By Hugo Fitzpatrick
If Ultimate Frisbee is your sport it involves not only an item commonly associated as a dog’s plaything, but also calls itself “ultimate.” Nevertheless Ultimate Frisbee is known as one of the most accessible and enjoyable sports around. Even with the majority of people being unfamiliar with how the sport works, it does not take away from the variety of skills and tactics that are found in an Ultimate Frisbee match.
The simplest way to explain Ultimate Frisbee is by comparing it to American Football. Two teams of seven play on a pitch roughly the size of a Soccer or Rugby field, defending their “End-Zone” at either end. The object of the game is to work the disc up the pitch, you can’t run with the disc, only pass it to your team mates – and catch it in the opposing teams End-Zone for a score. Fast paced and physically demanding, a game of ultimate can be engrossing to watch. Not least because of there can be some amazing catches and spectacular throws that often accompany the game.
Where Ultimate is set apart from other sports, is with something known as “Spirit of the Game”. There is no referee in a game of Ultimate. Fair play and good sportsmanship play a large role especially since players call their own fouls and resolve their own disputes. All Ultimate tournaments have a prize awarded to the most spirit team, as well as the winner’s trophy. Trinity are known as one of the more spirited teams, especially abroad where last year they won the Spirit award at the U.K. Nationals.
Ultimate Frisbee in Trinity began in 1995 with the setting up of DUUFC. The club has grown exponentially since then. What used to be a few dedicated players sporadically getting together for a game is now regarded as one of the best clubs in Ireland and has dominated the national university scene in recent years, winning four Intervarsity Championships in a row. The streak ended last year when Trinity lost the final to a strong UCC side. DUUFC has also seen many of its players representing Ireland at an international level with seven men and six women playing for the country at the various divisions of the World Championships this summer.
The coming year looks promising with several new players taking up the sport for the first time. Their aim is not only to take back the Intervarsity Trophy from UCC but also to grow the club and encourage more people to try the game.
Anybody who has wanted to do something new should definitely look to Ultimate Frisbee. With tournaments held for people that haven’t played before in DCU, UCD and Edinburgh. New players are welcomed at training on Monday and Thursday in the sports centre and Wednesday in Santry.