Ultimate frisbee catching on at UD

People often think of frisbee as the pastime of geriatrics and beach goers. Little do they know, this lazy hobby can be transfored into an exhilarating game known as ultimate frisbee.

University team president Maura Brady said the sport involves the physical endurance of soccer, with passing skills of football.

The game usually takes place on a football-sized field, which is not as wide with longer endzones. Players work their way up the field by passing the disc to each other. A player holding the disc is not allowed to run but can pass the frisbee. To score, a player must catch the disc while standing in the endzone. Players cannot hold on to the disc for too long or it results in a turnover. A turnover also occurs when one team fails to complete a pass and the disc hits the ground or when a pass is intercepted in the air.

"You're pretty much always running," Brady said. "You're not strictly an offensive player and you're not strictly a defensive player, you're both."

The game is governed by a concept called the "spirit of the game," meaning there are no referees, so each individual is expected to be honest when calling fouls he said.

"I think that's what makes Ultimate so fun," Brady said. "It is the fact that you're not always worrying about the ref or stopping for a whistle."

Men's team president Pete Letteney said this year's team is extremely close with each other.

"Out of my four years on the team, this year the team gets along the best," Letteney said. "I think that since the team gets along so well, it is a major factor in our success this year."

However, it is not just the men's team getting along so well.

"I think what is really cool about ultimate is the men's and women's teams are all friends, and get along really well," Brady said. "I think that's what makes frisbee different than other clubs, because you don't really find that everywhere."

The players practice five times per week, except in the event of a tournament, which still counts as practice time. With nationals approaching, the men's team is practicing even more to prepare themselves, according to team members.

The team also goes through conditioning during Winter Session because there is no place for them to practice.

Team president Dan Cuoco said the team's sucess has come as a major surprise.

"This year was more of a surprise than the last couple years because we lost some of our top players to graduation and on top of that, more of our top players including myself were out for injuries," Cuoco said. "We thought this year was going to be more of a rebuilding year, so it was kind of a season of adversity."

Last year at nationals, Delaware was seeded No. 11 and was pitted to play No. 2 Florida in the first round, but defeated the favored Gators.

"That was a really big upset and I think this year we may wind up playing them again," Cuoco said. "I'm pretty sure they might be looking for some revenge."

The team claims the sport is about having fun, being friends and staying in shape. Cuoco said this year its about elevating the squad's game and getting to that next level. "Everyone thinks that Ultimate is for hippies in cutoffs," Brady said. "We play a real sport. Bring someone to watch a competitive game of frisbee. I promise you they will be impressed."