Flying Disc Sports: Ultimate Coach Vosen KIN 226 – Team Sports Fall 2015

What is Ultimate? A sport that requires the throwing of a Frisbee or disc toward moving player targets along the playing surface. Rules are simple and easy to follow and may be modified to extend or reduce the complexity of competition. Few popular sports today appeal to such a diversity of players.

History Flying discs instituted by: ▫Fred Morrison – Pluto Platter (1949) ▫Wham-O – Frisbee ® (1957) Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ (1968) – first game of ultimate Frisbee was played on a field with the basic rules that are still in use today. First collegiate game (1972) – Rutgers vs. Princeton Ultimate Players Association (1979) – founded by Tom Kennedy.

General Description Typically played by two seven- person teams. Rectangular playing field has an end zone at each end. Object of the game is to score goals by passing the disc among teammates and into the opposing end zone. However, a player may not run with the disc. A careful and controlled team will throw the disc among its players to advance the disc down the field toward the opponent’s end zone.

General Description The defensive team attempts to prevent the opponents from reaching their end zone by guarding and covering the opponent’s players, and by attempting to knock down or intercept throws. Play is continuous, even as offense and defense exchange possessions. In a friendly game, players call their own fouls and referees are not used.

Field of Play Rectangular area measuring 70 yards in length, 40 yards in width with 25-yard-deep end zones.

Equipment Any flying disc acceptable to both teams may be used. The standard disc for UPA events is the 175-gram Discraft Ultra- Star. Players on opposing teams are indentified by any method agreeable to both teams.

Abridged Rules – Starting/Restarting play Initial possession – a disc flip determines which team will throw-off and which will receive. The throw-off (“Pull”) – Used to begin play each half and to restart play after a goal is scored. Play begins where the disc lands/is caught in the field of play. If the disc lands out-of-bounds, play begins even with that point in the center of the field. The check – The disc will be tapped or checked back into play by the defender when play is interruped.

Abridged Rules - Offense Thrower – the disc is advanced toward the end zone by passing to successive players. Passes may be in any direction. The thrower must establish a pivot foot (similar to basketball) in order to avoid being called for traveling. Receiver – After catching a pass, the receiver is allowed the fewest number of steps (usually 3) to come to a complete stop and establish a pivot foot for his/her subsequent throw.

Abridged Rules - Defense Marker – a defender who may guard the thrower but must allow him/her to pivot and must maintain a distance equal to the diameter of a disc away from the thrower at all times. A marker may initiate a 10- second stall count which will result in a turnover should the thrower fail to pass during that time. General – double-teaming is not permitted. Defenders may appropriately position themselves, and may use strategies such as zone and one-on-one defenses.

Abridged Rules – Fouls/Violations The result of physical contact between players. If a foul is called, play is immediately halted. If committed by an offensive player, possession remains with the offense but a check is called to resume play. If committed by a defensive player, play resumes at the point of infraction with a new stall count (unless the previous pass was completed).

Abridged Rules - Miscellaneous Substitutions – Unlimited substitutions are allowed, but only after a goal OR for an injured player. Dispute/confusion – Play is halted and a check is required to restart play. Length of the game – May be adjusted according to constraints. An official game is to 15 (goals), although teams may agree on other numbers prior to the game beginning.

Fundamental Skills – Disc Grips Backhand throw: Grab the disc with your thumb on the top, your index finger stretched out along the lip, and your remaining fingers fanned out underneath. Forehand throw: Grab the disc with your middle finger positioned underneath and along the inside edge of the disc, with your thumb on the topside. Index finger should lie neatly on top of your middle finger for support.

Fundamental Skills – Positioning

Fundamental Skills - Throwing Cross-body Backhand ▫Position your throwing shoulder toward the target and place your feet along the line of intended flight; this is basically a close position. ▫With most of your weight on your rear foot, curl your throwing arm, shoulders and hips behind you. ▫As you step forward and your weight transfers to the lead foot, release your hips, then shoulders, then arms, wrist, and the disc.

Fundamental Skills - Throwing Sidearm/Forehand ▫Relies heavily on weight transfer from the back foot to the front foot. ▫Both feet should be positioned along the line of intended flight, with the front foot stepping forward and slightly open to the target during delivery. ▫This footwork is accompanied by leg, hip, trunk, and shoulder rotations that open up to the target as the arm comes forward toward release.

Fundamental Skills - Catching A cupping action of the hand to form a “C” between the thumb and fingers is how a true catch is made. Develop this skill using both hands together, then the dominant hand alone, and lastly, the nondominant hand alone. It is important to attempt the catch at the mid-point of the upper torso. A trap or “pancake” catch is seen in the picture to the right.

Questions?

References Mood, D., & Musker, F. (2012). Sports and recreational activities (15th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.