American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

 Issue: Nov/Dec 2006

“Got Disc?” The “Ultimate” Experience in Physical Education
Tyler G. Johnson, Paul W. Darst, & Timothy A. Brusseau

Abstract:
A quality physical education program is one in which students are exposed to and can participate in a variety of sports and activities. One activity that is increasing in popularity in and outside of physical education is the game of “Ultimate.” Opportunities to play Ultimate are increasing rapidly in intramural programs and community and recreation centers across the country. Ultimate is an invasion game that includes strategies and tactics similar to football, soccer, and basketball. What makes Ultimate unique is that a disc (i.e., Frisbee) is used instead of a ball. Discs are peculiar playing objects that initiate activity experiences unlike traditional ball sports. A disc sails and hovers through the air giving more time for a receiver to catch it. The purpose of this article is to describe why Ultimate is an appropriate activity for physical education, how to play it, and what skills to teach and how to teach them effectively.

Article category: Curriculum