The Frisbee Analyst

Every Ultimate player has heard the rumor at least once: “Dude, imagine if Ultimate was in the Olympics.” So let’s pretend that did happen. What if Ultimate Frisbee officially became an Olympic sport? What would change for players, teams, and the sport as a whole? First, the talent level would skyrocket. Countries around the world would start funding national programs, meaning year-round training, professional coaching, and more. We’d see highlight-reel plays on a global stage, and the average viewer would finally understand that Ultimate isn’t just a pickup game with a $10 disc. The sport would develop faster than ever, and the world would see it live.  Second, college and club Ultimate would get way more competitive. Olympic recognition would push more athletes to take the sport seriously, and you’d probably see more high-school recruitment, tryouts, and structured development systems. Many other sports explode in popularity when they reach the Olympic level, and that could be th...

One of the coolest things about Ultimate is that it sparks real debates among players. Everyone has their own perspective on how the sport should evolve and grow. One topic always brings out strong opinions among my teammates: Should Ultimate stick with Spirit of the Game, or is it time to introduce referees? Argument #1: Keep Spirit of the Game Many players believe Spirit of the Game is the heart of Ultimate. It might be one of the biggest things that sets Ultimate apart from nearly every other sport. When players call their own fouls, it reinforces accountability and mutual trust between teams, even in high stakes completive games. Supporters argue that removing Spirit of the Game would strip away one of the sport’s most unique qualities. They also point out that most disputes are resolved quickly and respectfully when both teams buy into the culture. Argument #2: Add Referees Some argue that the game has outgrown pure self-officiation, and that the game of Ultimate could benefit fro...

Two weeks ago was one of the best moments of my college career. We went 4-0 and won the first tournament of my Ultimate career. While it was not a huge event with twenty teams, I am more proud of my team and our accomplishment than what might show on paper. There were only a few other teams at this tournament, but that did not take away how we felt as a team once we won.  I can happily say that we earned this win. Practice has been steady, with each and every player putting in effort to improve themselves and the team. All of the work we put in this semester has paid off, and it is a great feeling. From warming up when we arrived at the tournament, to getting into the mindset before the first game, we all knew that this was a tournament that we could compete for and win.  As we grew closer to winning the final game of the day, the excitement was rising and we all felt what was coming. We managed to win the last game with a decent lead, and we all celebrated. We didn't care abo...

Anyone who has traveled for Ultimate knows the struggle of packing for a tournament. There are many things you will need for a weekend tournament from cleats, discs to snacks. The main question I see throughout Ultimate is: Should I use a backpack or duffle bag? A backpack is a great choice for players who prefer organization and portability. Many ultimate and other sport backpacks have pockets for everything. These backpacks usually have a dedicated spot for discs and cleats, which take up the most space in your bag. Walking to and from the car, hotel, and fields is also much easier with a backpack. The one downside to a backpack can be space. If you like to pack heavy, or bring all of your clothes for any weather conditions, you may have to compromise with the limited space of a backpack.  The duffle bag is for players who don't want to worry about space. Many duffle bags are much larger and will hold more compared to a backpack. With a duffle bag you can just throw everything in...

One thing I'm sure every ultimate player can agree on is there is an issue with cleats. Specifically, cleats don't last long enough. You get your fresh pair of cleats, break them in, and a few tournaments later they are already starting to show heavy wear and tear. This problem is frustrating, and most of all expensive.  The majority of Ultimate players wear soccer or football cleats because there just aren't many shoes made for the game of Ultimate specifically. The main issue with this is, these sports have very different movements compared to ultimate. Soccer cleats are made for smoother cuts, and football cleats are made for very short explosive movements. Ultimate involves constant running, stopping, and changing direction. This causes these types of cleats to get destroyed quickly, as they just aren't made for these repetitive movements. Ultimate players are then only able to use these cleats for a season or two before they are completely ripped or broken.  Cleats...

Improving in the game of Ultimate is something that happens in every level of this sport, from beginners to the highest level of play You will never stop improving, and thus you should never stop looking for ways to improve. I know throughout this blog I have done a lot of talking and have spread my opinion on a number of topics. In this blog post, I will link multiple helpful resources that can be used to help anyone interested in frisbee, or anyone currently playing looking for various tips and tricks.  https://ultimatefrisbeehq.com/ Ultimate Frisbee HQ is a website littered with various resources, and tricks about ultimate. Their site is compiled of many hours of readings. Taking a quick look around at this site can help ultimate players at any level gain insights about this sport. From the history of ultimate, to current rules and updates, this site has it all.  https://frisbeethrows.com/beginner-mistakes-ultimate-frisbee/ This next site is mostly focused on throwing mecha...