other end zone, and once they are all there and ready, they signal with lifted arm. Then throw them a disc and start your defense.
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When defending a player with a disc, do not touch the player or their disc. You also need to give them some space to move - you cannot be closer than to a width of the frisbee disc and you should not wrap your arms around their body or straddle above their legs.
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You can adjust some rules (e.g. how many seconds a player have to throw a disc to another player) but always remember principles of Spirit of the Game - we play fair, avoid fouling, and communicate respectfully. Competitive game is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.
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Check our "Play Now" section for contacts on regularly playing teams, or visit us on one of our national training camps and all-welcome tournaments!