Advice from Players

Q: Why did you decide to pick up Ultimate?

A: My sister played in college and I saw a flyer in my dorm, [I] went to my first practice and was hooked.

Q: What is one thing that you’ve learned about yourself through playing Ultimate?

A: I've learned a lot about how I view fairness. Self-officiation sort of forces you to really evaluate what is fair, and also that there are so many different perspectives about what is fair/not fair/unclear and it forces you to either take other perspectives in the moment or be reflective after the game.

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew about the sport before you started playing?

A: I wish I knew that I would eventually enjoy running and training, and how common injury is [unless you] take a more proactive approach. In college I didn't train very intentionally -- just practiced a bunch and threw my body around, which I think is going to have some lasting impact on my body.

Q: Why did you decide to pick up Ultimate?

A: When I got to college I was looking for a new sport to join. I had always liked sports for the community and the fitness aspects, but I was looking for something fresh — I'd gotten tired of track and basketball, which I participated in during high school. My older sister, who had played Ultimate in college, suggested I check out Ultimate. I went to a couple practices and really enjoyed the new sport and the team!

Q: What is one thing that you’ve learned about yourself through playing Ultimate?

A: Trying something completely new can be intimidating. But trying new things also helps you grow into a more confident, well-rounded person! Ultimate helped me polish my communication and teamwork abilities, and the skills I've honed through Ultimate have helped me excel in other aspects of my life, too!

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew about the sport before you started playing?

A: Ultimate exists in a ton of flavors! There are high competition leagues, [that have] teams that practice many hours every weekend and travel a lot to compete, and there are also teams that only compete locally or at one-off events. If you like the sport, you can certainly find a team/league with caliber and commitment levels that excites you.

Q: Why did you decide to pick up Ultimate?

A: A few of my friends in elementary school started playing and dragged me out. I wasn’t great, but I was hooked on the thrill of being on the field from day one.

Q: What is one thing that you’ve learned about yourself through playing Ultimate?

A: Ultimate is unique in its central focus on equity and inclusion. The formal and informal conversations I’ve had with teammates have called attention to my blind spots, as well as helped me feel comfortable enough to come into my own identities.

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew about the sport before you started playing?

A: I wish I had known how okay it was to take time to learn. I couldn’t throw a straight flick for the longest time, and was so discouraged. Looking back, that learning curve was entirely normal, and I’m grateful I had someone to tell me that as well as encourage me to keep trying.

Q: What is one thing you love about playing ultimate?

A: The community. The closeness of it makes even players at the highest level accessible as mentors. And your coach on one team could just as soon be your teammate in the future. Your teammates really do become your family, and the connections you make in it show up in such unexpected parts of life. It’s comforting to know that wherever I can step onto a field or into another ultimate space, I’ll be welcomed and supported.

Q: Why did you decide to pick up Ultimate?

A: I grew up watching my dad play from the sidelines and it just looked so fun, and I've been throwing a disc with him for as long as I can remember. So in 5th grade, I joined an Ultimate league that met once a week, and that [was] when I really got into the sport.

Q: What is one thing that you’ve learned about yourself through playing Ultimate?

A: One thing I've learned about myself … is that I really do like being a leader, even though for most of my life I had thought of myself as a follower because I was so shy. Ultimate really helped me come into my own and step up as a leader both on and off the field.

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew about the sport before you started playing?

A: I wish I knew what it [would be] like playing mixed (boys and girls) in Ultimate before I joined. Not that it would have made me change my decision to start playing, but I think I could have prepared myself better to navigate co-ed playing. While playing mixed is amazing and so so fun (it's where I've made a lot of my closest friends), it does come with a set of challenges and obstacles if you are a girl.

Q: Why did you decide to pick up Ultimate?

A: I wanted to stay active in college and had kind of heard of Ultimate so I decided to try it.

Q: What is one thing that you’ve learned about yourself through playing Ultimate?

A: I discovered that I love to coach.

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew about the sport before you started playing?

A: That it's much easier if you get cleats ASAP!

Q: Why did you decide to pick up Ultimate?

A: I was tired of running track. Chasing plastic seemed more interesting and fun because it involved learning field awareness and other skills that come with playing a team/field sport.

Q: What is one thing that you’ve learned about yourself through playing Ultimate?

A: I am a better player when I understand how I fit into my team's system and how my actions help or hinder my teammates' abilities on and off the field.

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew about the sport before you started playing?

A: There are so many opportunities I never participated in (like U-24, U-19, etc.) because I didn't know they existed. I was so eager to learn when I first started playing that knowing about those opportunities to play competitively would have been very exciting for me.

Q: Why did you decide to pick up Ultimate?

A: I picked up Ultimate pretty randomly. I had this perception of "Ultimate Frisbee" being a sport to play in college. I came from a solid basketball background, but unfortunately my college didn't offer it as a club sport. I still wanted to play team sports in college, so on my list of practices to go to, Ultimate was first. The Pie Queens were so welcoming and amazing. I knew I didn't have to try the [other sports] since [my college team] supported me despite how bad my throws were.

Q: What is one thing that you’ve learned about yourself through playing Ultimate?

A: I found that my drive for success comes from the people around me. I'm motivated by my teammates who weren't able to score ... and had a turnover. I feel accountability to be the best piece of the puzzle in our offense/defense to score. My teammates are my fuel and their hard work and belief in our team motivates me to continue to believe in my teammates and myself. Without surrounding myself with teammates who also have this drive, it can be harder for me to find that extra gear.

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew about the sport before you started playing?

A: I wish someone told me how easy and hard this sport can be at the same time. The basics: the purpose of the mark, defense, and strategy, all make sense when I think about the high level goals. Once I overanalyze or think too much, I become a less smart [and efficient] player. At the same time, good throwing came with a lot of practice and required focus - not just going through the motions without a mark. If I wanted to never turnover a disc on the high-side trap-side with a wrapping mark, I'd ask my teammates to keep foot-blocking me [until] I got it right. It took me awhile to figure out to not overthink the game, focus on my throws in practice and games, and to have fun along the way.

Q: Do you have any specific rituals you go through to calm yourself down before games and tryouts?

For rituals, I try [to] have a similar routine [that I have] for big time and small tournaments and practices. I find that if my mind and body feel similar in all situations, then I can play smarter and more calm. I [don't do] anything too specific as a ritual, but I make sure to list my priorities of my role in [the] game to myself, then crack a joke with a teammate to remind myself [that] we're all here for fun in the end.

Q: Why did you decide to pick up Ultimate?

A: I decided to start playing Ultimate because it really intrigued me. I never really heard about the actual sport before middle school. I just knew it as a hobby, or something people do with their dogs. Once I saw a lot of the guys at my middle school playing it on the [pavement] and I decided to join in. I really didn’t know what I was doing, but it was fun. Later, I found out we had a team and I started going to practices and enjoying the sport more and more.

Q: What is one thing that you’ve learned about yourself through playing Ultimate?

A: You do not have to be super fit or athletic to be good at Ultimate. I remember, when I first started playing in high school, [that] I would often compare a player’s physical ability to mine to see how good I was. [But] Ultimate is not about being the fastest, tallest, or knowing the most ways to throw. Although those things can benefit you in a game, they do not make you the best player out there. I’ve learned to value my mental ability as much as my physical ability and apply that to the game.

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew about the sport before you started playing?

A: I wish I knew that I could play on multiple teams at the same time. I remember giving up an opportunity to first play on [my local club team] because I didn’t think I would be able to play the same time as I was playing on my high school team. This is one decision that I regret very much, but I was able to make up for it by joining the next year.