Area residents give Ultimate Frisbee a fling
In a sport that combines the agility of soccer and the mentalities of basketball and football as well as mixing in its own personal flare, the popularity of playing pick-up Ultimate Frisbee games has soared over the summer. This fast-paced sport has intrigued 18- to 21-year-olds from throughout the area as they glide onto Uniontown Area High School’s football field in their gym shorts and T-shirts to play a few evenings a week.
At one point, 28 people came, and they had to divide into two games at either end of the field.
Like many pick-up games, two captains take turns choosing their players. Ultimate Frisbee takes motion as one team “kicks off” to the other.
The disc sails through the air from one teammate’s hands to the next; however, the person holding the disc may not move until he or she passes it. Knowing that their teammate only has a few seconds to pass the disc, team members run around the field making short jabs left or right to outmaneuver defenders.
The opposing team takes possession of the disc if they intercept it or if it touches the ground. Each side must work the disc up the field and into the designated endzone to score.
In the case of these pick-up games, the sidelines create the endzone.
To claim victory, the team must win the best out of the five games played. The scores remain fairly close because the teams play only to a low score of seven points.
Of course, the only thing the winning team receives at the end of the night includes “bragging rights,” according to Adam Palya, a 2003 graduate from Uniontown Area High School who typically organizes these games.
“No one takes it too seriously,” said the junior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. “That’s the best part, because everyone is there to play the game.”
These games are refereed by the players themselves, even at the sport’s world championship level, according to the Ultimate Player’s Association’s Web site.
In what is referred to as the “Spirit of the Game,” each player has the responsibility to play fairly; however, all are still encouraged to play competitively.
“We all just go on each other’s word,” said Palya. “Sometimes there’s a little arguing but nothing too big. It’s just for fun, so no one takes it too serious.”
This system makes each player responsible for his or her fouls and line calls. Because the game is a non-contact sport, a foul occurs when one player comes in physical contact with another.
“It’s pretty black and white: Either you score or you don’t,” said Kelly Palya, Adam’s younger sister who is joining him at IUP this fall.”
Adam Palya learned to play Ultimate Frisbee in gym class during his sophomore year of high school.
He was always the one to initiate Frisbee games or simply pass the disc in the back yard, according to Joe Murtha, another Uniontown Area High School alumnus, who attends the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.
“Adam was real into getting Frisbee started,” said Murtha. “He has this weird love for it.”
The two boys recruited other friends to play games of Ultimate Frisbee with them. They managed to get teams of four to five people last summer. The game’s popularity spread to 10 or more people on each team this year.
In college, Adam Palya joined an intramural team but decided not to continue because he felt the other students took the game too seriously.
He still plays the pick-up games of Frisbee Golf while at college to stay fresh.
Palya said he enjoys the positive atmosphere associated with these summertime games.
“It’s all good sportsmanship,” he said. “No one gets hurt. It’s all wholesome fun.”
Although each player comes for his or her own personal reasons, many simply enjoy the friendly, yet competitive, atmosphere.
“We’re all really encouraging of the opposite team,” said Murtha. “There’s a lot of competition, but it’s really good spirited.”
Murtha actively participates in games because they provide him with a good workout. In fact, he encourages everyone to keep moving during the one or two hours they play.
“It’s something that keeps me active,” he said. “I can’t stand not being active.”
Kelly Palya, who graduated in the spring from Uniontown Area High School, said she enjoys the easygoing atmosphere of the game. “I like playing with the guys that play,” she said. “I’m one of the only girls that play.”
The 18-year-old participated on the volleyball and swim teams during her high school years. These Ultimate Frisbee games provide her with a fun, laid-back way of participating in a sport and relieving stress, she said.
“It’s a nice activity on the side,” she said. “It’s a sport, but there’s not a lot of pressure. We always have a good time when we play.”
She said the game’s popularity has grown because it is not a traditional sport in this area and provides a different way for friends to get together. Instead of a typical outing to a movie or the mall, these games offer another way to have fun with friends.
Since many of the Ultimate Frisbee teammates spend the school year scattered at various colleges, Adam Palya said the game has helped him reunite with friends from high school and meet new people.
“When we come home for the summer, it’s a good way for all of us to get together,” he said. “Summer is just our peak point where everyone can play.”
These games take place one to three times throughout the week, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Because many of the players now have summer jobs, they have trouble playing more often. Typically, Tuesdays mark their biggest nights.
They encourage anyone interested to join in on the fun, regardless of whether or not they have played before.
“It’s a real nice game that we have,” said Kelly Palya. “It’s a different way for kids to hang out.”