Every Sunday afternoon, returners and newcomers practice Ultimate for two hours. Photo courtesy of Ross Mortensen
Varsity Ultimate captains Liam Podos ’20, Will Zhu ’20, and Eric Li ’20, along with Head Coach Avery Feingold, have kickstarted the school year by playing pick up ultimate frisbee on Sundays and occasionally throughout the week — even though their team’s season will not begin until the spring term.
Having graduated 14 out of last year’s 15 Varsity Ultimate players, the team sees its casual pickup practices as an opportunity for players unsure of joining the team to test the waters and familiarize themselves with the sport. These relaxed practices are also a way for veterans and newcomers alike to practice their skills, hang out with some friends and teammates, and feel connected to a community. “We want to get a jump start on learning the basics such as catching and throwing, so we can hit the ground running when the season actually starts,” said Podos. Also, it’s just fun to get some returners and new frisbee players together to play for an hour or two on Sunday afternoons.”
The team encourages anyone to attend pickups, whether they are serious about the sport or simply looking for something to do after class that does not require much prior experience and enjoyable for its players. Ultimate frisbee is unique its emphasis on both commitment and enjoyment. Even at its most competitive stage, the sport still encourages a sense of whimsy and individuality. While in college, Feingold competed at the ultimate national championships in a Princess Leia costume. “There’s a beautiful duality to ultimate. It is both serious and silly at the same time,” said Feingold.
The captains incorporate a mix of games and techniques in the practices. This can mean passing around, playing a game, or running through a set of drills. Ultimate is, at heart, a simple game, and because of that has become something of a universal game — nearly anyone can play it and pick up the rules quickly. The game has a full spectrum of possibilities; the sport is both recreational and competitive, serious and casual. Varsity Ultimate Frisbee pickups can be an opportunity to become invested in the sport or nothing more than a fun, one-off Sunday activity.
Above all, ultimate players emphasize creating an upbeat and collaborative culture that focuses on one’s growth as both an athlete and a person. “The number one rule of ultimate is something called ‘spirit of the game,’ which is this idea that above any level of competition, above any amount of fierceness always has to come to a deep respect for one’s opponent,” said Feingold.
Even at the highest levels of ultimate, there are no referees. Players are responsible for calling fouls for themselves and for practicing integrity and self-control in games. The idea of moving throughout the field without running into or harming the opposing team, takes self-restraint and an extra awareness. This is something many sports fail to emphasize, but ultimate frisbee places it at the forefront of its rules.
Ultimate frisbee is about balancing competitiveness with respect; in a sense, it models the idea of sportsmanship. The pickups are less about manically preparing for the spring season, but creating a sense of community that goes hand in hand with the actual playing. However, the practices will hopefully lead to a successful start of the spring season for Varsity Ultimate.
