What is Ultimate?

Ultimate (Frisbee) is an exciting, fun, non contact team sport that mixes elements of soccer, basketball, and American football into one high energy game. Top level Ultimate players require an unmatched degree of speed, stamina, and agility, yet the simplicity of the rules means it is easy and fun for newcomers to pick up. The sport is also self refereed, emphasizing mutual respect between players.  The official rules for Ultimate Frisbee can be found on the USA Ultimate site.

Ultimate is like many team sports in that it encourages fitness, fosters camaraderie, and promotes teamwork. Ultimate sets itself apart from other sports in it’s devotion to sportsmanship and fair play. We call it “Spirit of the Game” (SOTG) and it’s defined in the introduction to the official rules:

“Ultimate relies upon a spirit of sportsmanship that places the responsibility for fair play on the player. Highly competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of mutual respect among competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules, or the basic joy of play. Protection of these vital elements serves to eliminate unsportsmanlike conduct from the Ultimate field. Such actions as taunting opposing players, dangerous aggression, belligerent intimidation, intentional infractions, or other ‘win-at-all-costs’ behavior are contrary to the Spirit of the Game and must be avoided by all players.”

Bellingham Youth Ultimate takes this aspect of the sport seriously. We encourage joy amid the competition and mutual respect among competitors.  Ultimate is self-officiated, creating an atmosphere where accountability and fair play are the expectation. In some sports, breaking the rules is actually encouraged as legitimate strategy, like fouling to stop a fast break in basketball. In Ultimate, bending rules to your advantage is highly discouraged. We promote the message that preparation, teamwork, and the joy of playing are as important as the final score.

The world is often a competitive place. After high school, most young people will be faced with the prospect of competing for colleges and jobs. We believe the world needs more people who have practiced competing with honesty, fairness, and respect for their fellow competitors.

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