Kevlore
09-05-2001, 05:59 PM
I offered to write about Ultimate Frisbee. Some of you have probably heard of it and are curious. Others might want to stop here. But here goes:
It started in the late 60s on a playground in New Jersey or New York or "East somewhere". There were too many high school students to "just toss" a frisbee around. So they began playing a variation of football with it. This evolved over time to allow non-stop action by making it a rule that you can't run with the frisbee. You have 10 seconds to throw the pass. If it's not completed, it's a turnover. You must establish a pivot foot as in basketball. They kept the idea of the touchdown for scoring, removed any sort of line of scrimmage and there's no such thing as "off sides" as in soccer. Finally, they established that the most important rule was that the game should be played in good spirit.
Further below is Ultimate in 10 simple rules.
The game is very fast paced, with sometimes repeated sprints up and down the field, similar to basketball only 3 times as long. As soon as you catch it, you have 10 seconds to throw it. Some people have as many as 15 or 20 different ways of throwing a disc. From anywhere from 2 feet to 100 yard throws, there is a lot of variety and a lot of running. Finally, because slows down as it flies, there is the opportunity for spectacular catches and defensive plays. People are diving all over the place. It's fantastic.
The game has taken on a cult status. Most of the players are young professionals that spend weekends at grueling tournaments. Saturday will have 4 games, followed by a dinner, lots of beer, music and the usual amenities to parties. The next day, after dancing the soreness away, you get up and run your heart out again. We travel as far as 1000 miles rd trip for a single weekend tournament. It's crazy.
Have I peaked your interest? Visit:
http://www.upa.org
Ultimate in 10 Simple Rules
1. The Field -- A rectangular shape with endzones at each end. A regulation field is 70 yards by 40 yards, with endzones 25 yards deep.
2. Initiate Play -- Each point begins with both teams lining up on the front of their respective endzone line. The defense throws ("pulls") the disc to the offense. A regulation game has seven players per team.
3. Scoring -- Each time the offense completes a pass in the defense's endzone, the offense scores a point. Play is initiated after each score.
4. Movement of the Disc -- The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate. Players may not run with the disc. The person with the disc ("thrower") has ten seconds to throw the disc. The defender guarding the thrower ("marker") counts out the stall count.
5. Change of possession -- When a pass in not completed (e.g. out of bounds, drop, block, interception), the defense immediately takes possession of the disc and becomes the offense.
6. Substitutions -- Players not in the game may replace players in the game after a score and during an injury timeout.
7. Non-contact -- No physical contact is allowed between players. Picks and screens are also prohibited. A foul occurs when contact is made.
8. Fouls -- When a player initiates contact on another player a foul occurs. When a foul disrupts possession, the play resumes as if the possession was retained. If the player committing the foul disagrees with the foul call, the play is redone.
9. Self-Refereeing -- Players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. Players resolve their own disputes.
10. Spirit of the Game -- Ultimate stresses sportsmanship and fair play. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.
It started in the late 60s on a playground in New Jersey or New York or "East somewhere". There were too many high school students to "just toss" a frisbee around. So they began playing a variation of football with it. This evolved over time to allow non-stop action by making it a rule that you can't run with the frisbee. You have 10 seconds to throw the pass. If it's not completed, it's a turnover. You must establish a pivot foot as in basketball. They kept the idea of the touchdown for scoring, removed any sort of line of scrimmage and there's no such thing as "off sides" as in soccer. Finally, they established that the most important rule was that the game should be played in good spirit.
Further below is Ultimate in 10 simple rules.
The game is very fast paced, with sometimes repeated sprints up and down the field, similar to basketball only 3 times as long. As soon as you catch it, you have 10 seconds to throw it. Some people have as many as 15 or 20 different ways of throwing a disc. From anywhere from 2 feet to 100 yard throws, there is a lot of variety and a lot of running. Finally, because slows down as it flies, there is the opportunity for spectacular catches and defensive plays. People are diving all over the place. It's fantastic.
The game has taken on a cult status. Most of the players are young professionals that spend weekends at grueling tournaments. Saturday will have 4 games, followed by a dinner, lots of beer, music and the usual amenities to parties. The next day, after dancing the soreness away, you get up and run your heart out again. We travel as far as 1000 miles rd trip for a single weekend tournament. It's crazy.
Have I peaked your interest? Visit:
http://www.upa.org
Ultimate in 10 Simple Rules
1. The Field -- A rectangular shape with endzones at each end. A regulation field is 70 yards by 40 yards, with endzones 25 yards deep.
2. Initiate Play -- Each point begins with both teams lining up on the front of their respective endzone line. The defense throws ("pulls") the disc to the offense. A regulation game has seven players per team.
3. Scoring -- Each time the offense completes a pass in the defense's endzone, the offense scores a point. Play is initiated after each score.
4. Movement of the Disc -- The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate. Players may not run with the disc. The person with the disc ("thrower") has ten seconds to throw the disc. The defender guarding the thrower ("marker") counts out the stall count.
5. Change of possession -- When a pass in not completed (e.g. out of bounds, drop, block, interception), the defense immediately takes possession of the disc and becomes the offense.
6. Substitutions -- Players not in the game may replace players in the game after a score and during an injury timeout.
7. Non-contact -- No physical contact is allowed between players. Picks and screens are also prohibited. A foul occurs when contact is made.
8. Fouls -- When a player initiates contact on another player a foul occurs. When a foul disrupts possession, the play resumes as if the possession was retained. If the player committing the foul disagrees with the foul call, the play is redone.
9. Self-Refereeing -- Players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. Players resolve their own disputes.
10. Spirit of the Game -- Ultimate stresses sportsmanship and fair play. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.