What sort of qualities and
a37
skills would you need to lead a
game of ultimate?
To get started with ultimate probably the most important
quality is enthusiasm. When people first start playing they
have quite a few things to get used to: throwing and catching
the Frisbee, learning the rules, and most importantly getting
used to playing without a referee.
At first, as people are learning to throw, everything can be a
bit hectic. It’s great fun, but everything is happening very
quickly. Naturally people make quite a few mistakes at first
and so it’s important that the Leader keeps encouraging
everyone and communicating their enthusiasm for the fun.
The players will improve quickly if they keep at it.
As a Leader, you have to balance letting everyone get on with
it against stopping and explaining rules and helping people
with their skills.
In terms of structuring the activity, it’s worth making sure
the players have some time to warm-up, and also spend a
little time practising their throws before diving into a game.
What sort of responsibilities
a37
would a leader of a game of
ultimate need to undertake?
TASK 2:
The first responsibility for a leader organising some ultimate
Devise a plan for how you could lead an
is to make sure that everyone is safe. If you are in a small
ultimate training and game session.
space – or e.g. in a sports hall – it’s important to make sure
there aren’t too many discs flying around in all directions.
After that, the main thing to consider is the playing area.
Copy and complete the table below to help
Outside, we normally play on grass – which really means a
sports field or flat park. Check the playing area for holes or
you plan your Ultimate session.
other possible dangers. In a sports hall its important to
consider whether the area around the pitch is safe – are
Component Activities Teaching Points Time Equipment
there chairs, benches, goalposts, bags, etc that could be
somewhere else. I prefer to set the pitch so that the lines are
Warm up
at least 1m from the walls.
Throwing
skills
Ultimate is unusual in that there is no referee. The players
Catching
are responsible for playing to the rules, and for treating their
skills
opponents with respect. At first players won’t know all the
rules, however, and will probably look to you – as the Leader
Game
– to act like a referee. Whilst you will sometimes need to stop
Cool Down
the game to help, it’s important that you support the players
in making their own decisions rather than making the
decisions for them. It’s quite normal that players will
sometimes disagree with each other, and the rules tell them
how to resolve the situation when it happens.
good to do an organised warm-up: some light running and
then stretching the main muscle groups. Remember there
How would you plan an
is a lot of twisting and turning in ultimate, so include side-
a37
to-side movements and changing direction in the warm-up.
ultimate game for a group of
students aged between 14- 16?
Next I like to spend some time on a drill that involves
throwing to someone that is running. There are lots of ways
to set this up – and many drills that are used in other sports
If possible, give players a little time to loosen up by throwing like netball and football can be adapted to ultimate really
in pairs (if there is enough space). It’s really important to easily. As the players grow in experience and skill
give everyone time just throwing around and building up remember to run drills in different directions so that the
their basic skills in a relaxed way. After a few minutes it’s players have to throw forehands as well as backhands.
38 SPORT IQ 14-16 : MAY 2009
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