How to Play Ultimate Frisbee [Video]

Ultimate Frisbee is a strategic team game that gets your students moving! Watch this four-part video series as a refresher before your Ultimate Frisbee unit or have students watch for a quick introduction to the sport. The following videos break down Ultimate Frisbee rules including: set-up, gameplay, scoring and common penalties. Grab an Ultimate disc and start playing immediately!

1. Set Up and General Rules

Ultimate Frisbee is played with seven players on each team. Games are played up to 15 points, win by two with a time cap of 60 minutes. The first team to score 15 points, wins! If neither team reaches 15 points before the end of the 60 minutes, the team with the most goals is the winner. If a team has reached 15 points, but has not won by two, the first team to 17 points is the winner.

2. Ultimate Frisbee Gameplay

An Ultimate Frisbee game begins with each team lining up in front of their end zones while the team kicking off throws the disc to the receiving team. This is called a “pull”. The receiving team must pass the frisbee to the other end zone to score a goal. Players cannot run with the frisbee and must plant their feet once they receive a pass. If the defense is guarding the player with the frisbee, they can start counting to ten. The offensive player must throw the frisbee before the count reaches ten, or they lose possession. Possession also changes when the offense throws an interception, the frisbee hits the ground or is thrown out of bounds, or a foul is called.

3. Scoring and Kick Offs

To score a goal, a player must catch the frisbee and maintain possession with two feet inside of the end zone. If either foot lands out of bounce, possession changes. If a player catches the frisbee while one foot is still in play, it is not a goal. The player must pass the frisbee to a teammate in the end zone. If the offense scores, the defensive team runs to the opposite end zone. The scoring team kicks off by pulling the frisbee to start a new drive.

4. Fouls and Penalties (The Spirit of the Game)

In Ultimate Frisbee, there are no referees. Physical contact is not allowed between players. The defense is not allowed to hit the frisbee out of their opponent’s hands. Double teaming the thrower or any receiver is also illegal. Players call their own foul and out of bounds calls. If either side disputes a call, the frisbee is returned to the original thrower to replay the throw.

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