Spirit of the Game
Posted by balletdancer51 on March 13, 2007
The Spirit of the Game is integral to the sport of Ultimate, but not everyone agrees on the degree of spirit one should use, especially in competitive games. Recreational and competitive frisbee are two very different divisions, and spirit of the game becomes very controversial at times. I will be discussing some of these issues and what the UPA says about spirit of the game.
Competitive Ultimate is any ultimate competition sponsored by the UPA and gives points to the team with regard to their status in their region and the nation. These can be in the Open division (men’s), the Women’s division, or the Mixed (co-ed). There are club and college series’ in the fall and spring, respectively. The teams that play in these tournaments are extremely athletic, have been playing together for some time, and play at above par levels. It is not expected for a team to cheer for the other (as in recreational) and calls are made much more often. A controversial issue, especially since college nationals last year, is the tendency of some men to spike the disc when they catch an important score. This can do damage to the disc and demoralize the opposing team. The UPA has ruled that this is acceptable only ocassionally and as long as no damage is done to the tourney disc. Many players have stepped up to talk about it, but it really comes down to how a player interprets Spirit of the Game. And it is very open to interpretation.
One of the most coveted awards in the college series is the Callahan Award. Now, a Callahan is when you play defense in your own endzone and end up catching the disc for a score. The Callahan is given to the most outstanding player of the year, but not only in athletic ability. They also have to have big spirit. Like I noted before, it is integral to the game, and you are not considered a true Ultimate player unless you are spirited. Spirit is your enjoyment of the game, the honorable way players resolve fouls and other field mistakes, and the overall way you treat the other players and the game itself.
What it all comes down to is that we’re all out there to have fun. If you are going to be a cranky pants, just stay home!
