I just got home from one of my weekly games and it occurred to me that I’ve seen virtually every other sport discussed on this board, but not Ultimate.
I’m a dedicated player. The first thing I do when I move to a new city is look for pickup games. It has all the athleticism, speed, and excitement of basketball and soccer, with a little bit of football thrown in. Plus you look so damn cool making a long-range, banking forehand throw past a defender.
So, am I alone here? Anyone?
During my firt couple of years teaching, another youngish teacher and I would arrange an occasional game with some of the students. It’s a pretty fun game for when you have a large amount of people of varying athletic skills, plus little money to buy equipment. It’s a good excuse to just run around, too, even if you never touch the Frisbee.
That being said, I think it’s silly that some colleges (and even high schools now) have varsity teams for this game. To me, it’s always seemed to fall into the same category as wiffleball, stickball, and capture the flag: fun, but no need to make it all offical and everything. It’s more suitable for pickup games, like you said.
Uh, that would be my “first” year teaching, not my “firt” year.
Interesting. I’m of pretty much the opposite opinion. We (the guys I’m currently playing with) play very intensely, with plays, defenses, and all sorts of movement strategy. It’s every bit as much work as soccer. We go out to have fun, of course, but we really don’t enjoy losing at all.
I don’t think it’s silly at all to have varsity teams. People have different expectations and desires out of sports. Sometimes I like to have a nice leisurely pickup game. Most often, though, I like to have a fierce, competitive, fast game that leaves me soaked in sweat and heaving for breath after the close of each point.
It definitely does not have to be playground-style frisbee.
I don’t play, but those who do might be interested in a column I read last month.