Summer is here, and its the season of Ultimate! Also commonly known as Ultimate Frisbee, Ultimate is a fast growing but lesser-known sport that is played frequently by just over .8 million Americans per year. Have you ever played Ultimate? Now could be the time to start! Before you head out to the field, you might want to review the basic rules and some of the fun facts behind why you should play from USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the U.S. (see below).
Also dont forget to tape for common Ultimate injuries: Knees, shoulders, and wrists can be the first to get sore!
What is Ultimate? Combining the non-stop movement and athletic endurance of soccer with the aerial passing skills of football, a game of Ultimate is played by two seven-player squads with a high-tech plastic disc on a field similar to football. The object of the game is to score by catching a pass in the opponents end zone. A player must stop running while in possession of the disc, but may pivot and pass to any of the other receivers on the field. Ultimate is a transition game in which players move quickly from offense to defense on turnovers that occur with a dropped pass, an interception, a pass out of bounds, or when a player is caught holding the disc for more than ten seconds. Ultimate is governed by Spirit of the Game, a tradition of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the players rather than referees. Ultimate is played in more than 42 countries by hundreds of thousands of men and women, girls and boys.
Why Play Ultimate? ULTIMATE IS FUN
There is a reason why hundreds of new people begin playing Ultimate each year. Ultimate is genuinely fun and exciting. The unique flying options of the disc mean that no two throws look alike and the options are limitless. It's relatively new in the world of sports (since 1968) and has been gaining rapidly in popularity ever since. Players of all ages and levels enjoy the unique challenges this sport offers.Once you get started you will be hooked on Ultimate.
ULTIMATE KEEPS YOU ACTIVE AND HELPS YOU STAY HEALTHY
From the beginner to the elite player, Ultimate is a terrific sport that offers challenges at all levels of play. Ultimate combines athletic skills of running, catching and throwing. Additional skills and athleticism beyond that are left up to the player's imagination. Many athletes of other sports find the transition to Ultimate both easy and rewarding, as the sport requires many of the same techniques as basketball, soccer and even lacrosse. Whether you play-pick up occasionally at the local park or practice three times a week with your team, playing Ultimate will leave you feeling energized and alive.
ULTIMATE IS A REAL SPORT
Although Ultimate is sometimes stigmatized as a "tree-hugger" sport, in reality Ultimate is a legitimate sport with a national governing body. Ultimate is a real sport, with official rules, leagues, competitions at all age levels. Ultimate demands extraordinary fitness, endurance and skill; an intellect which understands the physics of the disc and strategies of play; as well as an honest and trusting temperament committed to the Spirit of the Game. Ultimate is a great sport to begin as a child or to start getting into as an adult; due to the sport's relative newness, the Ultimate family welcomes any player that has an interest.
ULTIMATE IS EASY TO PICK UP
Ultimate is a great sport for school districts or anyone who is interested in trying something new and different with minimal costs. The equipment needed to play are incredibly few and relatively inexpensive. In addition to a low cost, Ultimate combines athletic skills that children learn through out their physical educations and can be easily applied to the sport of Ultimate. Due to the low cost and the easy transition from other sports, Ultimate is a perfect sport to introduce students.
ULTIMATE BUILDS CHARACTER
Ultimate develops acceptance of responsibility for one's own behavior. Participation truly builds character, self-reliance, listening and negotiating skills and leadership qualities due to the sport's official rules of Spirit of the Game. In addition, more and more top colleges have serious Ultimate teams and playing from a young age may give students a competitive edge when applying to schools.
To find out where to play Ultimate near you, visit the Ultimate Events Calendar. To read the entire article and learn more about Ultimate, visit the USA Ultimate website.
