This resource is for players in the first few years of playing Ultimate. It's easy to start playing Ultimate, but there is a lot you can learn and do to improve your knowledge and skills!
Use this guide as a reference before and after games. Give yourself the space to learn new skills and realize that it takes time AND practice to excel at anything. So, practice, practice, practice!
What is Ultimate?
Ultimate is a non-contact sport played between two teams that throw a flying disc (aka Frisbee) to try and score points against each other. It is a mixture of basketball, American football, and soccer. One of the primary factors differentiating it from other sports is that it is self-refereed at all levels and governed by a principle known as Spirit of the Game. There are many different formats and adaptations of the sport to support a variety of interests. Here in the Metro Vancouver area, there is a thriving Ultimate community for all levels of skills, age, and experience, and this community is one of the largest in the world.
How is it played?
The objective in Ultimate is to score more points than the other team, up to a point or time limit. A point is scored when a player catches the disc in their opponent's “end-zone”. A player that is in possession of the disc may not run with the disc , and can only advance the disc towards the opposing end-zone by throwing it to a teammate who catches it. If a team fails to complete a pass to a teammate, the team previously defending the advance will now gain control of the disc and attempt to score themselves.
The Playing Field
Generally, Ultimate is played on a field that is 37 m wide and 100 m long. The length is further broken down into two 18 m end zones and a 64 m playing field. Many players find the measurements easier to remember in yards: 110-40-20 - 110 yards long, 40 yards wide, with 20 yard end zones. These dimensions are flexible depending on the type of game, or even the level of play.
Resources for Beginner Players
In addition, we have included some helpful resources below so that you can learn more about the sport, and how you can develop some basic skills.
- Rules
- Spirit of the Game
- Terms and Jargon (Important to understand the information below)
- Throwing and Catching
- Drills
- Basic Strategy: Offense and Defense