Ultimate Frisbee

Introduction & Assessment

Ultimate Frisbee is one of those sports that looks casual until you watch someone really play it — then your jaw drops. It's fast, it's physical, and it has something almost no other sport has: players officiate themselves. That self-referee tradition is called **Spirit of the Game**, and it's baked into everything. Before you throw a single disc, do this: go to **usaultimate.org** and read the free rules overview. It's short, it won't hurt. Then find a disc (any 175g disc works) and toss it back and forth with a friend or wall for 10 minutes. How far can you throw it flat? Does it curve a lot? What happens when you throw it harder? Check out the **SLC Ultimate Club at slcultimate.org** — they run beginner-friendly pickup games at Liberty Park fields. You're ready for the next step when you can describe Spirit of the Game in your own words and throw a disc 20 feet reasonably flat.

Foundation Building

Two throws run Ultimate: the **backhand** and the **forehand** (also called a flick). Master these and you can play anywhere. **Backhand:** grip the disc with your thumb on top, fingers curled under the rim. Step across your body, reach back, and release flat with a snap of your wrist. The disc should leave your hand level — if it tilts, it curves. **Forehand (flick):** two fingers along the inside rim, thumb on top. Your elbow leads the motion like you're skipping a rock. This one feels awkward for weeks — that's normal. Keep snapping. Watch **Brodie Smith on YouTube** — his free throwing tutorials are the clearest on the internet. Practice 50 throws of each type every day this week. Find open grass at **Liberty Park** in Salt Lake City. You're ready for the next step when you can consistently throw a backhand and forehand 30 feet with reasonable accuracy three times in a row.

Skill Development

Apply what you've learned through hands-on activities.

Practice & Refinement

Time to string throws, cuts, and defense together in scrimmage situations. Play pickup games whenever you can — **Liberty Park fields** in SLC almost always have Ultimate happening on weekends. If you can't find a game, set up a mini drill: mark out a small field with cones, grab 3–4 friends, and play 3v3 or 4v4. Small-sided games teach you to read the field faster than full 7v7. Focus on two things this week: **completing five passes in a row** (a score in many pickup games), and **honest defense** — guarding someone without fouling while calling your own calls fairly. Spirit of the Game gets tested hardest in close contested plays. Track your throwing accuracy: count completions vs. turnovers over two games. What's your ratio? You're ready for the next step when you can complete 10 consecutive passes in a team setting and play defense without fouling.

Challenge Mode

You know the throws, the cuts, the stack, and the Spirit. Now it's time to level up with **handler skills**, **hucking**, and **zone defense**. A **huck** is a long bomb throw — either a backhand or forehand launched deep downfield. It requires timing, trust between thrower and cutter, and a throw that hangs long enough for your teammate to run under. Practice hucks of 40+ yards this week. **Zone defense** changes everything. Instead of guarding one person, each defender guards a zone of the field. Watch zone breakdowns on **Brodie Smith's YouTube channel** to understand how it works visually. The **Utah Open tournament** draws competitive teams from across the region — watching a game live will teach you more in two hours than a week of drills. You're ready for the next step when you can throw a huck 40+ yards with reasonable accuracy and explain how zone defense works.

Mastery Demonstration

This is your mastery demonstration — show everything you've learned in a real game setting. Play in at least two full-length pickup or organized games this week. Your goal isn't just to play — it's to lead. Call a play, help a newer player understand a cut, make a Spirit call correctly when there's a dispute, and attempt at least one huck per game. After each game, write down: one throw that worked perfectly, one cut that got you open, one defensive play you're proud of, and one mistake you'll fix next time. That habit of honest self-review is what separates developing players from plateauing ones. Connect with the **SLC Ultimate Club at slcultimate.org** to find league play opportunities for your age group. Joining a real league is the fastest way to get dramatically better. You're ready for the next step when you can play a full Ultimate game, contribute effectively on both offense and defense, and handle a Spirit dispute calmly and fairly.