WHAT IS ULTIMATE FRISBEE?

THE HISTORY

In 1967 Joel Silver introduced his idea of Ultimate Frisbee to the Columbia High
School student council in Maplewood New Jersey, USA. The next year it was being
played between two groups of students. In 1969 a team had been formed at the school
and they played in the parking lot using their coats as end zone markers. The first and
second set of rules was written in 1970 by Joel silver, Buzzy Hellring and Jon Hines.
The first college game was between Rutgers and Princeton on November 6, 1972. The
first tournament was played on April 25, 1975. Eight teams participated in the
tournament. In 1975, Ultimate Frisbee was introduced into the World Frisbee
Championships. In 1989, Ultimate Frisbee was exposed as an exhibition sport during theWorld Games in Karlsruhe, West Germany. In 2001, Ultimate Frisbee was named a metal sport in the World Games in Akita, Japan.Ultimate is now played by an estimated 100,000 players in over 30 countries, with the Ultimate Players Association in the US having over 13,000 members. The 2002 WUCC in Hawaii was the largest ultimate meet to date, with over 2300 players and 120 teams from 24 countries participating.

THE GAME
Ultimate is played between two teams of seven players on a large rectangular pitch. A line drawn across the pitch at either end creates two "end zones" (like in American Football). These are the goal-scoring areas. A goal is scored when a teamcompletes a pass to a player standing (or more likely running) in the end zone they are attacking. Players cannot run with the disc. When you get the disc you must come to a stop and try to throw it to another player (a bit like netball). By passing from player to player, the offence attempts to work the disc up the pitch towards the end zone they are attacking. If the disc hits the ground or is intercepted or knocked down by the other team, then the opposition takes possession (a change of possession is called a "turnover", like American Football). Possession also changes if a receiver is outside the playing area when he or she catches it. The defending team attempts to stop the team with the disc from making progress up field by marking them (as in soccer or basketball). The theory is that the offence won't want to pass to a player who is being marked closely, as it's likely to result in an interception. So it boils down to the offence players trying to get free of their markers to receive a pass, while the defense makes every effort to stay with them in the hope of forcing a turnover.

THE RULES
Introduction
Description
Ultimate is a non-contact sport played by two seven-player teams. The object of the game is to score goals. The disc may only be moved by passing as the thrower is not allowed to take any steps. Any time a pass is incomplete, intercepted, knocked-down, or contacts anout-of-bounds area, a turnover occurs, resulting in an immediate change of possession of the disc. A goal is scored when a player successfully passes the disc to a teammate in the end zone, which that team is attacking.

Spirit Of The Game
Ultimate has traditionally relied upon a spirit of sportsmanship, which places the
responsibility for fair play on the player himself. Highly competitive play is encouraged,but never at the expense of the bond of mutual respect between players, adherence to the agreed upon rules of the game, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate adverse conduct from the Ultimate field. Such actions as taunting of opposing players, dangerous aggression, intentional fouling,, or other "win-at-all-costs" behavior are contrary to the spirit of the game and must be avoided by all players.

Captain's Clause
A game may be played under any variations of the rules agreed upon by the captains of the two teams. In tournament play, such variations are subject to the approval of the tournament director. Such things as length of game, dimensions of the field, and stalling count can easily be altered to suit the level of play.

Clarifying Statements
1. Phrases:
A "player" is any of the fourteen (14) persons who are actually participating in the
game at any one time.
To "put the disc into play" means that the thrower establishes a pivot foot and is
ready to throw. "Where the disc stops" refers to the location where the disc is caught, comes to
rest naturally, or where it is stopped from rolling or sliding.
2. There are no scrimmage lines or off-sides (except on throw-offs) in Ultimate.
3. The disc may be passed in any direction.
4. The rolling or sliding disc may be stopped by any player, but it may not be
purposefully advanced in any direction. Possession is gained where the disc stops.
5. No defensive player may ever pick up the disc.
Field Of Play
1. The field of play is a rectangular area with dimensions as shown on the
accompanying diagram.
2. The playing field may have any surface (although well trimmed grass is
suggested) which is essentially flat, free of obstructions and holes, and affords
reasonable player safety.
3. The playing field proper is the playing field excluding the end zones.
4. The goal lines are the lines which separate the playing field proper from the end
zones and are part of the playing field proper.
5. The perimeter lines (sidelines and end lines) are not part of the playing fields.
6. The corners of the playing field proper and the end zones are marked by cones
made of a brightly colored, flexible material.
7. An additional restraining line is established five (5) meters away from the entire
field to ensure that the sidelines remain clear during play.
8. All lines are marked with a non-caustic material and are between two and four
inches wide (2"-4").

Equipment
1. Any flying disc may be used as long as it is acceptable to both team captains. If
the captains cannot agree, the currently accepted disc of the Ultimate Players
Association (Wham-O 165g) shall be used.
2. Individual players may wear any soft protective clothing as long as it does not
endanger the safety of any other player.
3. Cleats which have any metal exposed are not allowed.
4. Each player must wear a uniform or other clothing that distinguishes him/her from
the players on the other team.

Length Of Game
1. TIME
1. Each half lasts for twenty-four (24) minutes of stopped time.
2. Each overtime period lasts for five (5) minutes of stopped time.
3. The clock starts when:
1. An offensive player gains possession of a throw-off and establishes
a pivot foot;
2. The thrower receives the disc after a check;
3. The thrower puts the disc into play after it has been out of bounds.
4. The clock stops:
1. After a goal;
2. At the end of a period of play;
3. For time-outs;
4. For injuries;
5. For fouls and violations;
6. When the disc contacts an out-of-bounds area.
2. POINTS
1. A goal is worth one (1) point.
2. A game to points lasts until one team scores twenty-one (21) goals with a
margin of victory of at least two (2) goals.
3. A game with a score of twenty-to-twenty (20-20) goes into overtime, and
play continues until a two-goal margin is achieved or one team scores
twenty-five (25) goals.
4. Halftime occurs when one team reaches eleven (11) goals.
3. Halftime lasts for ten (10) minutes.
4. At the end of the game, the team with the most goals is declared the winner.

This are some of the rules of Ultimate Frisbee. For more information, log on to

Websites
1. http://www.ultimatehandbook.com, retrieved on March 8, 2005.
2. http://www.whatisultimate.com, retrieved on March 8, 2005.
3. http://www.wfdf.org, retrieved on March 8, 2005.
4. http://www.playulty.com/about/ultimate_frisbee.cfm, retrieved on March 15,
2005.