The Rules of Ultimate Frisbee (Ultimate) – EXPLAINED!

Ninh explains, the Rules of Ultimate (Ultimate
Frisbee or Ultimate Flying Disc) Ultimate, sometimes referred to as Ultimate
Frisbee or Ultimate Flying Disc, is a game played by two teams, with 7 players on each
team taking to the field at any one time. The object of the game is for your team to
score more goals than the opposing team. To score a goal, a player must throw a flying
disc (sometimes referred to as a Frisbee) to a teammate whilst he’s in the opposing
endzone. The disc must completely cross the goal line
and the receiving player must keep at least one foot in the endzone for a goal to count.
The playing field is 64m long and 37m wide, and the end zones are 23m areas at each end
of the field. The game starts by pulling the disc. This
is where teams line up on their own goal lines and one team throws to another.
Once a team has possession of the disc, they have up to 10 seconds to throw the disc to
a teammate. Failure to do this results in an infraction called ‘stalling’ and the
other team is awarded the disc. You can pass the disc directly between teammates
in any direction, but you’re not allowed to run with the disc.
In fact, once you catch the disc – you must stop immediately.
You are then allowed one step in any direction to release the disc. The idea is to move the disc up the field
and be able to set up a player to catch the disc in the endzone.
Remember, a player cannot run with the disc – so he must throw it to a teammate whilst
he’s ALREADY in the endzone. The opposing team will try and stop you by
blocking discs in the air, intercepting the disc or forcing their opponents to either
drop the disc or throw it out of bounds. If this happens, the opposing team will gain
possession of the disc. They will try and take the disc away from
you so that they can score themselves. Once a goal has been scored, both teams change
ends. Once 9 goals have been scored by any one team,
this is the end of the first half and players get a break at half-time.
The first team that scores 17 goals internationally, or 15 goals in the NCAA … wins.
So that’s basically Ultimate Frisbee in a nutshell, but there’s a few more things
you’ll need to understand before playing or going to a game.
For example: Spirit of the Game
Ultimate is self-governing and players are expected to call their own fouls and infractions.
Players are generally encouraged to be honest and it’s generally frowned upon to be dishonest,
rude or aggressive to their opponents. Stall Count
As earlier stated, you have 10 seconds to release the disc. The nearest defender can
count out 10 seconds and if the player hasn’t released the disc within 10 seconds, he is
guilty of stalling and the disc goes to the other team. However, defenders can also be
called for … Fast Counting
This is where a defender intentionally counts 10 seconds very quickly. If this happens,
the player with the disc is allowed another 10 seconds to release the disc.
Fouls and infractions. Ultimate is a non-contact sport, and any form
of contact with opposing players are generally called as a foul. Dangerous contact with players
is strictly forbidden. Infractions are usually called when a player breaks one of the rules,
such as travelling (where a player takes more than one step with the disc) or double teaming.
Each of these results in the disc being given to the non-offending team.
Time outs. A team can take a 2 minute break to discuss
strategy. This is called a timeout and teams are allowed two timeouts per half.
Substitution. There are unlimited substitutions in ultimate,
a team is allowed to have 5 substitutes on the bench, and they must only be made during
a stoppage in play. Ultimate is an easy game to understand, and
there’s a few more rules that are not discussed here. But as you watch or play Ultimate Flying
Disc, the rules will become clear. If you have found this video helpful, please
like, comment share and subscribe. It takes ages to make one of these things
and good karma is much appreciated. Be sure to follow me on Twitter also, but
in the meantime, enjoy Ultimate … or Ultimate Frisbee … or Ultimate Flying Disc …. Whatever
you want to call it! Ninh Ly, @NinhLyUK,

100 thoughts on “The Rules of Ultimate Frisbee (Ultimate) – EXPLAINED!

  • This is an interesting sport and I like it besides the "spirit of the game". In practice, it's a good idea, but I can't see players being 100% honest. I feel like they still need refs

  • I am trying to get kids in my neighboorhood to play sounds so fun already can do a hammer, thumber, scoober, ground bounce, and a forehand!

  • Perfect presentation – exactly what I was looking for. Completely thorough and efficient, includes both audio and text descriptions, and showcases exact visual demonstrations of each point. Thanks so much.

  • Hey, this game was played at William Mason High School, in Mason Ohio, which is home of the Mason Comets. I know this because I have actually performed in Mid-States Band Association Marching Band performances, such as Mid-States Championships in 2015, and the Centerville Jazz Band, our marching band program, won in almost all of the Open Class awards and the were 1st place overall, in the Mason Invitational in 2016. Absolutely wonderful facility, and I advise you to visit it if you ever see an Ultimate Frisbee game here.

  • this is the only game that i can enjoy…. thanks for clearing out some game rules…i had never really felt some were rules because i started playing this game as a kid

  • My brother used to play Ultimate when he was in high school but they cancelled it right after he left but I’m trying to bring it back to my school

  • Thank you, it’s very clear and helpful. Have just started playing and it’s been great to get the rules clear in my mind.

  • If any kind of contacts are foul, then what happens if a defender accidentally bumps into the offender at the attempt of blocking the throw?

  • I love this game, but I think I could create a limited contact version of the game, and do it better. I've been following the AUDL for the last 3 years and I don't agree with some of the rules. I like the spirit of the game, the stall count is fair, keeping a certain distance from the thrower, double coverage, and the substitution rule, but I think the offense should have 6 tries (similar to the six tries in Rugby League or the four downs in American Football and backward passes don't count as a try and an offense can make as many backward passes as they please). A deflected pass (or "D") costs the offense 2 tries and an uncontested pass (a throw that's nowhere in the vicinity of a receiver) costs the offense 1 try, and a pass intentionally thrown out of bounds is a delay of game and results in a penalty and a turnover (the players would generally determine whether it's worthy of a penalty, but an official can get involved if the players can't come to an impasse at a professional level, but regardless it's an automatic turnover). I would also introduce a "penalty box" or a "sin bin" (similar to field lacrosse). A minor penalty is 2 minutes and the "man down" ends when the offense scores and a 5 minute major ends after the offense has scored 3 times. A team can be down 3 players max and the team on the kill can score as many times as they wish during that 2 or five minute penalty, but the penalty doesn't end. If the defense is three men down (for example), the infraction that was called first ends and becomes a 5 on 7 and so on. I would make the end zones 15 feet instead of 20 feet. Defensive and offensive players should be allowed to make contact with the receiver as long as they're both making a play on the disc. The only time it should be illegal is if A. The contact is malicious (e.g. a tackle) B. Offensive or defensive interference or C. A combination of the above. The defender should always be in front of the offensive player since the receiver can't run with the disc if the pass is successfully completed and I would introduce an offside type of rule if the defender is behind the disc before it's thrown. The invisible line behind the player with the disc is considered the "safety zone". I'd freeze play for an ample 30 seconds to allow the proper units to enter the field of play and reset (some leagues have specific units for defense and offense units, but if there are no specific units, 20 seconds to allow the players to reset). If it's offensive interference, the attacking team is backed up 10 or 15 yards from where the disc is thrown and if it's a malicious takedown on the offense, then it's a turnover, and depending on the severity of the foul, an ejection (ultimately determined by an official at the professional level). Similar concept for defensive fouls except if a defender viciously takes an offensive player to the ground, the offense gets a new set of tries, picks up where the foul occurred, and a possible ejection is issued (also determined by an official). The length of the game is fine at the professional level, but those are just a few rules and field logistics I would change. A completely different code of Ultimate without completely changing everything about the great sport.

  • I play for my high school team, the only confusing thing to me is that double teaming is allowed, just not on the person with the disc unless there is another person on offense within 10 feet of the disc.

  • Wow, I was planning on choosing this sport for my S.T.E.P. And now that I know how to play and how much fun it is. I am definitely going to choose Ultimate. Liked the vid as well! 😀

  • Why do people start with pulling the disc? They can make it fall down and throw it very close to their goal zone and it will count as they become the offensive team. Isn't it much easier?

  • Does the person with the frisbee have 10 seconds to throw it even if no one is counting down? or do the 10 seconds only start once someone begins the countdown?

  • is it legal to just plainly give the disc to your teammate without putting it airborne by either tossing it or throwing it?

  • Being honest is one of the rules of the game? Can that be a rule of… uh… EVERY sport on the planet? Particularly soccer?

  • I've been scrolling through the comments and I'm genuinely surprised that I haven't yet seen a comment from a 9 yr old screeching FRISBEE IS NOT A SPORT

  • The best discs are made by Discraft. Discraft discs may be purchased with designs unique to a retailer. I like five ultimate, but also purchase from spin ultimate, Savage ultimate and viscous circle ultimate. Innova discs are good. And there is a new disc, ARIA disc which are also good. Most discs are about 12 dollars online. You can also buy from disc store, another online store. Five Ultimate, spin ultimate, savage ultimate and viscous circle have nice apparel. They are all good retailers. Five Ultimate, in my experience, ships the fastest (the next day, usually). Also, check out for professional ultimate. The season has just started.

  • My cousin plays this, he originally played football and basketball making his arm strong and the frisbee far to throw. Heck the other day we went to the park to play frisbee and he was trying to teach me the hammer throw (which you throw it down as if it was a hammer and do something cool with your fingers so then it would fly upwards!)

  • How are you supposed to stop if you catch the disc while running full sprint? Do you get a few steps to slow down or just stop when you can?

  • Plenty of this is different in the AUDL, for example: 7 seconds, not 10; and 12-minute quarters, not play to a particular total.

    You really should give the pro league's rules as the standard.

  • i fail to see the ultimate, i mean if the rim of the disk was razor sharp or u can tackle wearing legion of the doom armor i understand!!

  • Only rule I would change is needing to stop to throw- Would be more exciting if players were allowed to run just a few steps before passing, and also allowed to pass while on the run. Any more than a few steps though and it could be a traveling violation like in basketball.

  • 2:20 – well one school that we versed during ultimate season back in spring probably didn’t learn about spirit. They were very rude by making derogatory comments towards our teams performance, dishonesty by making false calls, unsportsmanlike conduct, etc. We even had a small physical fight between them. One girl shoved one of our teammates, she didn’t call the foul though, because she didn’t know what to do. Even worse, coach didn’t discipline them or do anything about it. In return, we gave them a 1/5 on spirit. (Basically a way to rate the teams spirit for the league to see.) We did NOT get along very well.

    The school was (and still is) infamous for their unsportsmanlike conduct in games, despite their phenomenal performances and winning a lot of championships.

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