Ah, Ultimate (Not Ultimate Frisbee, since the word "Frisbee" is actually a trademark). It's such a fantastic game that has spread like wildfire throughout the world, especially at colleges. Even before I stepped onto campus, I enjoyed playing Ultimate, and I knew that it was going to be a staple of my new life. From the very moment I got to college, I've been playing Ultimate. I met many of the friends I have now due to playing Ultimate during the first few weeks of school. Now that the weather is finally nice again, it's common to see people playing a game on the Quad. I could never list all the reasons why Ultimate is such a great sport, but I'll try to sum it up to the best of my ability.
1. It's easy to learn.
After spending all day learning difficult subjects, whether it's the intricacies of the human mind or the intricacies of government, it's nice to do something that doesn't require much thinking when it comes to the rules. As much as I enjoy thinking about the world, it's sometimes nice to just run around and enjoy the game.
2. It's energizing.
I am actually taking an Ultimate class, which has truly shown me just how energizing the game can be. Although it's not fun waking up early to walk to the athletic center, I leave the class feeling WAY more refreshed and ready to take on the day. The fast-past action not only gets your heart pumping, but it charges your brain when you use your reflexes. See the disc out of the corner of your eye as it's thrown by the opposing team? Run to it and smack it to the ground (or intercept it, but that's not as much fun).
3. Almost no equipment.
I know you're probably thinking "Arjun, don't other sports fit these requirements too? What makes Ultimate so special?" A lot of other sports require more equipment. Every ball sport requires maintenance of said ball. You need a pump to fill it with air once in a while. It's also cumbersome to store. A flying disc, on the other hand, is so much easier to store as it takes up much less space compared to a ball.
4. It's a bonding experience.
As I stated in the beginning, many of the friends I have made were through Ultimate. Throughout the game, you bond with your team. Whether it's getting close for those short passes, admiring those long ones, or celebrating a point before tossing, the team is certainly brought closer together. It's also quite easy to bond with the opposing as well, whether it's through trash talk or getting in close and personal to block the disc, and take their pride. At the end of the game, you'll be closer for it.
5. It's fun.
How could I forget the most important reason? Honestly, Ultimate is just a fun game to play. Even most folks that take it super seriously still know how to have fun while doing it. I've made a few Ultimate screw-ups when I've played, and nobody has verbally castigated me to date. In fact, all I've gotten is friendly advice for things I need to improve and compliments for the good I do. Plus, it's pretty fun to watch a hammer throw sail across the Quad.
I could think of many more reasons as to why Ultimate is awesome, but that would take all day. Just find a group of friends, grab a disc, and find out for yourself.
