Ultimate Frisbee recognized as a sport

With its recent recognition as an official sport by the International Olympic Committee, Ultimate Frisbee has been gaining popularity across the United States and the world.

According to BBC.com, on Aug. 2, the International Olympic Committee officially recognized Ultimate Frisbee. This means that Ultimate is eligible for IOC funding and will be on the list of other sports competing for the inclusion of future Olympics, according to Time.com.

Ultimate Frisbee, which originated in the United States in the 1960s, is played in 58 countries around the world.

Even at the World Championships level, Ultimate Frisbee is a self-refereed, non-contact sport, according to the World Flying Disc Federation.

The game is played with two teams of seven on a field that is the same length as a football field but is not as wide, with two end zones at the end of the field.

Players score by catching the disc in the end zone.

“Spirit of the Game” is used to referee the game. With the institution of Spirit of the Game, “Ultimate players are free to demonstrate the most honorable and the most joyous sides of human nature in sports,” the USA Ultimate website states.

To start a game of Frisbee, players line up on opposite end zones and with a loud yell of “ULTIMATE!” one team then throws off. The other team has to stay in its end zone until the disc is thrown. After every goal, the play stops, the non-scoring team walks to the opposite end zone and the team that scored will throw off. The first team to 15 wins or when the 90 minutes are up the game ends. This rule can change depending on the level of play.

The person with the Frisbee, the thrower, is not allowed to run with the Frisbee. Once the Frisbee is caught, the thrower must stop as quickly as possible, but the thrower can pivot on one foot. The person with the Frisbee has 10 seconds to get rid of the Frisbee.

The defense can take control of the Frisbee via multiple different modes of turnovers. If the offensive team fails to catch the Frisbee, if the Frisbee is thrown out of bounds, if it’s intercepted, or if it’s caught by the opposing team, the defense takes control of the Frisbee and becomes the offensive team. The play continues wherever the disc is stopped.

If the Frisbee is thrown out of bounds and comes back in bounds before touching anyone or anything, the Frisbee is fair play. When the Frisbee lands out of bounds, the play continues where it left the field.

With the game being self-refereed, the players call their own fouls. Fouls include having contact that is dangerous or affects the play. If someone calls a foul, the play finishes and then the foul is discussed. If the opposing team agrees, the Frisbee is turned over; if the opposing team disagrees, the play is redone.

Players can substitute as many players as they want after every goal, but can only substitute during play if there is an injury time-out.

At CSC, students gather every-so-often to play pick up games of Ultimate Frisbee. The games are less formal and don’t follow the official rules, but anywhere from 10-30 students meet either on Elliott Field or the practice field to play. Teams are picked and divided. Each team lines up on the two end zones and one team “throws off” to the other team. Players pass the Frisbee down the field in an attempt to score a goal by catching the Frisbee in the opposite end zone. After every point, the non-scoring team “walks.” Meaning they head down to the opposite end, so the teams switch end zones after every goal. CSC students can get involved in pick-up games of Ultimate Frisbee by joining the Facebook group, “Ultimate Frisbee in Chad Town!” for updates on playing times and locations.