In the fall of 1968, Joel Silver, then a student at Columbia High School proposed a school Frisbee team to the student council on a whim. The following summer, a group of students got together to play what Silver claimed to be the "ultimate game experience," adapting the sport from a form of Frisbee football, likely learned from Jared Kass while attending a summer camp at Northfield Mount Hermon, Massachusetts, where Kass was teaching.[2] The students who played and codified the rules at Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, were an eclectic group of students including leaders in academics, student politics, the student newspaper, and school dramatic productions...to finish reading about the interesting history of Ultimate Frisbee, click HERE.

Ultimate Frisbee is a challenging, fast paced, team oriented game that takes cardiovascular endurance and hand eye coordination.  In addition, because Ultimate Frisbee is a team game, it reinforces good teamwork and cooperation.  Throwing and catching a frisbee, the two primary skills of the unit, are what I call, “lifelong skills” because it always seems that throwing a catching a frisbee is a skill utilized in different settings- camping, family BBQ’s, park activity, etc.   Also, the offensive and defensive philosophies of Ultimate Frisbee are very similar to those used in basketball, lacrosse, football, hockey, etc.  Ultimate Frisbee also hits components in each of the 5 California State Physical Education Standards. 

The basic strategy of Ultimate Frisbee is to advance the frisbee (by throwing and catching) down the field, in the direction of your end zone.  When you catch the frisbee across the end-zone line, a goal is scored.  The team that can score the most goals....wins.  Scoring goals is difficult because throwing and catching while being guarded is a challenge.

Forehand Throw:

Backhand Throw:

Pancake Catch: 

By the end of this Ultimate Frisbee Unit, students will be able to successfully:

  1. BulletDistinguish between a forehand grip and backhand grip.

  2. BulletThrow at a stationary and moving target while using the backhand throw

  3. BulletThrow at a stationary and moving target while using the forehand throw

  4. BulletUnderstand the differences between a pancake catch, two handed-catch and one-handed catch and when it is ideal to use each.

  5. BulletExplain the rules of Ultimate Frisbee Tournament Play

  6. BulletDistinguish between basic offensive and defensive strategies

  7. BulletUse proper sportsmanship to participate in competitive tournament play

Here are some other resources (videos, websites) you might find helpful to learn more about lacrosse.

  1. BulletGet Involved and Play Here in the Bay Area

  2. BulletUltimate Players Association

  3. BulletAwesome UF Highlight Videos

  4. BulletSkill Videos

You do not have any handouts to print out for this unit.!!!