Ultimate

Ultimate is a team sport with a flying disc ("frisbee" or analog). Two teams play on a rectangular field with zones at its ends. The aim of the game is to transfer the disc to a teammate who is in the zone of rival.

Distinctive feature of ultimate is absence of referees and idea of "Spirit of the Game".

Short rules

Field is rectangular with end-zones (like in American football) at each end. Size of the central part of the field is 65 by 35 meters. Zones placed by the short sides of the field and have length of 22 meters.

Start of the game. At the start of play for each point teams are placed at the inner lines of the zones they defend. The defensive team starts the game by throwing the disc towards the offencive team.

Score. Each time a player catches disc at the opponent’s zone his team attains one point.  The game is repeated after the point. The disc is brought into the game by the team scored previous point. Finals of big competitions normally played until one of the teams gains 21 points or more with minimal gap of 2 points. Such games can last 2 or 3 hours. Other matches are usually held until lower number of points or with time limit not enabling players to get tired too much.

Movement with the disc. Disc can be moved in any direction by a pass (only through air) to a teammate. After catching the disc a player must stop as fast as possible. He can rotate around one foot (like in basketball). Player with the disc (“thrower”) has 10 second for the pass. One defender (“marker”)

blocks the thrower and counts from 1 to 10 with time span of one second. If the thrower fails to release the disc before the word “ten” the turnover occurs and the disc comes to the defending team. As only one person is allowed to cover the player with the disc other defenders must be not closer than 3 meters from the player with disc. Turnover occurs each time a team makes not finished pass (the disc touches the ground, an offensive player fails to catch it, the disc goes out of bounds, a defensive player catches or knocks out the disc). In this case defensive team becomes offensive and offensive one becomes defensive.

Fouls. Physical contact of players is forbidden by the rules of ultimate. Players can not prevent others from moving. If a violation leads to loosing the disc, the game is resumed like if the disc has not been lost. If a player thinks he hasn’t violate the rules, the disc is returned to the previous thrower.

Judging. Players are responsible for violation of the rules and bounds of the field. Controversies are solved by the players.

Spirit of the Game

Special attention in ultimate is paid to fare play and skillfulness. Rivalry is welcome but only if it doesn’t affect to mutual respect of players, following the rules or enjoying the game. This is what is meant under the term Spirit of the Game – the philosophy of ultimate.