What is Ultimate Frisbee?
Ultimate is played between two teams of seven players on a large rectangular pitch. A line drawn across the pitch at either end creates two "end-zones" (like in American Football). These are the goal-scoring areas. A goal is scored when a team completes a pass to a player standing (or more likely running) in the end-zone they are attacking.
Players cannot run with the disc. When you get the disc you must come to a stop and try to throw it to another player (a bit like netball). By passing from player to player, the offense attempts to work the disc up the pitch towards the end-zone they are attacking. If the disc hits the ground or is intercepted or knocked down by the other team, then the opposition takes possession (a change of possession is called a "turnover", like American Football). Possession also changes if a receiver is outside the playing area when he or she catches it.
The defending team attempts to stop the team with the disc from making progress up field by marking them (as in soccer or basketball). The theory is that the offence won't want to pass to a player who is being marked closely, as it's likely to result in an interception. So it boils down to the offence players trying to get free of their markers to receive a pass, while the defence makes every effort to stay with them in the hope of forcing a turnover.
History
In 1968, a student at Columbia High School, Joel Siver proposed a school Frisbee team to the student council on a whim. The following summer, a group of students got together to play what Silver claimed to be the "ultimate game experience," adapting the sport from a form of Frisbee football, likely learned from Jared Kass while attending a summer camp at Northfield Mount Hermon, Massachusetts, where Kass was teaching. It was discovered in 2003 that the game that Kass and Silver played may have been more similar to Ultimate than had been thought.
10 simple rules
1. The Field -- A rectangular shape with end zones at each end. A regulation field is 64m by 37m, with end zones 18m deep.
2.
Initiate Play -- Each point begins with both teams lining up on the front of their respective end zone line. The defence throws ("pulls") the disc to the offense. A regulation game has seven players per team.
3.
Scoring -- Each time the offense completes a pass in the defence’s end-zone, the offense scores a point. Play is initiated after each.
4.
Movement of the Disc -- The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate. Players may not run with the disc. The person with the disc ("thrower") has ten seconds to throw the disc. The defender guarding the thrower ("marker") counts out the stall count.
5.
Change of possession -- When a pass in not completed (e.g. out of bounds, drop, block, interception), the defence immediately takes possession of the disc and becomes the offense.
6.
Substitutions -- Players not in the game may replace players in the game after a score and during an injury timeout.
7.
Non-contact -- No physical contact is allowed between players. Picks and screens are also prohibited. A foul occurs when contact is made.
8.
Fouls -- When a player initiates contact on another player a foul occurs. When a foul disrupts possession, the play resumes as if the possession was retained. If the player committing the foul disagrees with the foul call, the play is redone.
9.
Self-Refereeing -- Players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. Players resolve their own disputes.
10.
Spirit of the Game -- Ultimate stresses sportsmanship and fair play. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.
Pictures of people playing Ultimate:
I play it when I'm bored... :)
Sources:
http://www.whatisultimate.com/what/what_game_en.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_%28sport%29
