When my high school calculus teacher first told our section that we were going to play a game of ultimate frisbee on the last day of class, I assumed she meant some glorified (hence the “ultimate”) version of tossing discs at certain markers on the ground from different positions. To my surprise, I ended up playing a game that consisted of rules from a combination of basketball, soccer, and football…not with a ball, but with a Frisbee. From then, I was hooked, and I promised myself that I would join an ultimate frisbee intramural team, no matter where I went for college. And I’m so glad I never backed out on that promise, because it proved to be one of the best decisions in my freshman year. Although back then, I couldn’t put a finger on why I love it so much, I tried to sum up it here.
1. The vocabulary.
Huck, cupcake toss, cluster f•ck (personal favorite), railroad cut, skinny, the list goes on.
2. The people.
Ultimate attracts people from a spectrum of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds from across the country that typically share only one thing in common: friendly and amazing personalities. I mean, I've met people who will give me tips while I'm defending them.
3. Attracts high school athletes from all sports.
Basketball, soccer, softball, lacrosse, you name it. It’s fascinating to watch the integration of people familiar with different athletic movement and skills in a sport that favors all of them.
4. Even the high school narps are welcomed.
For those of you unfamiliar, non-athletic regular people.
5. No one can be a team-dominating super star.
Because of the inability to run with the disc on offense or guard more than one person on defense, it’s impossible to carry a team singlehandedly. It provides the perfect groundwork for developing great team chemistry.
6. Self-refereed.
You learn to be attentive, no one ever wants to waste time arguing about a foul called, and because you call and contest your own fouls, the game is at the mercy of the honor system. And somehow, it works.
7. Players are always ready for a good time.
For crying out loud, in the fall you can find players drinking on the sidelines. Right next to the ones doing whipped cream shots alongside their coaches.
8. You'll stay in shape.
We aren’t talking cross country or soccer-level conditioning here, but you’re guaranteed satisfyingly healthy cardiovascular fitness. Also, it gets you out of your dorm during the day on weekends.
9. You look like a badass if you can throw a flick.
Unlike a backhand, throwing a forehand doesn’t come naturally to most people. I reserve a certain level of respect for people outside of ultimate frisbee who catch on quickly.
10. Your wallet isn’t depleted.
Once you've got a 15-dollar disc, some soccer cleats, and optional gloves, you’re done spending money on equipment. Forget the painful process of selecting a 300-dollar bat that you’ll potentially outgrow.
11. That perfect combination on the field of structure and just heartfelt playing.
Compared to some sports, there's a lot less pressure when you screw up a play or make a mistake, because there's always more opportunities for redemption, and the transitions are quick, so there's no time for moping.
12. The potential for ESPN-caliber layouts and snags.
Nothing else needs to be said.
